Anatomy of a kitchen box

[dnellans]

Was talking with a buddy that after a 2 week trip to the desert I was pretty happy with the state of my kitchen box not really feeling like I needed more or less in 99% of cases. We use this box when its just our family of 3+1(expecting) for a long weekend or even a really extended trip with the addition of a big campchef style pro60 propane stove cooking for 10+ (additional paper plates/utensils required) like the trip I just got back from.

I thought I'd post up some pics of what my pretty heavy truck camping kitchen box looks like for others to inspect. I've settled on all this stuff mostly because it all "just works", is cheap enough I'm not worried about anything getting destroyed by kids/others/animals, and the cast iron makes cooking over food scortching propane stoves as easy as cooking at home but some smaller pots for boiling water means we always have hot water on hand. Since its a single actionpacker I treat it as grab and go to either throw in the back of the truck or strap on top of the Jumping Jack even though I could clearly get away with way less crap if it was just me for a weekend. I'd assume everything you see is pretty self evident as to what it is, but if not, feel free to ask!

 

[mudbutt]

Nice! I have virtually the same set up... I'll get pics later. I have modified the lid on mine for storage.. Tongs are an invaluable addition. If you're interested in saving some weight, I would ditch the wooden cutting board for a poly one. Pare down the number of knives you have. You really only need a good butcher knife and a good paring knife. Swap out the can opener with a P38...

 

[dnellans]

Tongs are definitely something useful for the larger group particularly when doing meat - but we're a mostly vegitarian family so we get by without for now =) Compared to the 3 cast iron pieces the knives and even the cutting board weigh next to nothing so I'm not too worried about the weight but good suggestions for someone trying to put together a lighter kitchen box! Having a stove that fits nicely inside that 24gal action packer is really what dictates our size - if we didn't have that I bet we could be just as functional paring things down to lighter versions that would fit in an 8gal action packer or something similar. Not quite the jetboil + cup setup that I take backpacking, but that is the fun of having a truck + trailer - gourmet on the road!

 

[WhileInTheWild]

I have a similar setup but I'm yet to toss any of my cast iron into the box just due to the weight and bulk of it. I have a larger stove as well, I decided I wanted both a grill and a burner so I have a combination Coleman grill that is great for us meat eaters. I also got tired of juggling those little propane tanks that you never know when they are going to run out and you end up taking multiple on a trip, then buy a bunch more and end up with a bazillion of them as you don't want to take a partly used one on the next trip so now a full size tank comes along on trips. I'm fortunate though and don't have kids to worry about so can just plonk the tank down behind one of the seats.

I'm jealous of your herbs & spices setup, I may have to steal that idea. I also have one of those foldable sinks in my kitchen box, it sure beats trying to wash everything under a campsite tap/faucet especially as you can soak pots/pans (obviously not the cast iron ones). You aren't coffee drinkers? I don't see anything for that, I'm in the market for that after my plastic French Press jumped out of my jeep onto concrete, thinking one of the big REI French Press's.

 

[dnellans]

haha - totally feel you on the propane tank thing. if we're going out for more than 2 nights we will usually bring the big *** campchef stove now which also has a sweet little grill box that goes on top of it + the 11lb composite propane tank, but that combo weighs as much as the kitchen box itself so always feels like overkill - though its nice and handy.

yea the herb and spice setup has been great though we probably could go with 1/2 the variety and still be totally happy. we also keep 2 of those with olive oil, 2 with balsamic vinegar, 2 with dish soap - the rest are all salt/pepper/herbs/thai peanut/italian that kind of stuff. having those leather cast iron pan holders is pretty nice too, I actually got them from a lady off etsy who will custom make them for whatever dimensions you want for < 10 bucks each. we got a few others made for our fancy "at home" cast iron too.

the jumping jack we have has a "dish station" + 7 gal water holder for washing up but there are times that having a simple bucket would be very useful. we usually have something in the cooler that can be re-used to hold a little hot water for washing up - i might have to look into one of those foldable ones though since it would easily fit in the box and weighs basically nothing. do you have one you like in particular?

We used to carry around a cheap $10 glass french press you can find at most grocery stores for my wife but after breaking it twice we just said ******** it and drink tea or hot chocolate now.

here is the jumping jack thread that shows what the big rolling tent setup looks like - http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/118615-2007-Jumping-Jack-Build?p=1725228#post1725228

 

[WhileInTheWild]

Nice trailer, I think that is the route I will go once I get tired of pitching a tent or hanging my hammock instead of a RTT but I think that time is a ways away yet.

I tried using some of the backpacking style collapsible sinks but quite frankly they suck and are useless unless you hang them from something and even then they are hard to use so I ended up with this, it is too bulky for backpacking of course but is great to throw into a kitchen box. I like that it has two sections can soak with soap in one and then rinse before drying.

This is what I am looking at for a French Press or the larger 48oz version as I need my coffee and the instant crap just doesn't cut it.

 

[moodywizard]

I have the same action packer and use it just like you. I saw a thread in the storage section where someone made some dividers and tray out of plywood which I plan on doing to make things more easily to get.

 

[east_tn_81]

This is a good set up. I am going to have to evaluate mine now .