Kitchen Kit/Chuck Box

[Smksignals]

Longtime lurker finally offering long overdue THANKS!

I'm changing my camping gear setup now that I have kids. A bottle of tequila and sleeping face down anywhere apparently won't pass now that I'm a dad. So after reading for days on here I went looking for a Campmate Organizer Kitchen. Difficult to find is correct. Still, persistence (too stupid to know when to quit) finally paid off and I found one in Michigan (I'm in So Cal) on a CL there and near a very close friend. It was from a couple who camped once and didn't like it. It's fully stocked too with stainless plates and everything. Plus it comes with a porta potty (my kids are girls so they don't seem to instinctually take to marking their territory...) and some more. All for $160 but I gotta ship it out here.
And the following morning I awoke to go for a run and saw my new neighbors across the street were downsizing after their recent move-in. On the curb with an old bed and washing machine was a nice handmade wood chuck box they'd used for years. So I offered a couple bottles of wine for it and they said it's free.
Anyway, thanks for all the help! Now I'm looking for a Scout Traveler for some offroad trips that our dually can't or shouldn't try. not the best vehicle ever but I had a great uncle who used to have a place in Colorado and I got great memories of driving around the Rockies with him.
:victory:

I have the same Campmate. I love it !!!

 

[The Adam Blaster]

Not sure if this has been posted yet or not, but seemed like a pretty cool idea:
http://www.rei.com/product/798433

I like that it could be carried with one hand - a necessity for myself.
I'm not sure if I'd want to set it down on muddy ground, probably have to lay something down first to keep it clean, or relatively clean.

It also looks like it could hold all (or most if you pack a lot) of your pots and pans, along with your cutlery and flatware. You could probably keep a couple of 1 pound, or maybe even a 5 pound propane canister in there also.

 

[bump]

Your setup has inspired me!

I really like your setup here with the small stoves and all. Less is more!!!

Me too, me too! I wanna show off mine!

Simple kitchen set up for the back of an Xterra. Storage is built around an Engel17, 2 Action Packers (one with two Colemen Exponent 440's, pots, pans, plates, etc and the other with food), and some pull out silverware trays. Drop down table is 1/2" ply laminated with 16 gauge stainless and trimmed with aluminum U channel. Nice that we can pull out the Action Packers so we have access to their contents and use their "cubbies" for deeper counter space. MSR dromedary bag with a spray nozzle douses the side of the truck at times but gets the job done.

Next step is adding another drop down table on a swingout Schrockworks rear tire carrier I just installed.

 

[Starting2Camp]

Wishing I had my parents' chuck box!

When I was a kid, we went camping all the time. We had an AWESOME chuck box. It was wooden & had a work surface that opened up and was covered with formica (the countertop surface stuff). I am so bummed to find out my parents sold it at a garage sale!

I've been searching for something similar to what we had that I could buy online (like so many of you).

Not necessarily planning on getting the following, but thought it looked interesting nonetheless.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-Camp-Organizer-With-Wheels/13848645

 

[Corey]

I emailed Kanz a few days ago to find out more about his chuckbox, but have not heard back yet.

If I were to have one built like in JJ's thread, it would end up costing close to the one that Kanz sells.

 

[bump]

Werner?

What is the Werner ladder thing you are using?

I have the same Campmate. I love it !!!

 

[bump]

same

I remember lots of those homemade units as well. Plus I remember a lot of small units that I think were lifted from abandoned small trailers like teardrops and were well thought out.
Here's a set of plans I like and perhaps it might help you too: http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2006598/4472/Camp-Diner--Plan-No-336.aspx

When I was a kid, we went camping all the time. We had an AWESOME chuck box. It was wooden & had a work surface that opened up and was covered with formica (the countertop surface stuff). I am so bummed to find out my parents sold it at a garage sale!

I've been searching for something similar to what we had that I could buy online (like so many of you).

Not necessarily planning on getting the following, but thought it looked interesting nonetheless.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-Camp-Organizer-With-Wheels/13848645

 

[JJBiggs]

I emailed Kanz a few days ago to find out more about his chuckbox, but have not heard back yet.

If I were to have one built like in JJ's thread, it would end up costing close to the one that Kanz sells.

Glad you like it Corey. If anyone is interested, I am happy to provide my materials list as well as a PDF of the specs & dimensions. Just send me a PM with your email and I'll send you the details.

 

[The Adam Blaster]

What is the Werner ladder thing you are using?

It's a work surface/step ladder thing.
I've seen them before, places like Home Depot sell them, I think I've even seen them at Costco.
It's basically a platform, 12" wide x 36" or 48" long. (16" or 18" high)
They are supposed to be used as a platform to work on if you need to reach something a bit higher than you can reach - taping the top edge of drywall for example. They are often a lot easier and faster to use than a standard ladder, and they are more versatile than a ladder in this regard as well.
I'll find one online here...

It's a UK site, but here ya go:
http://www.diytools.co.uk/diy/main/...2-step-aluminium-working-platform-special.asp

 

[rusty_tlc]

Glad you like it Corey. If anyone is interested, I am happy to provide my materials list as well as a PDF of the specs & dimensions. Just send me a PM with your email and I'll send you the details.

It looks to good, you need to beat it up and get it dirty.

Great job!:wings:

 

[Smksignals]

It's a work surface/step ladder thing.
I've seen them before, places like Home Depot sell them, I think I've even seen them at Costco.
It's basically a platform, 12" wide x 36" or 48" long. (16" or 18" high)
They are supposed to be used as a platform to work on if you need to reach something a bit higher than you can reach - taping the top edge of drywall for example. They are often a lot easier and faster to use than a standard ladder, and they are more versatile than a ladder in this regard as well.
I'll find one online here...

It's a UK site, but here ya go:
http://www.diytools.co.uk/diy/main/...2-step-aluminium-working-platform-special.asp

Werner calls it a portable work platform. It works perfect as a stand for my kamp kitchen. I bought it at Lowes. Here is a link -

Werner Aluminum Work Platform

 

[The Adam Blaster]

Werner calls it a portable work platform. It works perfect as a stand for my kamp kitchen. I bought it at Lowes. Here is a link -

Werner Aluminum Work Platform

That's a great price on the unit!
I have been interested in getting one for around the house, but the load limits are always kinda small... I'm not a skinny teenager any more.
I figure if I get up on it, I'm pushing the limit as is, add whatever I'm holding or lifting into place... I'd be worried about being found on the floor after landing on my head. lol

It is probably a nice piece of equipment to have out camping though - helping with tying a trp to a tree or whatever.
I've used my trailer hitch carrier for the same purpose in the past.

 

[Every Miles A Memory]

hate to see this beautiful thread turn into a commercial.... love many of the hand built kitchen setups. The Kanz is cool to but at $600 I will most definitely pass.

I hate to see comments made like this! I've been lurking on this thread for a long time now because I've been wanting to aquire a chickbox to keep in our truck.

That Kanz Chuck Box is major drool factor. I know it's $600, but for someone like me who would probably go through a minimum of a few hundred dollars in wood if I was to try and build it myself, then there is the fact that I dont have the tools other than a sawzall and a circular saw to even attempt building one.

A task like this for me would look like some washed up piece of driftwood and I'd probably spend hours of valuable time that I could be earning money on with what I actually do, which is photography.

After everything I've seen, the Kanz Chuckbox is the only one I've seen that looks like my wife and I could put it through its paces and hand it down for the next few generations to enjoy.

I'm still saving, but as soon as I can afford it, it'll be added to the collection of tools we use...Ok, Rant Off. I just wanted to throw my two cents in

 

[Corey]

I like the Kanz one too as JJBiggs's box above I was quoted around $600 just to build one for me including the material for it.
I will probably end up with the Kanz one.

 

[john101477]

I hate to see comments made like this! I've been lurking on this thread for a long time now because I've been wanting to aquire a chickbox to keep in our truck.

That Kanz Chuck Box is major drool factor. I know it's $600, but for someone like me who would probably go through a minimum of a few hundred dollars in wood if I was to try and build it myself, then there is the fact that I dont have the tools other than a sawzall and a circular saw to even attempt building one.

A task like this for me would look like some washed up piece of driftwood and I'd probably spend hours of valuable time that I could be earning money on with what I actually do, which is photography.

After everything I've seen, the Kanz Chuckbox is the only one I've seen that looks like my wife and I could put it through its paces and hand it down for the next few generations to enjoy.

I'm still saving, but as soon as I can afford it, it'll be added to the collection of tools we use...Ok, Rant Off. I just wanted to throw my two cents in

To each their own. Unfortunately I have done a lot of finish carpentry as well as metal fab. I could give a laundry list of reasons why the Kanz will not last. The design itself is not the problem as their original wood box is far superior to the production one, the materials being used are a major issue. But like I said, to each their own. As for the Kanz food storage going through bear proof inspections... I have seen a bear tear through a locked old steel refrigerator. Anything made with 3/8's ply wood on 2 sides and held together with rivets does not stand a chance.