Kitchen Kit/Chuck Box
- Thread starter jim65wagon
- Start date
Every Miles A Memory
Expedition Leader
Starting2Camp
New member
Yay! One heckuva deal today!
I went to Cabela's just because I was in a town that had one (We don't have one in my town.) I saw their camp kitchens....Well right after leaving there, we went and got one from a lady off of Craigslist for $30! Score! The only difference is that instead of having the green "boxes" on the sides, it has shelves on the sides.
I went to Cabela's just because I was in a town that had one (We don't have one in my town.) I saw their camp kitchens....Well right after leaving there, we went and got one from a lady off of Craigslist for $30! Score! The only difference is that instead of having the green "boxes" on the sides, it has shelves on the sides.
JJBiggs
Supporting Sponsor | SEES
Hey Folks...please note, the cost for materials (not time) to build the box I have was right around $120 or so. I suppose, maybe, I could build some for other people. But please note, mine was specifically designed around my new Camp Chef Denali stove. Your box might have to be modified to fit your stove.
Every Miles A Memory
Expedition Leader
The Time is the thing you have to factor in here and is what I was trying to get at with my earlier post.
Say you hire me to do a photography job for you. I usually bill out $100 an hour for a photoshoot with a 2 hour minimum. That box would take me days to build....IF, and it is a huge IF I even had the tools, or skills to do it.
I agree that you're charging what you should for the build as is the Kanz company. Believe me, I wish I had a wood shop fully outiftted, but I dont, so I pay for the skills of someone else.
john101477
Photographer in the Wild
Nice find!!!
I think I know which one your talking about with the shelves. Friend of mine has one but the metal rack shelves have larger slats than they like so they use 2 pieces of masonite to cover the metal shelving. For a space saving setup they work pretty well.
Corey
OverCamping Specialist
PM me a price if you do not mind since I have the same Denali stove.
JJBiggs
Supporting Sponsor | SEES
I hear ya. I am an industrial designer by trade and own a design consulting business. I know exactly what you speak of. That said, I have a modest garage shop and the essential tools for the project. At $600, I am certain Kanz is making some fairly good profit on his boxes as I am sure he has a properly setup shop with all the right tools and labor in place.
Time frame for the box was off and on with about 3 days total (including paint) for me to build mine. Mind you, this is also the 1st time I have picked up my woodworking tools in over 15 years. :coffeedrink:
The Adam Blaster
Expedition Leader
This is really what it comes down to, and someone saying they want to buy a "thing" vs. building it really shouldn't ruffle anybody's feathers. Even if that thing seems to cost a lot.
Consider the sheer cost of tools required to work with both metal and wood. Circular saw, table saw, router, compound sliding miter saw, jigsaw, drill, sheet metal break <-- not a small item in terms of space.
You could spend a couple of thousand dollars in tools (I know because I have) towards having the proper equipment to build something at a proficient level that would equal something you could simply buy and have in hand in a week or two.
And that's not to mention how long it would take you to get proficient with those tools you just spent a mint on.
So, if you're able to build your own "thing" to meet your own requirements, awesome. If not, there are alternatives out there and you're free to explore those options. And that's cool too.
A sorta/kinda/maybe related story:
I had an argument with a guy on NAXJA about why I couldn't fab up a metal bracket and create a lift assist device for the hood of my XJ. This device costs around 60 bucks and one guy was just blown away that I preferred to buy one rather than run around to different parts stores or junk yards searching for the right sized lifting cylinder.
I have better things to do with my time...
Every Miles A Memory
Expedition Leader
Yep, That's what I was trying to get at in a nut shell.
Personally, I drool all over the handmade ones that members on this forum put together in their home shops. Same way I do at the Off-Road Teardrops, custom campers and everything else on here that never seems to amaze me.
I actually like the last Cabella's kitchen set up along with that one from REI alot too. But to me, they dont hold a candle compared to the hand built ones that you know had a ton of love and thought put into them.
I can see buying the one from REI for $99, using it till it breaks in a season or two, and replacing it 4 or 5 times over, but you'd never pull it out at a campsite with a bunch of buddies and have them all come over to ask you questions, ask about how you have it customized or the likes that would happen with any of these awesome Chuck Boxes shown in this thread.
Ok, enough about that, lets see some more photos
Personally, I drool all over the handmade ones that members on this forum put together in their home shops. Same way I do at the Off-Road Teardrops, custom campers and everything else on here that never seems to amaze me.
I actually like the last Cabella's kitchen set up along with that one from REI alot too. But to me, they dont hold a candle compared to the hand built ones that you know had a ton of love and thought put into them.
I can see buying the one from REI for $99, using it till it breaks in a season or two, and replacing it 4 or 5 times over, but you'd never pull it out at a campsite with a bunch of buddies and have them all come over to ask you questions, ask about how you have it customized or the likes that would happen with any of these awesome Chuck Boxes shown in this thread.
Ok, enough about that, lets see some more photos
TacoRocco
Observer
This is really what it comes down to, and someone saying they want to buy a "thing" vs. building it really shouldn't ruffle anybody's feathers. Even if that thing seems to cost a lot.
Consider the sheer cost of tools required to work with both metal and wood. Circular saw, table saw, router, compound sliding miter saw, jigsaw, drill, sheet metal break <-- not a small item in terms of space.
You could spend a couple of thousand dollars in tools (I know because I have) towards having the proper equipment to build something at a proficient level that would equal something you could simply buy and have in hand in a week or two.
And that's not to mention how long it would take you to get proficient with those tools you just spent a mint on.
So, if you're able to build your own "thing" to meet your own requirements, awesome. If not, there are alternatives out there and you're free to explore those options. And that's cool too.
A sorta/kinda/maybe related story:
I had an argument with a guy on NAXJA about why I couldn't fab up a metal bracket and create a lift assist device for the hood of my XJ. This device costs around 60 bucks and one guy was just blown away that I preferred to buy one rather than run around to different parts stores or junk yards searching for the right sized lifting cylinder.
I have better things to do with my time...
Agreed. Looking at these threads makes me drool and wish I had a man garage with a bunch of tools.
I also have the same feeling that its just easier to buy the Campmate than go to Home Hardware and purchase a bunch of tools and material to get er done especially since I'm living in a condo.
Same thing goes for the M101 I just bought. Got nowhere to work on it but I have metal fabers in the family that are making me a lid, for free.
If that metal fab or woodworker needs some analysis or report writing done I'll gladly barter my services.
Corey
OverCamping Specialist
I am happy with my Cabelas one, but after seeing JJ's and the Kanz one, it is time for a change.
Change is good
DrMoab
Explorer
I had an argument with a guy on NAXJA about why I couldn't fab up a metal bracket and create a lift assist device for the hood of my XJ. This device costs around 60 bucks and one guy was just blown away that I preferred to buy one rather than run around to different parts stores or junk yards searching for the right sized lifting cylinder.
I have better things to do with my time...
You had an argument with the single biggest DB on NAXJA. Every site has one. You just happened to cross the one over there. I wouldn't let it get to you.
Lot of good analysis here
In the end though I think it's mostly subjective as to which is best. In my case I wanted the Campmate organizer because it limits the amount of stuff I can drag along. I tend to drag along an ever increasing amount of stuff when I have an ongoing process like managing my camping setup. I looked at several "kitchens" and I remembered my experience camping in Alaska for two summers as a kid. I want enough good tools so I can eat well. I'm not a Top Ramen guy. But I don't want so much stuff that I am eating complicated meals that aren't related to other meals on the same trip.
In the end I wanted to treat my camping setup like I do my extended business trips which I pack around a couple of key tools like shoes.
In the end though I think it's mostly subjective as to which is best. In my case I wanted the Campmate organizer because it limits the amount of stuff I can drag along. I tend to drag along an ever increasing amount of stuff when I have an ongoing process like managing my camping setup. I looked at several "kitchens" and I remembered my experience camping in Alaska for two summers as a kid. I want enough good tools so I can eat well. I'm not a Top Ramen guy. But I don't want so much stuff that I am eating complicated meals that aren't related to other meals on the same trip.
In the end I wanted to treat my camping setup like I do my extended business trips which I pack around a couple of key tools like shoes.
The Adam Blaster
Expedition Leader
My reaction over there probably came across as... "empassioned" would be a good word...
But I really wasn't bothered to be honest, I was just trying to make a point that he had no idea what challenges I have to face due to my injuries.
And I could tell right away by his statements that he was a giant DB. lol
Thanks though.