Chuck Boxes for Camping

Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2006 3:05 pm

Prior to the Rock Island event I’ve been tinkering with the idea to make a chuck box for my camping equipment. Now that I’m attending the Rock Island event I figured I better start looking into getting this thing made since all things have to be carried in.

Does anyone have a chuck box that the use and love? If so please post a picture or two of your box so I can see how it is made and how much it could hold. If you even have plans already made and sitting around and don’t mind sharing that info it would be much appreciated.

Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2006 3:48 pm

Don't have one myself, but I like to camp as simply as possible. Too many containers is distressing for me!

If you are planning to bring a chuck box along to Rock Island, be sure it's lightweight and portable. From the moment you leave your car at the second ferry lot, you will be hoofing it. I don't think the group site is too far of a walk, but it is definitely not right next to the dock.

You could also bring along a smallish cart (like a garden cart) if the chuck box is a little heavier.

But, if you do bring along a chuck box -- I know who will doing all the cooking!!

Bec

Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2006 4:40 pm

I'll take some pics tonight and load them to our album on this website.. watch for it... I love this thing and it goes everywhere with us...

~Bill

WGA Friend Joined: 2005-09-07 Posts: 58

I just finished one up this fall. It is great to have everything in one box. And the one I built has a fold down on both sides so you can have the stove on one side and dishes going on the other. It frees up the picnic table. We really like it. It would be rather heavy to have to haul onto an island though. It is more for taking out of the truck and setting up. I have a photo of how mine turned out but no place to host it. If you'd like me to email a copy let me know. Otherwise, plans for what I built are below. I changed a few dimensions but am fairly close to this plan:

Patrol box

[This message has been edited by ForeFeathers (edited 01-10-2006).]

Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2006 5:23 pm

Here's some links to our "chuckbox" pics... It's made of 1/4" birch ply and walnut corners.. Yours doesn't need to be this fancy but, I was playing. It measures overall 30" wide x 24" tall and 16" deep... I have more pics with tapemeasure in view. You'd be able to determine drawer/shelve sizes from these pics.. Make yours to suit yourself and your equipment.. This seems to work well for us..
http://www.wi-geocaching.com/cgi-bin/slide2/album.pl?photo=00000243/PD RM0045_Medium.JPG;photo_height=500 http://www.wi-geocaching.com/cgi-bin/slide2/album.pl?photo=00000243/PD RM0046_Medium.JPG;photo_height=500 http://www.wi-geocaching.com/cgi-bin/slide2/album.pl?photo=00000243/PD RM0049_Medium.JPG;photo_height=500 http://www.wi-geocaching.com/cgi-bin/slide2/album.pl?photo=00000243/PD RM0048_Medium.JPG;photo_height=500

Feel free to contact me for more pics... Flushingrouse AT wi DOT rr DOT com

I had to unbury it in the garage and it's a mess (excuse me) but I think it just got "stowed" after last use.

[This message has been edited by Flushingrouse (edited 01-10-2006).]

Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2006 9:22 pm

quote:
Originally posted by Flushingrouse:
It measures overall 30" wide x 24" tall and 16" deep...

Something that big would sink the ferry to Rock Island!!!

It's awesome though!

Bec

Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2006 9:47 pm

quote:
Originally posted by greyhounder:
Something that big would sink the ferry to Rock Island!!!

It's awesome though!

Bec

Bec, thanks for the compliment.. Yeah, it is a bit heavy. Notice the rather substancial handles on the sides..? When it's full, it's nice to have a helper...

See you on the trails!
~Bill

Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2006 9:53 pm

Thanks to those who posted pics so far. I think I go with the non-leg version since legs add weight. I do like the drawers in Flushingrouse.

Flushingrouse - That's 1/4"?

Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2006 4:32 am

Yeah, the majority of it is 1/4" material. I remember trying to come up with a configuration that extended a few points to the outsides. Note the location of the dividers...

The shelves/dividers are held in place along side of 1/2" x 1/2" cleats. The cleats are glued and shot in from the outside in.. Just a little layout...

WGA Friend Joined: 2005-09-07 Posts: 58

No matter what size box you build legs are still an option. The legs simply slide into the pockets on the side of the box so you can use the box with or without and it takes no tools or bolts to put them on or take them off. You'd think it might be flimsy but the angles make the legs tuck in very nicely and there is no wobble.

Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2006 7:33 am

All I ended up getting was a large Rubbermaid container (like 50gallons or something) with wheels - from Fleet Farm. It is like one of those huge coolers on wheels, which might be another idea!! I got tired of lugging stuff out of the car and to the camp area. This thing works great, but NOT quite as organized as that nifty Chuck box! Al I cared about was THE WHEELS!!

Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2006 3:21 pm

quote:
Originally posted by Flushingrouse:
Bec, thanks for the compliment.. Yeah, it is a bit heavy. Notice the rather substancial handles on the sides..? When it's full, it's nice to have a helper...

See you on the trails!
~Bill

I'm especially enjoyng the fork decorations on the front! I'm guessing that they serve as closures?

Bec

Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2006 3:38 pm

Being a Scouter, We camp ALOT. We've recently upgraded all of our Patrol Boxes there's plans all over the internet if you type in Patrol Box BSA, you'll get lots of ideas.

Having said that, they are a bit heavy. I made a new one for my families camping kitchen equipment last year. I bought a cute little 18"x24"x4' bench kit (like you'd store your hats and gloves by your front door) from Menards and use it for my patrol box. empty it's about 15 pounds.

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 9:53 am

We just use a large rubermade box. Wheels would be cool, didn't think of that. We just use an old luggage cart instead. Stove gets piled on top of the box. Works well so far. PQ

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 12:14 pm

quote:
Originally posted by PolskaQueen:
We just use a large rubermade box. Wheels would be cool, didn't think of that. We just use an old luggage cart instead. Stove gets piled on top of the box. Works well so far. PQ

Hummm...

I was at Homedepot last night and saw this huge rubermadeish box that had wheels and handle for pulling. The thing about the same size of the box I would make. The only thing is there are no shelves or compartments. I would have to unpack everything to get to bottom items.

Tempting because as far as weight goes the thing is probably 1/3 the weight of a wood box.

Hummm...