The Chuckbox

tpatching

Observer

sbstkpk

New member
George Washington's Chuckbox

George's "Camp Chest" is on display at the Smithsonian American History museum. I didn't grab a picture at the time but here's a link. Camp Chest

The chest looks well organized and very usable. Not sure how well a leather wrapped trunk with brass studs would hold up in the bed of a 4x4.
 

Corey

OverCamping Specialist
This is a great design! Do you have plans or a cut list for it?
I got the plans from JJBiggs on the forum here, and gave them to TitanPat57 to build it for me.
I would have to check with JJ if he wants the plans passed along or not.
 

4RunAmok

Explorer
After this weekend at the Rendezvous... I have decided that my chuckbox, that I just finished (almost, top and front doors need mounting) does not fit my 4runner... The back end of my 4runner is reserved for the three totes (tools, camping/personal equip, and recovery) which do come out when we're camping, but there is no room on my platform to cook and have the chuckbox.

So I'm offering it up for sale.

There are THREE things this box was designed around (NOT included in the sale)
The Kelly Kettle in the left side vertical space, rear
Vector single burner stove in the top right spot (http://www.vectorkgm.com/catalog/template.cfm?template=stove/stove1.cfm)
and the Texsport 12x16 grill in the bottom slot (http://bestcampinggrill2012.grill2012.com/tag/texsport-15113)

I spent $125 on the wood and the precision cutting on a CNC table saw, and have quite a few hours into building it. The drawers just recently got bottoms in them made of durable plastic in case something spilled, they're easy to clean.

Here are some pics, make me an offer.

Chuck Box 2.jpg Chuck Box.jpg Photo Oct 02, 6 07 40 PM.jpg

Photo Mar 27, 4 12 11 PM.jpg
As you can see, plenty of screws hold it together :D all seams were glued and screwed 6 times

Photo Mar 27, 4 13 45 PM.jpg
Decent amount of drawer space

Photo Mar 27, 4 14 45 PM.jpg
The drawer bottoms are slid into slots (1/8" saw blade cuts) so they won't be slipping out!

It needs a little finish work, some hinges for the doors, and a larger place to put it in a truck other than the back seat.
 

airdaddyo

New member
Baby Steps...One giant leap at a time

So after 20 years of being "back on the grid" the family is getting old enough to start the overland life. It was something that I had done with the guys for many years before; then life happened...

After lurking here for weeks looking at all the great examples my son (11) and I dove in this weekend to put together our Chuck Box. It was based on just a few criteria: 1) contain the essentials ++, 2) enable the entire family to enjoy the adventure, 3) please the wife (most important - to water the sprout that had germinated) - So thank you to all that have posted pictures/builds, made coments on the builds and wished and dreamed - this is our culmination of all of those things.

The base - a 4x8 utility trailer used for all things urban/suburban/camping to include bikes, a tent, chairs

The purpose - no reason not to be prepared for the planned or last minute camping trip but more important - ensure that the CEO, CFO, Cruise Director and All Things Family was happy ( a little water, a little fertilizer and some sun...).

Dims - 48"Wx24"Hx20"D

Key tools - Kreg pocket screw kit. There is no substitue, I have tried them. Table saw & chop saw

Timber - 1"x3", 3/8" plywood, that's it

Skill level - Average/Normal/Regular - No specific claim to wood working skills other than some usual projects, normal repairs, bathroom remodel and highschool shop 27 years ago.

IMG_1390.jpg
Here is the skeleton built out of 1"x3" 's

IMG_1428.jpg
I chose the "exo skelton" approach for interior utilization (from the back)

IMG_1427.jpg
From the side

IMG_1429.jpg
The left side area will be drawers to the top, the middle has a half shelf so taller items can be included. The top right will be a drawer and the bottom right was made specifically for the dual fuel Coleman. The upper left will be two drawers side by side.

IMG_1431.jpg
This is a better shot of the half shelf in the middle.

IMG_1432.jpg
One last full frontal.

I will keep you up to date on the progress over the next few days. The front/work surface and all the hardware is yet to come.

Please let me know if I have made any rookie mistakes, other than size - it's a whopper! By the way, I'm not considering legs. It will be perched on the end of the picknic table that comes standard with all sights in the NW (State, BLM, Fed, County) campgrounds.

Something I learned again. If you plant a seed - water it, give it some light, talk to it once in a while & fertilized it ("manure" works!) it will germinate. What you do from there is on you!
 

4RunAmok

Explorer
Ah, ok, he asked me about mine as well. Mine you won't need the plans, I'll let go of the whole thing! I'm going a different direction
 

Corey

OverCamping Specialist
I know this is an old thread of mine, but I am putting my chuckbox on a diet this weekend.
It had been in the back of my FJ Cruiser since camping season yesteryear, and I took it out last Friday morning before I got my new rear ARB bumper installed.
Talk about a heavy box!

I have enough silverware in there for an eight piece setting, along with the Corelle dishes enough for four I think.
And a small cast-iron Dutch oven which I do not use.
Will thin out the silverware for four, take out the cast iron, but leave the dishes the same.
It is only two of us that go camping, so I am pretty sure I can trim off a lot of weight.
I used a cart to wheel the chuckbox into my place, and I am guessing fully loaded it was 80+, too heavy for my age to be lifting these days :D

The chuckbox has been great though these past few years on camping trips.
 

aggiejon

New member
I'd love a copy of the plans....jongersbach@yahoo.com. Fine workmanship. I get the plastic boxes. They are light, strong, waterproof, etc. But I know my kids won't fight over who goes home with Daddy's plastic box. They may argue over who gets the chuck box they grew up camping with though.
 

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