Thread: Camp Kitchen "Grub Box"

Living on the flattest continent, I don't have a problem finding level campsites! I'm guessing ours weighs 20kgs fully loaded.

And many Americans do call it a 'chuck box' even if it's not common in Canada. I'm guessing the term has evolved for them over the years.

Originally Posted by touchdry101

Having made a grub box (or 'chuck box' as our US friends call them), I cheated and bought the plans... try Googling 'Blue Sky Kitchens'. He seems to have a good range of ideas, and although the plans are imperial they are pretty easily adapted.
And yes they are on the heavy side, but if you are just car camping they are still great for keeping things sorted and pack away neatly.

Cheers! I have seen them before, they do look good, I was tempted to buy the plans, but then I thought - well, I would probably modify it for my needs anyway, so I might as well start from scratch.

I will definately be car camping only, and mostly in caravan parks here in the South West. As the kids get older, we would like to venture further afield, we shall see.

Weight is not that big a consideration for me, its more about convenience. Having all my kitchen open and ready to go within a few minutes of arriving is a big plus. Also, my wife likes the idea of having ready to go, just chuck the box in the back of the ute, and that is all the cooking stuff sorted.

So you find your useful? How long have you had it, and have you could change anything about the design, what would it be?

Cheers

SWMBO solved his problem for us and decided that camping in tents was no longer suitable(bad back and knee replacement may have decided this) .

We now tow a caravan , .

Jeff
vk4

Made ours about 2 years ago out of ply and pine/meranti.

Not much I would have changed- except I would have oiled it to finish. Any paint/lacquer finish is going to stick as it is left packed together for so long. But everything else can be adapted as you find a need...adding hooks, new worktops etc. I probably would have made mine bigger! Yes it would be heavier, but still able to be carried, and you end up with more storage and a bigger worktop.
Damn, our esky is bulkier and heavier than it!

Originally Posted by touchdry101

Made ours about 2 years ago out of ply and pine/meranti.

Not much I would have changed- except I would have oiled it to finish. Any paint/lacquer finish is going to stick as it is left packed together for so long. But everything else can be adapted as you find a need...adding hooks, new worktops etc. I probably would have made mine bigger! Yes it would be heavier, but still able to be carried, and you end up with more storage and a bigger worktop.
Damn, our esky is bulkier and heavier than it!

Cheers, I have already started drawing mine out - a little taller and a little wider than the original!

Check out Drifta kitchens for some ideas and construction.

This guy started making those chuck boxes in his shed and selling them at camp shows.
He's now branched out into making camper trailer kitchens and supplies them to a fair chunck of the camper manufacturers.

DRIFTA Camping Kitchens -

Originally Posted by Kyle

Check out Drifta kitchens for some ideas and construction.

This guy started making those chuck boxes in his shed and selling them at camp shows.
He's now branched out into making camper trailer kitchens and supplies them to a fair chunck of the camper manufacturers.

DRIFTA Camping Kitchens -

I have seen those! How awesome are they? A bit beyond my skills and needs at the moment, but he has certainly put some serious thought into how they operate hey?

This one just popped up in the weekly post from Instructables, is it any use to you?

Ultimate Camp Box

Originally Posted by dr4g0nfly

This one just popped up in the weekly post from Instructables, is it any use to you?

Ultimate Camp Box

Cheers, I hadn't seen that one before.....

The idea of putting the stove on top of the box is very popular, however it is not for me as I set mine up on the tail-gate of the ute. Also, I reckon it would get pretty greasy and dirty in there after a few years of frying snags and steak on top!

I like the idea osf using thinner material inside for the shelves. I think it could work, maybe with a strip of solid timber front and back to re-inforce it a little?