What's in your Chuckbox?

[JimQPublic]

Apparently Moose made Griffsmom do it.  They both made me do it.  Just got my Campmate from LL Bean.  I found a free shipping code online so I just paid the $79 item price.  

From another thread:

Sorry I didn't see this earlier.  

 
I do all my cooking outside in DOs and use a Campmate kitchen that I bought online from Sportsman's Guide.  My twin brother Moose was the :Z on my left shoulder that made me do it. The lid doubles as a dish-washing basin when not being used as the lid on top of the kitchen.  Unfortunately, SG is sold out, but here's the description page. I bought the green version--not because I needed or wanted the dishes and utensils that come with it, but because the green coordinated with my camper than the blue did. :cool: :rolleyes: IIRC, when I bough tmine, the green version was running about $69.99 and the blue was about $10.00 cheaper.
 
LL Bean also offers one at a bit higher cost.  
 
Here's my kitchen in use (look to the right of the most adorable child I'm sure you've ever seen ) I also bought a portable table from Costco to put it on.  You can also get them at Target.  I love my kitchen and get a lot of compliments on it.  For me, it was well worth the cost.
 
HTH!

Today it arrived.  Somehow it looked much smaller outdoors at Vail Lakes.  The thing is HUGE.  It won't fit through my trailer door without removing the lid!

My plan was to be able to carry it in and out of the trailer depending on where I'm cooking.  I don't think that's going to work.  We'll see.

I tried packing it.  I'm not sure how I'll use it.  Cutlery, plates & utensils fit fine.  I plan to fill the doors with staples, spices, S&P, etc.  That leaves the two main compartments.  Do I use it for food or for pans?

What does everyone else do?

[ScoobyDoo]

I looked at those at Cabelas. Pans get heavy, food must be moved (not supposed to feed the wildlife)

[griffsmom]

Apparently Moose made Griffsmom do it. They both made me do it.

LOL!   :Z:J
 
 
Jim--you're more than welcome to look at mine again this weekend. I keep spices in the doors, and bigger staples (flour, sugar, brown sugar, peanut butter, rice, etc.) as well as the bigger gadgets and utensils that don't fit nicely inside the camper (grater, can opener, measuring cups and spoons, long-handled serving and cooking utensils, etc.) in the 2 main compartments. Dishes are kept in the camper's galley, not in the outside "kitchen."
 
I have never unpacked mine when storing the camper and I have never had a problem w/wildlife, either in storage or overnight while camping. We store our camper at an outside facility (the former El Toro Marine Corp Air Station).
 
You're right about it being bigger than you thought when you first get it. It gets heavy when you fill it up too--mine must weigh in excess of 50 lbs!

[edwardr132]

Griffsmom and others, can you take some pics of what you have stored in your chuck boxes?  I showed this to my DW and she would like to see how other campers take advantage of these.  50lbs though sounds pretty heavy... :eyecrazy:

[JimQPublic]

I've had a few days to fiddle around with mine.  My Chalet has one very small kitchen cabinet (since I used 1/2 of it installing a grey water tank) and three very narrow drawers (since we had the bed made 8" wider the drawers are only 5" wide inside).  I have 10 cubic feet of storage in two 9" deep compartments under the floor accessed by large trapdoors.  Unfortunately it's hard to open a trapdoor when you're standing on it!

To allow use of the camp kitchen inside the trailer I built a table that rests on top of the kitchenette.  Unfortunately the legs I already had make it a bit too low to allow easy use of the sink & stove.  I'll have to get some longer legs.

My cutlery, utensils, dishes, & pans loosly fit in the chuckbox.  The doors are available for spices & such.  I think I'll try switching & put food instead of pans & dishes & see if that works better.  The pans can go on top.

[griffsmom]

Griffsmom and others, can you take some pics of what you have stored in your chuck boxes? I showed this to my DW and she would like to see how other campers take advantage of these. 50lbs though sounds pretty heavy... :eyecrazy:

Happy to oblige:
 
http://family.webshots.com/photo/2827181350067662063zQBHqE
 
50 lbs does sound heavy, but I can lift and carry mine by myself--just not very far.

[JimQPublic]

Thanks Griffsmom.  It helps me to remember how you had it set up.

For anyone interested Griffsmom is selling her Campmate with several fabulous accessories including a 2002 Coleman Sun Valley popup trailer.

[griffsmom]

Thanks Griffsmom. It helps me to remember how you had it set up.
 
For anyone interested Griffsmom is selling her Campmate with several fabulous accessories including a 2002 Coleman Sun Valley popup trailer.

Thanks for the props Jim!