Fabricating a Chuck Box / Mobile Kitchen

[Wolf Fabrication]

Right now all my kitchen stuff is haphazardly tossed in a plastic trunk. It's not organized and it drives me crazy. After searching around, I really wanted a Kanz box, but the $700 price tag was a bit much. I finally settled on an all-aluminum Zarges case weighing in at 17lbs empty. It was $380 delivered.

My goal is a free standing unit with collapsable legs where the lid opens to serve as a cooking surface. There will be various shelves for cooking items, and places for containers holding utensils, spices, small items, etc.

I started by bending up some shelves. I went overkill by rolling a bead into the first shelf and quickly realized it was a waste of time.

More to follow....

[Wolf Fabrication]

Starting to come together....

[Wolf Fabrication]

Got all the compartments built. Working left to right: Stove, red bag is pots and pans, below that is the plates, bowls and cups. The large black bin holds all the utensils, the two little ones hold spices, dry food, and other tiny items. Above those is the first aid kit and lantern. The large area is for food (junk right now), and the two small compartments hold propane.

It looks full right now, but I still have tons of space to spare. Zarges makes a multiple-pouch attachment that mounts inside the lid that I may still install.

Still working on legs of some sort...

[Wolf Fabrication]

Testing out leg options. I thought this folding camp table would work, but it's too side heavy with a stove on the work surface. I'd also like it to be higher up.

[aka rover]

That is sweet!

I have been pondering a custom case out of wood or ? but I really like what you have done here. I think ill look into doing the same thing. Thanks for the pics and the thread, you did a great job.

[Wolf Fabrication]

Actually, I found if you slide the box back on the table it's more stable (obviously), tilts the box back a tad (which helps keep things inside), and the table supports the lid.

Voila!

[cgalpin]

I like the compartmenting.

It's rare you find perfectly level ground, so something with adjustable/telescoping legs would be ideal.

[Wolf Fabrication]

I like the compartmenting.

It's rare you find perfectly level ground, so something with adjustable/telescoping legs would be ideal.

Yeah. I am looking at telescoping leg options and how to attach them to the box. The key is that they need to go out at an angle to stabilize the box. With the lid open and a stove on it, it becomes top heavy. I'm thinking of making little "pockets" on the sides of the box for the legs to slide in to.


It actually works fine sitting on a flat table too. My little folding camp table fits nicely inside the box.

[discotdi]

Where did you buy the box?

[Wolf Fabrication]

Where did you buy the box?Overland Gourment. They had the best price with shipping, although a limited selection. Kanz looks to have the most selection if you don't find the size you need. I hindsight I think I should have gone a tad smaller, but I was set on have my stove fit along the side.

[Wolf Fabrication]

As an update to this thread, I finally found a solution for legs. I used 5/8" threaded couplings welded to steel plates at offset angles and riveted those to the box (I replaced the small rivets in the pics with larger 3/16" rivets). The legs are 3/4 steel tube with a threaded end and a length of 5/8" threaded rod so you can adjust the box for level and height.