If you go camping often, you know how annoying it is to pack up all your kitchen items for the trip, set them up, and then have to unpack them when you come home. A simple solution to make packing easier is to use a chuck box or “camp kitchen box.” Below is what you need to know about chuck boxes for camping, DIY chuck box plans, where to buy them, and also ideas for making a simple chuck box.
What Is a Chuck Box?
A chuck box is portable camp kitchen which fits in a box. It usually has drawers, hutches, or cabinet doors to serve as storage and the top can be used as a stove stand.
Features of a Good Chuck Box
- Space for stove on top
- Utensil drawer
- Cabinet doors
- Easy access to all supplies (even when stove is in use)
- Can keep supplies inside while traveling
- Won’t tip over
Chuck Box vs. Portable Camp Kitchen
Portable camp kitchens a larger than chuck boxes. They usually have a space for your stove as well as counterspace for food prep. Some even have sinks with drains. Because camp kitchens fold down, you must pack all supplies separately and set up the kitchen when you arrive at camp.
By contrast, chuck boxes are smaller and don’t fold down. You can travel with all the gear already inside them. It’s incredibly convenient and you don’t have to set anything up when you get to camp.
- Choose a camp kitchen if: You will be camping at the same place for several days, are with a large group and need lots of space.
- Choose a chuck box if: You are a minimalist camper, go on frequent short trips, and don’t want to spend time setting up the kitchen each time you get to camp.
Also see: Best Portable Camping Kitchens
The GCI Outdoor Master camp kitchen with sink. It has tons ofspace, but unlike with chuck boxes, you have to take everything off it to pack it up.
What do you put in a camp chuck box?
Chuck boxes are meant to hold nonperishable camp kitchen supplies. Food is kept in separate storage bins or coolers. This allows you to keep the chuck box packed so it is ready for each trip. Because they need to be portable, there is rarely enough room in a chuck box for a camp sink. You may be able to fit collapsible camp sinks into some chuck boxes though.
Chuck boxes should hold:
- Plates and bowls
- Cups
- Utensils
- Pots, pans and kettle
- Stove
- Spare fuel
- Water canisters
- Spices, cooking oil and nonperishable essentials
*Not sure what to eat while camping? Check out my eBook with over 50 dehydrator backpacking recipes. They pack down to lightweight and you just add water to rehydrate. Plus, there’s tons of info on meal planning and nutrition for backpacking. Learn more here.
DIY Chuck Box Instructions and Plans
Below are some chuck box ideas. They range from simple chuck boxes made from plastic storage bins or Ikea shelves to more complex DIY builds.
1. Beginner’s DIY Chuck Box
This DIY chuck box is fairly simple. There are no drawers on this chuck box. Nor are there shelves in the doors. You’ll probably need to store pots and larger items separately too. Despite these drawbacks, the simple design means it is much easier to build. Yet, it still looks awesome and is a fully-functional camp kitchen box. See the design and instructions here.
2. Ikea Chuck Box
One of the easiest ways to make a chuck box is to take an Ikea shelf with a door and turn it on its side. Connect the door to the frame with a chain for added stability. The downside of the Ikea chuck box method is that it is heavy. These are best for chuck boxes that remain in the car. Remember you should never cook in your car, so you’ll need a separate stove table!
3. Chuck Box with Fold-Out Side Cabinets
This is one of the nicest DIY chuck boxes I’ve seen. The doors open to serve as support for the sideboards. You end up with lots of workspace on top. The side cabinets are perfect for spices, oil and condiments. You can find instructions and plans here.
Chuck box folded
Chuck box open
4. Vintage Style Camp Chuck Box
This wood chuck box is very similar to the one above. It also has side tables which open up and are supported by two cabinet doors with storage inside. The main difference is that it doesn’t have a hutch door attached by a chain. Instead, you get a pull-out drawer at the bottom. While this does mean less workspace, the design is much more stable and weighs less. See the instructions and plans here.
5. Plywood Chuck Box
This compact, lightweight chuck box is made out of plywood. The entire setup fits into a plastic tote. You can also use the tote box as a stand. Totes aren’t very stable though, so I wouldn’t recommend cooking in this setup. Instead, put the chuck box on the ground and use the tote for other storage or as a sink. See the plans here.
6. Deluxe Chuck Box
By far one of the largest chuck boxes I’ve seen, this design gives you a very luxurious camp kitchen – yet it still folds down into a box which fits into a pickup truck (good luck getting this into a small car trunk though!). The base sets up separately and gives you a place to put water jugs. See the design here. The maker also takes orders.
7. Small Chuck Box with Slide-Out Cutting Board
Even though this is a very small chuck box, it has some cool features which give it more function. My favorite part is the slide-out cutting board drawer. There are also brackets on the sides for hanging pots and pans. The shape makes it very stable and safe for cooking on. See the design and instructions here.
8. Metal Chuck Box from Modified Tool Box
By simply removing the drawers and adding a dropdown door, you can turn a toolbox into a camping chuck box. What’s particularly cool about this DIY chuck box is that Brian repurposed the drawers to make side tables on the box. See the design and instructions here.
9. REI Chuck Box
I don’t have permission to post images of their chuck box, but you can find plans for a chuck box at REI here. The design is pretty popular.
Store-Bought Chuck Boxes
If you want a perfect chuck box but don’t want to make it yourself, your best bet is to look for locals who make and sell them. Etsy has a lot of people selling them. There are very few brands which sell chuck boxes nationwide. I’ve listed the ones I know of below.
10. Yoke Chuck Box
The Yoke chuck box is a really cool chuck box. It’s compact and has some nice storage features. It is made from roto-molded plastic, which is very tough and durable but still allows it to be lightweight. While not the cheapest chuck box you can buy, it’s definitely one of the best. I also like that it’s made by a women-run and family-owned company – not some big corporation. 🙂
11. King Charles Chuck Kitchen
The company Trail Kitchens makes a chuck box called the King Charles. It is a lightweight aluminum camp box with cool features. Unfortunately, it comes at a fairly high price tag. See it here.
12. CampChef Chuck Box
Here’s a more affordable chuck box you can buy. The compartments are insulated so you can also use them as a cooler for food and drinks. I like that the chuck box has legs so you essentially get a table out of it. This is also one of the lightest weight chuck boxes you can buy. Get it here.
13. Shimoyama Camp Storage Box
This camp storage box has a wood top which can be used as a kitchen table or cutting board. There are doors on the front and sides so you can easily access stuff inside. Just add organizers and you’ve got a good chuck box. The brands Naturehike and Nice C also make similar products (see those boxes here and here).
Improvised Chuck Boxes
You don’t have tools for making a chuck box but also don’t want to buy one? You can improvise a chuck box out of crates, totes, storage bins or carts.
Look for boxes which are front opening or have drawers. This makes it easier to access supplies. You can add dividers or other organizers inside the box to keep gear separate. Below are some ideas of what you can use to improvise a simple chuck box.
Warning: It isn’t safe to put a stove on top of plastic. You’ll need a separate place to put the stove.
14. Rubbermaid Chuck Box
Rubbermaid makes a lockable storage container called the “Action Packer.” The 24 and 35 gallon sizes are perfect to use as a chuck box. You’ll need to add some storage compartments and dividers though. Here’s an example of a customized Action Packer by Scout Master. You can get the Action Packer at REI or Amazon.
15. Tool Box Chuck Box
Most large tool boxes do NOT make good chuck boxes: you usually have to lift off a top lid in order to get to the supplies, which is pretty annoying when cooking. However, there are some tool boxes which make good chuck boxes. They should have drawers or slide-out compartments – then you’ll have easy access to supplies inside.
The Dewalt mobile work station and Stalwart rolling tool box (shown below) both make good chuck boxes. They have wheels, so it’s easier to transport your kitchen. The bottom compartments have pull-out drawers so you can access equipment even if there is something stacked on the lid. This Keter tool box also would work if you don’t mind being closer to the ground.
15. Quick Cart on Wheels Chuck Box
The Quik Cart cart on wheels make a pretty good chuck box too. The company makes a few versions, including one with 25 storage compartments on the sides for your utensils.
Don’t forget about my eBook
Since you made it to the end of this post, I’ll even give you 50% off! 🙂
Image credits:
“Family car camping – with the chuck box” (CC BY 2.0) by bpende,
Pilgrim55 at https://www.instructables.com/Camping-Chuck-Box/, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/,
GeorgianBay Scott, at https://www.instructables.com/Deluxe-Camp-Chuck-Box-Glamping-Style/, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/,
yeltrow,
thetoolman at https://www.instructables.com/Chuck-Box-Camp-Kitchen/, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/,
wgreunke at https://www.instructables.com/Ultimate-Camp-Box/, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/,
Matt a tatt tatt at https://www.instructables.com/Chuck-Box-Camping-Kitchen/, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/,
briankcurtis at https://www.instructables.com/Campman-Chuckbox/, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ ,
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