Camp Box - Mobile Kitchen

Camp Box exterior details

The concept for this project had been developing in my thoughts over a number of years, especially when we were in a hurry to leave on Friday night for a climb that required a long drive and a campsite for the evening. We always seemed to be searching around for all the loose pieces of gear needed for a car camp, especially if the trip involved rock climbing the first few days and staying at a place with picnic tables. “Wouldn’t it be nice to have everything in a single place that you could just grab?” I mused. Trying various plastic tubs just didn’t have the same esthetics or durability.

Camp boxes have a long tradition. I recall using a large one that mounted on legs when I was a Boy Scout back in the dark ages. Its ungainly size allowed all the gear to be stored inside including a large cast iron frying pan (that produced green scrambled eggs) and was carried like a stretcher by the legs. It only took a few minutes to set up and provided a mobile kitchen for our campsite with all the accoutrements. Its natural colored fir interior and the mingling of the smell of campfire smoke with its contents stirred something inside of me, like when I see a nicely varnished canoe seat, a beautifully finished bamboo rod or a well designed piece of gear – they are signs that speak to the character of the owner, willing to take a little extra time in the creation of the piece. This style of craftsmanship brings on a sense of adventure and sturdiness that speaks to a capability seldom found in most items manufactured today.

Just the right size for the Jeep

The criteria I set for my camp box was that it be large enough to carry all the kitchen and camp items needed but not so large that it took up to much room in the Jeep. Most furniture is built to standard dimensions and you adjust what items you put inside. The size dimensions of this box were determined by placing all of the items (see list below) I wanted to store on the bench and taking a measurement that allowed the box to contain everything. The box turned out to be 20”x14”x12″, a nice size. To keep it light weight and make it easy to carry, ½ inch plywood was used and doubled in areas that needed reinforcements. The box was built with tongue and grove joints for the top, bottom and sides with the ends capped and attached with rabbet joints. Once the box was assembled, it was cut three inches down from the top to form a lid. To hide the junctions in the corners, brass corner protectors were screwed in place.

The original plan was to put two drawers in the front to store small items and utensils, but the drawer structure and cutting the front face of the box required that it be built larger and with more complex construction than needed. A nice piece of vertical grain cedar was converted into a tray that rests on a cleat inside the box works nicely. Brass hinges, latches and handles along with a couple of coats of oil put the finishing touches on the Camp Box. Now all that is needed is a break in the weather and a place to go camp.

Everthing needed for a great camp meal within easy reach

What’s inside the mobile kitchen? Here is the list:
• Frying pan
• 2 nesting pots (1.5qt. and 4qt. stainless steel with copper bottoms and fry pan lids)
• Plastic place settings for four : plates, bowls, cups utensils from GSI Outdoors – nice quality
• Coffee pot (a real stainless percolator for a great cup of coffee)
• 2 ceramic cups (coffee tastes better in them on a cold morning)
• Single Burner multi-fuel stove with liquid fuel bottle and butane canister fuel
• Lantern with butane fuel
• 2 collapsible EverNew 2 ltr. water carriers
• Kitchen utensils: knife, ladle, spatula, wooden spoons, and church key (can opener,etc.)
• Spices
• Matches
• Clean-up items: scrubber, sponge, soap and small dish towel

Wonder if it is possible to pare life down into this style of organization – a lot like Tansu style of cabinets found in the east, which are a series of stacking boxes that make up a mobile cabinet. It would be pleasing to have sturdy storage for climbing gear, art supplies, fly tying gear, and other stuff all within easy reach. Imagine one of these strapped to the top of a porter’s load steadily moving up a switch back deep in the Karakoram Range protecting valuable items on their way to base camp. If anyone would like to build a Camp Box like this, let me know and I’ll send you a drawing with dimensions and limited instructions.