Boyink! - Spring Forward on the Web

Part of our plans for SSDutch include using it with the Bantam trailer for camping.  While I have extensive plans to setup the Bantam with a full kitchen for camping, something that we had an immediate need for was a chuckbox, or “camp kitchen” for all of the cookware and dishes, etc.  I don’t mind sleeping in a tent, but the disorganization of tent camping really bugs me.  Getting the cooking stuff organized is a great first step towards camping sanity.

I’m a terrible cabinetmaker, so it was crucial for us to find an existing box to work with as a basis for our chuckbox.  I got lucky at the local military suplus store and picked up this great trunk.  The markings say “Texas Trunk Company” and it has a 1964 issue date.  I think it was for some kind of field office equipment.  It’s about 19 1/2” wide, 14” deep, and 18 1/2” tall as it sits in this pic:

It’s a beefy trunk!  The corners are all protected by metal, there are two big carrying handles, and the lid is held on by 4 heavy latches:

The lid has a rubber seal, and is roughly 3” deep, so I put a hinged plywood door on the face of it:

And 1/4” masonite dividers inside for cooking utensils, tablecloth, etc:

The main box then flips on it’s side so the opening is to the front.  The top compartment holds saucepans and a frypan, coffee cups, salt and pepper shakers, etc.  The rightmost compartment holds the 12” frypan, the larger pot, cutting board, etc:

I put in more dividers for a silverware tray:

And for 2 washtubs, which store the plates and bowls for four:

Everything in the chuckbox - I’m sure we’ll add more as we use it, but there’s still quite a bit of room yet:

Comments are closed, but you can read the comments other people left.

1. Brannon on August 21, 2004

   Mike, your suspicions are correct.  what you have there is a ‘Field Desk’.  It is something that is still in use today in the Marine Corps.  It would have some with a floding stool for an individual to sit on and conduct whatever business he had.  Just thought you’d like to know.  Brannon

2. Michael Boyink (Author) on August 21, 2004

   Hmmm…did they make ones this small?  I see some of those desks on eBay, and they look quite a bit bigger than this trunk.  This didnt have any drawers or dividers in it either.

3. Brannon on August 21, 2004

   OK, after a second look you are probably right.  That looks like a lantern box.  It was about that size, and held two lantern and accessories as well as a small fuel canister.  ( can anyone help me with the egg on my face?)

Back to Article