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Date:         Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:45:00 -0800
Reply-To:     Troy <colorworks@GCI.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Troy <colorworks@GCI.NET>
Subject:      DIY Westy chuck box
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Hi folks:

For about the past three years I've been wanting to make some kind of a box to put behind the passenger seat. Something to sit on, and provide some extra storage was all I was originally thinking about. Somewhere along the line I stumbled on some plans for a chuck box, or what some people call a grub box. While the Westy has all kinds of places for storage, the one thing I like about this box is the essential items are all in one place, it sets up superfast, like 30 seconds, and provides some extra worksurface. It's pretty cool the way it nests together and how the doors form work surfaces, etc. without any hardware.

The second thing I liked about it was the construction itself. It uses quarter-inch plywood, with half-inch pine or fir, and it's superlightweight. The whole box, with contents, is about 30 pounds, assuming one uses plastic, and doesn't load it up with a cast iron Dutch oven, and Coleman propane.

Again, my plans are to keep my essential cook items here. cookware set, silverware, plates, matches, utensils, etc. The bigger, less used stuff still goes in the cupboards. Anyway, have a look at the photo gallery below to see how it sets up and how it fits in the van. I think it's 22 inches wide by 16 inches deep, and about 16 inches high. Assembled it's 32" high x 54". The extension table is as big as the Westy table, and as it turns out it's a great place to store the extension. The extention also fits nicely under the rear seat.

This may be over the top for some, and perhaps in time I'll find out it takes up too much space, but right now I'm loving how quickly it sets up, and what can be stored in it. Since this is one of the first things to be unloaded, I don't think it's going to get in the way, and actually make a nice place to sit.

Admittedly, after looking at these photos I probably should have just painted it gray. The sheet of quarter inch oak plywood I used was a whopping $22 at Lowe's, so it really wasn't all that expensive to build, but looks kind of fancy for a camping item. I think I've got about $65 or so total into it, and $20 of that on finishing supplies, not on wood. While I hardly consider this to be an essential item, I enjoy woodworking, so it was a relaxing, fun project for me.

So, over the top or what do you think? Oh, the plans for this box are from blueskykitchen.com, which I modified to fit the Westy. Here's the link to the photo gallery... Enjoy.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/97744670@N02/with/9085985007/lightbox/

Troy


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