recently NRS came out with a new version of the old York Pack.  I thought it might be of interest since it makes a nice non-wooden wannigan.
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I looked at the specs. Nice size but not tall enough for one liter MSR fuel bottles 
Might handle the smaller ones, but I use mostly the larger one liter size.
Bigger one is too big, IMO. I'd just want it for the cookset, etc. Not food.

Just out of curiosity, Pelican 1620 Case:
Specification      Description
Ext. Dim.      24.64" X 19.39" X 13.78"
Int. Dim.      21.48" X 16.42" X 12.54"
Lid/Case Depth      2.01" X 10.53"
Buoyancy      149.91 lbs.
Shipping Weight      35.0 lbs

Price: ~$200 w/o padding

As I recall there is a handle on both sides. Could be bear proof too for all I know. It would certainly last longer than a blue barrel, which would last longer than a Roughneck....

prouboy,
Usually just attach a tumpline. Carry it on-top of another pack or by itself depending on weight.

db, ActionPacker boxes are a nice size too.
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M_M,
Some of the river trips, arctic, we don't portage much and the cook kit gets pretty elaborate. Plus it's a traditional thing with some people. It could work OK in the Q too, for a larger group that wasn't moving too much. Smaller or faster moving group, not a great idea.


One guide who does some cabinet wood working. Just put everything in his cook kit on a table, pushed it together, and measured the pile. That was his dimensions.

"Nice size but not tall enough for one liter MSR fuel bottles"

Why would you put these in a dry box?  I leave them outside the plastic liner in my pack and put them in the bottom because I don't care if they get wet.

The whole liner and water proof issue surprises me.  I've never used more than a pack and plastic liner - the heavy clear vinyl ones outfitters often supply - and never ahd a problem - including a dump in white caps in October - 40 minutes from shore.  (My lack of wearing pfd  was clearly partially offset by the very bouyant packs.)  Everything inside was bone dry.

"October, white caps, 40 minutes from shore and NO pfd
Now that surprises me  "

See the other thread about me trying to find a pfd I might actually wear or at least wear some percentage of the time.

Jim J Solo wrote on Jun 27^th, 2012 at 6:03pm:

Ha! From REI no less. 

8 gal is too small for such a big footprint IMHO. Looks like overkill to me.

Quote:


Of everything I've seen in this "genre" this one intrigues me, in that it looks comfortable.  We use the food barrel, (as well as another food pack), to haul our stuff.  I wonder how this "box" compares in size and comfort to a barrel?  Mad Mat -- have you seen and/or tried this on a trip?

prouboy

I have that same problem far too often as well Dadman but I've had to dig them out often enough to know where I last stuck 'em. Here's thumbs that link to slightly bigger images (hey, screens were smaller way back when). Keep in mind I never said my solution was perfect or elegant. I did it on the cheap when I was in college yet I've never felt a desire to improve upon the current version. What began as a what if, a work in progress based on need, improved on successive trips until - hey, good enough. State of the art at the time was a garbage bag inside a (way out of my price range) traditional canvas bag. Consider them food for thought like prouboy's hardpack wannigan link.

Here it is as it would be configured for hanging or travel. Notice the flexible lid is secured at 8 points.


Next shows how I rigged the shoulder straps. The white duct tape on the bottom holds (2L bottle) plastic that acts like a belt loop for the main two straps that keep it closed.


Next shows the hip belt. The two straps left and right are the shoulder strap bottoms. It is what makes it comfortable to portage.


Here's a detail that shows the simple block of wood stuck inside the handle at the only manufacture's provided holes. It also shows part of a foamcore divider that separates my food from my stove, pots ... for solo trips.


I freely admit this is a very personalized contraption and in a way I'm rather embarrassed to show them these days but I'm a frugal guy and it's allowed me to do this for less than a buck a trip over it's lifetime. Makes up for the funny looks I get at portages.


The first time my friend brought a Rubbermaid box for his personal gear I scoffed too and I still would as a bag would work better. The boxes this thread is discussing look like good, serious gear to me. The tradeoff could be price and weight and I wouldn't be surprised if the barrel harnesses currently on the market fit these as well but for convenience sake, a box beats a barrel or a garbage bag lined bag any day IMO - especially a cold nasty rainy day, when at the end of a portage, you find your day-foodpack lacking that little nosh that just might put a smile back on your face.

FWIW - LL Bean carries the same damn (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) and they don't say what it weighs either! It's gotta be way freaken heavy. Weight is important but convenience is too.

What I've seen Wanagans used for was just the cook kit, not food. Food went in blue barrels.

The 8 gal action packer would be small enough to stack on another pack and carry using a tumpline. Fits under thwarts very nicely, sideways behind bow seat.

BC, Fuel bottle goes with the cook kit so you only need 1 box opened for cooking besides your lunch items of the day. Colder season trips often have a hot lunch.

Again, Think bigger group and fancier spread. Not your average Q trip. Like M_M said but instead of rafts it's canoes. Big rivers, very little portaging.

Good thread here. I'm glad it was revisited. In the recent past i was thinking to ask db where the pics were to his pack set up (check). I've actually got an action packer box (check) and thought "i bet this would work on a modified frame pack" then the entry with the link (check)
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Interesting 'coincidence'...perfect.

db, Thanks :dankk2 for the re-post, I appreciate it, now, where is my wife's Rubbermaid storage box??????????

dadman

"After reading some of the reviews for the Stansport pack frame, now unsure about it as some have noted product failure under load"


Cabelas Has one for $99  I think it is the Camp Trails frame under thier brand

I have one, I think from Cabelas - at least I've ordered a reclacement "shelf" from them - use it for hauling elk meat/heavy loads - have had it 20? years or so?

I've bought another from Bass Pro one time - it was a closeout with a big pack, for $59 - that is pretty heavy duty also

have used some really cheap (like $29) external frame pack for portaging 69# grummans - seemed to hold up well enough

I'd go check out thrift stores like ARC, Habitat for Humanity, Salvation Army and see what you can find cheap - it should be easy enough to make a shelf (I have one even cheaper frame that I added a piece of board to to make a shelf for hauling elk meat when there was two of us)