Custom Bed Crate/Box Bracket

I don't know if any of you other guys do this, but I like to keep a crate in my bed so I can just throw things back there/ carry plants/stash garbage in the back with out it spilling or rolling all over my bed. I used to have a bungee cord that was holding it down, but I found that it wasn't holding the crate securely as well as I had hoped. It was also moving around, and making some noise.

So I decided to make a little bracket to hold the crate. I also wanted to try out the paint I got for my avid step bars before I painted them and this was a good opportunity. I thought I would share it in case anyone else wanted to fab one up too.







I took a piece of aluminum 1/8" thick, that I got at home depot. I then bent a small offset in it, about 2".



I then measured it up against the side rail, and close to the bottom of the crate, and cut it. I also cut a small 2.5" piece to clamp the crate to the bracket.



Next, I drilled some holes (3/8").



I then mocked it up before paint with 3/8" bolts, wing nuts, and washers.





Next came primer, followed by Bed coating paint (rattle can, dupli-color).



Final product!




Its fairly sturdy, but if I were to fill it will lead weights or something it would probably bend the bracket. I might have been able to use steel, but I wasn't sure how easy it would be to bend.

I also switched to a strut nut inside the rail, so I can move it around.

I used the wing nuts to make sure it was easy to remove, but then I decided to switch to the 3/8" bolt on the rail (with the strut nut) so it would not be as easy to steal the bracket. My bed box is full of tools anyways, so If I ever need to take it out I will have something.

Let me know what you guys think!

 

very cool! +rep

 

nice work! i like it.

 

nice. i think i might have to steal your idea lol

 

Looks great! Only addition I would do would be to paint the crate black so it would not be as noticeable. It would also look like it came with the truck.

 

Nice write up

 

Thanks Guys!

Please do

I'm going to get one tonite!

For anyone that was curious, This is a "strut nut" ->http://www.lowes.com/pd_109068-5391...currentURL=/pl__0__s?Ntt=strut+nut&facetInfo=

You will need to remove the spring though, I get ones from work that have no springs. It also doesn't spin fully because of the height of the channel but it still works great nonetheless.