Plano/Pelican Cases

9 inches on a plano and prinsu.

But I have 38 extra inches on HAM antenna that tells me I am too low all the time...banks, parking garages,etc.

 

Thanks man, with it being at 9” I think I’ll clear the lights in my garage ok.

 

how is everyone mounting these cases?

 

Let's see a full body pic of you truck with the case and rack!

 

I used the recommended carriage bolts in the prinsu tracks at about 1/2-3/4” long and just drilled a hole in each corner of the plano and locking nuts inside the box.

 

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Pelican is milspec and has a contract with government so it runs more as most stuff does when it is approved milspec. Plano are great for what we do with our trucks.

 

Pictures by chance?

 

When you get some free time, can you share some pics of the U-bolts mounts on the set up?

 

Not really much left to the imagination, but if you want a better shot, I can grab one at lunch time.

My install guide:

1. Buy qty(4) 2 inch u-bolts available at Lowes/HD for like 2 dollars each, 8 nylock nuts, and 16 metal fender washers and 16 rubber fender washers (I used 1.25in dia washers I think) that fit your u-bolt diameters pretty snug. All the nuts/washers should only cost a few bucks, and basically make a weather seal.

2. Figure out which bars you want to wrap the u-bolts around and measure accordingly. I found it helps to have a long and skinny piece of cardboard to make what carpenters call a "story pole". Basically a template that is pre-measured and a lot easier to handle than a huge case. Mark all the hole spacings on that then transfer to the case.

3. Mark the case with sharpie, etc and drill the 8 holes for the u-bolts.

3a. (optional) Paint the u-bolts to get rid of the shine. Any black spray paint will do.

4. Wrap u-bolts around the bars, then add a metal washer and a fender washer (in that order) to each stud.

5. Place the case on the rack and put the studs through the holes in the case.

6. Add the remaining rubber washers to the studs on the inside of the case, then the metal washers, then top off with the nylock nuts.

7. Tighten down the nuts, throw your junk in, and admire your handy work over a beer!

My extra 2 cents: In line with the truck, a 42 inch case spans 5 bars. I mounted the case to bars on 2 and 4 and it works really well with what I put in it. Part of me wishes I had done bars 1 and 4 or 5 though. Every once in a while on bumpy roads, the front of the case "flaps", and makes a bit of a rattle. Not really a bother, just me being picky. Putting the bolts at the end would fix the rattle.

Also, I mounted the bolts in a square pattern in the center of the case instead of at the edges. The reason I did this is so that if I wanted to run the case width wise on the truck, the u-bolts are still usable. I just have to rotate the bolts 90 degrees.

Pictures:

In this pic you can see the u-bolts wrapped under the bars below the IH8MUD sticker and the No Cycling sticker:


In this pic, you can see the u-bolt studs/nylocks:

 

I just used 1/4 x 20 carriage bolts with plus nuts and lockwashers in the prinsu channels. I will grab some pics when I get home.

 

I did the same. However, to keep it water tight, I put a rubber washer against the bottom of the Plano case below the metal washer before tightening with the lock nut. Works great.

 

Agreed i need To go back and add that washer.

 

How many bolts did you use and what length?

 

4 bolts and i think 1inch or 1-1/2 inches. They don’t need to be very long since just going through plastic and sit under foam and not scratch stuff maybe even an inch. Can’t remember and on vacation so can’t check the truck.

 

At costco...good price?

 

Hahahaha, ah yes. The epitome of "overland". Convincing dudes to buy $150 tactical cases to protect the $30 worth of recovery straps they use.

 

Looks awesome. Howd you mount it and how are you locking it?