Bed Storage Concept

Hey TW -

I've been pondering this concept for quite some time - and now that I have the necessary fabrication tools, skills and time - I want to bring it to fruition.

Trucks are great. They've got big open beds that can haul all kinds of stuff.

I'm a fan of ratchet strapping storage containers in the bed to prevent movement, but they're a royal PITA to loosen, remove and re-attach any time you want to access said storage containers. I'm averse to drilling holes in my bed to anchor any kind of storage box, I'm sure many others are as well.

Action Packers are a great storage solution. Relatively light, relatively waterproof, robust and easily replaceable. Sure - Pelicans are wonderful - but my Action Packers have held up to thousands of miles of rough use and weather - for a fraction of the cost.

Hopefully you're all still with me.

What I'm designing is a:

(B)ed (O)rganizer & (M)odular (B)asket.. BOMB. (I'll probably drop that acronym).

Key Features:

- It'll utilize the side bed rails, and hold a 24 gallon Action Packer in it's center.

- There will be provisions to ratchet strap/lock the Action Packer in place for longer or off road trips.

- It'll be modular for easy installation and removal.

- Additional features such as Hi-Lift mounts, and Jerry Can holders (on either side of the Action Packer) will be available.

- There will be the option to add on additional modules for expansion (i.e. another Action Packer)

- Main frame will be 1.5" HREW .120 wall round tubing.

I'm working on some CAD drawings at the moment, should have some form of concept posted here shortly.

Easily justified to your wife due to the fact that it'll hold your groceries. Seriously.

Open for any ideas or suggestions.

Thanks for your interest,

Jake

Basic Concept. (Yes, it's a Raptor) (No, it's not mine)..

(Raptizzle's storage rack)

 

I like it.

 

I'd like to see that truck's suspension. I think legit.
Oh, right cargo...Having the ability to possibly slide out on rails in lieu of climbing in would be nice.

 

Thanks for all of the suggestions.. A rail/slide out would be slick.

Keep 'em coming.

 

You could bolt some slotted aluminum in there to give multiple tie down options. I think the prinsu racks use this stuff:

http://www.8020.net/T-Slot-5.asp

 

What's wrong with drilling holes? And these are awesome, a few riv nuts and they could be in and out in 2 minutes

http://www.swagoffroad.com/8-Gallon-Rubber-Maid-Action-Packer-Baja-Bins_p_35.html

 

Well, yeah - those are great - but not really what I'm aiming for.

 

Another great suggestion.

My basic premise is this:

I'm tired of having to climb into the bed to undue ratchet straps whenever I want to access my gear. The SWAG stuff is great, but then again - you've got to fiddle with undoing latches, climbing into your bed and removing the boxes.. Plus you have no options for additional expansion, or taking advantage of potential mounting points for shovel/Hi-Lift, etc.

I'll work up some drawings tomorrow.

Initial interest is promising!

 

If you do any kind of drawer pull out or cargo pull out I would suggest you figure out a way to fix the skeleton frame to the bed frame bolts , potentially with some type of quick disconnect otherwise there will always be a tipping potential with the drawers / slides pulled out

 

Absolutely.

I'm thinking of mimicking the bed cleat design. Using a spring loaded detent/UMW slider.

Or interfacing right to the bed cleat, using that as the slider/anchor point.

More ideas in AM.

Because turkey.

 

I meant the frame / bed bolts

 

Roger.

Im thinking of using the existing cleat rails on the bed sides as an anchor point.

This will be more of a "bed crossbar" type basket that'll slide into the cleat rail, provide storage depth for the entire vertical depth of the truck bed, and be easily moved foreword or aft via the cleat rails on the bed sides. Or, easily removed entirely by sliding it out of the cleat rails.

 

Looking forward to seeing it

 

Sub'd

 

Having spent decent amount of time with random stuff wedged into the bed, color me intrigued. every option more complicated than some rope has proved to be more pricy than it's worth to me.

Given that I am able to reach over the side of the bed and slide things around myself, I've generally found it acceptable just to secure stuff to the front of the bed with rope, and slide it to the rear of needed.

 

Sub'd ... Interesting idea(s) you've got going here Jake.

 

Think I'm going to grab some tubing today and fabricate a prototype..

Version 1 will hold a 24 Action Packer and two Jerry Cans.

It'll be expandable to another Action Packer (with another basket), that'll bolt to the frame.

 

I could use a better way of securing jerry cans. Been chaining them in, but that involves two items. A strap, and a chain with a padlock.

 

Yeah, for those without a swing out tire carrier, the options are fairly limited for securing them. I'll work out a lockable securing mechanism..

 

And if it can be made to bolt into the bed bolts of different types of trucks, that would be swell! Flat bar with holes to mount under said bolts, not that I've thought much about it, or have much experience. I'm better with theory.