Why plano cases on roof?

Black wheels and nerf bars right?

You described at least 5 I see any and every time I get in my vehicle and go somewhere.

They're all over Costco and Target; now I just prefer to get stuff from Sam's Club.

 

My calendar must be wrong. Is it Friday?

 

nerf bars = doesn’t off road

 

Exactly

But yeah your tune changed, but you're making perfect sense

Don't have to justify yourself to anyone

If it's any consolation, my Roam case was grey and the items inside were never even warm

Had used it on our long trips to go out camping so it'd sit out in the sun on the roof the whole week or weekend we were out each time

 

You could always paint the cases a lighter color or with one of the elastomeric paints for RVs, etc. Yeah, it wears off, even if you use a plastic primer, but if you're actually driving anywhere other than the open desert, branches and stuff are going to hit it anyways. Touch up is easy, and it's a truck.

I rarely use my Yakima box, but when I do it's only lightweight stuff like clothing, sleeping bags, paddling gear, etc. and the heat isn't going to hurt it for the short periods it's in use. I wouldn't leave my wetsuits or sleeping bags in there all the time, but there's always at least one sleeping bag in the back of my truck with a shell and I've never had any issues with it.

 

lmao ran out of room in my truck nothing to justify
gonna see if I can use the spare smooth plywood from my truckbed
to make foldable rear seat flat deck like the Kflo videos (that can still be sat on if needed)

ran

$761 Dometic CFX3 35 Portable Refrigerator and Freezer - 36L - Powered by AC/DC or Solar Portable Refrigerator, Smokey Gray

Dometic CFX3 35 in back right seat at an angle, was not cool having it on stock seat
because the tilt makes stuff fall over and raises it higher to roof restricting lid opening

Roam looks nice but hard to justify the price over ~$170 HFT Apache 9800 or used Pelican

I thought about it.
Black might blend in better. Probably hold cooking stuff, blanket, recovery equipment, etc. - anything that seems like it could handle some heat
would likely be long term

could scuff up the top and paint tan...so it's not standing out from the sides

 

He might have his weed in there...

 

Why does anyone need a bike rack!?! I mean it’s like hey look, steal these bikes!

 

There's a Tundra up the street here that does the same thing. Rotopax galore for trips to he local church and grocery store. If you're going to run out of fuel on a three mile round trip, you should probably plan better....

 

Paint them?

 

One of the only shovel axe mounts I’ve found is on eBay for $50

problem is it would require drilling permanent holes in the side of a rack.
And also not be adjustable.
It’s tricky to find a good shovel axe holding position.

an L shaped bracket connecting to cross bar bolts would be better. If they made one.
Spaced out a bit. Even tilted upward at an angle.





However, the fact this guy fit Apache’s on a short access cab Prinsu (might even be shorter than Sherpa)
Tells me with storage atop a double cab (longer)
There may be room to put ‘Sherpa quick fist mounts” that they do make. Sideways. Two of them.

unfortunately there’s only one cross bar all the way back. Either I add another, or stagger axe and shovel next to each other and hope they fit. Running sideways behind everything. To avoid drilling and have removable adjustability.

But that would push the rest (cargo boxes) forward.
So the question is, does cargo box position matter?
I imagine they look better somewhat pushed backwards to flow with the angle of the front rack fairing. Rather than set all the way up front and jutting straight up. That’s probably less streamlined as well.
Which just so happens to be how the above pic has them set (all the way forward)

this black truck doesn’t count because it’s a small case but these pics still show what appears the boxes tucked back to be in line with the front fairing angle or behind it

 

How do you all run the cases re: foam?

Apache 9800 comes with:
-lid, eggcrate
-middle, pullapart
-bottom, solid flat

foam can protect items and prevent loose rattling
but further reduces space in an already thin case...

I might try relocating the eggcrate to the bottom and throwing the rest out
so that stuff can at least sit on it and stay put...

 

Because freedom.

 

Cause I have a truck with a truck bed so I store it on top my truck so my bed is empty..helps with UV rays...theft...and improves the handling of my truck in turns..lol

 

I live in a humid state that has frequent rain showers and I noticed that my tools that I keep in the pelican roof box were severely rusted. I almost lost my air compressor up there too. When I pulled everything out to start cleaning and rust busting, I noticed standing water in the case. What is everyone doing to keep moisture down in the case? I was hoping that the vent would keep moisture out and the seal around the lid looks serviceable. I thought about throwing in some desiccant packets but that would be a temporary fix. I also thought about drilling some drain holes in the rear of the case but that wouldn't really prevent moisture from sticking. It would allow for standing water to drain though. I took all the metal stuff back out and store them back in the cab of the truck but I'd really like to get it back up above the truck again. My kids are starting to need more legroom. Pelican has these copper sponge looking things but I don't think they control water buildup.

-J

 

how are they mounted. is the water coming in from the bottom? if its a real pelican case it should be water tight. they even have on may of their boxes pics of people swimming with them my massive sea tote does anyway and im sure its been on other cases ive purchased in the past as well. make sure the hasps are down. and locked. one way to check things might be to empty the box out. and put a camera in there and a light and then blast the case with some water from the hose see where you ingress is. my bet would be from the bottom since you've likely drilled holes in for the rack mounting. may need new gaskets and a metric ton of black RVT on the bolts

 

tbh idk how to work the valve and need to figure it out on my Apache 9800’s. It screws by hand in and out. I’m guessing screwed In is sealed.

I’ll check inside to see if they’re wet. Mounting is drilled holes, bolts, with rubber backed washers to seal. Some desiccant packs inside.

gonna move the eggcrate foam in the lid to the bottom

water definitely pools in the top grid design outside after rain then pours off down the windshield when the truck starts moving.

I’d imagine if it’s wet inside then the case isn’t working as designed or advertised

hopefully the sealing gasket area isn’t designed in a way that pools water on it

maybe it’s worth trying hydrating the gasket with a product so it’s kind of wet and helps seal. Maybe the gasket wore out?

I imagine sun heat didn’t deform it

maybe it can be leak tested. Either air pressure inside somehow spraying soapy water outside
Or probably easier; submerging it in a filled bathtub to watch for air

though unbolting from roof rack to do that would be a pain

 

If it’s condensation you’ll have a hard time keeping up with it though you might be able to reduce it. Your windshield defrost setting activates the AC to dry the air but a Plano case has neither ventilation nor a defrost setting. You could try cycling tubs of desiccant in pint size servings along with a towel but while the stuff can be dried and reused I’ve no idea how often you’d need to change it. 2-4 16oz sour cream tubs with the lid replaced by cloth held by a rubber band is how I’d start. Swapping 4 once a week could get old though. If it turns out to need only a couple swapped twice a season that seems manageable. YMMV

 

I run two cases (black) on my topper rack with MaxTrax mounted in between, I am in New Mexico and temps here easily hit 110+, I have not noticed any warpage of the cases or issues with my recovery gear I keep within them. cases are locked as are my maxtrax. if somebody wants in them or wants the maxtrax bad enough they will do what it takes. more of a deterrent than anything. I run a decked system inside the bed for tools, air up/down equipment, hammocks, sleeping bags, cook stove, awning, etc. The cases uptop are for recovery gear in one that supplements my winch (tree strap, soft shackles, kinetic strap, snatch block, and the other case has (axe, crowbar, tree saw etc.)

 

how’s everyone store tools in their boxes?

I’ve got a basic DeWalt Costco kit for the truck that’s been useful
Probably need to add more tools since it skips sizes and doesn’t have more things like breaker bar etc and probably isn’t enough to handle a trail side CV repair



longways the case is like 2” too wide to fit into the Apache 9800 to get it out of the cabin
The case is organized but may not be that needed and wastes space

looking at XL Voyager tool bag or trying to find something similar cheaper as it’s $100 for a cloth bag…