Truck Bed Storage options?

[The Cramblersons]

I've got an '02 F350 longbed with a Kobalt truck box mounted in the fwd end of the bed. It carries a bit of stuff but its a PIA to get items in and out of without climbing into the bed. I have seen some cool roll out truck bed storage designs but none that will accommodate a 5th wheel hitch installed.

So what do you guys all do for SECURELY hauling additional supplies or tools with you so you're not eating up precious basement space in your rig?

[aguablanco]

Don't have a 5'r but......I had plenty of work trucks when I owned my garage door business. We built slide out drawers out of plywood and 2x4's. While ours spanned the entire bed, I believe they could be made to fit low on either side if the hitch. Fortunately we didn't have to worry too much about weather in Phoenix. YMMV
RichH

[ATCguy]

Originally Posted by The Cramblersons

I've got an '02 F350 longbed with a Kobalt truck box mounted in the fwd end of the bed. It carries a bit of stuff but its a PIA to get items in and out of without climbing into the bed. I have seen some cool roll out truck bed storage designs but none that will accommodate a 5th wheel hitch installed.

So what do you guys all do for SECURELY hauling additional supplies or tools with you so you're not eating up precious basement space in your rig?

I hear you, brother... I had the same thoughts a few years ago after I began full-timing. Being on the roads for years at a time (as opposed to weeks or months), I obviously had a need to bring along extra supplies.

I began researching various options, the most obvious being either...

- a folding hard-frame tonneau cover that I could "theoretically" lock when ever I wasn't actively towing

- or a cross-frame "V-notch" gooseneck box on the floor of the rear of the bed.

Well, the tonneau option required more hardware & hassle than I preferred... especially the chore of having to fold/unfold it every time I moved... and the gooseneck box just didn't provide as much storage area as I wanted. So, I began thinking outside the box, as it were.

What I came up with is smaller ATV boxes, mounted longitudinally at the rear, so as not to interfere with king-pin access to the 5th wheel.



They fit the area nicely... have ample storage capacity... and like the truck box at the front, come equipped with locks.

To install, I measured & drilled 3 holes into the bottom of the boxes... lined them up in the bed where I planned to install them... then inserted 3 threaded inserts ("nut-serts") for each side on top of the bed ribs.



After that, it was a simple as using a fender washer & split washer for each nut... tightening them down... and Wha-Lah!!... more lockable storage.



They've been on my truck for about 5 years now, and they've never given me an issue.

[dsol]

@ATCguy— I notice a few things about you. 1. You are pretty handy/capable when it comes to designing and building stuff, 2. You bought a truck with a ton of payload capacity as those boxes you added must have the ability to hold a few hundred pounds of crap each and 3. You are probably a measure twice cut once kind of guy.

Just out of curiosity what is your payload and axle/tongue weight capacity? I can’t tell from the pics of that is a dually but I am guessing it is.

Nice work—I am jealous.

[ATCguy]

Originally Posted by dsol

... You are probably a measure twice cut once kind of guy.

Just out of curiosity what is your payload and axle/tongue weight capacity? I can’t tell from the pics of that is a dually but I am guessing it is...

Oh, I’ve made my share of blunders... don’t you doubt it. That said, yeah, I do try to plan things out pretty good before I start. The biggest thing though is not being afraid to try something... AND... to abandon it & try something else if your original plan doesn’t meet your needs, or just isn’t working out as you hoped. To borrow a line from an old movie... “The world is what you make of it... if it doesn’t fit, you make alterations.”

I find that especially true for my RV & motorcycles.

Anyway, to answer your question... yeah, the truck is a dually. I began towing the rig with an F-250... but after a couple of “hairy” 9% grade descents on wet & curvy roads, I soon upgraded to the F-450 I have now, which is a far more stable ride.



The truck rolls off if the assembly line with a weight of just over 8,000 lbs... and has a GVWR of 14,000 lbs. That leaves plenty of payload capacity at just under 6,000 lbs.

The actual factory spec numbers break down as follows:

Curb Weight - Front
4794*lbs

Curb Weight - Rear
3508*lbs

Gross Axle Wt Rating - Front
5940*lbs

Gross Axle Wt Rating - Rear
9100*lbs

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
14000*lbs

Gross Combined Wt Rating
33000*lbs

Fifth Wheel Hitch - Max Trailer Wt.
24700*lbs

[Kdenby17]

I run a short box Tundra and a small TT with little storage space and like to carry some tools with for a just case moment.

Just put in a Swingcase on the passenger side. They’re available for driver’s side as well and rated for 300 lbs, waterproof, lockable, removable.

[The Cramblersons]

Originally Posted by Kdenby17

I run a short box Tundra and a small TT with little storage space and like to carry some tools with for a just case moment.

Just put in a Swingcase on the passenger side. They’re available for driver’s side as well and rated for 300 lbs, waterproof, lockable, removable.

Attachment 6736

Attachment 6737

Nice. These seem like the easiest, for sure. And, though ATCGuy is rocking the dually F450 with oddles of payload capacity, my '02 F350 has it's payload limitations, even with air bags.

[The Cramblersons]

Originally Posted by ATCguy

Oh, I’ve made my share of blunders... don’t you doubt it. That said, yeah, I do try to plan things out pretty good before I start. The biggest thing though is not being afraid to try something... AND... to abandon it & try something else if your original plan doesn’t meet your needs, or just isn’t working out as you hoped. To borrow a line from an old movie... “The world is what you make of it... if it doesn’t fit, you make alterations.”

I find that especially true for my RV & motorcycles.

Anyway, to answer your question... yeah, the truck is a dually. I began towing the rig with an F-250... but after a couple of “hairy” 9% grade descents on wet & curvy roads, I soon upgraded to the F-450 I have now, which is a far more stable ride.

Attachment 6717 Attachment 6718

The truck rolls off if the assembly line with a weight of just over 8,000 lbs... and has a GVWR of 14,000 lbs. That leaves plenty of payload capacity at just under 6,000 lbs.

The actual factory spec numbers break down as follows:

Curb Weight - Front
4794*lbs

Curb Weight - Rear
3508*lbs

Gross Axle Wt Rating - Front
5940*lbs

Gross Axle Wt Rating - Rear
9100*lbs

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
14000*lbs

Gross Combined Wt Rating
33000*lbs

Fifth Wheel Hitch - Max Trailer Wt.
24700*lbs

Looks like the F-450 is the perfect TV for the Voltage rigs. I need to look deeper into one of those.
P.S. - I'm an EAA Member, Glastar builder, and Stinson 108 owner. Thanks for your former efforts keeping me and my friends safe in the sky!

[ATCguy]

Originally Posted by The Cramblersons

P.S. - I'm an EAA Member, Glastar builder, and Stinson 108 owner. Thanks for your former efforts keeping me and my friends safe in the sky!

Nice!!

I miss playing with you guys... I never got to work Oshkosh, but did work the Sun-N-Fun shows down in Lakeland way back in '92 & '93. They wore pink shirts up north... we wore orange down south.

Long days, and lots of fun in the Florida sun!!

[Badger]

Just joined and came across this post. I know it's from 6 months ago but thought I would share. It's not a ton of storage but it will work for us. Allows the 5th wheel to have full range of motion, stays covered when not hooked up. Can be opened while your feet are firmly on the ground only 6 inches from the edge of the truck bed, and its lockable. Its meant to go hand in hand with the tonneau cover that flips open from the cab end, just to access the tool box. Really liking it a lot.

[Badger]

We live 2 blocks from the Oshkosh airport. The flight line is directly in line with my street. I have a front row seat. Well, I did. We are selling soon and gonna miss the show for sure.

[The Cramblersons]

Originally Posted by Badger

We live 2 blocks from the Oshkosh airport. The flight line is directly in line with my street. I have a front row seat. Well, I did. We are selling soon and gonna miss the show for sure.

Nice! I had a great time at Airventure this year (as always). Oshkosh is a great little town (or bug city for a week!)