fabbing a tool box?

[baxtej44]

Let's start off saying that I've never worked with metal, welding, or really any fabbing. However, I'd love to learn!!

How difficult would it be to fab up a tool box for my ranger? What materials/equpiment would I need?

I would want it to be lockable, with hinged lids.. either one on each side to open up towards the middle.. or one big one that opens up towards the cab.

 

[rockwerks]

Let's start off saying that I've never worked with metal, welding, or really any fabbing. However, I'd love to learn!!

How difficult would it be to fab up a tool box for my ranger? What materials/equpiment would I need?

I would want it to be lockable, with hinged lids.. either one on each side to open up towards the middle.. or one big one that opens up towards the cab.

How big? dimensions? how deep? hang on bed or flat on bed floor? You need to be much more specific if you wish help.

Also steel would be out to make a box out of. the weight would be too massive.

 

[AllanD]

If you want a Big one that opens towards the cab you can use a cheat of monumental nature...

If you are thinking right you don't need a "front", "sides" or "Bottom"...

You can use the Bed's headgatem the sides and the floor of the bed that are already there.

IF you use an actual toolbox you waste space...
the space between the toolbox and the inside of the bed.

You need to make a bulkhead across the bed and a Lid.

OR atleast that's how I made mine

Of course then I went and just about completely filled
the "toolbox" with a 40gallon fuel tank

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[baxtej44]

How big? dimensions? how deep? hang on bed or flat on bed floor? You need to be much more specific if you wish help.

Also steel would be out to make a box out of. the weight would be too massive.

i wasn't specific because i am just wondering about the process... not asking for design plans........?

If you want a Big one that opens towards the cab you can use a cheat of monumental nature...

If you are thinking right you don't need a "front", "sides" or "Bottom"...

You can use the Bed's headgatem the sides and the floor of the bed that are already there.

IF you use an actual toolbox you waste space...
the space between the toolbox and the inside of the bed.

You need to make a bulkhead across the bed and a Lid.

OR atleast that's how I made mine

Of course then I went and just about completely filled
the "toolbox" with a 40gallon fuel tank

AD

how would i attach it securely if i didn't have a bottom? the sides that hang over the bed rails? how secure would that be? not questioning, just wondering.


i kinda like the idea of being able to take it out and change it over or something... but i like the creativeness of not having to have the extra weight of a back, sides, and bottom.



i would want it to be over the bed rails though.

 

[AllanD]

Angle stock bolted to the bed deck that the vertical panel mounts to.

The top is hinged at the front any good fabrication supply has "piano hinge"

There is no need for it to "hang over the side" of the bed, the top of
my lid is flush with the bed rails.

and since the lid is made of Aluminum diamond plate it matches the diamond
plate bedrail caps and FULL diamond plate tailgate cover.

I haven't made my diamond plate deck yet, but I already have a 4'x8' sheet
of 7/32" dimond plate to make it from....

For me aluminum diamond plate isn't a "fashion statement"
and anyone who thinks it is can help me shovel the next load
of coal out of my truck...

I can also put my topper on and leave the "tool box" alone.

I didn't really "Fabricate" my box, the "lid" was the lid off a crossbed
box for a fullsize truck, I simply cut it down to the size I needed.

the "Face" of the box I cut out of a piece of diamnd plate I got
from a scrap yard.


I have latches to put on it I just haven't installed them yet.
my latches are "toggle latches" like you see on the back
"hatch" of a topper

And FWIW my toolbox latches are keyed alike with the latches on my
aluminum topper. Of course my Topper has side doors as well as a two
latch back "door", so there are SIX latches all keyed alike on my truck...


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[901wd]

sounds cool any pics?

 

[AllanD]

I'll actually take PICS when I finish it.
and in this weather I'm not even working on it.

But it does require adding metal to the bed that won't be seen...

I added 1" x 1/8" steel flatbar under the lip of the bedrail (full lenght of the bed)
and a piece of 1.5" by 3/16" flat bar across the cab side of the headgate (front bulkhead.)

The rail reinforcements actually tie into the front crosspiece because I put
a 90degree bend and riveted them together through the headgate.

I did all that when mounting tiedowns to inside of the bed rails.
a friend used the same tie hardware on his truck without the
steel reinfocement that I recommended and managed to tear
chunks of the bedrail off the truck... Oops!

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[that_one_guy]

My advice would be to go sit in the bed of your truck and take measurements and draw up a picture of you want. then break it down into sections and take your time and and think it through. dont get all willy nilly. it RARELY works out lol. Good luck

 

[AllanD]

Remember the K.I.S.S. principle.

the simpler the design the easier it is to fabricate.

The "Rear" of my box is a shape that is being cut from a cardboard template
the top is basically a flat sheel with a 90degree 1.5" bend at the back.

Did I fabricate it? Well.... Not exactly...

I saw the possiblies in a larger piece (a saddle box made for a full size truck)
and simply trimmed away what I didn't need with a sawsall.

But with the addition of a 52" piece of angle stock I could have easily made
it from a couple of pieces of flat sheet.

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