Flatbed storage seals

[DeathTrap]

I built a flatbed for my ranger and welded in a custom storage box in the center, I have no idea on how to seal the top cover to keep water out, any ideas would be appreciated

 

[4x4prepper]

What I have learned is you can never keep water out of a tool box. In the "jobox" I installed in my B2, I drilled a 1/8" hole in each corner, and one along each edge, so it can self-drain. Since mice can supposedly squish through a 1/4" hole, I do not go up to 1/4". Though I drill 1/4" inch holes into the corners of my small hand held mobile tool boxes, since they are the ones most likely to receive a bunch of rain, and are more likely to collect gunk that could plug smaller holes. Inside my bigger boxes where I store food, I put them inside cookie tin cans and sometimes seal the edge with foil or masking tape for bugs.

On your box, I guess you are planning on a hinge and not lifting it off? I would drill 1/4"-3/8" holes in the lip area between the inner and outer wall, along the whole perimeter to drain water and muck.. Make a cover that recesses in between the gap. Put a tab on the cover and a tab at the back of the box inside the channel. Use the only combo lock worth having on it for security, Abus 190/60CS series 2.

I use eyelets on many of my boxes to help secure stuff with straps or bungees inside my boxes, though a welded on tab would be better. Putting a cut up rubber floor mat under floor jacks helps protect the finish.

If you take vacuum line, cut a slit down the middle and put it over the edge, when pressed down by the top it should create a good enough seal and prevent rattles.

 

[Blmpkn]

Can we talk about how super atmospheric that second picture is? Good God. I can smell the dabs just looking at it.

10/10 best picture I'll see today.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I thought it was burgers on the grill smokin up the place... or another foggy day in Washington... or the grease rag bucket was on fire?

Cool Flatbed... the split hose like mentioned above might do the trick. Or maybe even like a 3/4 heater hose (with no slit) just run around the channel. You can also look on Amazon... they have all kinds of weather stripping. You might just find something in the dimensions you need.

 

[Curious Hound]

I would drill drain holes in the gutter you built so rain doesn't build up there. Then install a rubber seal for the lid to seal against the inner lip.

 

[Ranger850]

Then install a rubber seal for the lid to seal against the inner lip.

some type of silicone gasket maker (that adheres to metal) - run a fat bead around the edge - let set -

 

[Blmpkn]

I thought it was burgers on the grill smokin up the place... or another foggy day in Washington... or the grease rag bucket was on fire?

Cool Flatbed... the split hose like mentioned above might do the trick. Or maybe even like a 3/4 heater hose (with no slit) just run around the channel. You can also look on Amazon... they have all kinds of weather stripping. You might just find something in the dimensions you need.

After noticing the smoke I looked through the rest of the pictures for clues.. dab rig and a bong can be seen in the first one

 

[Rimjam]

That's some really good fabrication work. Others are correct, almost impossible to keep a box like that completely dry.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I agree with drilling holes in both the bottom of the box and around the perimeter channel. I would also put in a false bottom to keep whatever up off the floor of the box. Maybe expanded metal would work? Or expanded metal with another flat plate or rubber deck on top?
It would be nice if the box was sunk so that when the lid is closed the flat deck is flat...

 

[Roert42]

The only way to keep this completely dry would be positive pressure in the box and a heater to prevent condensation.

 

[Snoranger]

If it was mine, I’d go pull the weatherstripping from the trunk of a Crown Vic out of the auction at work and use it to seal the inner box. I’d also drill drain holes in the outer channel.

 

[Shran]

What about drilling some drain holes and then using a waterproof storage box inside the box you built? I can never get things I build to seal up completely.

 

[Roert42]

A pelican case or similar on the inside would probably work well. Still have to deal with condensation.

 

[Curious Hound]

Really, the way it's built, I would feel confident with weatherstripping and drain holes in the channel. This is not a place where you should expect to achieve a hermetic seal good enough to protect valuable historic documents.

 

[Blmpkn]

Ah. Idea..

Weld 4 strips of metal perpendicular to the bottom side of the cover, just a whisker bigger than the size of the box itself.

That way when the cover is flat on the truck it fits over the inner structure like a shoe-box lid or something.