Interior Toolbox

[02RangerXLT]

Well, I am wanting to have some better storage for the inside of my pickup without having my jack, air compressor, cables and all that stuff roll around on the floor, so I began to do some measuring and drawing to see what I wanted to do for storage. I have always had this idea in my head, I just haven't done any detailed drawings yet, and this is what I have come up with. I haven't built anything yet, I need to wait until the drifts get plowed out of the way to be able to go to the hardware store. I was wondering what everyone thought I should build this out of, I was leaning towards wood. What size should I use? Should I just use plywood? What about lids, should I have one big lid, or a couple smaller ones.

FWIW: I'll be putting my hydraulic jack, jumper cables, portable air compressor, hitches and tow rope in this.

Now, if this box was going to go the full width of a cab, it would be a 100/0, but since it runs part way, this is just like 60/40 seats if that makes any sense.

Heres the picture:

Questions, comments and chit chat welcome!

 

[jasongind]

I like the idea of that but I use my back area to much to do that. I bet you could use 1/2" ply for the walls, and 1"x2" for the frame. I would definitely cover it with the same color carpet though to retain that stock interiot look. on the lids I think I would use the same material, with a few more 1"x2" width wise for support, and internal hindges.

 

[02RangerXLT]

I like the idea of that but I use my back area to much to do that. I bet you could use 1/2" ply for the walls, and 1"x2" for the frame. I would definitely cover it with the same color carpet though to retain that stock interiot look. on the lids I think I would use the same material, with a few more 1"x2" width wise for support, and internal hindges.

Well, I use my interior too, I may do it just a couple inches shorter, all I ever use the drivers side of my super-cab for is to put my gym bag there, but that isn't very tall so it could go on top of it. Yeah, I was thinking 3/8" plywood for the sides, 1/2" for the bottom, and I don't know whether I should actually frame it or not... I would probably "split it in half" with plywood to create two compartments.

Now I will have a place to put my mag-lite brackets.

I was thinking, instead of carpet, I could take herculiner and put that on it...?

 

[jasongind]

I like to frame all my stuff like that in, just personal preferance. The two compartment thing is a good idea. You could also run a support/frame around one of the compartments half way up, then build a little insert box to sit on top of that with like some looped rope handle to lift it back out to hold other small items. Then youd double your "floor surface storage area" in that one side. If that makes any sense?

 

[02RangerXLT]

I like to frame all my stuff like that in, just personal preferance. The two compartment thing is a good idea. You could also run a support/frame around one of the compartments half way up, then build a little insert box to sit on top of that with like some looped rope handle to lift it back out to hold other small items. Then youd double your "floor surface storage area" in that one side. If that makes any sense?

Well, maybe one "compartment" could be the full depth, then one could be split for shorter things... because my hydraulic jack needs a full 8" to sit in...

Yeah, I'm not sure how to proceed with framing, framing takes up alot of space lol. maybe make a box-frame for the lower half, and then just build the box on top of that... that would save having to cut curved pieces anyway...

 

[jasongind]

well the framing would all be internal to the box and not take much room at all. its only 1" thick and runs the perimeter of the box. The curved part can be done with a few short pieces. But then again if its not going to have anything of signifigant weight in it you dont even have to worry about framing it. With the bi-level compartment, yeah I just mentioned doin one side. Always want to have one full depth one and if need be you can temporarly remove the "drawer" and youd have two full depth compartments.
Just thought of this, for the diveder of the two halves. If you use the 1/2"x1" board and attach it to the fron and back of the box, slightly wider then the plywood you use for the divider, you can just set the diver in and it would be removable to utilize the entire length of the box if need be. Possibilites are almost endless for versitility on something like this.

 

[02RangerXLT]

Yeah, I think it would be cool to frame the whole box, and then, on the side that you can access from the 4th door, have half of one level be pull out drawers?

It would be a little bit expensive, but I could put some of these in the lid of the box :
http://www.visionxusa.com/led/pods/
They'd be pretty handy for digging around in it at night...

 

[jasongind]

That would be pretty neat and useful if you have a lot of smaller items you carry with you. Although your looking at quiet a bit of time to fabricate that up. It might not be to bad actually. Just get some of the metal drawer rails from home depot or old desk and mount them to a drawer you make. Then youd have nice smooth slided drawers.

Man, this is making me want to stop by the lumber yard on the way home and put hte compressor and nail gun to use just for the hell of it lol.

 

[02RangerXLT]

haha glad my idea can lead to persuasion

So as it stands, heres what I'm thinking as far as construction goes:

• Frame the main skeleton with 1x1's all except for the long "beams" that would have to be used for the uppermost part of the skeleton, because that would be in the way when you're trying to reach for things, and wouldn't look as "clean".

• For the "box" part of it, take some 1/4" plywood and use drywall screws to attach it to the frame.

So I think thats the basic part of it... Build an interior frame and mount the "walls" to the outside of it, right?

 

[02RangerXLT]

I'm making these posts for my planning purposes, so bear with me with the double posts lol.

http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-5253399658814_2075_13434215

This looks like a great way to put LED's in this toolbox, that way you can adjust them to the height your lid is lifted. Also, I was debating about whether or not I should get some air-assist cylinders for it like a regular toolbox has. Good idea or bad? I think it would be nice to keep the lid up, then I would also have to do some framing on the lid, but I would not be opposed to doing that.

Thanks for your input on this project!

 

[jasongind]

I think lights are a definit must. Those (linked lights) look kind of big though. Since I like to do some soldering and wiring I would just go to Radio Shack and get a few bread boards, leds, resistors, wire, and switches. Then mount the leds under the framing rails so they dont take any more room, and intall a push style switch so when the lid is closed it would turn off the lights (and on when opened).
The accuators are also a real good idea, would definitly increase the ease foactor.

 

[02RangerXLT]

Yeah I'm not sure, I'd prefer to have a manual switch for the lights since theres no reason to have them turn on in the day time.

Should I box the frame completely, just like my picture shows?

 

[jasongind]

I would box it completly and cover it in the stock or black carpeting like mentioned before.
You could do the same set up on leds just with a manuel switch. For ease of installation you can mount power with a 9v or two aa or aaa batteries (just something 3v or more but less then 12v) in a carrier (also found at Radio Shack), or even the rechargable battery from a cordless telephone (usually 3.6v)to power the leds. They will run of any of those battery(s) for hundreds and hundreds of hours.

 

[02RangerXLT]

Ok, 10-4... do 1x1's sound like they'd be good for the framing?

 

[snoman6115]

good enuf. i built a little 16x16x10 ish box for the back of my cab to hold all the shit from my toolbox and jsut used some 3/4" wood ripped to 1" strips and like 1/4" plywood that was bein thrwon out at work. cost me nuttin adn took maybe 20 mins to do. then put some 4 in long 2x2" on the side for handles so i can take it out int eh summer or wenever