Since there’s been some interest in boxes for pickup beds, I snapped these photos on my bike trip. Didn’t get a chance to study them close-up, though.
If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. –James Madison
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I just built a set that looks a lot like the first set with two drawers for one of pick ups.
Heres what evolution had done for my pickup boxes. My first set were fairly simple and not real easy to work, had to make improvements.
I have a pull out on top because as I get older I hate having to crawl up into the cab to fetch the table saw or miter saw.
The pull out is rated for 500 lbs, I don't see putting that much weight up there either.
I have rollers for the drawers, they pull out almost as easy as the top shelf that is on a full extension drawer guide.
Doug
I'd post pictures of the ones I made, but frankly they suck compared to yours...
Next time I'm stealing that top slide out drawer idea.....
Next time I'm stealing that top slide out drawer idea.....
Have at it! I got the drawer guide from one of the mail order catalogs, Woodworkers Hardware I think, I think it cost me $230 but it was well worth it.
I can put my table saw, miter saw and both stands up there, plus other misc stuff and never have to crawl back to get any of it.
one plus side to these boxes is that with out the tools up on top no one can see any of the tools in your truck, out of sight, out of the criminals mind!
Doug
The out of sight for criminals is my second favorite feature... the first is the ability to haul material and easy access instead of having to crawl up inside.
Even at 230 for the slides it's a steal.
I also dado'd in slots for dividers every foot or so in the drawers.
Are those rollers along the bottom? How did you do that?
I just left enough slop in the drawer and raised the bottom panel up around 1/2" to cut down on friction.
I was thinking rather than dados in one of the drawers is to have lift out tool boxes, built to fit the drawer. Probably depends on what type of work you do, but if you do handyman type stuff, have a box for electrical, one for plumbing, etc.Another possibility is to have a long box for levels and the EZ-Smart guides that is only about 1/3 of the depth of the drawer, and then have dividers that slide into the dados, but the dividers have the corner cut out to accomadate the long box.
A slot for long items is also a good idea.
I cut some of the dividers a few inches short of the top of the drawer to lay level's etc in, but i like the slot idea more.
Neil
I thought about slots for dividers but opted for what Bryan suggested, I have three boxes that fit with in my boxes to handle stuff like sanders with sandpaper, router bits, ...... stuff that will get damaged or lost if not contained in a hard box. Also allows for changing out tools dependant on what job your doing. Don't always need all the router bits but always need other tools.
I'm trying to come up with a good idea for my levels and the EZ, something so that they fit in and cant slide around or get smashed by tools sliding around.
My rollers for the drawers are just a steel dowel with CPVC pipe around them. You want something that fits semi close, to loose and it doesn't seam to work as well - also get "stuff" built up in it. Ideally the CPVC, not that that's anything special its just what happened to fit the closest, will slide over the metal dowel rod with little or no play, then you affix the steel dowel rod.
I'm headed to Iowa this weekend for my sons wedding so I can get a close up of the way I did the bottoms. BTW, takes me all of five minutes to unload the whole thing.
***I have to start another post, I need to disable my anti-theft-device so that I can post pics! Cant do it once I've started the current post?
Doug
Edited 6/28/2006 3:47 pm ET by DougU
Heres the pictures of the inside of the box and the bottom.
You can see the short little sides that are mounted on the inside of the box sides, these are my answer to "cutting down on friction"
These little sides are also what captures the steel dowel that I use for rollers, those and the center dividers is what holds them down.
I cut slots in the bottom pieces so that the CPVC is free to roll easy.
On my first box I had the brilliant idea to use plumbing nipples on steal dowels for rollers, I didn't know that there was a seam on the inside of a nipple! Although my drawers rolled in and out more easily then with out they were no where near as nice as these.
You do got to be careful of taking off with the tail gate down, I can tell you first hand what happens, actually I can tell you about it three times!!!
WARNING; Those boxes are damn heavy when your out in the road trying to get them back up in the truck before someone comes along and either hits you or your boxes!
Doug
Very nice!
I used to have a similar set up, without the sliding top shelf. Been thinking every now and then about going back to it.
the problems I had were stuff falling off the upper part and down in front of the wheel wells. I Didn't have a side access cap. And having to crawl in to get stuff out from way in front. But your sliding shelf would take care of that.
Ever have problems with jobsite debris getting stuck in the tracks for the upper shelf?
Bowz
Bowz
Ever have problems with jobsite debris getting stuck in the tracks for the upper shelf?
I've had this box now for about 2 years and I do notice the guide rail maybe getting a bit sluggish. I have taken compressed air and gave it a quick dusting, seam to help but if it really got bad, which it really hasnt, I could easily take the shelf off and clean the guides. I assume the grease from the slides will pick up saw dust, especially if your doing most of your cutting right next to the truck.
Doug