Grassy Posted January 3, 2018 Report Share Posted January 3, 2018 We are moving into long timers and planning fairly long hauls. The DW was wondering if anyone has built or buy a storage system for all that wasted space on the back of our trucks. I don't think a totter box would work... Any help is appreciated.. Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DieselHP Posted January 3, 2018 Report Share Posted January 3, 2018 It all depends on what body you have on the back of your truck. Google "truck backpack toolbox" It sits on the rails behind the cab Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grassy Posted January 3, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2018 Other than a 5th hitch, nada. The toolbox is interesting but want something a lot larger than maybe runs from cab to the hitch. This is a really bad pic of the truck when I got it ..looks quite different now.. As long as I was under or away from the sweep of the 5th, I think I am ok.. but we don't want to block off the rear windows.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted January 3, 2018 Report Share Posted January 3, 2018 Depends on length of bed. I have some large under bed boxes but I have a 14' bed. I also have an HDT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grassy Posted January 3, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2018 Hi Glenn, The truck is in storage at the moment .. but I would think there is 6 foot between hitch and cab. Is there something off the shell or do I need to fabricate one ? I hate to resort to tupperware boxes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DieselHP Posted January 3, 2018 Report Share Posted January 3, 2018 Take a look at www.buyersproducts.com They have all kinds of truck storage boxes. Maybe something low to mount to the bed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted January 3, 2018 Report Share Posted January 3, 2018 (edited) I ordered my boxes from American Trucklboxes. They are heavy duty and built to my size. Mine are 30" deep, 26' tall. Have 2 60" long. One 28" long. Many build their own but I don't have a shop to work at. We full-time. Edited January 3, 2018 by GlennWest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad Heiser Posted January 3, 2018 Report Share Posted January 3, 2018 (edited) Be careful about putting boxes on the bed. You need a minimum of 55" of clearance forward of the 5th wheel hitch jaws, and preferably 60" just to be safe. This is calculated based on the widest possible 5th wheel trailer (102") divided by 2 (102/2=51). Then add a few inches for clearance (51+4=55). You need this clearance to allow for the trailer to go to 90 degrees to the truck when turning/backing. Measure the back of your cab to the 5th wheel hitch jaws (center point of the hitch) then subtract a minimum of 55" from that measurement. This is the widest box you can put up against the back of the cab on the bed of the truck. You also said you do not want to block the view from the rear window of your truck. This means the tallest your box can be is from the floor of the bed to the bottom of the window. With these two limiting measurements, you will quickly discover the largest box you can have on the bed of your truck. Edited January 3, 2018 by Chad Heiser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grassy Posted January 3, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2018 oh oh.... and crud. My 5th doesn't overhang the hitch. If the boxes were of lower height than the top of the pin box, I still could be in a position while backing up where contact could be made with the trailer. Glad I asked and when the snow starts to go away, I shall be measuring. Thanks all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted January 3, 2018 Report Share Posted January 3, 2018 Back window over stated. I have none. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWharton Posted January 3, 2018 Report Share Posted January 3, 2018 Google Stalick Conversion(no longer in business) and Mountain Master in Phoenix(I assume they are still in business). We had Stalick and loved all the storage plus we had our bikes on the toolbox in the bed. I don't think we had any 55" of space in front of the hitch. The most you wouldd need would be about half your trailer width. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad Heiser Posted January 3, 2018 Report Share Posted January 3, 2018 28 minutes ago, SWharton said: I don't think we had any 55" of space in front of the hitch. The most you wouldd need would be about half your trailer width. 51" is half a wide body 5er (102"). The extra 4 inches to get to 55 is for clearance when turning on uneven ground. You don't want your truck/trailer leaning into the other on an up hill/downhill turn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewacowboy Posted January 3, 2018 Report Share Posted January 3, 2018 We ended up installing a ProTech aluminum box on the back of ours. We purchased the 24" X 24" X 72" (20-2614DR) box with double doors. Mounted right behind the cab and has ample storage for our needs. Absolutely love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lenp Posted January 4, 2018 Report Share Posted January 4, 2018 My old International had a Highway Products bed that included a center storage area behind the cab that was probably 40"x30"x18" deep as well as shallow storage (6") over the wheel wells that had gull wing lids. TONS of storage. Have a look at https://www.highwayproducts.com/highwayman-rv-hauler-tow-body for some ideas. Tried to upload a photo of my old rig but system would not take it. Lenp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan0043 Posted January 4, 2018 Report Share Posted January 4, 2018 18 hours ago, GlennWest said: I ordered my boxes from American Trucklboxes. They are heavy duty and built to my size. Mine are 30" deep, 26' tall. Have 2 60" long. One 28" long. Many build their own but I don't have a shop to work at. We full-time. Hi Glenn, What material are your boxes made of ? Steel or aluminum ? Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grassy Posted January 4, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2018 Len, I like but I shutter at the possible cost of replacing by back deck... not sure if I am ready for that but they are nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted January 4, 2018 Report Share Posted January 4, 2018 1 hour ago, alan0043 said: Hi Glenn, What material are your boxes made of ? Steel or aluminum ? Al Mine are steel. They sell both. Weight is a plus on my truck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve from SoCal Posted January 4, 2018 Report Share Posted January 4, 2018 If you are looking for something inexpensive, consider 2 or 3 drawer lateral files behind the cab. They are not water tight but they are pretty well covered. Most lateral files are about 40" wide and 18-19" deep, two side by side would likely fit perfectly on your bed. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lenp Posted January 5, 2018 Report Share Posted January 5, 2018 Grassy, I was not suggesting you buy a new bed, just trying to give you some ideas. They are expensive - I think they are around $26K today. Lenp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grassy Posted January 5, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2018 11 hours ago, lenp said: Grassy, I was not suggesting you buy a new bed, just trying to give you some ideas. They are expensive - I think they are around $26K today. Lenp Len, I appreciated the link. I thought about it...they look good. We do have a metal fabricator locally ( he builds firetrucks / ambulances) .. he is booked a year in advance I think.. I talked to him a couple of years ago when I thought I could convert a mdt myself. What we now have above in this thread are ideas that my DW and I can thrash around which is move than we have when I asked the question. Thanks, Ian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lenp Posted January 6, 2018 Report Share Posted January 6, 2018 Good luck and have fun with the MTD! Lenp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobi and Dick McKee Posted January 6, 2018 Report Share Posted January 6, 2018 Have you looked at the ones designed for your rig and offered by Sportchassis? We have them on our 2015 and we have a ton of storage. There is one on each side of the bed and a massive one on the rear of the cab. http://www.sportchassis.com/options/exterior/saddle-bag-storage-unit http://www.sportchassis.com/options/exterior/bolt-on-storage-unit-treadplate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grassy Posted January 8, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2018 On 1/6/2018 at 6:10 AM, Bobi and Dick McKee said: Have you looked at the ones designed for your rig and offered by Sportchassis? We have them on our 2015 and we have a ton of storage. There is one on each side of the bed and a massive one on the rear of the cab. http://www.sportchassis.com/options/exterior/saddle-bag-storage-unit http://www.sportchassis.com/options/exterior/bolt-on-storage-unit-treadplate There is a lot of wasted space on the back...tapping into it like the honda truck did is interesting...but would have to be very waterproof.. Interesting. Thanks ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobi and Dick McKee Posted January 8, 2018 Report Share Posted January 8, 2018 Grassy, They are completely sealed and everything remains dry. The "saddle" storage along the side of the bed is very handy. Dick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JEEPOHOLIC Posted February 3, 2018 Report Share Posted February 3, 2018 https://www.pinterest.com/pin/551339179355067049/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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