Truck Bed Storage Ideas

[lpk49]

this is a good thread. terry r i like a lot of your ideas and see how they can help

its different for me now with the smaller truck...i can actually reach in and get something from the side-not possible with the full size truck. so i am wondering about a cap with side windows etc.

[carlkeigley]

I had purchased a new LEER 180 cap.
I did get the front window option that opens to clean the truck window.

Members suggested the doorwindows. I didn't go for them because our
budget was really tight at the time. But now I am thinking of revisiting
those suggestions as earlier in this thread. May get my windows replaced
in the future. It would definitely be a big help. Almost a necessity.

I will be getting some kind of storage system..............SOON...........lol.

If I build it I'll document it. And it may be just as easy with tubs as suggested.

[Donna D.]

I have an A.R.E. canopy (love it!) and when I ordered it I thought about the door windows. But, I was thinking if the item(s) I needed were at floor level and heavy, I'd never be able to pick it up and get it out the window without bashing the canopy. Then, I might as well just crawl in and get what I need. Doesn't happen often, for sure. And, I consider it exercise

YMMV

[carlkeigley]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

I have an A.R.E. canopy (love it!) and when I ordered it I thought about the door windows. But, I was thinking if the item(s) I needed were at floor level and heavy, I'd never be able to pick it up and get it out the window without bashing the canopy. Then, I might as well just crawl in and get what I need. Doesn't happen often, for sure. And, I consider it exercise

YMMV

You have a point Donna.
Seems there's always the need for "planning." lol
Seen your cap.........love it.

[Ed Harris]

Well the nice thing is that the Windoors are a direct replacement for the standard windows as just like our trailers there are few manufacturers of the windows.

I drove to Indiana where my shell was made and it was an hour job to switch them out.

You can look at them any way you need to but.....they have changed my life and for the better.
It is not a small difference in any way and even if I can not drag things through the window all the time they are much easier to to the rear with the fully opened side.

On the other hand I use the truck for work too and am moving things in there all the time,it just makes it so much better when I need to switch over from work to play to be able to do most of the moving without having to get in the bed at all.

For me they are simply another tool.

Either way I would urge you to get the shell and live with it for a while and see what you think then,none of this may matter and it is tough to tell before trying it sometimes.

Ed

[Terry R.]

We do have a truck cap, thus the need for the garden tool. Something I forgot to add in my previous post. terry r.

[carlkeigley]

Originally Posted by Terry R.

We do have a truck cap, thus the need for the garden tool. Something I forgot to add in my previous post. terry r.

I do use a hoe or rake when at home. Why I didn't think to take something with me must be the senior moments that follow me around. I even have a shepherds staff I could take so people would think it was a walking stick. lol.

Now I'm more comfortable with the tub ideas while I'm making up my mind as to what my semi-permanent solution will be. Even a thin sheet of ply on the floor would help as those ridges are really hard on the knees.

I can tie a rope on my spare, pile the jack, etc. on the tire and pull it out if need ever arises (God forbid). Friends are telling me to join AAA since it's really hard for me to change tires.

[ColoRockiesFan]

The ridges in my truck bed were killing my knees too. I got a Bedrug. It's fantastic!

http://www.bedrug.com/products/bed-m...-in-liner.html

[carlkeigley]

I've got my graph paper out. I now have an official rectangle drawn ready for measuring my bed. What I need now is for daylight tomorrow and my inhaler so I can crawl around in the bed with my tape measure.

Here's one very simple design. Most these guys build their boxes for tools.
I want mine for "CAMPING!!!!"

Pictures DIY - Bed Storage system for my truck

I kinda like this guys version:
http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/how...tem/index.html

I do know my needs will dictate something completely different than everyone else's.

[carlkeigley]

It's been 23 days and I'm about where I was then..............LOL.

But I do keep having thoughts from time to time on every issue I have.
Today, I went out and practiced a couple ideas I've had until I'm strong
enough to make what I want. But I think I have a good "camping" solution.

This I don't know if it was a day thought or a dream session?
I looked in the corner of my office and here was this plastic folding table.
Plastic on plastic........hmm. That would do as a slide without spending $$$$$.

So I put four folding chairs on the table and secured with a bungee cord.
On top of them I put two dining canopies I found at K-Mart on sale. ($37 each)
In the legs of the chairs I placed a 5-gallon water can. On the end of the table
still clear, I placed two scissor-jacks. On top of that I placed a basket with all
my hookup accessories. 50-30A. adaptor. 30' 30A extension. 30-15A adaptor,
15-30A adaptor. 90* water attachment. Grey water hose,
10' and 30' drinking water hoses, water filter, water pressure valve. I can reach
the end of the table and drag it back to the tailgate.



Next to the table I put a milk basket with my emergency supplies (tools & first-aid kit).
And next to it was room for my fishing tackle box in front of the passenger wheel-well.



Then I took a tub I had been storing all my hunting hats and put 3 rod & reels, a portable rod & reel kit and other fishing gizmos.



Then I found a tub my wife was using and commandeered it for "accessories."
And four smaller tubs will fit inside the larger one. Same dimensions as my
fishing tub so it fits nicely on top. I strapped them together along with my fly-
rod on top of them.



At the back of the bed is room for the Honda 2000 generator, ice chest, and spare
tire for the trailer.



And I followed the advice of some posters and got a hoe to reach to the
back. That really made a difference.

[Terry R.]

Carl, looks like you got is all organized, looks good. If you decide you don't like the point of the hoe, there is a similar item that is narrower, not sharp and rounded on the end. I am not sure what it is called though. I don't know if they even make them anymore. I will check Lehman's for them and see what they are called. terry r.

[carlkeigley]

Good idea. I'm thinking I may even have a hoe around here some where that the
blade has broken off. That would be perfect as just a hook. If not, I've got several
grinders I could grind it all down to a flat rounded "hook."...........lol.

[KevinPete]

Looks good, Carl. Milk crates are a good way to organize by task/need. Shuffling them around in the bed is a pain, and they tend to slide if you have a bedliner. You could always just put a few turns of "the handyman's secret weapon" on the blade of the hoe to keep from scratching stuff. While you're at it, get a cheap or free LED flashlight and tape it to the hoe so you can see what you're grabbing in the dark.

[carlkeigley]

That's a good idea Kevin. I've got 2 or 3 of those freebies from Harbor Freight.
A little electrical tape and I'm in business. And I can see who I'm hacking to death.

[ThomasE]

I have a "getter" stick that is basically a broken broom stick with a plastic coated hook at the end, such as a bike hook. Handy for getting things that have slid too far forward to reach by hand.

[carlkeigley]

That's another great idea Thomas.
Stick, plastic coated hook, two screws and I'm in business.
Thanks

EDIT: I just noticed you said bike hook.
That could be screwed into the end. I already
have similar hooks around here. I'm in business.

[KevinPete]

Originally Posted by carlkeigley

That's a good idea Kevin. I've got 2 or 3 of those freebies from Harbor Freight.
A little electrical tape and I'm in business. And I can see who I'm hacking to death.

Those were the flashlights I was thinking of. The free screwdriver set is nice, too!

I've switched to Gorilla tape for most things, much stickier and stronger.

Maybe some midnight gardening?

I have the tap and die set for broom handles, you could put just about anything you want on the end. I did think of one of those big vinyl-covered hooks, or you could get a hoe that the blade broke off (doesn't everybody have a few?) and dip it in Plasti-Dip, another one of my favorite substances.

[carlkeigley]

I agree...............I picked up a screwdriver set last visit. lol.
I get mailers all the time, so I can pick up several junk items
and usually have the 20% off coupon on me.

You made me remember, I have some paint handles from building
the church. Short ones and extended ones. I'll have to do a treasure hunt.

[santacruzer]

For my last two Tacomas I've purchased Truck Vaults, since that's about the safest way to carry the deer rifles and shotguns during hunting season. Most caps for pick-ups are notoriously insecure. The last version on my '09 is a vast improvement over the one I had in my '01 (roller drawers, better locks). Truck Vault will do some customization for you, depending what you want to tote securely. There are some down sides; weight, they will restrict the height of objects carried, and they're kind of tough to climb over if you need to get to the very rear. I started out thinking I could build one myself, but scrapped that idea early on. They're pricey, but worth it in my opinion.