So we just added a new Survey Chariot to the family (2013 F-150). Time to build a new box for the back. I am looking for some pics and or suggestions. I know that there have been a few pics show up here and there but maybe this could be a thread for future reference for others as well. Just a simple image reply would do - but more details would be appreciated. I want to get it built Christmas week. Thanks in advance.
N10,000, E7,000, Z100.00 PLS - MO, KS, CO, MN, KY
[msg=233328]Tool Box[/msg]
Not sure if I did that correct on the link but I posted pics of a box we built for my truck on Nov. 22nd. Post is called "What I did this morning." As an update the truck box has been weather sealed with three coats of helmsman spar urethane and is currently in the shop waiting its turn to be sprayed with bed liner.
Cy
Here's a [msg=230830]link[/msg] to mine that I posted awhile back.
Check my post....
[msg]114127[/msg]
That box just keeps hanging in. Around 20 years now. I expect to retire with that thing.
Just use dadoes, screws and glue(Loctite PL). Also, I used some carpeting on the bottom and sides when I had a pickup to preserve the paint in the bed. Use some wedges on the side of your box at the wheel wells to really make it part of the truck and to keep it from sliding fore and aft.The little movements as you drive around is what will tear your box apart.
- See more at: http://beerleg.com/index.php?mode=thread&id=193846#p194206
[msg=113831]Here[/msg] is another thread. Mine is toward the bottom...
Matt
I have a large aluminum Cube built for my flat deck F350 I modeled in CAD
The F350 is a bit of a large pig and I think in the next years I am going to
go with a GAS crew CAB F150 with a slide in Aluminum CUBE much like a Fibre Mould
But all aluminum 
. The unit will have a floor and will sit on polyethylene slides to allow the unit to slide out onto strong saw horse's to. Fibre molds are heavy and
you will save a lot on gas and brakes using aluminum.
You will have to find a good aluminum fabricator to build a slide in unit with a floor.
Peter K
This box was constructed from 3/4" CDX. All of the joints have been dadoed out to 3/8", glued with Gorilla Glue and screwed. This box is as strong as an ox. The left side is full length for things like fixed height tripods. The right side is +/-2/3rds deep and will fit collapsed tripods. With a locking tailgate, all of the important stuff is secure. I put the Diamondback on after the fact when my soft tonneau failed, now the "rodman's cubby" is secure. 🙂
When we got a "new to us" truck, F-150 Flareside... This is the configuration I came up with. I do mostly construction stakeout, but also some large utility related work with some engineering surveys thrown in the mix.
Back of truck. Full depth spaces on the bottom, some with foam blocks to keep smaller items from flying forward. Holds 6 bundles of lath.
Tape storage, right side cap.
The "flex spot" with frozen water and little containers holding nails, spikes, tacks, etc. Magnetic strip holds the smaller hammers in easy reach. My favorite 6 lber stays to the right.
My "flex spot" in the back corner is holding a camp box for when we spent a week in a state park doing topo.
We use lots of hubs (holds 100) and paint...
A neat truck box.
Is that a sign of not enough work?:-P
A place for everything and everything in its place! Drives me nuts not being able to find stuff.
Our Designer even did a 3D Model of my sketch before I made it...
love these pics... BUT
I am always amazed at HOW MUCH STUFF people carry around every day.
love these pics... BUT
Andy:
Yes I carry most all of my "stuff" in the back of my F-150. You never know what you are going to need. I use to work out of a VW Rabbit with out any problem.
Actually I have to keep all of my gear in the truck so my wife doesn't get mad about it cluttering up the house.
T.W.
love these pics... BUT
that's a good reason! I'm thinking of 3 cases of paint, boxes and boxes of flagging, hundreds of hubs and lath... not to mention the weight of the boxes themselves.
I know I don't do major production construction staking anymore, but that still seems like overkill. but it is well organized!
love these pics... BUT
Maybe so, but working out of town doing miles of pipeline/powerline stakeout (they love their colors...), wall & column line stakeouts (lots of paint on sticks & hubs), and typical site development stakeout on half a dozen to a dozen jobs at once, its nice to know you don't have to stop and resupply.
I had planned on only two boxes of paint, but three fit, so I went with it (plus if I ask for paint they never give me the "survey" 6 month + paint, so I hoard...). Have more flagging in there than plan, but it fits and when I buy it, I buy cases at a time.
We all do a little something different, certainly don't do what I expected, but most days I love it! During the "busy" season, my days are a blur, but I love the hustle and shuffle and hate the hiccups at are avoidable, so I do my best to avoid them!
I understand building a box for yourself can be both a good move $-wise and also you end up with what you want. However, now that we have our trucks set up with Silver Shield covers and truck bed boxes/wheel well boxes, I won't go back to wood boxes. The Silver Shield covers and boxes are not the cheapest, but they are light weight and suit our needs well. I do not work for them, but I like that they are a local company.
You might get some ideas from their website: http://silvershieldsystem.com/