I sure like the metal box.
My state F250 has a wooden box in it that is pretty good; I inherited the box. It has 6 tripods in it. They don't go all the way to the forward end of the 7' bed so there's a big well up there that is hard to get things out of there.
I'd like to modify it some day so it has 7' long drawers to better use that deep space and make it easier to get stuff out of there.
The other thing is I would be inclined to do a design which hides the Total Station and GPS under the top deck of the box.
Maybe I could start saving Budweiser cans and get the fab shop to use them. I'd be the only surveyor out there with a Budweiser box, YEAH!
For short pieces of pvc pipe....
go to a construction site and make friends with the sewer crew....
Survey cabinets>Paul
Please tell me you were kidding about topo'ing the back of your van with the reflectorless gun....
I have found 8" PVC cut to proper length with screw type ends mounted to the cargo rack of my suburban works quite well for tri-bipod, range-prism pole and even level rod storage. Keeping deadly projectiles out of the cab is a good idea.
Survey cabinets>Paul
too funny for words
A suggestion if you're not particularly skilled and want a workable alternative to rollers for sliding wooden drawers, we have strips of countertop laminate attached to the the bottom of the drawers and in the opening that makes it pretty easy to slide on. You'll need a latch to keep the drawer from sliding around, and probably need to wipe things down every couple of years.