Storage Boxes

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Azrocks

Azrocks

Joined
Dec 27, 2005
Threads
83
Messages
530
Location
Tucson / Vail, AZ
Website
kartchcustoms.com
Happy new year everybody!

I'm in the planning stages of building an offroad trailer. The design is going to be similiar to the Horizon. I'm going to build a box and then mount boxes on the side with an eezi-awn tent on the top.

I want to build the main box to fit my storage boxes so they fit snuggly enough I don't have to tie anything down and they won't move much. That being said I'm looking for boxes with the following characteristics.

- as "rectangular as possible" to maximize space.
- strong enough to stand on
- reasonably water tight. (don't need to dunk-em and have stuff stay dry)
- Large enough to carry some larger items.

the closest things I've found are.............

- Wolf Strage boxes from Slee. I need to get more info on these as there isn't much on the website. I need to know dimensions, relative stregnth, etc.

- Action packer from rubbermaid. These are OK but a lot of room is wasted in the design.

Any other suggestions, ideas?
 
How bout Pelican cases - they are somewhat expensive but are tough. You can walk on them, they are even extremely waterproof. Just another storage box.
 
I did look around a bit at the obvious inexpensive choices for my roof rack (Home Depot, WM, OSH etc.. Seemed like the Action Packers would have been a good choice had it had a better top design. Doesn't look like it would do well in rain at all...

No obvious good choice so far...
 
For an unrelated project a while back I was looking for a Pelican case substitute that wasn't as expensive. I came across Otter Boxes which were really nice and very strong but not as pricey as the Pelicans.

I forgot about them. I'll have to check out the option. Don't think I'll want to spend that much for boxes. I'll probably end up using at least 12.
 
I have one of these GI aluminium medical boxes. Light and 100% water and dust proof. At $30 it is cheaper than many of the plastic boxes you will find.
11"H X 20"L X 32"L two will fit side by side in the back of a FJ40.
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x2 on Otter boxes.

Larger size kinda $$ boxes here, built for whitewater rafting. http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product_list.asp?deptid=1860.

These are also nice, a little cheaper than above http://www.canoeoutfitters.com/yorkpack.html.

This 48 gallon actionpacker seems to have less wasted space, and since it's big seems like about 4 would fill the bed of a smallish trailer. http://www.foodservicedirect.com/in...tion_Packer_Storage_Containers,_Cargo_Box.htm.

Keep us posted on the trailer build, and don't forget to check in the trailer section. ;)
 
Hardigg (sp?), which makes the STORM cases to compete against Pelican, makes hundreds of different boxes for the military. Buying them new is out of the question unless you have unlimited budget, but some of the larger surplus dealers can get them. There's one size in particular that fits your description, it's used to tranport IT equipment into combat zones and could be easily adapted to yor needs. I have one box that's about the size of a foot locker, originally used to carry TOW anti-tank ammunition, that I've been abusing for years. It's got 8 cam locks that make it completely waterproof. Do a search, they're out there and I got mine for like $20 back in the mid-90's.
 
The local Surplus store here in Bend, Or has some really tuff boxes that I assume are "IT" boxes, looks like a computer was in them from the shape of the cutouts in the foam, big monitor, old style big ass tower and key board. I didn't ask the price cause I didn't need one..cam latches h20 proof with o-ring seals.

good looking box, if you filled it up you probably couldn't lift it alone..

I'll swing by this week and get the correct "name" for it and athe "cube" and see what these guys are asking for it. We are not real near any bases so most of the surplus stuff here is rather high$.
 
Keep the ideas coming. Does anybody know the dimensions of the wolf boxes? At this point the best option at the best price is still probably the action packer. They will be inside a box trailer that will be built specifically to hold the boxes. Rain won't be a big concern. I just want to ba able to use the boxes as double duty for sitting on, small tables, etc.

Even if I wanted to pay the big bucks, I didn't find anything from Pelican or OtterBox that really would work. They are designed more for housing and protecting gear with the foam. As a result they tend to open in the middle so depth is limited. I want to have designated boxes for different applications. For example a "cookware box" that has pots, pans, skillets, tongs, small dutch oven, etc.

It seems that there is a sweet spot in size where you can haul/store most camping / expedition type items without giving up too much room for the container itself. I've found that a few larger boxes is better than a bunch of little boxes.
 
Your are correct on the ammo boxes. I found some boxes designed for rockets that were great and waterproof. For this application, I'm going to stay away from ammo boxes because....
- weight. Don't really need the stregnth of metal and the extra pounds that go along with it. The weight on the trailer I'm planning is adding up quickly.
- noise. Don't want to hear the clanking from the boxes against each other and the trailer.
 
This might be a little out of the box, but the igloo marine coolers might make a good box, they can hold a lot of weight... like 300lbs and they meet a lot of your requirements, they also come in about a dozen different sizes.

Just a thought...

Rezarf <><
 
Azrocks said:
Your are correct on the ammo boxes. I found some boxes designed for rockets that were great and waterproof. For this application, I'm going to stay away from ammo boxes because....
- weight. Don't really need the stregnth of metal and the extra pounds that go along with it. The weight on the trailer I'm planning is adding up quickly.
- noise. Don't want to hear the clanking from the boxes against each other and the trailer.
Click to expand...

I took a stroll around the local surplus yard today to kill some time at lunch. There are a lot of Mil cases that are made out of aluminium and fiber glass. The varity of of sizes and styles is impressive.
 
Exiled said:
Hardigg (sp?), which makes the STORM cases to compete against Pelican, makes hundreds of different boxes for the military. Buying them new is out of the question unless you have unlimited budget, but some of the larger surplus dealers can get them. ....
Click to expand...

I've got an assortment of Hardig cases I've been using... I picked up my first one years ago via a suprlus auction, and more recently a fellow club member bid on a couple pallets of them up at Hill Air Force Base (north of SLC). I prefer them to any other cases I've owned, including the Pelican case I have. The Hardig cases are plastic, lightweight, VERY water/air tight, etc...
bins 005.webp
 
Good info Kurt.

What should we expect to pay for a Hardig if we are lucky enough to find one?

Thanks
 
77TLCFJ40 said:
Good info Kurt.

What should we expect to pay for a Hardig if we are lucky enough to find one?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Well, if you buy them in bulk like we did... cheap :cool: $20-30 per case, even for the bigger ones. I've seen them at surplus places for ~$100+ each though...
 
77TLCFJ40 said:
Good info Kurt.

What should we expect to pay for a Hardig if we are lucky enough to find one?

Thanks
Click to expand...

cruiseroutfit said:
Well, if you buy them in bulk like we did... cheap :cool: $20-30 per case, even for the bigger ones. I've seen them at surplus places for ~$100+ each though...
Click to expand...

Lots less at the surplus place here in Reno. IIRC about what you give for a bulk buy. Maybe because there are two ammo depots and an air base within 100 Miles?
 
I have 3 of the same, they are great, 1 even has wheels on it

cruiseroutfit said:
I've got an assortment of Hardig cases I've been using... I picked up my first one years ago via a suprlus auction, and more recently a fellow club member bid on a couple pallets of them up at Hill Air Force Base (north of SLC). I prefer them to any other cases I've owned, including the Pelican case I have. The Hardig cases are plastic, lightweight, VERY water/air tight, etc...
Click to expand...
 
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