Storage ideas for factory spare tire area

[rc51kid]

I moved my spare out from under the truck for a day of wheeling. I have a sleeping platform and it slips under it like a glove. For now i am leaving it there. I have no plans to do a fancy swingout carrier because i like the easy access to my rear hatch. But i started thinking that maybe i could use the area under the truck where the spare was as a storage area. Has anyone else done this. It would obviously only be things that could be outside the truck and exposed to elements. But i was thinking you could fab up a shallow box or platform that would hang from the tire mounting chain. Lower it down and load it up with dirty things like spare parts or what not. Then raise it up like you would the spare tire.

I recently got a NATO gas can. This had me thinking. What if there was enough room to lay two cans flat on a "pallet" with a lip around it. The tire chain bolted right between them. Then raise it up It would be a great way to store 10 gal fuel. Low center of gravity, no lifting cans and if the do drip a little gas it just drips on the ground. I figure two cans and some type of pallet or so would weight close to 100 pounds. I dont know if the tire carrier can hold that.

 

[thatcabledude]

Pretty sweet idea.

 

[94SRUNNER]

It's an interesting idea. The stock spare tire lift should easily be able to handle two Jerry cans of fuel, maybe more.

 

[retrofive]

I can't recall the guy here on mud, but he made a metal storage box and cut a hole in the trunk as a hatch. Was pretty sweet.

 

[80ways]

Search on user name haffi to see what he did with that space. A little different approach, but definitely worth a look.

 

[retrofive]

Search on user name haffi to see what he did with that space. A little different approach, but definitely worth a look.

That's the fellow!

 

[LS1FJ40]

This is crazy! I just took my spare out from under my 80. I was inspecting underneath it and thought it was perfect for "something else". Just hadn't thought of anything else yet...

 

[half k cruiser]

It makes a fantastic area to bed your dog down while tethered to the bumper ( just don't forget them in the morning ). Also a nice reprieve from the sun or rain if you don't have an awning and don't feel like being in the vehicle. I can sit cross legged under mine with the tire and mounting plate removed and I'm 6'2''. So that's the cheapest option. I think what Haffi did with his would be the best.

 

[SNLC]

Considering 25gal stock fuel tank, crappy mpg, an aux fuel tank is logical.

The whole thing with the jerry cans sounds like a pain in the butt to me.

Cheers

 

[Heckraiser]

My thoughts:

Storage accessed from inside ala haffi: https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/more-cargo-room.167864/

Plenty of room for a pretty big air tank

Toyota aux gas tank

Your "pallet" idea is not a bad one for keeping gas cans out of the truck, although I think a rotopax or other plastic "horizontal" gas can would probably work better than a jerry can. You could store anything down there that you didn't mind getting pelted by rocks and slush (when I really think about it, not much comes to mind other than a BFH, pry bar or small shovel.

 

[artech]

That's where my Ramsey 12000# winch is going as soon as I get a chance to mount it!

 

[canman]

Call me crazy, but I'm wondering if this beast will fit. I think it's 90L.

 

[rc51kid]

I actually am going to meet a guy tomorrow with a bunch of cheap surplus Pelican cases. Maybe the spare area would be better filled with a pelican case full of "stuff".

 

[artech]

Might you be able to use your original idea and use the tire winch to hold up the pelican case? Might need some kind of a FID to hook the chain to the case and spread out the weight, but should be quite doable.

That'd be pretty sweet for tools and stuff!

 

[LS1FJ40]

I actually am going to meet a guy tomorrow with a bunch of cheap surplus Pelican cases. Maybe the spare area would be better filled with a pelican case full of "stuff".

By "stuff" do you mean pelicans?

 

[rc51kid]

By "stuff" do you mean pelicans?

Why not!

 

[artech]

That would be a bad location for recovery gear, but good for tools or trail parts I'd think. Wonder if you could fit a whole birfield/axle into a pelican that'd still fit between the frame rails? Seems like that'd be pretty awesome!

 

[LS1FJ40]

Why not cut a hole in the back floor and make a "well" down below the vehicle that is accessed through the cargo area. If you made an "X" with one being a cross member and then lined with 14 or 16 gauge steel box, you'd be good to go. Make a hinged lid or a recessed plywood lid. Voila! Water tight, easy access, don't have to crank anything to lower it. Could even put a drain plug in it and fill with ice and beer then drain when melted. Or the exhaust could heat it up and use it as bath water! Ok, that was a little crazy. But you get the idea.

 

[Bluetribal]

Go up 8 post to Heckraisers post about what Hafi did.

 

[LS1FJ40]

Go up 8 post to Heckraisers post about what Hafi did.

That's PERFECT!! This is what I'm talking about! I just took MySpace out from underneath in preparation for my bumper build. I'm going to have to do this! I think I'll put a drain in it, double wall it with sprayed insulation between the walls. Built in cooler/storage.