PW Tool Box Setup

[MOPARManiac]

This is my toolbox setup in my PW. I previously had the box in my old pickup, but added the Jerry Can racks/Jerry Cans on the sides of the Tool Box when I installed it in my PW. I used the Hi-lift Jeep bumper mounts to mount my Hi-lift jack to the front of the tool box. I used some flat iron on the inide of the box full length side to side to reinforce it for the weight of the jack. I thought I would share my ideas if anyone wanted to do something similar. The Jerry Can racks are made by Smittybilt. I found them online and they are very reasonably priced. I was going to make my own, but couldn't buy the metal for what I paid for these.

[Cactus Red]

Nice! That extra 10 gallons could come in handy. I've been trying to figure out where to store gas, but the shell and sleeping platform make that a bit more difficult.

[FirerescuePW]

I like that setup. Are the cans steel or plastic? I think they use the same bracket?
The cans look lower than the bed side. Is that true?

[MOPARManiac]

Thanks,
The cans are Blitz and they are metal Jerry Cans. I like them because they are like the older Jerry cans and I can use my old style metal spout on these cans instead of the crappy plastic CARB compliant ones they sell now.

The cans do sit lower than the bed caps, I like that they do. As you can see in the photos the racks are lockable so I got a couple smaller master locks to secure them.

[Ken G.]

Nice set up! I've got something similar in mine. I mounted my Jerry can racks (one fuel, one water) further back along my bed rails near the tailgate. The Hi Lift got mounted onto my bed rack. The cans and racks I got are from http://www.billet4x4.com/.
They have NATO type cans available, and are DOT compliant.

[2012 PW ST]

Nice set up. Here's my aluminum Highway Products saddle box. (Excuse the mess under it in the pic...had just come home from shop.) Love this box...really well built for the long run.

Hi Lift, ARB Recovery bag, ARB twin compressor portable compressor, tools, shovel, and a Pelican case with all spare fluids, belts, fuses, etc all inside. Highway Products welds those beefy tie down tabs through from the inside so they're stout!

I can fit up to 7 (or 8 if I wedge into bed and dent it...ask me how I know LOL) fuel & water cans across the front of the box between the wheel wells. I run nylon web cam lock tie downs through those to each front factory tie down loop in bed to lock them in. Keeps all that weight just ahead of the axle as well.

I only use Wedco jerry cans for both fuel & water (all pre-CARB) (from Expedition Exchange in LA http://www.expeditionexchange.com) since they DO NOT leak under any circumstance. They're the real thing and don't cost any more than the ones that leak!

And, as an added benefit, that black lid gets hot enough to cook on here in the summer. LOL

[verdesardog]

here's my setup 5 gallons of fuel and 3 gallons of water inside the box. You can see the foot of the high lift on the left wheel well, it's too long for across the bed mounting:

http://photocamel.com/gallery/data/6150 ... _30482.JPG

[TwinStick]

Nice set up. Purty

I have a Weather Guard 20" wide over the rail box. I have 3 bike fork mounts on top of the tool box. On the underside of the lid, i used 3/4" plywood for support & even distribution of the stress on the aluminum, to keep it from cracking/splitting. I made up a board with 3 pvc rear tire holders as well, so i can use the entire bed while carrying the bikes. Inside i have a dual battery plug-n-play set up. Was going to put a WARN VTC compressor & a 5 gal tank inside also (but they quit making the VTC for some reason). May have to go with 1 or 2 ARB dual compressors now. I want some CFM !!! LOL I gots me the 5 gal tank, but w/kid in college & another starting soon, i am broke-broke-broke.

[RedMan]

It is cool to see how everyone sets up their gear based on where they are and what they do with their rigs. I could not find one with all my fishing gear mounted in the back so this is my offroad set-up. I try to keep everything in the toolbox except for highly flammable stuff, and emergency gear.

This is my set-up

[Glenn5995]

It is great to see the ideas everyone has come up with to meet their needs. Mine is not as inventive as others, simply purchase and install, but it meets my needs and gets the job done. One of my requirements was that everything had to be below the bed rails so as to not interfere with towing our fifth wheel.

30-gallon re-fueling tank/toolbox combination from TransferFlow:

[TwinStick]

Forgot to add that i made this little puppy up for it too. I only use it with the lid open, the metal pieces let it rest on/in the tool tray slots, above what is in the bottom of tool box.












I originally made this up because some camping places that have no hookups are now saying "no generators allowed" (not even the super quiet ones), so i wanted a way to charge my batteries without a generator. Not high end, but it sure does work good.

[Ducky's Dad]

Was going to put a WARN VTC compressor & a 5 gal tank inside also (but they quit making the VTC for some reason). May have to go with 1 or 2 ARB dual

Look at the Warn SPI, 12 CFM free air flow and 4 CFM at 90 psi, plenty to run air tools with no tank.

I was looking through an old (2009-2010) expedition magazine yesterday and ran across a favorable review for these Extreme Outback compressors:

https://www.extremeoutback.com/product/ ... agnum.html

Their Magnum model costs a bit more than the Warn SPI and delivers exactly half the free air flow, but gives you 2.6 CFM af 100 psi. Not as good as the SPI, but not bad. The magazine reviewer liked the Extreme better than the ARB, but the ARB gives you the advantage of being very compact and light. I think the Extreme is a bit smaller than the SPI, but I have not done a comparison of actual dimensions, just eyeballed the pics. I have an SPI hardmounted in my PW and it's all the 12V compressor I think I'll ever need.

[TwinStick]

It says "no longer available" also, for the Warn SPI. Looks like the ARB dual comp is the best on the market as far as CFM @ 90 psi & at that price point.

[verdesardog]

Forgot to add that i made this little puppy up for it too. I only use it with the lid open, the metal pieces let it rest on/in the tool tray slots, above what is in the bottom of tool box.












I originally made this up because some camping places that have no hookups are now saying "no generators allowed" (not even the super quiet ones), so i wanted a way to charge my batteries without a generator. Not high end, but it sure does work good.

What am I missing? how does that charge your batteries?

[FirerescuePW]

The batteries on his camper. He plugs the shore line into the inverter, and the converter in the trailer charges the RV batteries.

[Ducky's Dad]

It says "no longer available" also, for the Warn SPI.

Sad but true. I just called Warn and confirmed. The even worse news is that there is no parts inventory of any consequence for the VTC or SPI compressors. I got to Customer Service and lodged a major complaint about the stupidity of selling an expensive compressor and then not stocking any parts for it. If it breaks, it becomes a boat anchor. Warn is seriously compromising their reputation in the off-road community by this decision. How can they expect to continue selling $2K winches when the buyers of their compressors are left hanging out there with an expensive compressor that can't be repaired? Effing idiots. I left my name and phone number, and I hope to hear back from them.

Customer Service admitted that my call is not the only one they have received about this fiasco, so maybe they'll do something about the parts situation. Just seems incredibly stupid and short sighted to compromise their 60-year reputation over something as easy to resolve as keeping some parts in stock for the inevitable repairs. I am really disappointed and pissed. It seems there are still some SPI compressors in the supply chain and I'm tempted to buy another one as a backup, but I don't want to give Warn any more of my money at this point. If/when my SPI breaks, a replacement compressor from another manufacturer will probably force me to fab a new mounting cradle. Crap.

[TwinStick]

The batteries on his camper. He plugs the shore line into the inverter, and the converter in the trailer charges the RV batteries.

Yup, this ^^^. Or, because i like to have some things redundant, if the charger in the camper ever fails (which they do), i always bring my battery charger with me, just in case. Mine has never failed yet, but i have rescued 2 other unfortunate campers who had theirs fail. They were glad i had it. Heat and power are the 2 main things i have multiple ways to have. My furnace failed once (because of ("construction debris"). Good thing i had an electric heater with us as well. It got down to 22* that night. My camper will also charge from the truck, but it is EASY to use it faster than it will recharge from the elec plug in truck bumper.

[RustyPW]

It says "no longer available" also, for the Warn SPI.

Sad but true. I just called Warn and confirmed. The even worse news is that there is no parts inventory of any consequence for the VTC or SPI compressors. I got to Customer Service and lodged a major complaint about the stupidity of selling an expensive compressor and then not stocking any parts for it. If it breaks, it becomes a boat anchor. Warn is seriously compromising their reputation in the off-road community by this decision. How can they expect to continue selling $2K winches when the buyers of their compressors are left hanging out there with an expensive compressor that can't be repaired? Effing idiots. I left my name and phone number, and I hope to hear back from them.

Customer Service admitted that my call is not the only one they have received about this fiasco, so maybe they'll do something about the parts situation. Just seems incredibly stupid and short sighted to compromise their 60-year reputation over something as easy to resolve as keeping some parts in stock for the inevitable repairs. I am really disappointed and pissed. It seems there are still some SPI compressors in the supply chain and I'm tempted to buy another one as a backup, but I don't want to give Warn any more of my money at this point. If/when my SPI breaks, a replacement compressor from another manufacturer will probably force me to fab a new mounting cradle. Crap.

If I'm not mistaken. I believe Warn got a new CEO. I heard some things are changing under him. And not for the good.

[04Ram2500Hemi]

I’ve got a ways to go in the Tool Box department (need to add some off road stuff), but this is my setup.

[Ducky's Dad]

If I'm not mistaken. I believe Warn got a new CEO. I heard some things are changing under him. And not for the good.

I know they just hired a new CFO. I went pig hunting with him last year, but don't really know him well enough to call directly and bitch about their compressor parts situation. Besides, he's only been there a few weeks so I can't blame him for this bullshit. I hope Warn isn't going down the same path as a lot of the old-line outdoor outfitters have (like Eddie Bauer and Abercrombie & Fitch). If they are going to start building crap and eliminating support, I'd rather just see them fold their tent and go away. Do I sound adequately upset?

[verdesardog]

The batteries on his camper. He plugs the shore line into the inverter, and the converter in the trailer charges the RV batteries.

um...that looks like 12vdc in 115vac out and he said for use when there are no hookups...how do you charge batteries with 12vdc in and 115 vac out?

[TwinStick]

With a battery charger/maintainer/conditioner. Sounds odd i know, but this gives me the ability to charge without worry of overcharging or boiling the water out, etc which is just as important in maintaining a long battery life. Plus it also de-sulfates the battery/s if needed. Also it is another option for work in the field with power tools if i don't have/can't use/failure of, my generator.

[verdesardog]

With a battery charger/maintainer/conditioner. Sounds odd i know, but this gives me the ability to charge without worry of overcharging or boiling the water out, etc which is just as important in maintaining a long battery life. Plus it also de-sulfates the battery/s if needed. Also it is another option for work in the field with power tools if i don't have/can't use/failure of, my generator.

I guess I must be dense...where are you getting the 12vdc to run that inverter if you are using it to charge your batteries?

If you're running your truck to charge your RV batteries why not just connect them directly to your trucks alternator in parallel with the truck batteries, that way you eliminate all the loss of effeciency by using two different electronic devices? I understand the conditioning of the batteries but that could be done at home or on shore power much more effeciently and cost effectively. Be carful what you try to power with that inverter...it will destroy some power hand tool chargers with the modified sine (stepped square) wave output. Electric motors will work fine though.

[FirerescuePW]

With a battery charger/maintainer/conditioner. Sounds odd i know, but this gives me the ability to charge without worry of overcharging or boiling the water out, etc which is just as important in maintaining a long battery life. Plus it also de-sulfates the battery/s if needed. Also it is another option for work in the field with power tools if i don't have/can't use/failure of, my generator.

I guess I must be dense...where are you getting the 12vdc to run that inverter if you are using it to charge your batteries?

If you're running your truck to charge your RV batteries why not just connect them directly to your trucks alternator in parallel with the truck batteries, that way you eliminate all the loss of effeciency by using two different electronic devices? I understand the conditioning of the batteries but that could be done at home or on shore power much more effeciently and cost effectively. Be carful what you try to power with that inverter...it will destroy some power hand tool chargers with the modified sine (stepped square) wave output. Electric motors will work fine though.

With jumper cables??? Then he wouldn't have the excuse to buy this cool stuff!

I assume you mean chargers for things like cordless drills, saws, etc. Do they need true sine wave?

[verdesardog]

Where's he getting the 12v to run the inverter in the first place? not jumper cables, just plugt it into the trailer connector...should have 12v to charge the battery there with at least a 30A fuse.
I have not personally had one burn up on me but have heard about it. I have a pure sine wave to run my computer and printer, it's only 300 watts though.