[Joe Dillard]

I finally got off my duff a while back and found a better solution to help secure all the junk I carry in the back cargo area of my YJ. I've been long overdue to "fix" my spare trail parts, tools, fluids and misc storage issue so that it's more secure and organized.

After considering a few "bolt-on" products that are available, what those items offer and expenses involved, I decided to look locally and see what's available.

To my satisfaction (at least for the time being), I found a Stanley, ProMobile JobChest at my local Home Depot. It doesn't weigh much (~10lbs). It does not offer the conveinience of a sliding drawer, but for ~1/8th the cost for one of the expensive units, I can live with that for now.

http://www.homedepot.ca/webapp/wcs/stores/...ll&eid=3209

Naw, it wasn't the advertized $99.95 in the link, they had plenty of them for $59.99 at my local Home Depot.

Anyway, here's a typical mess as I unstrap and unpack things after returning from a trail run, & how things look now.

Can you say sloppy?


Here's what's typically packed inside the rear cargo area of my Jeep, plus other junk sometimes. This will all be going in the box if all goes as planned, plus maybe a few other items. 5 tool boxes, 4 tool bags, fluids, 2 drive shafts, 6 axle shafts, ujoints, straps etc etc etc.


The box fits excellent in the back of the Jeep, and it's easy to tie/strap down.




Everything easily fits inside with the exception of my spare front driveshaft, but I've already solved that.


No doubt, there are pro's & con's to having one large box. For now, I'm happy to get things more organized & secured.

Having a big box, is like having a chest freezer. Nice that you can put alot of things inside, but a PITA if you need something that's near or at the bottom.

I'm pretty sure I'll divide or remove some of the items that are currently inside the box & place them in a couple new nifty Husky bags I got at the same time I picked up the box. There's plenty room behind the box & also almost a foot in front of it for storage too.

Like I mentioned above, I've been slacking at organizing & storing things better, but at least this is a start.

[MrSig]

Joe Dillard,
Good job! Plus it won't rust and is lighter than it's steel counter part!

[Livefree]

I have a simular case in my TJ. I got a large Pelican case from work for free and it works great. It is good to see someone else carring a large selection of tools.

[Jim B]

Hey guys, without me getting up and measuring the TJ.... What are the numbers across that back area of the YJ vs the TJ

I need the back seat for the kids but when I have the seat out mine also pretty much looks like Joe's pic with bungees all over the place.

[Safari Outfitter]

How did you get the spare front drive shaft & long side spare front axle to fit inside the box?

[NonStop]

My guess, open lid, place inside box, close lid....

[73_cj_project]

I got a used Tuffy box from an TJ Unlimited in the back of my CJ where the seat used to be, works great and locks securely, there is just enough room in front of it on the floor to land my fuel tank in there, making a cover for it so I can strap my cooler down in front of the tool box and still have lots of room to see over top of it. Got the box for $150 in like new condition with both keys for it.

Gus

[Rollbar]

Jim B, on Jul 4 2007, 08:33 AM, said:

Hey guys, without me getting up and measuring the TJ.... What are the numbers across that back area of the YJ vs the TJ

I need the back seat for the kids but when I have the seat out mine also pretty much looks like Joe's pic with bungees all over the place.

Talk about LAZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzyyyyyyyyyyyyy. . BTW, did U ever get the flat fenders on? :sneak:

[Joe Dillard]

mrsig, Thanks. Yep, I like that it's some sort of HD plastic & light. That was one of my goals when I started looking for a box.

Livefree, Carrying all these tools/parts/fluids does sometimes come in handy. One thing I sometimes take into consideration is what other junk some of my trail friends bring & I tailor my compliment of items accordingly. EG: No need to bring 15 Hilift jacks when 1 or 2 will do the trick.

Jim, my YJ measures 36" across the tub cargo area. The base of the box is ~35.5, so it fits nicely. The top of the box is slightly wider - maybe 37".

If you don't want something as big, perhaps 1 or 2 of these would do the trick.

http://www.homedepot.ca/webapp/wcs/stores/...tk=P_PartNumber



Safari Outfitter, The spare longside front shaft & outer fits crosswise in the box okay near the top. The spare front driveshaft is straped to the face of the box (outside the box in the bottom pic) with HD bungies you can't see. You can see the axle shaft you mentioned in the bottom pic I posted towards the upper left.

NonStopWJ, You nailed it. It's tight fit, but it does work okay.

73_cj_project, I did consider a Tuffy box - one with a drawer. That would have been nice to have. I also was very close to just building my own & save the $$$. That's why I went to Home Depot to take a look around & stumbled across the Stanley box. After seeing this for only ~$60.00, I figured I would give it a try. So far, so good.

Rollbar, Jim needs to put down his 4th of July beer and BBQ tongs & grab a tape measure.

[Jim B]

Actually this is really not a bad price at all. Smaller doubles would be nice also but if gone that route than the spare axle issue might come into play. I guess I'm going to have to get out and measure. I actually considered tuffy many moons ago but the weight of the box killed the thought.

Rollbar, on Jul 4 2007, 11:28 AM, said:

BTW, did U ever get the flat fenders on? :sneak:

I'm not going to hijack Joe's thread but..... lets just say that I'm sick of measuring since Sunday.

[JeepinIan]

I got this from Sears and it has 2 trays inside and wheels on the wide section on the box w/ a collapsable handle.
Craftsman tool storage

[Jerry Bransford]

Did you bolt your box down or come up with some way to secure it against the casual thief Joe? It scares me thinking someone could fairly easily just slide your storage box out with all its goodies inside without too much effort. My aluminum box is bolted down so it's not going anywhere.

[Joe Dillard]

It's straped down right now Jerry.

Since my Jeep never sits outside unless I'm on a trail ride or vacation with it, plus my garage (and house if I wish) is alarmed and can not be opened from outside without my remote, and there is somebody home all day long at my house, I don't worry about it much.