Loading and Lashing: Securing gear

[Scott Brady]

UPDATE: Article added from Henry Cubillan (60seriesdude) http://www.expeditionportal.com/equipment/equipment_reviews/loading/index.php

I have been doing some research on this subject recently.

Actually, it has always been in the back of my mind since a draw bar cut a 4" gash in the back of a friends neck during a roll-over.

I am a big believer in organized and secure gear storage. It just makes trips so much nicer.

What I have been looking at is the absolute highest quality storage gear and load handling equipment available.

Here is what I have found so far:

NETS:

Load Tamer Nets: http://www.cargonets.com/military.html
Killer quality and designed for loads pushed out of the back of C130's. I used on in the Outback Challenge with great success.

BedNet: Also very high quality. I have used a 4x5 unit for several years before the platform was built for the Tacoma.
http://www.thebednet.com/

Tie Downs:

Tie Candy- Good looking and STOUT

Hi-lift Slide-N-Lock:

Another good product I have used and like. ailable in 7", 22", 68", & 93" lengths. It is also available in black now, which helps with my chromophobia.

Straps:

Less research on straps, as I have always used ratchet straps of some sort. However, I came across these little gems, and have been using them for the last few months.

Quickie Tie Downs:

So, what has worked for you?

 

[Steve Curren]

Scott,
I too am concerned about the gear in the back of my Jeep, a friend rolled his Unlimited about a month ago and the cargo went wild. I have been trying different bags and boxes to hold the gear but I have not been able to find a real secure way to make sure that they stay put if I did roll. I really like the cargo net along with the rail system to tie down to. As you well know there are not many places to secure a strap in the rear of a Jeep and I was looking for one that was good as well as good looking, black too. I was thinking of a drawer system but I would have to take it out so the pooch could get in her Jeep and the ones I have seen are a bit expensive.
Thanks for the info and I think after the harness and camera system I am putting the restrain system in.
Thanks,
Steve Curren

 

[+ d]

This is something that's been in the back of my mind for a while now...to keep my gear off of the back of my head!

For those of us without truck beds our gear is much more potentially lethal. If you think you have trouble finding tie points in a TJ try a WJ!

My plan has been to mark out strategic tie points, remove the interior plastic weld on some flatbar/angle that comes up to the back of the plastic panels and then bolt through with a tie point.

Those are some good links. Thanks for bringing this up Scott!

 

[Jonathan Hanson]

In the back of my FJ40 I use Ring Products Straprings:

. . . available from Expedition Exchange.

They attach easily over the numerous 10mm bolts that hold down the canopy, so I have plenty of attachment points available.

I then use standard ratchet straps to hold everything down.

 

[VikingVince]

I believe the Quickie Tie Down is the same as Rope Ratchet, yes?...handy little items. Rope Ratchet also makes the CalGrip which I use on my Flippac to hold down the Big Blue Condom (rain cover:ylsmoke: ) I have 5 of them on each side of my truck.

www.roperatchet.com/calgrip_univmount.shtml

They make two sizes; I have the 1/8"-3/8" size. It holds absolutely tight when using 3/8" rope. I can't budge the rope a bit. However, when I've experimented with the smaller rope diameter, it will slip a bit...so just use the maximum rope diameter in whichever size you buy.

 

[FortyMileDesert]

Land Rover Discovery's come with lots of D-rings standard....:box:

 

[chet]

I have a "wheelin box" that goes in the back of the kick for outings. I use two older lap seat belts that are bolted to the floor to hold it in place. the belts are black so they blend in and two quick buckles and the box can be opened or come out.

I use ratchet straps on the roof box to hold stuff in.

 

[calamaridog]

The Slide-n-Lock system from Bloomfield mfg (Hi-Lift) is a very nice product.

I bought a set for the Tacoma and never installed them before I decided to sell Eventually, I'll find a use for them:exclaim:


Also, these Raingler nets are very good:

http://www.raingler.com/shop/categories.asp?catID=1

 

[Nullifier]

Ya know for me it's the stuff in the cab. When I was down under I picked up a dash organiser from Micheles sacks. It can hold radios, sunscreen, bug dope, sunglasses, maps etc. I attached it to the dash using dual lock by 3m. So far no issues. I also ordered my beard seats with the large map pocket on the back to hold all my gazeteers and other large maps.

What I really want is one of those over priced glove box organizers but can't remember where to get it.

July will be storage mount month so i will be fabbing bed mounts for gas tanks, engel, pelican cases etc. I am probably going to have to have a canvas toneau made for the idaho trip because I do not think my custom bed rack/ canvas shell will be done

 

[Steve Curren]

Scott,
I meant to ask you if you have a system to secure items in your Jeep and if so which have you chosen?

Thanks,
Steve

 

[Grim Reaper]

I like this site more and more. So few sites get into the importance of keeping gear secured. Something as simple as a 3 cell mag can kill you in a roll over.

Here is a write up I did on my last trail rig that covers equipping and securing.
http://coloradok5.com/packitup.shtml

I'm in the process of building a new rig. Since that write up I have added a second kid and 2 medium sized dogs to the mix....and the new truck is MUCH smaller and is my DD where as the last truck was just the weekend toy.

With my extra passengers I won't be looking for the nasty stuff I did with the last truck. This truck will be more of a trail rider verses a rock crawler. When I go out with the club I am usually by myself so I will catch a ride in an open seat with somebody else and live vicariously through their broken truck. When I get back into it to that point again I'll build a 4x4 buggy for that type of fun.

My dogs have proved to be my toughest obstacle. My last pup was a 100lb Sheppard that would jump up in the seat sit down and would actually wear a seat belt and sun glasses....It was comical. Frick and Frack AKA the destruction twins (half Brittney Spaniel half Llewellyn Setter) are a couple high strung bird dogs. As pups they were real bad about not being still and trying to do laps around the truck. I had to turn the back of the truck into a cage for safety reasons.

I am building in a drawer for gear so that with them in the truck I can still get at any of my normal gear and tools. Since this truck will not be doing as hard core of trails I am cutting down on some of the spares and only carrying tools for my truck (metric, before I had tools to work on anything). I will carry a spare CV assembly and a spare axle shaft and a spare rear drive shaft. Those will be bolted up in the factory spare location. Available but out of the way.

Its still a work in progress and Actually I am working on it today. So good timing on seeing this post.

I have pretty well come to the conclusion that a trailer is in my future when the family and pups are with me. When its just me I can pack the rear of the truck.

Here is a couple of shots. The cargo wall is a commercial cargo wall out of a Chevy S series blazer. A little work on the lower corners to clear the wheel wells in the narrower 4Runner and it mounts to where a European 4Runner would have rear seat shoulder belts (I would love to find a set but just want offered in the US). The side panels were flimsy plastic that after 20 years of sun and abuse were falling apart. There is a TON of room in the rear Quarters on those 1st get 4Runners. If you look close there is a full gallon of antifreeze in there, Couple quarts of oil, spare radiator hose and a tow strap. Todays project is finishing the doors for those.

 

[njtaco]

What I really want is one of those over priced glove box organizers but can't remember where to get it.
QUOTE]

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...tx=mode+matchall&Nty=1&Ntt=glovebox&noImage=0

Available for Tacoma...

A review by David A. Wright:

http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/showthread.php?t=3658&highlight=glovebox

 

[HenryJ]

I used some nylon cleats attached to the inside of the top bed rail lip.

I mounted four. Two to the rear above the factory steel tie down loop, and two just behind the tool box, using stainless steel hardware and silicone to seal them.

I thought about using the cleats that come in the late 90's Ford F series boxes but they were a little wide to fit the lip properly.

Now I can use one of the back seat cargo nets to hold things down, or have some more places to attach the spiderstrap.

I will also be using them as attachment points for the tarp when I set it up as an awning.

Total cost under $20

Another nice thing about the cleats that I used.

1/2" CPVC pipe is the perfect size and fit to lay along the top of the cleats and be flush with the bed rail.

"So what, who cares? Is this more useless trivia?"

No there is a method to my madness.

The need to keep some things in the back "out of sight and mind" arose. What I needed was a cover that was easily removable, light weight, and semi secure.

The cleats offer a nice platform for a tonneau frame.
I used 1/2" CPVC pipe to form a frame and crossmembers. The frame is 55 1/2" wide to the front tapering to 55 1/8" at the back and only needed to be 32" long from the tool box to the tailgate. I cut the crossmembers a little long so that they would bow upward offering some strength, and allowing the water to run off. I decided to offer a little more rigidity, so I drilled small holes on center and inserted a 3/16" rod to steady the crossmembers, and help to resist compression at the center of the frame. For the cover I picked up some marine vinyl. Cut it 4" larger than the frame to allow stitching a 1/4" rope around the perimeter.
This is a cinch fit cover. I placed it over the frame and pulled the rope to tighten it over the frame. Then I notched the vinyl to add one piece of rope to cinch the center

The tailgate protector has a nice lip that matches, so the cover is supported across the tailgate. My tool box is recessed just below the rail. This allows me to slip it under that lip an inch or so, securing the front of the cover. I used some of the ball and elastic tarp ties to secure the back to the stock tiedown loops.

Now I have to open the spare tire carrier and tailgate to access that cargo space. When I disconnect the two rear tiedowns it hinges nicely on the front cleats.
It is easily removable and light weight. Total cost came to $20 and two thirds of that was for the vinyl.

This may give someone a good idea. I don't know if it would be worthwhile for a full cover. You would need $20 worth of CPVC , and $26 in the vinyl , now add the price of cleats $30, and the elastic tiedowns $10, that puts it very close to the cost of an ebay tonneau. In my case I needed a small cover, and really didn't want to cut down a fullsize one.

 

[Scott Brady]

Great job Henry. Tightly integrated and very clean, as with all of your mods.

I really hope to meet you and your cool truck at some point

 

[Scenic WonderRunner]

I use Sterilite Plastic Storage Bins.

They are silver...and match my truck perfectly.....so I am very happy with them!

I stack them on my drivers side.....behind my drivers seat.....because my gas tank is on my passenger side.

I use bungie cords to tie them down.

My twin size blow up bed fits nicely behind my passenger side seat......so I can be fully contained.....and sleep in my vehicle.

I tried to look mine up on the Sterilite website....but these don't look exactly like mine. They must have changed their design. But it's close.