Ammo can idea thread

[jscherb]

That's great! :beer:
I've seen some pretty torn up tires, so having this much adjustment could be the difference between finding another place to store stuff, or keeping it back on the spare regardless of the tires condition.
Very cool work Jeff.

Thanks. I haven't actually done any work on this idea yet other than some concept drawings and some preliminary design work, but I'll get the detail design work done over the next week or so and then I'll build a prototype for testing.

 

[ober27]

ober27 - a concept drawing just for you... this view also shows the grid concept, which in this case the bicycle carrier brackets are attached to.

I like it. Would the base grid be strong enough to support two bicycles?
So, if I understand the concept, the different support brackets would bolt on using bolts coming through the back of the grid baseplate. Do you have any plans for some type of quick change hardware in place of bolts?

 

[jscherb]

I like it. Would the base grid be strong enough to support two bicycles?
So, if I understand the concept, the different support brackets would bolt on using bolts coming through the back of the grid baseplate. Do you have any plans for some type of quick change hardware in place of bolts?

Thanks for the input. I'm still working on the detailed design, I haven't decided yet on what the maximum weight capacity of the grid should be. Yes, the plan is that accessories will bolt the the grid, haven't thought about any kind of quick change capability yet, will give it some thought.

 

[M35A2]

First aid kit and tool box:

 

[toylandcruiser]

I'm starting this thread to be a place where people can share the ways they use ammo cans in their Jeeps, share the ideas they have for using them but haven't implemented yet, or ask questions about them or about using them.

Ammo cans make great storage containers for Jeeps - they're very sturdy, they're weatherproof and they're plentiful enough to be inexpensive. They also come in a range of sizes that adapt well to Jeep uses. Here are the most common sizes:

One of the cans in the photo above isn't technically an ammo can, in the right rear is an AN/RVS-14 night vision device case. It's constructed the same as the ammo cans, in fact it has the same length and width as a 50 cal. can and even shares the same cover - it's just taller, so it can be thought of as a "Tall 50" ammo can.

Approximate dimensions of the common Ammo Cans:

.30 cal/7.62mm: 3 3/4" W x 11" L x 7 1/4" H.

.50 cal: 6 1/16" W x 12 1/8" L x 7 1/4" H.

WWII .50 cal. 6" W x 12" L X 7-1/2" H
(Very close in size to the 50mm can above but a little lighter in construction and the lid is hinged the long way)

"Fat 50"/SAW: 7 1/4" W x 13" L x 9" H

40mm: 6 3/8" W x 18 1/2" L x 10 1/4" H.

20mm: 8 3/8" W x 18 1/2" L x 14 1/2" H.
(Same length as 40mm)

AN/RVS-14 monocular night vision device case
6 1/16" W x 12 1/8" L x 13 1/4" H.
(Same dimensions as 50mm but 6" taller)

30mm (Not shown): 9 1/2" W x 18 1/2" L x 14 1/2" H.
(Same dimensions as a 20mm but 1" wider)

Some of the cans above share dimensions, this photo shows some of them - the 50 cal./AN/RVS-14, and the 40mm/20mm:

In the next few posts I'll show a few examples of how I've used ammo cans; hopefully this thread can be a repository of ideas that everyone can contribute to.

Please share your ammo can ideas, or post ammo can ideas you've thought up but haven't implemented yet.

The one you have as 50 cal says 5.56 right on the side.

 

[jscherb]

The one you have as 50 cal says 5.56 right on the side.

That's correct - this size can is commonly used to carry 50 cal, 5.56 and sometimes other sizes of ammunition. It's technically called an M2A1 can. It was introduced in the 50's for 50 cal ammo, but subsequently was used for other sizes, including 5.56, but because it was originally introduced for the 50 cal, it's pretty much always referred to as a 50 cal can.

 

[ak_cowboy]

Tool Box for our trailer

 

[JCDriller]

For a while I mounted a 40mm ammo can on the drivers side of my LOD tire carrier. It carried recovery gear as I wasn't sure I could get the tailgate open when stuck. I really liked it but the 40mm can got too many "mail box" comments from my wife's friends, it did kinda stick out there.



I haven't found one locally but the 60mm mortar cans are almost the exact size of 2 2ga rotopax. This should carry even more recovery gear, not looks so out of place/mail boxy and be esthetically pleasing.

60mm can

 

[jscherb]

I haven't found one locally but the 60mm mortar cans are almost the exact size of 2 2ga rotopax. This should carry even more recovery gear, not looks so out of place/mail boxy and be esthetically pleasing.

60mm can

It looks like the can in that photo is a PA-70 60mm ammo can, which are pretty hard to find. The slightly shorter PA-60 60mm mortar can is a little easier to find, but even easier to find as an AN/RVS-14 monocular night vision device case (also sometimes called the Tall 50). I think the PA60 mortar case was repurposed for the night vision device when that came out.

Here's an AN/RVS-14 monocular night vision device case in the jerry can side mount of my JK, I posted this photo earlier in the thread:

 

[jscherb]

Here's a great site showing most of the different ammo cans and their variants: http://browningmgs.com/AmmoCans/T-Chial/AmmoBoxes02_postWW2.htm

 

[jscherb]

On off-road trips I usually carry a 30 cal can on the floor behind the driver's seat which holds a tow chain and related hardware (I posted a photo of that early in the thread), but last week I experimented with mounting the can to the tailgate hinges. Instead of mounting the can tray directly to the hinges I made up a mounting grid that bolts to the hinges, and things like the ammo can tray bolt to the grid. Haven't painted the grid yet, also the grid is in two pieces, that's so I could experiment with both the JK and the TJ and see what the max width is for each. The JK grids are mounted with a gap in the middle, which means they can be wider if I make a final version...

That's on my JK, I also tried the grid on my LJ. In the photo above there's enough room to fit two grids, but on the TJ/LJ there's less room so only one grid fits.

Here's a simpler way to do it, this photo isn't mine. He built a simple rack that bolts to the factory hinges.

 

[jscherb]

Here's a product I discovered yesterday in a military surplus store - it's a set of three compartmented trays that are designed to fit perfectly into a 50 cal. ammo can. It's called the Ammo Can Organizer and I picked up this set for $12. I checked and they seem to be available lots of places, including eBay sellers and even Walmart - right now on the Walmart web site they're $7.99 per set using the "free store pickup" option (they're not actually in the stores). Never saw these before yesterday but they seem very useful.

 

[tommudd]

Here's a product I discovered yesterday in a military surplus store - it's a set of three compartmented trays that are designed to fit perfectly into a 50 cal. ammo can. It's called the Ammo Can Organizer and I picked up this set for $12. I checked and they seem to be available lots of places, including eBay sellers and even Walmart - right now on the Walmart web site they're $7.99 per set using the "free store pickup" option (they're not actually in the stores). Never saw these before yesterday but they seem very useful.

Those are great , thanks for sharing

 

[k9lestat]

I don't have picture, but saw one online a guy used a 50 can ham Mobile go box with battery external connection points to charging the battery and antenna coax.

Sent from my QMV7A using Tapatalk

 

[gorogergo]

I picked some of those up from Amazon a couple months ago and love them.