Box Rocket '03 DC Tacoma Build
- Thread starter Box Rocket
- Start date
Box Rocket
Well-known member
Thank you. I don't have any photos specifically showing the contents of my storage boxes, but I'll give you a quick breakdown. I needed a fairly secure, weatherproof place to carry spare parts, tools and other stuff like that so I'm using a couple of different boxes for that. First, I have a large military surplus medical supply box. This is nice because its weather proof and very secure especially if I throw a lock on one of the latches. I use this either mounted to my bedrack or in the bed using turnbuckles. This box usually carries a collection of spare parts, like CV axles, tie rods, u-joints as well as fluids, my trail tools kit and misc items like shop towels and gloves.
The box pictured above can get quite heavy with all that stuff and if I need it to be mobile it not the most convenient. So I have two other military surplus rocket boxes that together are essentially the same size as the larger box. Have the two boxes allows me to carry all the same stuff but with better mobility since the items are split up and each box is lighter than the single large box. These are mounted in the same way either on the bedrack or in the bed.
The small ammo can on the rear swingout carries recovery gear. I have a couple straps, recovery shackles, the air hose for my CO2 tank, a snatch block and puncture kit in that box.
Box Rocket
Well-known member
I will say that plastic boxes (while not as secure or weather proof) are much lighter than these surplus boxes. There are trade-offs. Just do what you think best for your build. I also use some plastic totes for other gear.
These are the bins I use. I got them for cheap at Walmart. I added a thin strip of weather stripping around the lip to help keep them a bit more weatherproof. They have worked out pretty well and they stack easily. For the cost they have been pretty durable and if they break I can replace them easily without much cost.
Box Rocket
Well-known member
I'm looking for suggestions for material I can use to make some new inner fender liners. I picked up some fiberglass fenders last week to better cover the front tires, but I don't want to leave everything underneath exposed. I'm looking for something flexible but somewhat rigid, and most importantly durable that I can use to make some inner fenders. Any thoughts?
deadbeat son
Explorer
How about Kydex? It's pretty rigid, but is heat deformable so you can easily shape it to your needs with a heat gun and it will hold. A guy I used to dirt bike with used it for all sorts of things on his bike.
https://www.kydex.com
java
Expedition Leader
Kydex is a great idea. Ive made a few holsters with it, and once you figure out how to work it its awesome. I would go with a thinner piece to make the fender liners out of.
Best part of it, if you get the shape all messed up, stick it in the oven for a couple mins and it goes back to a flat sheet.
Best part of it, if you get the shape all messed up, stick it in the oven for a couple mins and it goes back to a flat sheet.
Box Rocket
Well-known member
That Kydex looks like a great idea. Thanks for the suggestion. I need to look a little deeper into the cost and how much material I would need but it looks like a good option.
Anyone else have any other ideas?
Anyone else have any other ideas?
Revco
Adventurer
Try a sign or plastics supply shop for kydex. It's great stuff, but will probably need to be ordered and isn't cheap for a sheet.
ABS plastic will be in stock at pretty much any sign or plastic supply shop, it's cheap, flexible enough to shape yet rigid enough to withstand rocks and debris. You can use a heat gun to form it into any shape just like the kydex.
ABS plastic will be in stock at pretty much any sign or plastic supply shop, it's cheap, flexible enough to shape yet rigid enough to withstand rocks and debris. You can use a heat gun to form it into any shape just like the kydex.
Box Rocket
Well-known member
A sign shop is a good idea. There are a couple that are close I'll check out.
zscott
Adventurer
Interstate plastics is a good online source. Reasonably priced especially if you get the optimal cut sizes and shipping isn't bad either.
Box Rocket
Well-known member
Well I might get banned or kicked off the forum by the Expo Purists for this mod, but I like them all the same. Got the new Glassworks fenders mounted up yesterday. Doing a dry fit to make sure the lines are right especially on the hood and door seams. Overall quality is nice on these and I was pleased with the lines at those seams. However, its no secret that these fenders have less than stellar fitment for the side marker lights. Mine were no exception. Fitment of the markers is dismal. I can do a little "massaging" still and get them better I'm sure but they won't be perfect. I'll be working on that this week along with getting them color matched. Then I'll address the inner fenders. I'm undecided on the snorkel. I've considered rerouting the intake to a safe place back in the engine bay or possibly to the cab. But I'm going to do a little more work to see if I can get the snorkel to fit cleanly to the new fenders. If I can't make it work cleanly, I won't run the external snorkel. Bottom line is the 4.5" flare give better tire coverage than the stock fenders.
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Here's some pics.
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Here's some pics.
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