TOOL ORGANIZATION WITH CAMPER SHELL

Looking for ideas on how everyone stores their tools/recovery gear or just whatever they carry at all times with having a camper shell on the back. In the past I had a toolbox I would throw everything in but I can’t have that on anymore. Does everyone just use a bin or tote and store things that way. Just looking for ideas. Thanks

 

I’m not sure what shell you have, you should post pictures. Mine opens on both sides. With the decked drawer system, I can reach all parts of the deck top through the windows and the full extension drawers get me access to the rest. I have had a knee replacement and my back fused, so climbing into the bed is out of the question.

 

I have the Leer 100XL. How do you like the decked system? I want to to get one they are just expensive

 

Windoors and a Bed Slide and you could get to everything maybe?

The Height of the Bed Sides is tough to deal with on the newer trucks too and if it is not a problem for you then it looks like you should be able to reach anywhere in that tiny short bed anyway!?

I like the idea of the Decked but they dont make one for the Long Beds which I have and they are insanely priced to me and they look like you lose a lot of space to the way the plastic is formed for strength?

 

Decked is pretty well built and durable. Also weighing in at over 200lb. if I remember correctly. Bed slide looks good too, but it’s a pretty deep reach through the side windows of the shell I think. Just tossing ideas for you to think about

 

I appreciate the ideas. My main goal is to get h he decked system. Might have to just use a bin till I can swing spending that kinda money

 

I posted this in the canopy thread.

Welded wire and some 1 hole straps.

Wire was left over from a job. Straps were $12.

More mounting options.

 

No camper shell here, but I have a headache rack and diy bed rails that will soon have a diy hardtop cover. Then I will build me a drawer and floor system similar to the Decked brand. I feel like with the locking tailgate and a super solid anti theft bed cover, I can keep tools or other things like picnic/camping stuff in the drawers and it will be EZ for two people to pull out the drawer and carry it all to and from the work/picnic area. Best thing is, good security, especially if I back it to a wall, tree, or other obstacle.

 

Do you have any pictures of it?

 

The cover will be 3/4 plywood coated with white roof coating to keep it cooler inside, 1.5" equal leg 1/8" angle iron coated with bedliner on 3 sides overlap the bed rails, 3/4" pine coated with bed liner will also drop to the tail gate cap under the plywood and angle iron trim. Suspension was also modified quite a bit for the loads I haul.

 

I got the undercover swing cases. They are okay. Im questioning the longevity of the mounting system since they are just self tapping screws into the thin bed material. Holds my stuff tho.

 

I have a few of the Home Depot bins up near the front of the bed. I use a tie down to keep them in place.

 

Those are a great option. I also wonder about the mounting though.

 

Since I have the trail edition boxes, I will say, you could find some trail edition boxes for sale. They are not quite as convenient as the swing case idea though. However, to keep things out of sight and locked up inside a camper shell, I would consider it.

 

A lot of great options. Thanks everyone

 

Since I plan on getting a shell some day, I have a Weather Guard chest (model

$821 674-52-01 Chest Box, 47 in W, Bolt-On, Keyed, Black

674-52-01). A little less room than a saddle box, but I can use it with a camper shell, it doesn't obstruct the rear window, even sits below the bed rails so can have a tonneau cover (which I'll prob never get). Works great. Can't slide lumber beneath a chest like you can a saddle box, but I rarely ever need to anyway. I didn't want to drill holes in the bed, instead I used angle brackets to use the existing bed bolts, and just drilled holes in the side of the chest. The chest comes with rubber grommets for the bolts - so it doesn't leak at all. And it's solid as a rock, being held down by the bed bolts. I got the idea from this post:
https://www.tundras.com/threads/no-drill-tool-chest-in-bed.47436/

Second & third pics you can see the bracket on the side of the chest (and my black paint job that's slowly chipping away). For a little more security, I used carriage bolts to connect the bracket to the chest. I also cut a slit in the bed mat to poke the bracket through. But it's bolted on the oem bed bolts beneath the mat. The chest & brackets were a perfect fit to the bed bolts on each side.

 

If the need should occur, you might consider a hitch extender to give you added length occasionally. I am in the process of fabricating my own version just to have it in the bag of tricks.

 

This is a great idea! Where’d you buy your welded wire from? And how’d you attach it to the windows?

 

You can find it at some junk resale places, like junk warehouse shelving racks. I use them for a few things now and again. 35 cents per pound from my guy.

 

sweet, thanks man!

 

I have ripped down some wash boarded out service roads and not once have they come loose or start to wallow out a hole. I could see maybe 10 15 yrs down the road maybe something but so far so good. I did put a dab of loctite on the threads before running them home..probably didnt do anything but made me feel warm and cozy inside

 

But it looks like you need to get into the bed to use it?

 

I do. No big deal to me though.
I could unlock & open it from the driver side to grab something on the end of the chest but that’s about it.

 

Swing case on one side Holds my recovery gear and a few tools.


Quick Fist grips on the other side for bigger tools.


These leave most of the bed usable for hauling stuff.