Tailgate lock box solutions?

[LakeBeard]

I've spent weeks and weeks looking at various storage solutions.

I'm just a single guy so plan on removing the rear seat, but I always have a jacket, water bottle, change of clothes, emergency jump starter and other random stuff in the trunk of my car. When I use my jeep (roof off/down) I want those things to be...out of sight at least. Hooke is cheap but reviews suck (maybe just needs a few extra bucks for decent hardware and modifications?), Diabolical looks nice but $800!!....At this point I'm almost resigned to having to build something out of marine ply and cover with trunk liner fabric. Less secure than a metal enclosure, but much more cost effective.

I use this box, it was under $100 on AMZ, I recently removed the tire and it fits on the side as well so I can throw in an ARB for the longer trips.

 

[twisted-pixel]

yeah, a lockable box like that could work for the short term stuff. Then when I want to load up and head off camping, I can remove it and have access to a lot more space

 

[joniki]

I have been looking at a Harbor Freight trailer box. I just need to take some measurements.

 

[LakeBeard]

yeah, a lockable box like that could work for the short term stuff. Then when I want to load up and head off camping, I can remove it and have access to a lot more space

Thats how i have this set up, I use the child set bolts in the front, and the spot for the seat belt bolt in the center, just happened to land perfect

 

[twisted-pixel]

Thats how i have this set up, I use the child set bolts in the front, and the spot for the seat belt bolt in the center, just happened to land perfect

do you have a link to the product?

 

[LakeBeard]

do you have a link to the product?

here you go, looks like the price went up, go figure....

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C777QM2L?tag=wranglerorg-20

 

[Mr. Bills]

… I’ve deleted the rear tire for the most part and could fab a custom box from aluminum that mounts near the hinges and reduces the lever multiplier with spacers to maintain airflow and the box itself c/b vented. I don’t need anything much wider than 8”, as tall as the gate [15"], and about 8” deep.

If your spare tire is deleted you have reduced the weight on the tailgate hinges by approximately 52 pounds (weight of stock TJ wheel and tire).

For locked storage, you could simply add a hasp and padlock to a surplus M548 20mm ammo can, bolt it to the tailgate inside or outside as you prefer, keeping the weight of the contents to about 32 pounds without increasing the stress on the tailgate. (The weight of a M548 ammo can is 19.8#; 52# minus 19.8# leaves 32.2#.)

 

[MillAlien]

I've spent weeks and weeks looking at various storage solutions.

I'm just a single guy so plan on removing the rear seat, but I always have a jacket, water bottle, change of clothes, emergency jump starter and other random stuff in the trunk of my car. When I use my jeep (roof off/down) I want those things to be...out of sight at least. Hooke is cheap but reviews suck (maybe just needs a few extra bucks for decent hardware and modifications?), Diabolical looks nice but $800!!....At this point I'm almost resigned to having to build something out of marine ply and cover with trunk liner fabric. Less secure than a metal enclosure, but much more cost effective.

Seems to me that any usefully sized steel truck underbody cargo box with a tab welded on to accept a lock and cable would work just fine, and that's where I'm headed. I'd cable lock it through the roll bar and call it good.

 

[basedbb69]

I modified a harbor freight trailer toolbox to fit and be removable. And no holes drilled in the jeep. They had 2 sizes it's the small one. 34" I believe?

I don't keep it in the jeep anymore cause I haven't had to daily it for several years but it worked very well. It's very thin metal and anybody could break in if they wanted but it was like 60 bucks I think. I made brackets that mounted it with the factory threadserts that are in front of the tailgate. It fit a lot of stuff and was nice to have locking storage with the top off.

 

[joniki]

I modified a harbor freight trailer toolbox to fit and be removable. And no holes drilled in the jeep. They had 2 sizes it's the small one. 34" I believe?

I don't keep it in the jeep anymore cause I haven't had to daily it for several years but it worked very well. It's very thin metal and anybody could break in if they wanted but it was like 60 bucks I think. I made brackets that mounted it with the factory threadserts that are in front of the tailgate. It fit a lot of stuff and was nice to have locking storage with the top off.

View attachment 596219
View attachment 596221

Nicely done! This is what I have been looking at. Any pics of how you did the brackets?

 

[basedbb69]

Nicely done! This is what I have been looking at. Any pics of how you did the brackets?

I don't have pics of the brackets and I got it in storage right now but this is what I did. It's not the best solution cause there's only two bolts attaching it to the jeep. I was suppose to make bracket to make it 4 but I never did. However it didn't give me any issues like this. The 4 holes on the inside attach the flatbar inside and a 3/8" rubber foot outside to keep it from rattling. It's one piece of flatbar, I cut a slot in the box. Like I said, not a great design but it worked and kept me from drilling into the jeep. It didn't bounce or rattle much either.