DIY Truck Bed Storage

CharlestonJoe · January 29, 2017

As I'm getting older I'm noticing it becoming more and more difficult to reach into my truck bed tool box and pull tools up and out for use without climbing into the back of the truck which maybe full off job materials.

So I started looking around for options. I saw a few companies i.e. Decked, that make a truck bed storage system. However I noticed that most were around 12'' tall. I don't want to give up that much of the truckbed. The top of the wheel wells are 8 & 1/2" high. Which will still give me over 12" of truck bed walls around to contain the majority of what I throw back there. So I looked at other diy projects that people have done and I'm making what will suit me I hope.

I took my measurements today.

Here are some of inspiration pictures

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Eventually I plan on getting a top, mainly to use for camping. I would throw a mattress on top of the platform and could swap out some tools for camping supplies.

In the meantime I plan on weatherproofing the top of the drawer platform. With some hatches up in front of the wheel wells to access the space there. I'm thinking of utilizing boat deck style hatches so they will be as waterproof as reasonably possible.

I hope to complete it over the next couple of weekends. Oh, for drawer slide hardware I'm using skateboard bearings which I saw on another diy project.

Whiskerless.Whaley · January 30, 2017

Looks like a pretty good idea. Interested to see how it turns out!

CharlestonJoe · February 2, 2017

My skateboard bearings came today. $40 for 100 on Amazon

Majority of the box portion and drawers I think I will use a 1/2 " plywood, probably a cabinet grade plywood that it can be thin enough so that it doesn't use up space, yet thick enough for strength. The top will be 3/4 plywood for strength.

I took pictures of my truck bed and added in dimensions but I can't add them here until I figure out how to shrink the picture as I'm getting the " photo to big" message when I try to add them.

muddkatt · February 2, 2017

Use a hosting site like Photobucket for your pictures.

sdeeter19555 · February 2, 2017

I assume this will be covered, under a canopy? I'd build it out of marine grade plywood myself.

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CharlestonJoe · February 2, 2017

Thanks everyone!

I have a Photobucket account, just haven't used it in a couple years. I discovered when I use my phone to send pictures it gives me the option to send them small, medium or full size. Apparently though it only gives me that option when I'm not on WiFi, so I don't use data I guess. Phones are just to smart these days....lol

Marine grade plywood, I thought about that, but in reality I'm thinking I will have the truck 3 more years maybe and I'm not worried about the platform lasting the rest of my life. I do plan on weatherproofing the top of it and eventually putting a topper on (within a couple months) For weatherproofing I plan coating the top with a product made by Sealoflex or Hydrostop. The product I'm thinking of using is made for roofs and for foundation walls. It brushes on but will harden enough to shovel debris off it for when I throw trash back there.

What I'm trying figure out is drainage.... If I seal all that, whenever it rains I will end up with a lake in the back of the truck like the plastic bed liners cause. I will need to drill some drain holes in the front somehow/ someway

I thought about stopping the platform short of the front an inch or so, so that rain water could just run down the front drains like it does now, but, that inch gap would fill up with leaves, debris and other crapola and be a p.i.a.

I can't see them now, but I think there is a couple of plugs in the front wall currently hidden by my tool box maybe they will be at the right height to remove and use as drains, I don't know, we'll see.

sdeeter19555 · February 2, 2017

You could alway drill and install drain tubes...

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CharlestonJoe · February 5, 2017

I am thinking about drain tubes and using either a flush mount flange or recessed flange connected to a tube leading water out so that the top surface remains flat, so that all the water has a way out and its smooth for a shovel going across it.

It's obviously not happening this weekend, a urgent type repair project popped up and the owners need it completed by Tuesday. Maybe next weekend I can start on it.

CharlestonJoe · February 19, 2017

Holy smokes its been a crazy month! A body shop had my truck for two weeks replacing the front bumper and the plastic around it. First bumper they tried to get me to accept with just the black primer that it comes with and a bunch of scratches. Then they painted it but the spacing was still crooked so they told me they were going to try a oem bumper to see if it would fit better. They were using cheap knock offs and wondering why it wasn't right. Finally got the truck back and my wife had picked it up for me as I couldn't make it there before closing and she was rear ended by a drunk driver on the way home! She's doing ok and so is my son who was with her. Truck needs a back bumper. I know where I'm not taking it!!!

I was able to start on the drawer frame assembly today! I think I'm not going to use the bearing set up as it takes up space that I don't want to give up (inch + on both sides per drawer) not to mention drilling all those holes. I think I will try making some kind of slide guide using metal angle.

I am having to make it a little deeper than I thought. I measured my circular saw, which will end up in there, and its 9 inches tall and wide, so no matter which way I turn it I need 9 inches. So altogether with 3/4 slates on the bottom, room for a 9 & 1/4 inch drawer depth and a piece of 3/4 on top I'm over 11 inches tall. Tomorrow I hope to figure out my drawer slide set up and put the top on and get that waterproofed.

CharlestonJoe · February 20, 2017

Today's progress; I used angle aluminum for guides one at each corner. The drawers slide pretty good and I haven't event greased them up yet.

I used a contour/profile gauge to get the shape

I'm using a roofing product to seal the top.

The green is a primer/foundation coat, the finish coat will be black.

I'm not planning on taking this out anytime soon.

I will be adding additional storage before and after the wheel wells, just not sure of the what and how yet. I'm debating on just leaving the two spots after the wheel well open from the back and just put straps and such in there. Not sure yet.

CharlestonJoe · March 18, 2017

I realized this morning I never added a final picture.

I have left the two cubby holes alone (one on each side of the two drawers) as they are handy for bungee cords, rags, small stuff that would blow out of the back. I also found out the other day a trenching shovel fits! I slide the handle in and it goes up over the wheel well and the metal blade end just fits. For those who don't know what a trenching shovel is, its a skinny shovel for digging skinny trenches. Also, a sheetrock mud pan just fits in there.

I wish I did this years ago. I've been loving it.

A few more details, I did drill ? drain holes in the front wall and the back edge has a rubber strip fastened behind a metal corner. The metal protects the back edge from getting banged up and the rubber strip acts as a drip edge for water to drip off from and out of the space at the tailgate and truck bed. The rubber strip is black and not really visible in this picture, if someone wants a close up picture then I will post it.

Donstar · March 18, 2017

Nicely done! When/if you get a canopy get one with flip open side windows. The raised floor of your bed would make these very useful!

CharlestonJoe · March 18, 2017

Thanks!

I find it quite interesting, the different names for things in different parts of the world, in South Carolina a truck bed cap is called a camper shell, back in New York they were called truck caps, and apparently in British Columbia they're called canopies.

I do plan getting a cap for the back but I plan on making a shallow drawer, as wide and deep as the truck bed that can be pulled out and items set on it and the whole thing slid back in. Items like portable table saws, chop/miter saws, air compressor and boxes of whatever. I was bouncing the idea off guys that work with me and one suggested using a garage door track and the wheels that go in it as the drawer support/guide system. As I don't want to come up to high, yet it needs to be strong enough to support heavy items. Right now I'm enjoying my new set up and working on organizing items in the drawers so the slide out shelf system and truck cap idea is on the back burner simmering if you will.

What I'm thinking of for in the current drawers is some sort of bins that I can lift out and carry into the house I'm working on. I do a little bit of everything so besides a few wood working power tools I carry electrical and plumbing tools and a few supplies for those, as well as a few painting tools. So I want to have a bin for each. I haven't spotted anything that would work yet so I may end up just making them. I still can't carry every single thing that I would like to so I would have a few extra bins in the garage/shop to swap out when I need different items for the day.