Storage ideas for unused oem spare tire area.

Hey everyone
I need some creative solutions to a common problem. Our trucks are awesome but lack storage capacity.
But wait! What about that big empty space under the truck bed where many of us don’t keep a spare tire?

Ive seen a lot of people installing a second gas or water tank.

But I want to create a storage container of some sort.
Certainly many of you have come up with some really creative solutions for that space, especially in trucks known for having minimal storage.

You could mount a big metal, or plastic box under the bed, cut the truck bed, then install a hatch so you can access it while standing at your tailgate. But it would need to be water tight.
THAT would be super badass!

You could attach a big solid case to the tire cable, then raise and lower it as you please. How much weight can that hoist safely hold?

Bottom line is that there is a big unused space under my truck. I would like to use it to maximize storage while being able to access it. Ideally without having to crawl under.
But how?!

Especially in 1st Gens space is an issue. Adding a large storage box 1/3 size of the truck bed would be crazy useful!!

Anything could be stored in that space..
Recovery equipment
Emergency supplies
Camping equipment
People (dead or alive)
Spare parts
The list goes on...




If you’ve seen it, share it.
If you’ve built it, share it.
If you dreamed it up while laying piss drunk on the shop floor, share it.

 

auxiliary fuel tank would be what i'd put there personally.

 

Dead hookers

 

Found this picture of an suv where someone mounted a big metal box in there.

Damn good!!


apparently this is a popular mod on 4 runners. How would I achieve it or something like it in an open truck bed?

 

Sub'd
Creating a tub to fit in the extra space would not be too difficult.
Get under the truck, plot the area you have, mark it, make a paper template.
Move the template to the top side, to verify size.
Once happy with the area chosen, get out the cutting tools and go to town.
Drive the truck to a metal shop and have a tub made to your desire.

 

Quite simple to do what ever you want from the fabrication part

The hardest is part would be keeping things water tight

If you want to raise and lower things under the Truck more Power to you I just as soon not lay in the mud and snow to get something out.

It comes down to how the truck gets used and what extra you need to haul.

In my case an extra fuel tank would work the best but I have no need of longer range.

Most any other use would be in the way of the cargo I haul defeating the purpose .

 

It doesn’t need to be completely water tight. The less water flowing thru it the better.
I cary several .50 cal ammo cans in the bed hold various tools. But my preference is to have the bed free of objects as much as possible.
If I can figure out how to keep those 100+ extra lbs in the truck but under the bed I think that’s ideal.
The truck is my DD we take on road trips, so the more provisions we can store the better.

 

There is/was a thread on here where a user did just that. He made a metal box attached to the frame and cut a hole in the bed using the cut piece of the bed floor as the lid.
I'm not sure if it was waterproof or not. I can't find the thread.