THE PORTAL HUB - Pinzgauers, Haflingers, Volvo 303s and more!

Got board yesterday afternoon so I decided to start a new project.
I decided to utilize that wasted 7 inches of space behind the divider panel and the first rear seats. I am going to be building a narrow storage locker.
So yesterday I started welding up the frame. Today I stopped by and picked up some more square tubing and some diamond plate to use as the skin.
From the photo’s you can get the idea of where I am going with it. The end steps were needed to clear the seatbelt anchoring rod.
I know others have made similar storage lockers so this is not new to a lot of you, this is just my idea of how to accomplish it.
Ill post pics as I go.

Very nice! Makes me wonder if the standard cargo bar for a pickup would work.

I do wish I had a metal working skill.

Finished welding up the box frame tonight and painted it. Still have to put the diamond plate on the bottom and sides. Then I need to make a locking lid for it. I hope to have it as a box without a lid by Wendsday. Then it will sit until I get back from from vacation on the 16th.
Honestly metal is easer to work then wood is. With metal if you cut it to short you can just weld a piece on. If the shape is not right a BFH will adjust it.

westernair wrote:Still have to put the diamond plate on the bottom and sides.

Looks good, Shawn!

At the beginning of the year I asked a local fabricator to build the same kind of storage, with the same structure (steel square tube frame with aluminium panels), but mine only covered 2/3 of the width of the truck. The fabricator has since vanished from the face of the Earth, but that's a different story (no down payment, so it's annoying without being costly...).

I am just curious why you would put diamond plate on the bottom? your truck is already LineXed, so I would have assumed this makes a good enough bottom for your storage locker already.

Well I figured putting it on the bottom would keep things dry.
You do bring up a good point, and I may forgo the bottom. I am already not putting it on the seperating wall side as the bolt heads that such stick out would have caused the box to be an inch thinner.

I would think that the open bottom would help drain should any water drip along the wall/bulkhead... As my design was narrower, I had planned to have 2 pieces of flat steel welded to the frame, from top to bottom, and lined up with the bolts so I could bolt the whole box secured to the wall/bulkhead. Am I right that yours is bolted to the truck on the sides?

Actually I posted the design that I had done on Google Sketchup, as I was quite impressed with the little piece of software, here: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=6952

With my fabricator gone AWOL, I need to learn to weld now...

ya the 1/8 inch plate steps on the sides will be used for securing it.

Here is my progress

Any concerns of moisture trapped below the lower panel? It seems like you'ld only need a front panel if any at all. I like it as is =)

Ya I think forgoing the bottom is prudent, or using expanded metal instead. The sides I want to close in to keep small things in. their is about a 1 inch space between the ends.
the steel frame is made out of 3/4" .064 square tube. The Aluminum plate I bought ie .125"

I like the Christmas lights!
Need a photo of them turned on
oh - and that is a smart use of space - what kind of lid are you thinking?

I wish I could have made mine out of metal as you have a lot more space than with wood.

Ooops you saw the lights!
I have 300 white mesh lights zip tied to the inside frame under the canvas and then a set of flashing color lights around the parameter. I put chrismas carols on and take groups to see the Spanaway Park Christmas light display. Hot chocolate, peppermint schnapps and a stack of wool blankets and everyone has a good time.

The lid will be diamond plate as well with a twist bar lock. Something like on the back of a pickup canopy

I did this one with some left over porch railing (from Lowes) and old angle iron from a discarded bed frame, it uses preexisting mounting locations did not have to alter the Pinz as in no new holes.
Was built to provide solid mount for the refrigerator and still provide radio mounts and a table. The table tilts up for when the “sleeping platform” is in place instead of the seats.

Quick video of the lights
Sorry crappy cell phone quality

Do you use an invertor to power the lights?