Best way to secure boxes / coolers in bed?

[jmurph]

anyone have something cool or bought that works good for tie downs or sectioning their beds? talking about coolers and boxes and random misc stuff to not slide around.

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[Tom_C]

anyone have something cool or bought that works good for tie downs or sectioning their beds? talking about coolers and boxes and random misc stuff to not slide around.

I don't have these, but you can get cargo bars, or slings. https://www.amazon.com/Reese-Explor...rds=truck+bed+cargo+bar&qid=1621164707&sr=8-5

https://www.amazon.com/Full-Size-Pi...s=truck+bed+cargo+sling&qid=1621164786&sr=8-3

Or, you could use the old 2x6 method. I think there are slides in the side of the beds for that, but not sure.

https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/threads/bed-divider-for-beds-w-drop-in-liner.7234/

 

[NOVA_Ranger]

I have the rubber mat in the bed and things don’t slide around, as long as I don’t try to drift or threshold brake corners.

 

[JetEngr19]

I have the rubber mat in the bed and things don’t slide around, as long as I don’t try to drift or threshold brake corners.

I have a rubber mat and I agree. Nothing slides around back there.

 

[Mastodon]

I don't have these, but you can get cargo bars, or slings. https://www.amazon.com/Reese-Explor...rds=truck+bed+cargo+bar&qid=1621164707&sr=8-5

https://www.amazon.com/Full-Size-Pi...s=truck+bed+cargo+sling&qid=1621164786&sr=8-3

Or, you could use the old 2x6 method. I think there are slides in the side of the beds for that, but not sure.

https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/threads/bed-divider-for-beds-w-drop-in-liner.7234/

I never liked the idea of that first one being pushing outward against the unsupported bed sides. Always seemed to me that a fit secure enough to be useful would mean potentially warping the sheet metal of the bed, since there’s nothing behind it. And while there’s some good examples of the 2x6 version on the F-150 forum, wood’s heavy, not as cheap as it used to be, and looks too DIY on trucks as expensive as these are.

Instead, I (with the help of my 3D printer) fabbed up my own bed divider that bolts to the middle tie down spots. Gotta do something with those empty holes, right? Cross bars come from the top rail of a chain link fence ($13 from Home Depot).

Whole setup is very strong, but there was one flaw: had to unbolt it if you needed to use the full length of the bed. Enter the version 2 prototype:

Despite being so easy to install, it’s surprisingly secure. Tested it by slamming that side of the truck against one of those antil-collision poles (the ones set in concrete to protect fences or the corners of buildings.) Hit hard enough to relocate the rear axle and pull the driveshaft from the transmission, but that quick release mount stayed in place! That’s right: I do the hard testing, so you don’t have to!

 

[Tom_C]

Whole setup is very strong, but there was one flaw: had to unbolt it if you needed to use the full length of the bed. Enter the version 2 prototype:

Despite being so easy to install, it’s surprisingly secure. Tested it by slamming that side of the truck against one of those antil-collision poles (the ones set in concrete to protect fences or the corners of buildings.) Hit hard enough to relocate the rear axle and pull the driveshaft from the transmission, but that quick release mount stayed in place! That’s right: I do the hard testing, so you don’t have to!

I remember that, and version 2 looks great. I also remember your accident and it's still painful to look at.

 

[Jms81661]

anyone have something cool or bought that works good for tie downs or sectioning their beds? talking about coolers and boxes and random misc stuff to not slide around.

I got one for each side. These swing boxes are cool and lockable. I got recovery gear and tools in one. My guns in the other. A little pricey at $199 from Stage3 but they're really user friendly with the swing on them

 

[Mastodon]

I remember that, and version 2 looks great. I also remember your accident and it's still painful to look at.

The mount for the passenger side was still on the printer when it happened (each side takes about 20 hours to print) so I haven’t been able to test it with the poles in place yet. And yeah, it looks painful, but surprisingly the initial estimate from the body shop wasn’t that bad. Only $6400 of damage. The kicker is in timing: estimating 25 days to repair.

We had been planning to use the Ranger to pull our RV around the PNW for all of June, but now we’ll have to use the Explorer instead. Between the trip and the repairs, I won’t be able to mess with the divider until July.

 

[Mellow]

I don't have these, but you can get cargo bars, or slings. https://www.amazon.com/Reese-Explor...rds=truck+bed+cargo+bar&qid=1621164707&sr=8-5

I have a couple of these and they work great.

 

[jmurph]

I got one for each side. These swing boxes are cool and lockable. I got recovery gear and tools in one. My guns in the other. A little pricey at $199 from Stage3 but they're really user friendly with the swing on them

These work well with your tonneau cover? They swing out even with the cover on? Looks nice but that is a big price Tag for a niche box

 

[ScrappyLaptop]

I never liked the idea of that first one being pushing outward against the unsupported bed sides. Always seemed to me that a fit secure enough to be useful would mean potentially warping the sheet metal of the bed, since there’s nothing behind it. And while there’s some good examples of the 2x6 version on the F-150 forum, wood’s heavy, not as cheap as it used to be, and looks too DIY on trucks as expensive as these are.

Instead, I (with the help of my 3D printer) fabbed up my own bed divider that bolts to the middle tie down spots. Gotta do something with those empty holes, right? Cross bars come from the top rail of a chain link fence ($13 from Home Depot).

Whole setup is very strong, but there was one flaw: had to unbolt it if you needed to use the full length of the bed. Enter the version 2 prototype:

Despite being so easy to install, it’s surprisingly secure. Tested it by slamming that side of the truck against one of those antil-collision poles (the ones set in concrete to protect fences or the corners of buildings.) Hit hard enough to relocate the rear axle and pull the driveshaft from the transmission, but that quick release mount stayed in place! That’s right: I do the hard testing, so you don’t have to!

That is a tragic photo. Why'd they put that post in your way, anyway?

But I love the design of those brackets!

I tried the 2x6 method and decided it was too much trouble. Not only does it weigh a ton even with drilled 2" holes, but the 2x6 doesn't fit lengthwise in the bed! If I'm removing it, it's because I need to put cargo in and that doesn't work if a 2x6 has to lay diagonally in the bed.

So for now I'm making due with a couple of cheap ratcheting cago bars but they're nowhere near as clean looking as your design! Any chance of posting the STL's on github or elsewhere?

 

[Bludrok]

I never liked the idea of that first one being pushing outward against the unsupported bed sides. Always seemed to me that a fit secure enough to be useful would mean potentially warping the sheet metal of the bed, since there’s nothing behind it. And while there’s some good examples of the 2x6 version on the F-150 forum, wood’s heavy, not as cheap as it used to be, and looks too DIY on trucks as expensive as these are.

Instead, I (with the help of my 3D printer) fabbed up my own bed divider that bolts to the middle tie down spots. Gotta do something with those empty holes, right? Cross bars come from the top rail of a chain link fence ($13 from Home Depot).

Whole setup is very strong, but there was one flaw: had to unbolt it if you needed to use the full length of the bed. Enter the version 2 prototype:

Despite being so easy to install, it’s surprisingly secure. Tested it by slamming that side of the truck against one of those antil-collision poles (the ones set in concrete to protect fences or the corners of buildings.) Hit hard enough to relocate the rear axle and pull the driveshaft from the transmission, but that quick release mount stayed in place! That’s right: I do the hard testing, so you don’t have to!

Wow. Charge extra when you sell these since they are crash tested.

 

[airline tech]

Borrowed from Mastodon, my slightly modified version of his, not as pretty but gets the job done.

 

[Dr3wDrop]

If you are looking for a hardcore cooler lock…. https://denylocks.com/

 

[LB'sTremor]

I have a couple of these and they work great.

I got the Harbor Freight version and it works great, you don't need much pressure to make it secure

LB
Ratcheting Cargo Bar (harborfreight.com)

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