if you have a military surplus store around or you have seen military ammo boxes i have found a great emergency tool set/food storage. the smaller rectangular boxes fit perfectly in the rear storage compartments of my 4runner. i got two for myself with the original intention to keep them strapped into my camping storage tote. but i was messing around and found that these things fit perfectly inside the storage compartments on either side of the cargo areas in the 2nd gen 4runners. these ammo boxes are watertight so they are perfect to keep emergency non-parishable emergency food in. i currently have fit the following into one box.

1. 3/8" drive ratchet
2. 2" and 6" 3/8" drive ratchet extension
3. rail of metric 3/8" sockets
4. varying sizes of screwdrivers
5. headlight
6. 3 road flares
7. small flashlight
8. metric gear wrenches
9. pliers
10. diagonal cutters
11. alumaseal
12. and one shop towel to keep all the tools from rattling in the box.

they usually run between 6 to 9 dollars per box. larger ones are available

 

good find, never thought to see if they fit in the back cubby.

 

I have one of those, doesn't fit in the cubby but it is a great tool box. waterproof too.

 

I saw those at a locar surplus shop in calgary, they looked like they were used to which makes it look way better. i was thinking of using one for a battery box.. that would be pretty sweet.

 

yeah but you have to have ventilation around the battery for the gasses that come off off it. other than that it would be very durable and also just be cool.

 

Yeah i could put a little breather

 

I was trying to figure out a way to put hinges on two 40 mm boxes I installed in the bed of my '06 Taco. Here's what I figured out: I sometimes open the end of the box closest to the tailgate and reach inside the box for something. There's some play between the lid and the retaining lip (the thing that helps put the lid in the right place if you take it completely off, I mean). That allows the lifting. It occurred to me that widening that gap would add more play and allow the lid to be lifted more, so I popped one latch and lifted up harder and gently bent the retaining lip back just a little more. Now I can lift the lid from one end as much as I need to.

I searched the Web and found an article where a guy put U-bolts on both ends of the boxes. They stick out through the slots in the the latches. He put locks on both ends. That seems like a lot of trouble, messing with two locks each time you want to open the box, but I'll borrow that idea and just leave the rear lock in place to keep the latch in place, using just the front lock to open the box.

So simple, I don't know why I didn't think of this before.

 

this is what i did with my ammo boxes that will eventually end up in my bed. its basically just a 1/2'' carriage bolt and nut, some 1/2'' washers, a small 3/8'' U-bolt and a lock. i got everything at home depot for like $15 for two boxes. it wasnt hard to figure out once i started looking at it. besides drilling the holes the only mod i had to do was bend the top lip down on the carriage bold side which you can see in the 5th pic.
front
lid closed with lock


lid open no lock


inside u-bolts


back
lid closed


lid open


inside carriage bolt

 

Thanks for that. I just got U-bolts for both ends, but that's a better solution for the back end. I'll return the extra parts and put in the carriage bolt instead. The boxes look very nice with black Rustoleum paint (textured). You might try that if you care about the color.

Thanks again.

 

thats the plan, i just havent gotten that far yet. i bought the boxes a year ago and they are still sitting in my garage.
also make sure you get some washers to use as spacers for the carriage bolts. they go behind the slots in the latch. you can sort of see one in the 5th pic. i think they were 3/4''

 

In my ammo box, I keep the following...

1 .45 automatic.
2 boxes of ammunition.
4 days' concentrated emergency rations.
1 drug issue containing antibiotics, morphine, vitamin pills, pep pills, sleeping pills, tranquilizer pills.
1 miniature combination Russian phrase book and Bible.
100 dollars in rubles.
100 dollars in gold.
9 packs of chewing gum.
1 issue of prophylactics.
3 lipsticks.
3 pairs of nylon stockings. --2

 

....Russian phrase book?? the rest i get, but why russian? lol

 

In case we're ever invaded. DuH! Haven't you ever seen the movie "Red Dawn" ?

 

Thanks for the tips. They'll look very good when you're done sanding off the rust and putting some paint on them. I put 2-3 coats on. I really like the look of that textured Rustoleum. Cuts the shine. But it shows the dirt.

 

Common guys, hasn't anyone here seen to movie "Dr. Strangelove"?

 

i keep all of my loose tools and small parts in ammo cans for whelling. they work great and they are super strong. the other ammo cans i carry while camping/wheeling i keep ammo in. what a concept huh?

 

i got a endless sluppy to ammo cans.. all sizes...

 

How do you mount them in the back without having them slide around?

 

Bolt em down or make a frame to hold them in and bolt the frame down.

At least that is what I'm doin

 

I thought about that too, but I wanted something easily removeable in case I need to move something between trucks. I was thinking of just using really strong magnets.