Once you remove the tire, and now I have a 2" BL, there is so much unused room. My plan is to put the box in, and either make another box for batteries from the top or a mount under the truck to hinge down off the spare tire crossmember.

 

Ok, we're getting closer to cutting the floor out and adding in the storage box. Did some measuring and I'm looking at a 26x11x18 box. In doing the measuring I noticed the "ears" for the spare tire mount are just bolted on so I can remove those and gain another 4" or so. Having said that what are your thoughts on me removing the rear most cross brace (where the spare mount mounts up) and installing a smaller brace? I'm thinking I can cut the factory one out and install a 1" DOM pipe brace in there, probably something with a thick wall, a little farther back and gain another few inches of room for more storage. Looking to install a 26x11x24 or 26x11x30 box. Maybe even something a little deeper like 26x18x24.

The final plan is to have a large enough area to hold all of my recovery gear, survival gear, fluids, belts, hoses, tools, some long life food stuffs, water, perhaps a gallon of fuel, fishing/hunting gear, fire starting equipment and an advanced first aid kit. If I can store all that under the cargo deck then I'll always have what I need just in case something goes wrong while I'm out and about.

Yes I'll do a write up once the cutting and fab work begins.

 

That's what I was going to do Junk. Cut out that OEM cross member and burn in another. Probably would use some square tube though....

 

upgrading your rear springs?

 

I've already added coils to the rear to help the factory leaf springs hold some extra weight. (ZUK mod)

 

Without seeing the links from Pirate i was going to suggest cutting the floor to access the storage area .

I know that is how I would do that if i was going to build a storage box.

I would make a lip on the top of the box so it would just drop right in the hole cut in the floor. Could be attached either by welding or any other type of hardware

Your lid/ top could be done in any manor of ways

i have yet to ever hear of anyone in the salt belt getting a spare tire down with out a torch or zip disc.

Do they ever work where things don`t rust??