Welcome to the seventh entry in April’s Mega Mod-Ster Contest. One appealing Mega Mod will be published in every Email Alert in April. At the end of the month we’ll hold a reader vote to determine April’s winner. For information about the Mod-Ster Contest, including how to enter, click here.
Mike and Nancy Pohl, Plymouth, Minnesota
Overhang Cargo Box For Long Camper Items
2015 Ford F-250
2015 Lance 855
We needed an exterior place to store our patio mat, clam screen porch, canopy and other long items. At first I has going to use a receiver hitch carrier on the roof, but then everything would be open to the weather.
Then I noticed that there was a large open space between the rear bumper of our F-250 6.75-foot box and the camper step on our Lance 855. I figured out what size cargo box I could make that would fit between the truck’s bumper and the camper’s step.
It would also need to be above the hitch extension.
I used 1/2-inch treated plywood to make a cargo box that had a drop-bottom on half of it to access our stuff. By having only half of the bottom open I can slide the items in and be able to close it without having to hold it up while closing the door.
I made two stainless steel straps to hold the box to the bottom of the camper.
I also keep a small tarp in the rear storage compartment to lay on while loading the box. One thing that you have to remember is to make a hole in the side of the box for the crank handle to lower the spare tire.
This mod worked great on our seven-week trip out east. It was easy to access. It is also much easier than getting items off the roof and having everything exposed to the weather.
It took me six to eight-hours not including waiting for the paint to dry. It cost me about $50 for plywood, paint, hinge and hasp to lock it. In my opinion, the skill level of this modification is medium.
Disclaimer: The modifications above are submitted by Truck Camper Magazine readers. It is your responsibility to make sure that any do-it-yourself modification project you undertake is safe, effective, and legal for your situation.
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