19H Toolbox Rear Bumper Mod

[mi0809]

Did this toolbox mod to add space to keep the hitch parts and found it to be very handy.

Placed a piece of 1/2" plywood on the bottom inside for added support for the box and the U-bolts.

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Clever! I saw someone do something similar that had just small pieces of plywood and said to myself, "Self, there has to be a better way to reinforce the u-bolts without disrupting the flat bottom of the box." Then I saw your solution. Doh!

[David472]

Very nice storage solution!

[29BHS ECO]

mi0809--D

[29BHS ECO]

mi0809-- Did you add the 4sq. bumper also, my 19h (see "19h mods to date post") has the "c" shaped pce of junk so I had to tie it into the frame. The plywood is a good idea, I might add that next season. Tx Larry

[mi0809]

19H F250 Just picked up the 19H new back in March 2011. Fortunately, it came with the square bumper.

[mach8274]

Looks good. I put a box on the tongue to keep my hitch stuff in. Extra storage is always a plus.

[RedHorse1]

My 23B which has the same bumper. How ridgid is the install? How much weight do you store in it? Looks like you moved it far enough away from the TT that the lid opens clean. Nice! Any idea what it does to your warranty?

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by mi0809

Did this toolbox mod to add space to keep the hitch parts and found it to be very handy.....snip

Welcome to the Jayco forums....., and looks like were neighbors, I'm east of you over in Hartland.

I have to admit it looks good, and is easy to access .

I'm sure your tool box will stay attached to the bumper, but to protect your mod I would consider adding some additional frame-to-bumper rigidity so that you don't have to rely only on the two existing frame weldments holding the thin gauge tube bumper in place. They are notorious for cracking/breaking around the welds if there is any potential for flexing of the bumper do to displaced weight. Unfortunately our HTT's and TT's don't have much of a suspension to absorb all the bouncing either, which is the root cause of bike racks having issues mounted on the rear bumpers.

Just a couple of ideas:

http://www.jaycoowners.com/showthread.php?t=4448&page=2

http://www.jaycoowners.com/showthread.php?t=3794

This is one of those things that you may never have a problem leaving well enough alone, but there is some history behind these tube bumpers.

Just a little food for thought

Bob

[RoyBraddy]

I'm guessing this is what you would to move the heavy batteries from the tongue to save some hitch weight. Four T105s might raise the tongue off the ground haha...

I like the truck bed mounting ears on both sides. Looks like a perfect place to mount some vents for batteries...

Nice install...

[Bob Landry]

I had a custom box built that opens from the front so I could fit it right under the light without impairing the visibility of the light. I also selected a length that would leave space for a spare tire carrier on the other end of the bumper.That gave me a little extra height. There is a cross support welded to the trailer frame with two additional short supports welded between that cross member and the square bumper, making four points of attachment for the bumper and is shown in one of the photos. There are also two pieces of angle iron welded to the rear surface of the bumper to provide support for the bumper box and the box is attached to them with tapping screws from the inside. The depth of the box is such that it does not stick out any further than my spare tire. The box carries an air compressor, X-chocks, water hoses and electrical cords and most of the weight is on top of the bumper as opposed to hanging off of it acting like a lever every time I hit a bump.







The cost of the box was less than what Northern Tool wanted for one of similar size and I was able to design it to meet my specific application.

[big78ford]

Bob, I really like your setup, very thought out. My son has metal class next semester, I'll have to see if he can custom build a box for me. I like the fact that it doesn't stick out to far.

[Bob Landry]

That was the big advantage for me in having a custom size box built. it was around the same price as a similar one from Northern Tool, but I sized it to come up to the taillight and also not stick out past the spare tire.