Anyone using a cargo rack?

[VanTrekker]

<div style="text-align: left;"><img style="width: 284px; height: 210px;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41LZyfmER9L._SS400_.jpg" alt="" width="360" height="213" /><br />Okay, so I wanted to buy a cargo trailer but ended up with a cargo rack...&nbsp; This one was intriguiging.&nbsp; So many of them have a 20" depth making it difficult to carry some of the nice big Rubbermaid totes.&nbsp; I saw this one on Amazon for $115, including shipping.&nbsp; It got great reviews and it's 24" deep.<br /><br />Right off the bat it's going to get a floor - treated plywood or perhaps metal.&nbsp; The mesh is not strong enough.<br /><br />Eventually I plan to build a toolbox to put on the rack.&nbsp; At this point I'm not sure if it will occupy the whole 60 inch width or just part... The tool box would be&nbsp;lined&nbsp; with some sheet metal inside and diamond plate aluminum&nbsp;on the outside.&nbsp; The inside will house the Honda generator and have a powered vent fan for exhaust, a louver for air intake... (and a little door for the starter pull and on/off switch.)&nbsp; There will be one&nbsp;whale of a lock on it, too!<br /><br />The rest of the&nbsp;rack will be for non-perishable stuff to store in tote pans&nbsp;- things of negligible value such as clothes, paper plates, etc...&nbsp; I don't plan to keep tote pans on the rack till ready to go camping.<br /><br />Also, there will be some kind of a way to carry the bike.&nbsp; I can buy a double hitch receiver adapter (one 2" receiver a few inches above the other) or perhaps weld something together...&nbsp; Oh well... More toys and more work..<br /><br />On last thing - the rack will also get some red turn / brake lights on it for safety reasons.&nbsp; it just seems wise.<br /><br />V.T.</div>

 

[virtuousman]

This is a great idea. I am hitting the road with many tools, ladders, etc. and wanted a conversion van for sleeping. I was racking my brain wondering where on earth I was going to store everything. You just solved my problem. Thanks.

 

[SirJoey]

<br /><strong style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">I had one with trailer lights on it, too. <br />Not exactly like yours, but the lights are definitely a nice touch!&nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/thumb.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" /><br /><br /></strong>

 

[gypsydreamer]

edited

 

[She]

They make risers for hitches. I saw them on&nbsp;Amazon. I like this idea. Now you have me thinking.

 

[SoulRaven]

I just picked up a used one from John and Jenn for $40.00 and I love it... It has a 250lb capacity so I now can get my genny, gas cans, 5 gal. buckets out of the inside, while moving, and put them back on my storage rack... This also an awesome platform to climb up to attach my TV and wireless antennas... As a bonus this is also a platform to do projects from doubling as say saw horses to cut project pieces of wood/metal... A great buy for me...

 

[VanTrekker]

Cool beans, Steve!&nbsp; It sounds like it's coming in handy already.<br /><br />Gypsy, I might have caused some confusion.&nbsp; The one I ordered is 60" left to right, 24 inches front to back and 6" deep...&nbsp;<br /><br />I am really looking forward to this thing arriving.&nbsp; It would be cool to build a large tool box with a flat top.&nbsp; I could use the surface for my little stove and put the TV set on one end of it while&nbsp;boondocking in the lawnchair at Walmart...<br /><br />JUST KIDDING!&nbsp; ~~~~~~&nbsp; (twisted sense of humor) ~~~~~~<br /><br />V.T.

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Im always worried these things are going to get hit when parked, especially at night and in walmart.&nbsp; People see the big white van and dont adjust for another few feet behind it.&nbsp; Id stripe it with red and white reflective tape...<br /><br />Your stealth is dead anyway at this point <img src="/images/boards/smilies/rofl.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" />&nbsp; Tho a toolbox could help a contractor disguise.

 

[RetiredNomad]

Hey VT, I had one of those on my old van. I built a "deck" on it, sort of like a back porch with railings, so i could set up a small table, chair and very large umbrella. Yes it kills your stealth but I didn't need that at the time. It's great for storing your house batteries etc. Extra lights for traveling and "Christmas" lights for when parked.
Good luck in your travels.......

 

[gypsydreamer]

<br /><br /><br />Some great ideas here.&nbsp; Thanks!<br /><br />Ann

 

[SoulRaven]

Well I just tested mine today, moving from the high Sierras to the high desert onto BLM land... It worked perfectly, I laid a tarp under the cargo from front to back to cover the underside, then loaded my 2k genny, 5 gal and 1 gal gas cans, put my 3 5 gal buckets in a milk crate and had room to store my 2 burner Coleman stove also... folded the tarp over it all, bungied and strapped it all secure... Not one problem on my 250 mile trek, and what a difference on the inside storage... This is a must have for boon-dockers...

 

[gypsydreamer]

For what it's worth...I was talking with a friend this evening about this and he said he saw a van with a cargo carrier, the plastic bins on the carrier had caught on fire. Seems the exhaust pipe was pointed right at the bins on the carrier, it was a hot day. He suggested you make sure the exhaust pipe was pointed away from the carrier.

Something to consider.

Ann

 

[Les H]

i have one, skide it on and off as needed. weighs about 25 lbs, 500 LB capacity. dont need lights here unless you block your vehicle lights. Mine hangs kinda low too, and i have scraped it on steep entry/exits. Personally, i lije mine for carryi.g thi.gs too messy or buljy to wrestle through the single wide back door.

 

[josephusminimus]

i have one, skide it on and off as needed. weighs about 25 lbs, 500 LB capacity. dont need lights here unless you block your vehicle lights. Mine hangs kinda low too, and i have scraped it on steep entry/exits. Personally, i lije mine for carryi.g thi.gs too messy or buljy to wrestle through the single wide back door.

I used one for a number of years boondocking out of a Mitzubishi Montero.&nbsp; Found myself addicted to it, overflowing from it.<br /><br />The Toyota RV came with a cargo box of expanded metal mounted in two hitch receivers.&nbsp; I'm in the process of reinforcing it all and attaching a trailer hitch under the cargo box so's to use the box for extra propane and a spare tire.&nbsp; But the lever arm between the rear axle and the cargo box is something I'm watching carefully.&nbsp; The rear already extends far enough behind the fulcrum to cause a little extra weight to do a lot of lifting up front.

 

[SoulRaven]

The fire hazard is a real concern with direct out the back exhaust... Me I had my duel exhaust come out at a 45 deg. angle behind my rear wheels... This will solve any problems... but understand this is a real problem...