Securing cargo bins to a hitch platform

[2wheelmedication]

Curious to learn how folks are securing/locking their cargo tote bins/boxes to flat hitch platforms on their rigs. For easy accessibility I prefer hitch cargo idea vs a rooftop system. Ideally I'd like to have a hitch cargo box system that locks as well as somehow DIY locking or bolt on mechanism to the platform. Not interested in Thule system due to the price and bulk. Ideas? Thanks

 

[tx2sturgis]

Ratcheting cargo straps work well, unless your totes are the thinner, more flimsy lightweight design, which might get kinda 'squashed'...

 

[Almost There]

My big Husky Tradesman tote is secured to my hitch platform so that it takes emptying it and then 2 people to remove it. It is on a swing a way platform that allows this type of attachment. If you have to remove the totes to get in to the back doors of the van just ignore this...

Here's the hitch platform that I use (Bob does too) - https://www.stowaway2.com/hitch-frames

The platform came with pre-drilled holes for mounting but they wouldn't match up with the contours on the bottom of the Husky tote so we (I had help!) bolted 2 pieces of 1 x3 to the platform. Then we drilled holes in the bottom of the box where it would most closely hit the wood base. The tote is bolted to the wood with the heads of the bolts inside the tote.

I used some butyl tape to water seal the bolt holes and the first time I had it mounted we used lock-tite on the nuts, thinking I needed that to make sure that no one could unbolt the box and steal the whole thing...duh!. It's kept locked when I'm not in it. Someone would have to break the locks then empty everything to get to the bolt heads AND have the right size wrenches on hand to unbolt it. Ain't gonna happen. Now the bottom nuts are just locking nuts so they can't work loose!