Under Van Storage works Good

[Groovy2]

this is a Under Van storage idea I used on my Full size Transit Van -

Transit van has a large ground clearance and the frame members 
are high above the ground -


This May work with other types of van with some design changes -
but the overall design Idea has been solid -

measurements and box sizes will need to be changed for your brand of van/RV


(These specs / measurements were written for Full Size Ford Transit van-)

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Full size Ford Tansit van there is room for two 26 inch long Kobalt tool boxes with extra space[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]for another 10 inch long box [/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]so 62 inch long space available between rear spring mount and fuel tank hose area [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]boxes hang down 1.5 inches lower than bottom of fuel tank -[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I used 3/16 stainless steel wire cable that is plastic coated - 20 ish feet -[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]cable is rated at 185 Lbs -[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]5 X cables with cable clamps that are the kind with 2 nuts and U clamp[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]dont know they are called -[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]5 cut cables are attached under van at Cross brace Joints join to the main inner frame-[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]clamp U bolt thing is used to form loop in cable and hold in place[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]( there is a thru hole at cross brace mount area )[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]for boxes I used the cables came out to Exactly 11 inches from bottom of cross brace[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]to bottom of rack -[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Loop of cable goes around Bottom thick Rod of rack to form Loop and cable is secured [/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]with cable U clamp gizmo - [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Leave extra 8 inches of cable (each end) to make it easier to pull things tight and easier to work with -[/font]

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[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]the rack for boxes to sit on is 2X 6 foot long 12 inch wide Wire shelves from Lowes -[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]the 2 racks are stacked up one on top of each other to form a U shaped channel -[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I cut 5 inches off EACH end of the racks/shelves next to the brace that stiffens the L[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]why the designer added the extra 5 inches on each end section baffles me -[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]but cutting this extra piece off worked out great for my purpose -[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I zip tied the 2 racks together just to hold in place- then tied them together with thick cord-[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]came out very strong - wrapping cord around bottom thick rods to hold together - [/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]full length - Both sides - cut zip ties off when done-[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I spray painted the with racks black with Krylon rattle can paint (before adding rope)[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Krylon paint suckkks just as bad ad it Always has - [/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]stayed sticky for 24 hours even in direct texas sun and 100 f temps -[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I will Never buy that  again -[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]could not find black rope to tie racks together and had to use white rope[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]so im going to spray it black with $1 cheapie paint from lowes[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]its much better quality the the Krylon dribble -[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]at access boxes the rack swings Down on Outer side -[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]to Hold the Outer part of rack UP in place I used 3 thick Chain links that were cut[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]using the hydraulic chain cutter at lowes -[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]this cutter puts a Bend in the cut link - forms kind of a bent/twisted Hook -[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]got for free by asking lowes man for them - he had a 100s of them[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]and they worked perfect for what I needed -[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Under van in Inner/outer wall there is some holes that the bent chain link[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]fit into Perfectly - forms a real nice hook that wont fall out and is plenty strong -[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif](im going to drill 2 extra holes for hooks but I dont have access to my stepper drill[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]at the moment but rack will have 5 hooks / ropes total when finished -[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I used a truckers Chinch knot with strong cord to pull racks up tight against bottom[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]of boxes and van frame / floor - - not going anywhere -does not even jiggle at all -[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]( cord wraps around Bottom Thick rod )[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Im going to add a small chain with a lock for security -[/font]


[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]There is room for a 3rd box behind drivers rear wheel and may add box there -[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]but I have done enough crawling around on hot pavement to last me for a while -[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]total cost was $80 ish -[/font]

Picture taken UNDER van showing ground clearance are distorted by camera
actual is better shown in TOP picture -  Jay -- 

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]this is what van with boxes installed looks like[/font]
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[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]2 tool boxes that fit under van -[/font]

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[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]cables attached to van frame and to metal shelf -[/font]

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[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Hook that slides into hole in van to hold shelf tight in place[/font]

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[dragonfiregrill]

interesting idea, going to have to check my van to see if there is room for water tanks. would save me tons of interior room, even if i have to figure out how to put multiple ones under there lol

 

[highdesertranger]

I am guessing driving on dirt roads is not in the plan? highdesertranger

 

[Groovy2]

dirt roads are OK the ground clearance is reduces by 2 inches - not much -
fuel tank that is next to boxes hangs down almost as much-
big rocky roads will have to drive more carefully -

pictures taken from down low had distorted view -
clearance is more than it looks in the last 2 pictures -

 

[Minivanmotoman]

Nice creative use of space.
What do you store in them?
Waterproofing the boxes necessary or is the top lip sufficient to keep it dry?

 

[Groovy2]

boxes are well made and so far boxes seem to be water tight -
seal O ring is square lip of flexible rubberish material -
seal is held in place in several areas -

Top Lid does not have any holes or seams to leak-

drove about 25 miles through pouring rain inside both boxes completely dry- Nice
top latching clasp are pretty nice- Metal - - better than most Ive seen -
these Kobata boxes are well made for the price $25 -

so far carrying Motorcycle crash gear type stuff in boxes-
pretty sure will handle fair amount of weight -
shelf assembly is pretty strong -
so far boxes have not moved at all -

Trucker chinch knot holds boxes against frame Very Tight - Jay -