- Location
- central texas
Any advice on making a durable and cheap chip box. Iv got a flat bed truck and was going to use steal frame and attach wood boards for the sides and top? Just wondering what some of you guys have done and what works best
I need to make chip box
- Thread starter jodystreeserv3
- Start date
- Location
- Retired in Minneapolis
Half inch plywood works OK. Even with a few coats of exterior latex it has a short life. Replacing it on a schedule may fit the budget.
I found some sheets of Delrin plastic from store-front signs. This stuff won't break if a rock is thrown at it in -20f temps. You might be able to find a sign company and buy cutoffs or old signs.
Same for aluminum sheeting. Be careful though. Some aluminum sheeting doesn't flex.
Sheet metal works too.
Consider the weight of plywood or lumber too. You might use up your GVW payload in materials.
Pictures are required
I found some sheets of Delrin plastic from store-front signs. This stuff won't break if a rock is thrown at it in -20f temps. You might be able to find a sign company and buy cutoffs or old signs.
Same for aluminum sheeting. Be careful though. Some aluminum sheeting doesn't flex.
Sheet metal works too.
Consider the weight of plywood or lumber too. You might use up your GVW payload in materials.
Pictures are required
marlinspiker
Participating member
- Location
- Pennsyltucky
hey Tom, I've noticed a lot of vehicular related threads of late. Have you ever considered adding a sub folder for equipment and trucks and the like?
- Location
- Retired in Minneapolis
Hmmm..good idea...a meeting of the board might be in order.
flyingsquirrel25
Carpal tunnel level member
- Location
- South East, PA
The following link is a thread I started in June of 2010. It is short but it has a couple links of the material that I used to create my current chip box. I built it in august 2010 and have had very few problems with it. I ended up using 1/8" for my sides and hanging a mud flap in the front to combat wear from the chips. The only thing I wish I had done was the steel structure (that you are doing). Other than that the stuff wears like iron, but its a lot lighter. I thought I had a picture of it up but I can't find where I put it, I'll try in few next few days.
http://www.treebuzz.com/forum/showflat.p...true#Post233698
http://www.treebuzz.com/forum/showflat.p...true#Post233698
frashdog
Branched out member
- Location
- Champlain valley, adirondack coast
I've made a plywood and 2x4 framed one for my one ton truck and 12k dump trailer. Lots of long screws with washers on the heads so they do not pull through with bouncing down the road. They have held up very well. I have loaded them full with chips, fire wood, and every size log/chunk of wood. I did box frame the roof every 4' as per the interior side stakes I think this helped a lot with torsional rigidity. It's solid and gets mistaken for metal. I coated the plywood with 2 coats of rustoleum prior to building. Going to throw another coat on the whole trailer and box now as the metal is starting to rust after only 3 years. Sorry no pics. Gotta get a real phone.
I think a full steel frame(sides tied into roof) would be great with plywood panels.
I call my current box a prototype for the metal framed one but it has proven to be quit durable so far. When I fab a metal one I'm thinking of making the top open down the middle lengthwise folding the two doors over the sides to allow top loading of what ever. A ladder and/or gear rack for the top or sides would be sweet.
I think a full steel frame(sides tied into roof) would be great with plywood panels.
I call my current box a prototype for the metal framed one but it has proven to be quit durable so far. When I fab a metal one I'm thinking of making the top open down the middle lengthwise folding the two doors over the sides to allow top loading of what ever. A ladder and/or gear rack for the top or sides would be sweet.
