Aluminess Storage Box - Santa Cruz, CA - $325

[yonah]

Not mine, but spotted via FB Marketplace. No affiliation:

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1296576637731505/?mibextid=6ojiHh

Photo for posterity:

[1der]

That is a very good price for the box. Thanks for posting!

If it were a side hinge model I would be tempted.

I am personally not a fan of the fold down door for our usage profile. While it can be used as a table, it is less ideal to load/unload almost anything into the box since it is a side reach motion. It requires at least another foot behind the vehicle to fully open.

Some rear box setups have two shorter boxes, with drop doors, stacked. A setup like that might be attractive, if fold down doors are desired.

The side hinge makes loading and unloading contents easier, and fold down shelves can be installed on the inner door face. We use our box as a quick set up galley center as well as some gear storage.

Consideration should be given to primary usage profile. Either approach has a usage profile that meets someone's needs.

[Steve C]

Ray since I'm not personally familiar with these Aluminess boxes would the bottom hinge allow the door to hang straight down if the door cable was removed? If so, that would allow full access for loading and the added benefit of being able to attach the cable when a shelf surface is desired. Heck of a price on this one when compared to purchasing new...

[1der]

Great questions and thinking out of the "box"

The cables would have to modified to be quick release. From Aluminess are normally looped , riveted or screwed in place on both ends.

Re: releasing to allow full fold down - if the cables are modified AND if ground clearance was sufficient (box is 30" tall, so would need at least that from bottom of box which is about 32" to 35"above ground on a 4x4) then I think the answer would be yes. There would still need to be clearance aft to allow the door to pivot through a ~ 32" arc.

Yes, very good price,

[NO ANCHOR]

Considering grabbing this for my van cause I need the space, however I don’t have a swing arm for it, anyone know if you can you mount it direct to the door? Maybe with some reinforcement?

[Twoxentrix]

Originally Posted by NO ANCHOR

Considering grabbing this for my van cause I need the space, however I don’t have a swing arm for it, anyone know if you can you mount it direct to the door? Maybe with some reinforcement?

Take a look at Owl Vans web site - I believe they have an exterior plate which mounts to a rear door to hold a box (almost sure it’s designed for a Sprinter type van, but would think you could make it work on an E-350…maybe a little modification???).

[nyyankees588]

Originally Posted by NO ANCHOR

Considering grabbing this for my van cause I need the space, however I don’t have a swing arm for it, anyone know if you can you mount it direct to the door? Maybe with some reinforcement?

I'd warn against mounting directly to the door, based on my experience. My 2003 e250 came with the spare mounted to the door (stock tire size) via one of those brackets that mounts near, but not on the hinges. Unfortunately the e-series doors beneath the windows are pretty flimsy sheet metal with no structural reinforcement. I tried using a beefier spare mount on the door made for a jeep with a big backing plate on the inside of it, but it beat the door to shit.

That's why you see all the newer vans with door mounted equipment that ties into the actual hinge of the door.

The aluminess box is definitely lighter than a tire + rim, but once you start to fill it up, you'll likely stress the sheet metal and hinges.

[Fool120]

I too have a door mount tire holder. The other issue is I can't open that door very far or the tire hits the taillight. The same might be with a box. I'll have to get a swing arm mount someday.

Originally Posted by nyyankees588

I'd warn against mounting directly to the door, based on my experience. My 2003 e250 came with the spare mounted to the door (stock tire size) via one of those brackets that mounts near, but not on the hinges. Unfortunately the e-series doors beneath the windows are pretty flimsy sheet metal with no structural reinforcement. I tried using a beefier spare mount on the door made for a jeep with a big backing plate on the inside of it, but it beat the door to shit.

That's why you see all the newer vans with door mounted equipment that ties into the actual hinge of the door.

The aluminess box is definitely lighter than a tire + rim, but once you start to fill it up, you'll likely stress the sheet metal and hinges.