550 / 560 Outdoor storage while camping

[Matt 25-560]

Since we weren’t camping over the winter, I was making little accessories for our 560. One of these was a storage box to sit on the fender. I’ve got my little hand ax, our first aid kit, a medical device to help putting on my compression stockings. And anything else that I’d like to keep handy. Built this out of scrap birch plywood and a scrap piece of PVC board for the top. Used 3 European style, slow close hinges to hold the lid up. Should be pretty waterproof and has rubber weatherstrip on the rails that ride on the fender. A small strap and clip to the bottom of the fender makes it easy to level. Throw it inside the camper while on the road. Will report back how it works as we get to use it this summer.

Open to additional ideas and suggestions for improvements.

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[Jenn]

Since we weren’t camping over the winter, I was making little accessories for our 560. One of these was a storage box to sit on the fender. I’ve got my little hand ax, our first aid kit, a medical device to help putting on my compression stockings. And anything else that I’d like to keep handy. Built this out of scrap birch plywood and a scrap piece of PVC board for the top. Used 3 European style, slow close hinges to hold the lid up. Should be pretty waterproof and has rubber weatherstrip on the rails that ride on the fender. A small strap and clip to the bottom of the fender makes it easy to level. Throw it inside the camper while on the road. Will report back how it works as we get to use it this summer.

Open to additional ideas and suggestions for improvements.

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Cool! (Sorry, I'm from the 60's)
So...idea....could you put a bottom hinge on the wall by the door with a latch on the top, so you could open it while you sit in the door to get shoes out....and actually that'd be blocking the door....but some direction, have that wall be a door and store shoes in there.

 

[Matt 25-560]

Cool! (Sorry, I'm from the 60's)
So...idea....could you put a bottom hinge on the wall by the door with a latch on the top, so you could open it while you sit in the door to get shoes out....and actually that'd be blocking the door....but some direction, have that wall be a door and store shoes in there.

Having been born in the ‘50s and grown up in the ‘60s myself “Cool!” seems like a wonderful response.

Will use this box as is for this camping season to see if issues or further ideas crop up. Hadn’t thought of an access on the end to store shoes at night, but I do like that thought. Front of box basically lines up with the front of the fender, so space is limited, but I would sit on the bed, slip off my shoes, put them in the box then close it up as I crawled into the cabin. Clearances probably wouldn’t be a real issue as long as the door wouldn’t pop open. Even then the box is held only by gravity, a hard push and the whole thing could slide off the fender. May try making a shoe box for the other side of the camper just to test some possibilities.

 

[dirty6]

This looks great. We carry a footlocker size tote in the camper for all that crap that we need access to but don’t want to have inside the camper once we are set up - lanterns, puppy beds, tarps, pie irons, etc. This looks like a more elegant solution but with a lot less space than our footlocker provides.

Since this isn’t anchored to the fender at all, will it slide off if you put heavy items in the deeper part of the well? Is this mostly waterproof-ish?

 

[Matt 25-560]

View attachment IMG_1870.jpgThis looks great. We carry a footlocker size tote in the camper for all that crap that we need access to but don’t want to have inside the camper once we are set up - lanterns, puppy beds, tarps, pie irons, etc. This looks like a more elegant solution but with a lot less space than our footlocker provides.

Since this isn’t anchored to the fender at all, will it slide off if you put heavy items in the deeper part of the well? Is this mostly waterproof-ish?

I’m thinking that with the overhang of the PVC top it should be largely water proof while outside, however it is also under our BunduAwn, so didn’t think it had to be hermetically sealed from water.

Regarding anchoring it, thought I mentioned a strap on the front of the box (opposite end from the deep section). Adjusted it so with the trailer level, the clip positions the box to be level, but I didn’t explain that well nor did I provide a photo. Hopefully these illustrate what I’ve done a bit better. Just used a metal 3M Command hook attached it to the strap with a couple nylon straps and hook that on the bottom front edge of the fender. I would expect it to take a heavy weight in the back area to cause positional shifting. Haven’t used it yet as I think I mentioned, so should find out soon as we start heading our camping over the next several weeks. So technically not anchored but hooked on the front of the fender. Do not expect to need more than this. Will report back if/when I encounter any problems.

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[TheSongDogHouse]

Wow! Cool! And groovy too.
Srsly nice craftsmanship that matches the design ethic and wood in CI.

I'm with @dirty6 and Jenn. Big improvement over a 8" deep plastic bin under trailer for shoes so the scorpions, rattlers and mud crabs dont find your shoes and sleep in them, only to be discovered in old man midnite pee...trip...owie, yikes!

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Side noodling but related:

I've actually been thinking on something permanent mounted on sides, molded to fit above fender with holes you can match the bolts of fenders to body...take fenders off slip the mounting plate in between, attach jerry can holder....
a way to carry a jerry can of gas on both sides at the center of moment of CI...just barely touching fender...

but I fear it would need a strong metal or non stetchy strap over top to the outside edge of jerry can to avoid weight bending the fender down into the wheel...and now I have more wind resistance... try to keep the CI aerodynamically slick to tow most easy.

So, I'll find a way to jam something on the tongue instead or hang off the TV.

Right now the 5gal plastic jugs ride on the 1up cargo kit just aft the single bike, empty, to be filled only before turning onto USFS road to go boondock - where a gas jenny might come in handy on multiple cloudy days no sun
And

plus gas for the Alltrack if I miscalculate how far back and out on a route...

I dont really like carrying them there too long as the IUp rack, bike, cargo kit by Iup is probly not far from the limit for CI bumper hitch attachment...

And the moment arm could induce sway in a diverging oscillation which is no bueno at speed...seen those youtube vids in towed vehicles that do, too heavily aft loaded?

 

[dirty6]

I’m thinking that with the overhang of the PVC top it should be largely water proof while outside, however it is also under our BunduAwn, so didn’t think it had to be hermetically sealed from water.

Regarding anchoring it, thought I mentioned a strap on the front of the box (opposite end from the deep section). Adjusted it so with the trailer level, the clip positions the box to be level, but I didn’t explain that well nor did I provide a photo. Hopefully these illustrate what I’ve done a bit better. Just used a metal 3M Command hook attached it to the strap with a couple nylon straps and hook that on the bottom front edge of the fender. I would expect it to take a heavy weight in the back area to cause positional shifting. Haven’t used it yet as I think I mentioned, so should find out soon as we start heading our camping over the next several weeks. So technically not anchored but hooked on the front of the fender. Do not expect to need more than this. Will report back if/when I encounter any problems.

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Ahhhh, yes yes. Sorry, I now see the mention of the strap in the original post. I just didn’t visualize that when I read the post.

I really like the look and functionality of this. Hope it works well for you - looking forward to hearing how it goes