P500 Homemade Cargo Box

[geraldvg]

Just finishing a wood cargo box to meet my own needs for new P500. It has a 48" x 32" x 1/2" plywood base with strategically located cleats on the underside to keep it from shifting around and 5-1/2" hardwood sides. It rests on foam pipe insulation sections to eliminate rattle and protect the finish on the OEM rack and is strapped to the rack using light duty 6' cam buckle nylon tiedown straps (2 ea - $~5 total from Orchelens or Lowe's) to facilitate easy removal and reinstall. The cargo box has a removable tailgate and mid-section divider each held in place by cleats fastened to the side walls either of which can be kept onboard when not in use by positioning them between another set of cleats at the extreme front (or rear of the box - depending upon your point of reference). Cargo tie-down will be facilitated by the side mounted aluminum handles (salvaged old lawn chair arm rests) and small "D-ring" tie down loops (again ~$5 from Lowe's) on the box's insides. The sides and front panel are dadoed, glued, screwed and aluminum strip reinforced to the base. Total cost so far - ~$10. I'm currently researching and shopping for moderately priced, easy to apply roll-on truck bed liner type coating to provide water protection, cargo shift reduction, sound deadening and asthetics and would appreciate any personal experience recommendations.

I'll probably have to go with a full gallon of liner material since none of the product I can find in quart sized packaging says it will cover the 35 sq. ft. I am calculating for inside and out coverage. DupliColor and PlastiKote are possibles, but I don't like what I read about Herculiner, Monstaliner is too expensive and Al's 2-part epoxy is more complicated to deal with than I want. I found a Rustoleum product that looked good (not Road Warrior) until their tech support said it would not adhere to wood.

Other build-out includes StrongMade winch mount bumper, 3500# winch w/fiber cable & rubber hook stop, LED flood lights mounted inside ROPS and yet to be installed SSS Offroad UHMW full skid plate and A-arm protectors. I'm planning to add the Hefty 18 qt storage bin under the hood as soon as I can find one and some sort of under seat storage. I've acquired a trailer hitch and am having its receiver shank redrilled so that it will fit further up into the receiver. I've also sprung for an 11' set of LongRamps golf cart loading ramps which I will use for loading the P500 into my F250 bed and as a service platform.

This is an 80% ranch work machine, so no other significant additions/mods are planned for now. Some sort of roof and 27" tires may be on the horizon for later.

Loving my P500!

Where did my picture go?

 

[Admin]

 

[p500fan]

Looking good. Making the P500 fit your needs is part of the fun!

 

[Hondasxs]

Where did my picture go?

I will fix it. We lost some a dozen small avatars during the site upgrade.
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Box looks nice. Having it fit your needs is the most important thing. Lots of good info. A rhino like coating would make it look even better.
Thanks

 

[bobbyhill]

I love Craftsmanship!! and Woodworking!!

 

[bobbyhill]

And it looks great on the Yellow!

 

[JACKAL]

Nice work!

 

[Chooglin]

very nice work !

 

[jak9922]

but I don't like what I read about Herculiner

Ive used it ALOT and i even had my entire samurai done with it its all in the prep work and its also very easy to use if you use the roller it comes with just remember not to actually but to keep dabbing it if that makes sense lol but its really good stuff