Heavy-Duty Custom Pickup Box Uses Roller Chain Hinges
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Roller chain hinges on his customized pickup box give Eric Jacobson lots of options. The box is one he built after the original box failed when a load of firewood shifted. Box sides consist of two horizontal sections. Jacobson can drop both for a flatbed, raise one for an easy-to-access box, or raise both for more holding capacity.
“I designed the box with the help of a friend,” says Jacobson. “I wanted heavy-duty box sides, but with the option of quickly converting to a flatbed. I had Number 80 roller chain and thought it might make good hinges.”
Jacobson did the welding, and a friend shaped the sheet metal to match the existing truck body. “He rolled steel panels for the wheel wells and made the side panels and tailgate,” says Jacobson. “We made the tailgate extra deep, to hold two compartments for tools and such.”
Jacobson designed the box sides in two sections. The top section is connected to the lower section with a heavy-duty continuous hinge on the inside edges. This lets it fold down to the bed alongside the lower section.
Jacobson welded short lengths of roller chain on both sides of the upper section where it meets the lower section. In corresponding spots on the lower sections, he welded small clevises in place.
“When I want the full side of the box vertical, I can slip pins through the clevis and the last link on each length of roller chain,” says Jacobson. “This locks the two sections together for a solid side.”
On the outside of the box, Jacobson welded sections of roller chain to hinge the lower section to the bed. This allows him to lower both sections alongside the bed for easy loading and stacking of material.
Pins at the front corner of the sides lock the lower sections to the front frame of the box.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Eric Jacobson, 22014 County Road 2, Rushford, Minn. 55971 (ph 507-458-6185).
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Heavy-Duty Custom Pickup Box Uses Roller Chain Hinges TRUCKS Conversions Roller chain hinges on his customized pickup box give Eric Jacobson lots of options The box is one he built after the original box failed when a load of firewood shifted Box sides consist of two horizontal sections Jacobson can drop both for a flatbed raise one for an easy-to-access box or raise both for more holding capacity “I designed the box with the help of a friend ” says Jacobson “I wanted heavy-duty box sides but with the option of quickly converting to a flatbed I had Number 80 roller chain and thought it might make good hinges ” Jacobson did the welding and a friend shaped the sheet metal to match the existing truck body “He rolled steel panels for the wheel wells and made the side panels and tailgate ” says Jacobson “We made the tailgate extra deep to hold two compartments for tools and such ” Jacobson designed the box sides in two sections The top section is connected to the lower section with a heavy-duty continuous hinge on the inside edges This lets it fold down to the bed alongside the lower section Jacobson welded short lengths of roller chain on both sides of the upper section where it meets the lower section In corresponding spots on the lower sections he welded small clevises in place “When I want the full side of the box vertical I can slip pins through the clevis and the last link on each length of roller chain ” says Jacobson “This locks the two sections together for a solid side ” On the outside of the box Jacobson welded sections of roller chain to hinge the lower section to the bed This allows him to lower both sections alongside the bed for easy loading and stacking of material Pins at the front corner of the sides lock the lower sections to the front frame of the box Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Eric Jacobson 22014 County Road 2 Rushford Minn 55971 ph 507-458-6185
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