In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

Crate for 4-wheeler

Discussion in 'The Wood Pile' started by Yawner, Aug 6, 2019.

  1. Yawner

    Yawner

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    I have been using a collapsible plastic crate on my ATV to carry woodcutting gear. I just use bungee cords to tie it on to the rack. I looked into buying an after market gizmo that you permanently affix to the rack but they are expensive! I am glad I tried this crate thing. A plus is it's a nice size, 23x15x12.5. The negative is it's no as sturdy as I'd like. I have searched for just a plain wooden crate or box but they are all either too small or too flimsy, more decorative for women to use for their projects. Other than building one from scratch, anyone have an idea what I could use? I also thought of something like a heavy wire dog crate. That is ideal because it's strong and also very lightweight. I thought I might could buy one the right size and wire the gate shut and then cut the top out. What would be best tool to cut that steel? I would then need to wire everything together to keep it from coming apart, because those things collapse, as well. I am open to wood, also. Or plastic, lol. Long as it's somewhat sturdy. TIA.
     
  2. clemsonfor

    clemsonfor

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    If it was me I would take my grinder out, cut all the metal bars and then smooth them out so your not as likely to cut your arm open reaching in.

    If this is left outside any amount of time it will leave ugly rust stains on your ATV.

    Sent from my moto g(7) using Tapatalk
     
    T.Jeff Veal, Chaz, Horkn and 2 others like this.
  3. Horkn

    Horkn

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    Make a plywood crate/ box. Paint it with good oil based paint. No rust, no scratches on the saw, you can easily bore cut a bar hole/ saw holder in the plywood.
     
  4. Yawner

    Yawner

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    I think plywood would be too heavy. Heavier than I'd like anyway. The lighter, the better. If it's wood, frame style, boards used instead of solid like plywood would be lighter. But it needs to be sturdy enough to withstand rockin and rollin on a bumpy woods trail with tree roots and stump holes. It would need to be reinforced at the joints for strength. It's not the end of the world to buy an after market steel box made for ATVs but it's more than I prefer to spend. Am just hoping to figure out something cheaper. I stopped at a dealer and found one for $230. Found one online for about $150 but you have to modify it to fit your own ATV. And hope that it will even work. Might have to resort to using hose clamps to affix it.

    The plastic collapsible crate I have works but I figure it won't last long-term.
     
  5. billb3

    billb3

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    Sounds like a vegetable/friut harvest crate, They make them that don't collapse.
    Seafood totes are a nice size and are pretty sturdy, Kinda pricy new but they can be found on craigslist/marketplace although they might have a peculiar odor for a while. :)
     
  6. brenndatomu

    brenndatomu

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    Cut one side out of two plastic milk crates, then zip tie them together so it makes one big crate...
     
  7. Horkn

    Horkn

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    You can make a plywood one for probably 25-30 bucks, or even less if you have the plywood scraps. They are not very heavy, probably less than what a steel one would weigh. But whatever. There's a lot more pros to using plywood than cons. Steel, all I can come up with are cons.
     
  8. fishingpol

    fishingpol

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    Big box orange sells this one. We use them at work to hold emergency road kits and fire extinguishers in them.

    A notch can be made in it for the saw bar to stick out if needed. These are $20-ish bucks.
    black-ridgid-portable-tool-boxes-226036-64_1000.jpg
     
  9. Horkn

    Horkn

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    That's a good one. Unless you need exact custom size, that would work, and not look bad at all.
     
  10. Yawner

    Yawner

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    Fishingpol, you might win the prize so far, that sure might work, I like it! It's about the same size as the collapsible crate I am using. It would be sturdier.
     
  11. Horkn

    Horkn

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    It's only 22" long though, that won't leave a lot of room left after the power head of a saw is in there.

    • Dimensions: 22.2 in W x 12.2 in D x 9.84 in H
     
  12. Yawner

    Yawner

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    You ever seen an Echo 2511t?
     
  13. Horkn

    Horkn

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    This ones a little bigger, and less $.
    Screenshot_20190806-211726.png

    Yes, I've seen those. They are small, but all the rest of the stuff you need takes up room.
     
  14. Sandhillbilly

    Sandhillbilly

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    How about going to the local dump and getting the bottom half (or top) of an old bbq grill. Usually light aluminum or thin metal
     
  15. Yawner

    Yawner

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    That's an interesting idea.

    The Northern Tool crate pictured above... FWIW, the crate I mentioned in the OP is slightly larger, 23 x 15 x 12.5. The advantage of the Rigid crate is it should be structurally stronger since it does not collapse. It would be great to find a larger, non-collapsible crate!

    Hey! Here's a larger one... it's collapsible, but it is larger, 27"...

     
  16. Horkn

    Horkn

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    Collapsible is easily made non collapsible with a few zip ties. ;)
     
  17. Yawner

    Yawner

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    Holy cow, here is one that is 37 inches! Probably could just cut the top off. I think I will buy one. I wonder how wide my ATV is, lol! If it doesn't work, I can always just use it as is for general storage.

    In the beginning, I also thought of using a plastic tote... will revisit that idea! Could cut it to the ideal height, they are pretty tall.

    Here is the 37 inch one...

    Plano Molding 5.42 cu. ft. Black Utility Trunk 191900 | Zoro.com
     
  18. Backwoods Savage

    Backwoods Savage Moderator

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    I do use an old milk crate to put gas, oil and wrenches, files and whatever. Then the crate and the saws just go into the trailer that I take with me every time I go out to cut. Works well for me.

    101_0278.JPG
     
  19. TurboDiesel

    TurboDiesel

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  20. billb3

    billb3

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    Those are what I'm thinking of. I have some with flimsy handles on the side that break. I wish I had more of the ones with no handles.
    Fish totes are like 3x.