Ideas needed - place to store trailer ball mounts, etc.

[ShadowsPapa]

Looking for ideas - I don't really know what I want - other than I want to get the trailer balls, ball mounts, pins and locks out from under or behind the rear seat.
Was wondering about some thing that would be small, unobtrusive, maybe stow or attach to the side of the box just inside the tailgate that would be large enough for:
two ball mounts - one for the small trailer with 1 7/8" ball and one for my car hauler with 2 5/16" ball
The hitch pins
trailer hitch locks
Maybe a large wrench or two for the balls.
Wouldn't need anything too large - don't want anything large that would interfere with hauling larger things (plywood, ok?) or get in the way if I decided to haul around 4 tires and wheels, or a bunch of parts from a swap meet.
Something tucked to the side, between rear wheels and tailgate?
Any examples? Anyone actually have something they like and use it for what I'm thinking?
Maybe something I could attach a snow brush to the top of.......

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[eaglerugby04]

Looking for ideas - I don't really know what I want - other than I want to get the trailer balls, ball mounts, pins and locks out from under or behind the rear seat.
Was wondering about some thing that would be small, unobtrusive, maybe stow or attach to the side of the box just inside the tailgate that would be large enough for:
two ball mounts - one for the small trailer with 1 7/8" ball and one for my car hauler with 2 5/16" ball
The hitch pins
trailer hitch locks
Maybe a large wrench or two for the balls.
Wouldn't need anything too large - don't want anything large that would interfere with hauling larger things (plywood, ok?) or get in the way if I decided to haul around 4 tires and wheels, or a bunch of parts from a swap meet.
Something tucked to the side, between rear wheels and tailgate?
Any examples? Anyone actually have something they like and use it for what I'm thinking?
Maybe something I could attach a snow brush to the top of.......

I am using a medium sized tool bag for pretty much those things at the far end of the bed between the back left of the bed and the wheel well. Massive adjustable mount with multi ball setup, random tools, and a an extra pin or two. I have a bundge cord securing it up there to the front tie down and it hasn't moved yet. I have the diamondback HD cover so I am easily able to open the front end of the cover to get to it. Doesn't get in the way of anything since it is mostly wasted space.

I do have a few of the small crafstman bins I got from lowes and might switch over to one of those once I find a good way to keep them from moving. This truck really needs more tie down spots....

 

[ZTMAN]

I also use a soft tool bag. Fits two receivers, hitch pins, a couple of d rings and a pair of gloves. I prefer to store that bag under the rear seat. It fits nicely.
Why the need for the ball wrench in the bag?

 

[Hootbro]

Installed a Swing Case that carries my hitch and tow stuff.

 

[smlobx]

Why don’t you just keep all that stuff in your garage until you need it then put it in the receiver?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I also use a soft tool bag. Fits two receivers, hitch pins, a couple of d rings and a pair of gloves. I prefer to store that bag under the rear seat. It fits nicely.
Why the need for the ball wrench in the bag?

Reasons -
I've had occasion in the past to move the balls to a different mount, or use one someone else supplied.
PARANOIA.
I'm a mechanic by trade, training, and reputation so I feel naked without any tools along for the ride.

I don't have wrenches specific to the balls but do carry large wrenches because I've had to use them elsewhere, too. So I carry that pipe wrench, and a very large adjustable wrench some call "Crescent wrenches".

I've not had to use one for years, but still like having a way just in case things do go south.
I carry a big pipe wrench in the trailer tool box - about 3' long.
There is no way I'd leave home with a car hauler and not have that big adjustable wrench. If not for the trailer ball then for other reasons.
I also carry a roll of duct tape, screwdrivers and other stuff in a tool box when I go to car shows or swap meets.

If you've ever had a bearing go out on a car hauler when you are hours away from home, you appreciate having a handful of bolts and nuts, a piece of chain, wrenches, and so on, so you can jack up the end of the axle with the failed bearing, remove the tire and drum, chain the end of the axle up to the trailer frame, and drive along to your destination on three wheels under the trailer.
Yeah, NEW trailer, blew out a bearing just before crossing into Illinois for a car show/races/swap meet. Was able to chain the axle up to the frame and get things there and back home later.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Installed a Swing Case that carries my hitch and tow stuff.

If there was something about 1/3 that size it would be perfect.
I keep straps, stuff specific to the trailer in the car hauler tool box - but stuff more generic I want with the truck - might haul other trailers, my utility trailer, whatever. So I want the stuff used with the truck, only the truck, with the truck.
I have another ball mount and ball in a box in the back of my WJ because that's the one that goes with the WJ to pull my utility trailer.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Why don’t you just keep all that stuff in your garage until you need it then put it in the receiver?

Yeah, if I want to run home to go get it when I'm out somewhere.
Also - my garage is 250 feet from where I park my JT and trailer.
Since it would be stuff specific to this truck, and I already have the ball mount for the WJ in the WJ in a box in the back, doesn't make sense to run uphill 250 feet to the garage. Keep tools where you need them. Spend less time going for them. ;-)

 

[Hootbro]

If there was something about 1/3 that size it would be perfect.
I keep straps, stuff specific to the trailer in the car hauler tool box - but stuff more generic I want with the truck - might haul other trailers, my utility trailer, whatever. So I want the stuff used with the truck, only the truck, with the truck.
I have another ball mount and ball in a box in the back of my WJ because that's the one that goes with the WJ to pull my utility trailer.

I do not know then. Sounds like you got 10lbs of shit trying to stuff in a 5lbs bag space situation. Other than a heavy large canvas kit bag kept in the cab, there is not much utility space in the bed to store stuff and not be intrusive into the remaining cargo area.

 

[ZTMAN]

Reasons -
I've had occasion in the past to move the balls to a different mount, or use one someone else supplied.
PARANOIA.

I don't have wrenches specific to the balls .

I understand. I don't have the collection of tools that you have, but I did think the $10 investment in a ball nut wrench was worth while. Only used it two times in about 20 years, but well worth it.
Sounds like you would like to have a service truck with a boom arm.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I understand. I don't have the collection of tools that you have, but I did think the $10 investment in a ball nut wrench was worth while. Only used it two times in about 20 years, but well worth it.
Sounds like you would like to have a service truck with a boom arm.

How about we delete this and I start over with dimensions and not even talk about what's going in it?
Everyone got off side-tracked thinking I'm wanting to take 1500 pounds of tools along. Nope.

All I want is a couple of ball mounts and a couple of wrenches, about the size of an 18" "crescent wrench", the hitch pins and locks, and maybe a couple of other small items to go in the box - and stays there. All other tools that I take related to car shows I have in plastic buckets and tubs with lids, ready to toss in when I load up. Those stay on a shelf in my shop and are always ready to take when I show a car (or race one?)

The stuff I'm talking about going into the sort of box I'm asking about an average person can carry in one trip.
In fact, the old fashioned carpenters tool box is large enough.
a 14 quart tub would hold it all - everything I am talking about would fit in an area about the size of a typical fax/scanner/printer. 16x18x10

Dunno where all the other stuff came in.

Seriously, something like hootbro has, but scale that down to about half to 1/3 that size.
That "box" or container is the exact idea I'm looking for, but smaller.

The area under the seats has the panel bag, a small tub of bungee cords, small tub of ratchet straps, there's not a whole lot of space by the time you have that in there. That panel bag alone takes half the space under the seat.

 

[misplacetexan]

How about we delete this and I start over with dimensions and not even talk about what's going in it?
Everyone got off side-tracked thinking I'm wanting to take 1500 pounds of tools along. Nope.

All I want is a couple of ball mounts and a couple of wrenches, about the size of an 18" "crescent wrench", the hitch pins and locks, and maybe a couple of other small items to go in the box - and stays there. All other tools that I take related to car shows I have in plastic buckets and tubs with lids, ready to toss in when I load up. Those stay on a shelf in my shop and are always ready to take when I show a car (or race one?)

The stuff I'm talking about going into the sort of box I'm asking about an average person can carry in one trip.
In fact, the old fashioned carpenters tool box is large enough.
a 14 quart tub would hold it all - everything I am talking about would fit in an area about the size of a typical fax/scanner/printer. 16x18x10

Dunno where all the other stuff came in.

Seriously, something like hootbro has, but scale that down to about half to 1/3 that size.
That "box" or container is the exact idea I'm looking for, but smaller.

The area under the seats has the panel bag, a small tub of bungee cords, small tub of ratchet straps, there's not a whole lot of space by the time you have that in there. That panel bag alone takes half the space under the seat.

Would 50 Caliber Ammo cans work?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Would 50 Caliber Ammo cans work?

I'll have to look online and see how large they are...........
If they are about the same capacity as a 14-20 quart "rubbermaid" tub - then possibly.

 

[misplacetexan]

50 Cal Ammo Can - 11 1/8 “ x 5 1/2 “ x 6 7/8 “. Not sure if it is big enough.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

50 Cal Ammo Can - 11 1/8 “ x 5 1/2 “ x 6 7/8 “. Not sure if it is big enough.

Not quite - I may end up drawing something up or making something. Small enough to fit behind the real wheel well, between it and the tail gate area, not so tall or wide it would interfere with hauling sheet goods.

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