Tongue Box Design Ideas

[Diemjoe]

I was wondering if folks built additional storage into their tongue box beyond just for propane and/or battery housing. I am trying to figure out if I should use it as a mechanical closet, build it to store my solar panel (if ever), power cords, basic tool kit. Or just get a tupperware box for the battery and propane and vent the bottom.

[tony.latham]

I was wondering if folks built additional storage into their tongue box beyond just for propane and/or battery housing. I am trying to figure out if I should use it as a mechanical closet, build it to store my solar panel (if ever), power cords, basic tool kit. Or just get a tupperware box for the battery and propane and vent the bottom.

Don:

I built my box for two primary reasons; battery and solar panel storage:






It fit's the bill!



Tony

[dales133]

Have a Google on camper trailers and check out some of the designs the australian commercial guys use.
I went to a caravan and camper show recently and they had draws, fridge slides and everything you can imagine on the drawbar

[DMcCam]

I was wondering if folks built additional storage into their tongue box beyond just for propane and/or battery housing. I am trying to figure out if I should use it as a mechanical closet, build it to store my solar panel (if ever), power cords, basic tool kit. Or just get a tupperware box for the battery and propane and vent the bottom.

We store out 12v electrical system, leveling blocks and chocks, a few tools, solar shower and mats in ours.




One thing to consider, every extra pound is added almost directly to your tongue weight.

All the Best,

Dave

[unclemark]

Tongue boxes are almost a separate discipline, really. Dave, I'd like to see close-up shots of your corner mouldings and your box interior with its cargo/installations. And after 2-3 years of looking at builds, there are many, many other boxes of which I'd like to see both close-up photos and detailed build descriptions. All in one thread, of course.

In my case, I'm looking at the build of a tongue box for my pop-up camper as a tentative step upon the slippery slope toward building a tear drop. Also, I figure that a box filled with levelers, chocks, fresh water hose, screwdriver, and wrench (and of course the popup crank, which is not a consideration for anyone else on this forum), sitting right beside my hitch and my leveling jack, would be perfectly positioned for expeditious and efficient set-up at the campsite. Oh, and I have no place for a battery or two until I build this box.

Anyway, I think a thread packed with tongue box pix would be a great resource. Does one already exist?

Anyway, I'm working on tandem tongue box designs wrapped around my propane tank. Here are some examples so far:


Hinges, hardware, trim, skins, etc., are all questions for me. I'd be grateful for input. Thanks.

[Diemjoe]

Cool, I agree that the tongue box solution has probably been approached in many different ways. Any group think and input would be helpful.

[tony.latham]

I was wondering if folks built additional storage into their tongue box beyond just for propane and/or battery housing. I am trying to figure out if I should use it as a mechanical closet, build it to store my solar panel (if ever), power cords, basic tool kit. Or just get a tupperware box for the battery and propane and vent the bottom.

We store out 12v electrical system, leveling blocks and chocks, a few tools, solar shower and mats in ours.




One thing to consider, every extra pound is added almost directly to your tongue weight.

All the Best,

Dave

You guys set a high bar!

Tony

[unclemark]

You guys set a high bar!

Tony

Tony:
Not as high as this one:

Or here's a lower bar:
http://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/store ... 022308746P
My design efforts require me to leave room for a jack handle that cranks on a horizontal plane and is attached at the center of the tongue, somewhat like the image I've posted here.
I definitely like yours, Tony, and I would gladly copy it, but to keep everything balanced and to avoid obstructing all the moving parts on my pop-up (and slide-out) camper, I have height, width, and weight-placement restrictions that are steering me toward a fairly complex design. I've tried prefab containers on a bolted platform, but I want something that fits my needs more precisely. And then my needs will immediately change, of course.
Mark

[bobhenry]

Had this laying around so I put it to use.......


Extension cords and dutch oven tools and charcoal .



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PART II

My old utility bed truck gave up its cross box before I traded it in on the cash for clunkers program in 09 SO I I used it.





I plumbed in the little 5 pound LP tank in this box. I know, I know, it will leak and blow up since it is not vented well.

But for 5 years it's been doing fine ! Again the cast iron tools and toys are it's primary cargo.

[ParTaxer]

My contents look like the bargain table at your hardware store!

Mike W

[KCStudly]

Found yesterday out at the curb with some other junk headed for "the tip". Complete with attachment bolts, ratchet straps, a bungee cord and some other goodies.

[dales133]

That's a top find