I need help on ideas on how to mount an aluminum box to the racks on my 500. The box is fairly large 13x13x28.

I'm thinking of using "u" bolts and bolting it thru the bottom to the rack. OR cutting "slots" in the bottom and tying it down with straps. I don't think the straps will hold it secure enuf though. But if I use the straps then I can move it from the back to the front whenever needed.

Anybody got any other suggestions or opinions?

Thanx

shmoky

 

I use the U-bolts to hold a large plastic cargo box on my back rack. They work good. The only problem is the floor of your box isn't flat. One suggestion - I dipped the curved part of the bolts in plastic-dip so they don't rattle or take the paint off the racks over time.

 

Shmoky:
Hey, I've got an old military mortar box mounted up front on my 'Cat. It measures 8x14x26, and is rather large as well. I drilled 4 holes through the bottom of the box, then used carriage type bolts up from the bottom of the rack, into the box. The nuts are then on the inside of the box, so I can tighten them as needed. I used two strips of some 3/4" foam along the two runners in the rack where the bolts go through. That way, the bolts go through the rack, then through the foam, then into the box itself. That way, the box won't scratch up the racks at all-kind of a cushion there. I also drilled out a small hole in each corner for water drainage. I carry all my recovery gear up there, along with extra gloves and such, and first aid kit. The drain holes keep my cables, chains, clevis's, axe, other various metal pieces from rusting, as the box won't hold water. It seems to work great, never had any problems with this arrangement at all, and with standard lock washers, the nuts are still very tight.

This arrangement has worked excellent for everything, and in all weather conditions. Even with 6" of fresh snow dropped on it, and the box completely froze shut from water runnoff, then turned to ice, nothing inside has ever been wet. It's also nice cause I can throw my muddy tow straps in there as well, the water will drain out the bottom, once the mud dries, it just falls off, and I can spray it out with a hose. One thing to think about though, because of the depth of the box, it does limit direct visibility up front slightly, but just takes a few times out on the trail to get used to.

Best of luck,

Mike