EAST TEXAS HOG DOGGERS FORUM

I've been wanting a new box for a while now.  With the help of a friend, a few days of side work, and a whole lot of thought, this is the new box.  It is a hog hunters dream box.  It has 2 compartments, collar storage, and a big water tank.  The tank is hidden for cosmetics.  I'm very pleased with the project.  I still have a few things to sand down, but it looks like it will work very well for my needs.

(http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t208/12-GAUGE_photo/DSC06638.jpg)

(http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t208/12-GAUGE_photo/DSC06639.jpg)

(http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t208/12-GAUGE_photo/DSC06640.jpg)

Nice and roomy! Looks good

Looks nice.   

Real Nice Box...

Looks nice. 

That's a good lookin box!

Sure looks good

Good work Cutter, that looks really good

First class man.  I like it!

Real nice....how much does it weigh? it looks light enough. mine is too heavy for easy in and out. Looks like some good work and design.

Top platform is 70" across by 53" deep.  I am thinking that I will put a stall mat on the top to give the dogs traction.  Tractor Farm has a 4'x6' for $40.  This box is extremely heavy.  It took two of us to load it.  It was all we could do.  I  think the tail end of the truck will  grab in the rain just fine.  I might need to step up to a 2500.  Man, now I just need a few hogs tied up top to make it look right. 

Dang Cutter, that is a nice setup!

Cutter, you are the only guy I have ever told, he has a nice lookin BOX......lol

That's real nice cutter.
Im gonna have to go out and build me one like that now.

Is it tig or mig welded?

That is by far the nicest box I have ever seen,I really like the platform on top with the snaps.How many dogs do you think it will hold?

Id say 10 easily ;)

Depends on what part.  Both

It has 7 eyebolts up top.  I run big blueticks.  They are 60-85#'s.  I can fit all 5 in one side on the bottom just fine.  They can stick their heads out the side windows to rig.  I would think if I packed it full on the bottom and top, I could hit 15-18 easy.  However, I never go to the woods with that kind of #'s.  I made the divider solid, so I could put hogs in one side, and the dogs in the other.  I won't have to worry about fights between the dogs and hogs.  Man, I like this box.  I hope to use it Saturday.

thats a sure enough dox box.. looks great !

so heres the million dollar question... HOW MUCH DID THIS COST YOU TO MAKE??

For fear my wife may look at this site, I'll just say it is a tool that I will use a lot in the future.  It was needed as I sold my old box so that I could get one that better suited for my hunting needs.  The dogs I used to hunt were not as tall as the pack I hunt now.   ;)

soooo, is that in the 700 range? :D

For which part?

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!! 
If the wife finds out your done for :D

Must have been a lot of labor cost. ;)

Did you use 1/8 wall tubing, or do you have something heavier holding the forged eyebolts in place?  I like the clean look, it just seems like there might not be a lot of thread in the tubing wall to get much bite.

Now, don't take this as criticism, I am just asking, and I can certainly appreciate the nice details that y'all used in making this box. Mitered angles, the welds appear to be uniform, and evenly spaced. The small things that make one stand out.

Very nice box, Cutter. Looks good and serviceable.

Steve

very nice box

x2 if you don't mind saying.  Nice looking box!!!!

That's nice  :o

well...... im half way done with a box im building and im gonna have to tear it apart and make it out of aluminum

Very nice. :)

It must be nice to be a rich man ;D

so lets see it in action. will be lookin for picks on sunday.

Chris,

It is 1 1/4" square tubing with 1/8" walls.  As for the eyebolts, they are galvanized.  They are rated for 1200 #'s.  I drilled a hole through the top rail all the way through both sides.  I put the eyebolts through, and placed a flat washer followed by a lock washer.  I then put a standard nut tightened all the way down.  I followed that up with a lock nut tightened snug against the regular nut.  After this was done, we placed the top rail on the vertical posts, and welded them on.  It should have no problems staying in place.

As for costs, I don't have it all added up yet.  My buddy owns a metal shop, so I have to get the invoice for materials (metal) from him.  He also had his welder help me with the project, so there is money there as well.  I have over $100 in just the latches and hinges.  I'll get some better pics of the water tank a little later.  The top  is 27" from the bed.

You leave Chris and Mike out of this. ;D

That's first class stuff there.

NICELY DONE!

   Really nice box!!

For those of you who have asked about the hidden water tank, here goes.  It is tucked up on top of the middle divider.  Water tank is 8" x 8" x 3/16" aluminum beam. We tigged plates on the ends. We also put a 3/4" female coupling on the top and bottom for fill spout and drain spout.  It was directly welded to the inside of the top of the frame. It gets it out of the way, as well as really braces it up nicely

Shot from just behind cab on the driver's side,looking towards the passenger's side rear.

(http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t208/12-GAUGE_photo/DSC06646.jpg)

This is just a few inches down looking from the side of box.  Notice the orange cap to fill the tank.

(http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t208/12-GAUGE_photo/DSC06647.jpg)

This is with the trap door open on the top platform exposing the fill cap.  It is a breathable cap so that when dispencing water, it won't glug out.

(http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t208/12-GAUGE_photo/DSC06645.jpg)

Being right handed, I wanted to be able to get to the water spout with my right hand.  Therefore, it is just behind the storage compartment on the passanger side of the dog box.  To access, I just open the door to that side.  I did not want it out the back, as I viewed it as a potential knee-knocker.

(http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t208/12-GAUGE_photo/DSC06648.jpg)

Most likely, I will put a male quick disconnect fitting on the valve.  I will then have the female quick disconnect with a short piece of hose, so that I can use it to rinse hands and such.  If I'm just filling dog bowls, I will just let it pour straight down.  

I've got it rigged with lights as well.  It seems to really work nicely.

Man that is nice, I am assuming the little door is collar storage.  I like the rigging on top. Now I want to see the picture of the first hog tied to the top

Josh that is one nice box!!!
Looks expensive but Im sure its worth it. The kind of quality you can put in the "will" for your kids.
The price of hunting tall dogs I guess. lol

Cutter that is first class!!! Two thumbs up :o

Yes, Spaz it is for collars and supplies.  As for pics, this is the box I had when I saw you down South.  It has had it's share of swine on it thus far.  Flacracker has seen the dogs rig off of it.  When they strike, I drop them off the box.  GAME ON!!!!!!!!!

On a scale of 1 - 10 Ill give it a 9. It wont be a 10 until you get some blood on it.  ;D

Alan,

You're killing me.  Give me the 9.75 based off of this thread.

http://www.easttexashogdoggers.com/forum/index.php?topic=13871.0

Josh,

The only thing I would add to that box, would be a good Fla cur dog on top................ ;D

Good looking dog box though!!

Mark,

How's the dogs healing up?

I just recently had the doors trimmed down.  They are now sporting 5" gaps to the top fo the box frame to match the sides.  This will stop all the tail crunching.   ;)

(http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t208/12-GAUGE_photo/1d820609.jpg)

(http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t208/12-GAUGE_photo/0afdf63c.jpg)

very nice.

I need one for a 4 door dodge dakota

Josh can you post pics of the lights and the wiring, i think ive bout got my "labor costs" talked into building me one, and i want lights but the wiring hidden

I hid the wiring in the frame. I'll try to get some pics today.

thats what i was wanting to do, just worried when the aluminum was welded it would melt the wires..

Cutter,
I would really like to see the light system in detail.  My box slides in with a treated floor.  I am looking for some lighting ideas too.
The initials on the side, were recently added with a plasma cutter.  This box is 4 years old and is the last one I will have.

(http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu198/shooter850/IMG00251-20110228-0752.jpg)

All the wiring was added after the box was completed. "Fishing" them can be tricky, but well worth the time.

Gotcha..  I was thinking about that and all i could come with was a pain in the ....

The single toggle switch controls both sides of the box. I used auto fog lamps for lighting. They light the box extremely well.

1st shot is of driver's side looking from the side of the truck.

(http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t208/12-GAUGE_photo/334b1c4e.jpg)

Same side, power connector. Notice the wire comes out out the frame.

(http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t208/12-GAUGE_photo/4a7da109.jpg)

Truck side power cable run direct to online fuse, then battery.

(http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t208/12-GAUGE_photo/43bea136.jpg)

Passenger side of box.

(http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t208/12-GAUGE_photo/27d10e06.jpg)

cutter did you ever watch james bond or mcgiver growing up???

I've never seen either. I was too busy doing chores my parents gave me. Character is made not bought.

I sure got a lot of character then.  ;D My parents made sure of that with the chores.

Btt for Brian.

very nice set up!
when you hunt your dogs from the rig do you wait for them to bark then you stop and turn them loose?
also when you are travelling what sort of speeds are you sitting on?
why do hunters in the US seem to not use a flat bed? i know some do but many use a pick up style, id be too scared to get it scratched lol

Yes, when the hounds open I stop and unclip them.  Sometimes we are going 10 MPH, other times I'm going 55 MPH. I like a flatbed, I just never owned one. Our trucks come from the factory with a sided bed, so most just keep it.

Nice Box Cutter!!!  ;D I like that rig rack around the top. Nothing like a hound that will rig!  ;)