We added more Storage for the Camper Van
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- Опубликовано: 26 сен 2018
- We added a hitch mounted storage box to our Pleasure Way Ascent.
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The box and bracket were purchased from Dee Zee:
Affiliate link:
DeeZee DZ8537 37” red label utility chest: amzn.to/2E6fBuq
Stow Away Hitch Tightener: amzn.to/2QokYL5
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Brilliant, Thank you for the info.
Thank you again for the video. Have considered putting your bikes on top of the box
There are a number of companies who do that. The ebikes are quite heavy though and would be difficult for me to lift high.
Good filming good narration and assistant is very handy. I want to know at the end of your trip if you still like the tool box. Be well!
+John Puccetti Will do, thanks John.
Very nice solution. I can imagine you would want to have some rubber strips along the sides of the box in order to prevent damage if the box slamming into the side of the van or the door of the van slamming into the box.
+Nico Veenkamp Yes, we added self adhesive felt pads.
From She to Me Hello, where did you locate the bracket that is bolted onto the box? The bracket for the 2” receiver. A very nice and creative setup. Wonder if I could add brackets on each side of the box for additional pad locks for added security? Thank you.
@@lionelgarcia2386 We got the bracket from Dee Zee. Try this link:www.deezee.com/product/dz97906-hitch-mounted-carrier/ The box is easy to drill through so you should be able to add pad locks.
i hope its big enough for you. i agree with other commenter about stowaway2, or even better (in my opinion) the gearspace 34, it actually hold 2 bikes inside or whatever you want. and its built on 2 slides so it can be pulled back away from rear doors or spare tire mounts. Don't get me wrong, your set up is very cool......
+C S Perhaps we did things a little backwards because John bought the Wilco swing away hitch first before we had even considered a box. Also, the Gearspace is nearly $1500 and has a rounded top. John didn’t want plastic and I liked a flat top with the potential of putting a bbq on top of it. Would love to hear what others have and how they like their solutions.
@@FromShetoMe I got lucky and found my gearspace in Vermont on craigslist, like new under $400. my Roadtrek has the spare tire hitch to deal with as well. Very difficult to have bikes and storage and a spare tire on the back. This way I have all three and the bikes are enclosed.
+C S Wow. You’ve got it all. Nice set up and great price.
👍
Great work and information. Just wondering what camp chairs you use they seem small and compact.
+Keith Black Pico Arm Chair: amzn.to/2zyrmpz
Like many, I too have storage shortcoming on month long trips in our PW Plateau TS. Thank you for your information. Have you had any problems with your rear departure angle with the storage box scarping the ground?
+Doug Rauch No, but because we have a swing away hitch, the bottom of the receiver is 22 1/2 inches off the ground.
Thanks for the video. Gives me idea about storage.
what brand swing hitch are you using for sprinter.
Thanks
We have a Wilco swing hitch. We actually don't use the box anymore. I added a cab shelf in the front and with each trip we found we had things we didn't need. Now we carry our bikes on the swing hitch.
Debbie- We too are planning to travel next year to Alaska in our 2018 Ascent. I've been looking and trying to figure out some configuration of having a box and a spare tire. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks!
+Scott Sitler Wilco Offroad makes one. We have their swingaway hitch. We will be tackling this when we get back home. Will let you know if we come up with a solution. And please let us know if you find something.
Yes I believe the Wilco Hitchgate Solo XL (which carries the spare) has a secondary hitch where you could possibly add your storage container. Just not sure how all this will work. I'm feeling that a spare tire and extra storage for a long trip to Alaska might be necessary. Again thanks for your input.
Where did you get the bracket attached to the box with the 2” post. This looks very nice and sturdy. We are purchasing a class B and Ned lots more storage and this will certainly help. Thank you for the video.
FYI, we no longer use the box except to store stuff at home because we now have bikes we carry. We have eliminated "stuff" but also added a Trasharoo to hold light weight items like hoses, helmets, etc. Just wanted to share that as you figure out your storage needs. My amazon storefront has most of the products we use or have used: www.amazon.com/shop/fromshetome
DeeZee DZ8537 37” red label utility chest: amzn.to/2E6fBuq
Stow Away Hitch Tightener: amzn.to/2QokYL5
@@FromShetoMe Thank you for the update. We won't take delivery on our van until March or April. We look forward to getting started.
Hello there! Where did you purchase the actual brackets screwed to the bottom of the box? I cannot find it.. thank you!
@@FromShetoMe Where did you get the "H" bracket under the DeeZee box? I want to build something like yours. Thanks
@@khanhnvo It was an option offered by DeeZee but John doesn't think they offer it any longer.
A question about your Hitchswing. Can you open the back doors on the Ascent with only the Hitchswing attached or does the height of the upper hitch prevent the doors from opening. Thanks Debbie.
Yes you can open both doors although it took John a little bit of adjustment but it is fine once you figure out the initial installation. I'll post a video of it at the end of my next video.
Now that you’ve had the box for a while, how do you like it? What do you put in it? We are getting an ascent and I’m already realizing there won’t be much space. Do you put stuff between or on the couch and ottomans while you’re driving? If not, why? Thanks very much for your awesome videos and tips!
The box comes in handy for the things we would normally store under the couch which would be chairs, table, leveling blocks, hose, extra shoes, firewood, tools. Our next trip to Arizona we will be taking our bikes so no box. We will not be taking it to Alaska because we want to carry a spare tire. That means that chairs and tables will stay home. It's going to be bare minimum on that trip. As some people have pointed out, we could do it all if we wanted to spend $8000 to $10,000 on an Aluminess system. But we've decided we are fine with the tradeoffs. Each time we go out we realize there are things we can jettison.
Hi Julia, Rose and I have a bit of a different camping style in our 2016 Ascent. We have the fold-down spare on the back, and under the back seat is filled mostly with hookup stuff; water, sewer, electric, and a couple of small folding chairs. We almost always stay at camps with hookups. We found the table and the ottoman back rests to simply be in the way so they stay at home. We use a set of standard sheets; the "stretch" sheet goes over the fold-down couch, and the "cover" sheet was cut in half to cover the two ottomans. (Initially, we used the pillow cases to cover the ottoman back rests, but now they stay home since we don't use them to make a full bed.... we find it's easier to get off the bed without them in the way.) The memory foam is 5 inches think, I believe, and we have found no need for a topper of any kind -- it's really very comfy to lay on -- and we take a couple of blankets or sleeping bags depending on the weather. When traveling, the blankets or sleeping bags are rolled up on the ottomans and the pillows are at each end of the couch. The sheet is by no means a perfect fit, but it tucks in pretty good and, hay, we're camping! When traveling, we keep a rolled up welcome rug in the bathroom, and we also have a telescoping ladder and leaf blower behind the drivers seat for maintenance and to blow off any leaves before rolling in the awning (although I haven't had to use the blower yet). We keep a bit of sandwich and other stuff in the fridge and use the microwave for everything.... we've yet to turn on the stove. I generally take 3 sets of clothes along with appropriate jackets, shoes, etc. and Rose fills up the rest of the cabinets with her stuff :) We don't take much canned stuff and instead buy stuff on the road or eat out. Food for our dog Charlie does use a bit of space, as well as Charlie himself.... every time we're in the aisle he's looking for a place to get out of the way and usually ends up between the front seats.... Have fun with your camper! Skip and Rose
Late to the party but did the box interfere with your back-up camera? We've been looking at different options but they all say that we would have to add or modify the backup camera system?
+joyce marino No, it did not affect it.
Where did you find the bracket where the box is mounted on? Do you have a link? Also, what is the brand/make of the swing away hitch mount system.
The Swing hitch is a Wilco Swing hitch. John thinks the bracket also came from DeeZee. Don’t know if they still make it.
I see lots of other van owners choose the Stowaway2 box. Was there a particular reason you didn't select it?
+Robin Thomas We wanted a flat top (Potential for placing a BBQ on top) and John didn’t want plastic.
What brand of swing away hitch did you purchase ? How’s it held up ?
Wilco Swing Hitch. It is an awesome swing hitch but very pricey. We paid $450 and now they are $680. But if you can go to an Overland Show, they usually offer a discount. Of course, may be awhile before there are any of those. The company is located in Santa Ana, CA. Next week's video will be all the upgrades/mods/hacks we did on the outside of our rig.
Very nice fit, but sound is very low . Thank you for the details. I had to hold my lap top to my ears to hear!
Thanks. Yes, this is a very old video and I have learned much since then.
We have a 2018 Lexor and I am currently investigating external storage solutions. We don't want to install the hitch mounted storage box at this time. We thought you had a used the Trasharoo bag. We installed a Aluminess Left rear door Tire Rack last year prior to our Alaska Adventure. We would use the bag to hold the water hose, electrical cord propane hose and our leveling blocks. just wanted to get your thoughts on the Trasharoo bag or alternatives. Thanks
We definitely like the Trasharoo bag. It has taken care of a lot of the light weight bulky things that were stored in the garage. Bike helmets, outdoor mat, water hose, anything light weight and inexpensive. I would not store the electrical cord in it as they are pretty expensive and it would be easy for someone to steal the bag. Just make sure you aren't exceeding the weight limitations of the door.
Adding a 7" or 12" hitch extension can provide more space to open compartments or doors, etc
We don’t use the box anymore. Just needed to reduce the “stuff.”
@@FromShetoMe ive been thinking of adding a similar set up, now im rethinking it....less "stuff" may be the better answer, lol.
@@izzimichaels2892 Each time we camp, we find things we didn’t really need. Less stuff makes for happier campers.
You mentioned max width of the box at 36". Why? I haven't done all measurements yet, but wanting a 48" or 60" wide by 24" high x 24" deep "side" truck box (door drops down at back, not open up on top), and add two 1up type bike racks on top (with removable ramp to roll up two Rad mini's). Might be trying to "have it all" and overall weight might be too much (have 500 lb tongue capacity). Any thoughts/suggestions?
Closest I’ve seen to having it all is the Aluminess system. You can get wider boxes like ours but not sure if there is any interference with any of the safety features. I’m afraid you’ll probably have to compromise or get a trailer.
Watched your video on setting up your Dee Zee storage on your van. Wondering what brand mount did you mount it on. It was said that it was $25 to order and $40 to ship it. Where would I order it. Thank you. Enjoy your videos.
I don't think they make that particular box any more. But you can check out their entire line at deezee.com. We have a Wilco swing hitch that all of our accessories mount into. Quite pricey though.
Amazon has the bracket for $51 with free shipping
@@sandrakramer1520 Can you link to the bracket? Can't find it
@@sandrakramer1520 Is that a swing out bracket? Do you have a brand and a link? ty!
The obvious big question is how do you bring your ebikes with you now, hopefully there is a solution. BTW, we just bought a 2018 Ascent yesterday and have two Rad ebikes, so we have this same question.
We have a Hollywood Rack on a Wilco swing hitch but you should check out the 1Up brand as I hear lots of good things about them.
We recently purchased a 2016 PW Lexor TS that came with a spare tire. That tire uses up a lot of the under sofa space so I bought a hitch tray to hold an old rubbermaid action packer double wide box. Definitely not as secure as your diamond plate though. On another note may I humbly suggest that you purchase a gimbal mount to stabilize your camera work. It would make viewing so much more pleasurable. They're very easy to use. DJI makes a couple of popular models.
You are right and I actually have one. I will be more diligent in its use. Thanks for watching.
I assume you need to choose between taking your bikes or having the box
+charlie's mom We are going to look into having a rack welded to the bracket because it looks like there is room. However we are carrying a collapsible electric bike in the van that my brother gave me. At night we slip it in between rhe dashboard and passenger seat. Not ideal but I couldn’t pass it up.
Adding a seat swivel under the tool box gives the hitch more mobility
Not sure what you mean but we pretty much replaced the box with a Trasharoo. Holds light weight stuff and we can then use the hitch for our bikes.
@@FromShetoMe by adding the seat swivel allows the the box to spin 360 degrees on a stowaway hitch
Allows a person to open the box from the side of the vehicle
Interesting. Never heard of putting a seat swivel on a hitch.
@@kenbryant5952 Hi Kent... I just bought a used Stowaway2 on a swing out hitch. What sort of seat swivel did you buy (link?) and where did you attach it? I'm worried I won't be able to open the back of my Dodge Grand Caravan, so will be good to have a backup. I've not heard of this option... so thank you! If you want to send pics I can send you my email. :)
how much weight can that bracket and box carry?
Sorry, I don’t know. Contact DeeZee for information. We no longer use it. The less stuff we carry, the better our adventures.
What is Dee Zee part number of Box? What are dimensions of Box???
Who made swing out hitch and what is part number?
+Burt Gearhart I will look it up when we get to Albuquerque later today.
+Burt Gearhart Wilco Off-road hitch swing and I think the part number is WORHS32220. DeeZee Utility Toolbox part number DZ8537 It comes in black or silver.
Thank you very much for info. Have a 2019 Travado 59K and also a Carriage 5th Wheel. Having some issues downsizing from Carriage. Need to relearn "less is more".
Yes, most of us do but after a few trips shuffling all that stuff around the Travato, you will be ditching stuff left and right. But I'm no roll model for this...just ask my husband. Almost every day someone in a larger rig comes over and says they want to move into a smaller vehicle.
Where did you find the bracket?
We got it from DeeZee but it might be discontinued. I didn’t bring my laptop on this trip or would try to find it for you. Will be home Monday if you are striking out.
@@FromShetoMe Found in on Ebay
I was surprised to see you put the box on. I figured the whole idea of the Ascent was to have a very compact vehicle able to easily go into any parking spot and drive like you were in a regular car. Now you are the size of the Plateau. Just for conversations sake, do you think that you could pack/use space more efficiently and cleverly still get those items in the rear storage area of your van without having to use the box? Seems like a lot of extra expense and defeating the purpose of purchasing the Ascent for a relatively small gain in storage space vs. the hassle vs. usability. Every RV'er faces the dreaded accumulation where we seem to run out of space somehow and need more. I am really bad about that. Just throwing ideas and conversation out there.
Certainly, we can and have traveled without the box many times including our 6 week summer trip. It is nice to have the flexibility. And we use the vehicle frequently on weekend excursions where we wouldn't use it. So I think it just depends on each person's needs.
Guess the question is why did you run out of space? When you bought did you think you would need to do this or did the reality of spending a long time in the Ascent space change your mind on what you really need for space? The nice thing about this is you can add it when you know you are not going to a federal park or wherever there is a length limitation on the vehicle, which if you had bought a longer vehicle that wouldn't be an option.
I have no idea what the 'right' amount of space is...or...maybe it's like the house you grow into whatever you have.
It just depends on the itinerary. We are thinking that we will go without on our trip to Alaska because we are not likely to need chairs, table, mat.
From She to Me I think I saw that you did not keep the bed permanently made. We do and rotate the front captains chairs if we want to sit inside on a regular chair. Most times we are outside, like I am now watching your videos. Beautiful night tonight around the fire. Other times we relax in bed and watch movies or surf the net. To the point, because we leave our bed permanently made, there is a tremendous amount of storage space underneath the bed space. Is this not feasible or desirable to you? Can make a big difference in storage capability.
@@sunnybluesky440 Only occasionally do we not make the bed. Would be nice to have a permanent bed but it feels too messy when I don't put everything away. And I'm not even a neat freak. It kind of forces me to keep organized.
Storage box or bikes one or the other but not both?
Unless you want to spend $8,000 for an Aluminess set up. Or you could probably find someone to do a custom project. Or you could add a front hitch for the bikes.
From She to Me I think you finally went to Aluminess. Is that right? Why? Do you have a video with the new box?
@@rhondamccay83 No. We looked into it but they wanted nearly $8K for the box/bumper/tire/bike rack combo. We did the suspension/new tires instead.
What Mercedes Sprinter Van Model do you have?
144 Mercedes rear wheel drive with toms of upgrades to suspension, etc.
where did u got d price so low? it’s $500 now. will u sell it?😅
Prices have risen a lot in the last 5 years or so. We use it for storage in the garage now.
what’s d brand name of d swing out bar system?
@@cat_tries_to_read It's a Wilco swing hitch and the price of it has nearly doubled as well.
take the wooble out of your hitch - Go To this company - letsgoaero.com/silent-towing/silent-hitch-pins/ this company has great storage boxes and hitch pins that use a large nut and bolt system to remove space in between sleeve and receiver. I also have their large grey cover box - 34 cubic feet - 2-3 Bikes could be stored - up 300 lbs - I am a very satisfied customer.
Thanks. We have anti wobbles now and also a different bike rack for our ebikes.
@fromshetome i like this product, is possible to buy? Thank you
Are you referring to the DeeZee box? If so, you can probably find it on their website. deezee.com