Retractable Toolbox Powered By Satellite Worm Gear

Retractable Toolbox Powered By Satellite Worm Gear FARM SHOP Miscellaneous 29-5-36 Marshall Litchfield, Macomb, Ill., wanted a retractable toolbox on the side of his pickup so he wouldn't have to climb into the truck every time he needed a tool. So he made a one-of-a-kind toolbox that sits in the middle of the pickup bed when it's not needed and rotates up and over to the side of the bed at the flip of a switch. He designed a hinged metal frame for the toolbox and used the worm gear to raise and lower it. The worm gear is powered off the truck's battery. "The toolbox lays over in a horizontal position on the pickup bed while I'm traveling, but then raises to an upright position when I need a tool," says Litchfield. The worm gear is actually a telescoping linear actuator that was originally used to position a satellite dish. The actuator shaft extends the width of the pickup bed and mounts on a metal frame. The toolbox is hinged to the pickup bed, directly below the frame, by a single pin. A switch under the dash inside the cab controls the toolbox. A microswitch on the actuator automatically shuts it off as soon as the toolbox is all the way up or down. The actuator connects to a trailer plug on the frame that supports the toolbox. "By disconnecting the plug and removing one screw I can slide the entire frame out. "It's really handy to use. All my tools are right there where I have easy access to them," says Litchfield, who uses the toolbox on his Dodge Dakota 1/2-ton pickup. "I built a metal lip on front of the toolbox that comes out over the side of the pickup bed 3 or 4 inches, so when the toolbox is open I have a place to lay my tools." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Marshall Litchfield, 15495 N 700th Rd., Macomb, Ill. 61455 (ph 309 254-3481).

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