It’s deer season in South Texas ! So it’s time to head out for the big hunt! Getting the all the STUFF to the hunting camp can often be one of the biggest problems for hunters, though, bigger than deciding which rifle to take. If you’ve got an SUV, you’re golden. Everything can be shoved in the back, usually up to the ceiling and packed in tight! I always chuckle when I pass these guys going down the highway. There’s barely room for the hunters, the beer, and all the stuff. Ya gotta wonder if a hunter got left behind to make room for the beer!
But if you head out in a pick-up truck, you need something a little more sturdy and weather resistant in which to pack the necessities. The sleeping bags (or bedding if you have that luxury), towels, food, various tools, ammo, etc. will need to be kept safe from the wind, dust, and possibly rain. Everything can be thrown into the back of the truck, maybe in trash bags. I’m not going to pretend that we haven’t traveled that way in the past. If you’ve had stuff blow out of the bed, then you throw heavy things on top of “fly-away” things.
We learned the value of plastic storage containers quite a while ago. While they are a step up from trash bags, be warned. There are an endless variety of containers on the market. Many just won’t hold up to the rigors of the trip.
We’ve discovered that there are certain things to consider when choosing containers for hauling supplies in the bed of a truck:
- Choose boxes that are reinforced with recessed grids. They seem to be much stronger for repeated use.
- Be sure that the boxes fit securely one atop the other when stacked with lids on. Boxes like the one pictured above come in several similar but not identical sizes. On three trips to Home Depot, we purchased three slightly different boxes with lids that weren’t interchangeable and that didn’t stack.
- When empty, make sure that the boxes nest one inside the other. It will make it easier for the return trip.
- If you have a chance, label each box with the contents so you don’t have to constantly be looking in all the boxes for your socks, or ammo, or cereal.
- If inclement weather is possible, pack your stuff in plastic garbage bags in the boxes. While the boxes will go a long way toward keeping your belongings dry, they are not entirely waterproof.
- We discovered that the lids, (even the “locking” kind) can sometimes pop off, which can cause them to blow out of the truck!
These clips can be purchased at any hardware store. They secure the lid without affecting the ability to stack the boxes.
I know that this seems like an awful lot of advice for something that seems pretty insignificant, but carefully choosing the storage containers that you use to haul your stuff can not only save you money and protect your possessions but, more importantly, it can save a hunting trip!
