Recevier Hitch Cooler Packer

[Kfbeal]

We got on a deer lease an hour and a half away and I face a dilemma of carrying a few coolers and the 4-wheeler in the bed of the truck. We use the ATV daily here so I can't leave it up there. I have a 1/2 ton GMC crew cab Z71 and a Suzuki 400 Eiger. The ATV rear tires sit right on the edge of the bed between the bed and the tailgate. I can't use a normal hitch packer because the tailgate has to be down, or removed.

I'm looking to build something that will come up level to the tailgate to be able to put 1/2 or some of the coolers on between that and the tailgate. It would be possibly a combination of:

Carry-On Trailer Heavy-Duty Hitch Packer, 20 in. x 60 in. - 0189155 | Tractor Supply Company

and:

Thule Extend A Truck-SUV-Car Canoe Kayak Lumber Rack on eBay!

Anyone ever done anything or built anything similar? I have a 12' tandem axle trailer with ramp, but prefer not to have to drag that down there all the time.

 

[studor]

How about a rack above the ATV (a canoe or ladder rack)that you can strap the coolers to?. The piece sticking out the back a little to far is tough to see in mirrors etc and you kind of forget it is there (not good in parking lots etc). It also has to be off or unloaded before you have access to the bed. A rack over the box would give you lots of space and does not have to be unloaded before the ATV comes off etc.
I have one of those tag along carriers for my SUV and it is handy for carrying gas cans and feed sacks outside the vehicle but makes it a PITA to access the back storage area of the truck
Just a thought

 

[Kfbeal]

The back being hard to see or parking lot issue really isn't a big deal actually. It would be on the vehicle only until we get to the lease then it would all come off. I used one of the items like I listed from Tractor Supply this weekend and thought I could possibly build one for 2 coolers and just remove my tailgate. It would be a fairly large unit though. I'm not real sure how big of cooler or how many it would take to fit a deer harvest? Plus any food/drinks we would need would be in another cooler. I guess I could strap one cooler to the back rack of the ATV?

 

[grnspot110]

Just finished one 24" x 48", will use it mostly on the 3-pt on my JD 790. Cost as much to make as you can buy one for! Just wanted mine a little "different than factory". ~~ grnspot110

 

[Iplayfarmer]

You might also consider something like this...

You could take the concept a little further and extend beyond the tailgate if you needed more room to fit coolers. This option keeps your tailgate on, brings the load up to the level you want, and uses some of the tailgate space to keep your butt end from hanging out as far.

 

[J_J]

Have you looked into these?

ATV Carrier | ATV Rack | ATV Truck Carrier

 

[resqdoc]

Louisiana Guard Dog - Universal - LGD-30-U

These work flawlessly. Better than tiedown straps, plus I carry a Grizzly cooler large enough for elk in a rack extending from the receiver hitch. Available direct from manufacturer, Cabelas, Northern Tool or in your own shop.

 

[T_e_r_r_y]

Might also look into the laws on rear projection. Anything over (4') ? I think should have
a red flag on it. Also what they call a ladder rack. Load the quads, then strap
the coolers on the bottom of the rack,above the quads.

Just my 2 pennies
T.J.