Coyote box?

DAA

DAA

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An offseason project that will be coming up is building a coyote box to go in the back of both my partner's Tacoma and my Ram 1500. The purpose, is to contain some of the mess.

Whenever we get a big pile in the back, the blood starts to get on everything. All my gear is stained with coyote blood - my fridge, my grub box, my tent, my chair, my sleeping pad. You get the idea.

Currently, when we're having a good day, it looks something like this:

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I'm sure you can see the mess potential there...

So, I'm going to build a box to try and contain some of it. Will build it to fit the Tacoma, but will use it in my half ton too.

I have a pretty solid idea on how I think I'll do it. Basic plywood box, with a removable raised, perforated or grid platform in the bottom, fill underneath that with cheap kitty litter.

Will want to keep it as lightweight as possible, but still needs to be strong enough to handle a couple hundred pounds of coyote bouncing over rough terrain at speed.

Thought some of you might have been there, done that and might have some good ideas I could use?

- DAA
 
Can't wait to see what you come up with cause I currently use this and it rubs/ drags in dips and hampers backing up turing around somedays

 
Yeah, something like that wouldn't work at all for us. We did talk about making one that would sit up and out so that it wouldn't affect departure angle too much and also allow the tailgate to drop. But I don't like the idea of putting a couple hundred pounds on the end of a long lever attached to that little Tacoma frame.

- DAA
 
On the subject of weight and strength... Like I said, I have a wood version pretty well designed in my head. But I wonder how light I could make one out of metal. It would be stronger, for sure. And easier to clean etc.

Might have to do some actual drawings and come up with two separate materials lists and try to calculate finished weights as close as I can. I know I can come pretty close on estimating the weight of a metal version if I have a drawing to go off of. It would be a heckuva lot more expensive though. But would last forever.

- DAA
 
I have the same problem too, I was using heavy duty 3 mil thick contractor bags from home depot. it helped but the problem is they would end up leaking. I bet double bagging would have helped a ton. we could normally fit 3 dogs in each contractor bag although 2 dogs in each worked better hoisting it in and out of the truck. this year I got coyote blood all over all kinds of stuff.

I don't like the hitch mounted platform either. the stuff I drive on that would bounce around like no other. it probably would end up fatiguing the metal at a certain point. If I wanted to go the box route there are some very large plastic tool boxes that are heavier duty than a tote I would do that or just get some large totes at walmart probably get 2 of them that way you can put one inside the other then if your having a good day you can pull loose the bottom one and use it too. I would not worry about the grate over the kittie litter I would just put the dog right on it. kittie works good for blood don't ask how I know that.

I think I am going to go the tote route myself put enough kittie litter in there so the tote will not blow out either. it would actually make things neater and save room in my truck if the dogs were stacked higher rather than spread out in the trash bags. I also could move it around in the back without fear of the bag leaking. thanks for the thought dave every trip my truck was destroyed with mud and coyote entrails. then you end up getting it on yourself when you pressure wash out the truck to top it off.

another thing I do, these coyotes get smelling insanely ripe. I am about to yack most of the time dealing with them. I set up a large fan next to me while I do my thing it blows the stink away from me, it helps a ton.
 
How about a couple of plastic storage bins from Wally World. The large size should hold 4,5,6 maybe even 7 coyotes; depending on how big they are. With lids on you can stack 'em neatly and tie "em down.
Orrr... You could put your "stuff" in the bins to keep it clean and dry. And, not worry about the coyotes laying in the back of the truck.
I use some of those bins to haul my clothes, etc. from job to job.
When the bin gets damaged toss it. They're not expensive.
 
Originally Posted By: DAAOn the subject of weight and strength... Like I said, I have a wood version pretty well designed in my head. But I wonder how light I could make one out of metal. It would be stronger, for sure. And easier to clean etc.

Might have to do some actual drawings and come up with two separate materials lists and try to calculate finished weights as close as I can. I know I can come pretty close on estimating the weight of a metal version if I have a drawing to go off of. It would be a heckuva lot more expensive though. But would last forever.

- DAA

Make it out of aluminum sheeting 1/4" thick.
 
I can't weld aluminum. And it's stupid expensive. But, I could definitely weld a steel frame and skin it with aluminum sheet. Seam seal the joints. Actually, now that I think about it, I could probably get aluminum welded too. I know at least a couple guys that do weld aluminum. Aluminum might be just too ex$pen$ive for this though!

Plastic no good for this. I'll skin a lot of these coyotes and plastic just doesn't go good with fur. So, no plastic totes, or plastic bags.

Whatever it is, needs to hold at least ten coyotes, too.

It will be built with sides higher than the truck bed.

Actually thinking of keeping the sides somewhat open. Chicken wire, or perforated sheet metal, something like that? Coyotes that ride on my dead coyote rack on my Jeep stay fresher a lot longer than ones in the truck bed and I'm sure it's because of the air circulation and ventilation. A box in a truck bed will never have that much air circulation around it, but I think maybe every little bit helps.

Steve, when you put the coyotes right on top of the kitty litter, does it stick to them much?

- DAA
 
Dave check out the alunimun prices at Wasatch Steel in SLC. I don't think the price is too bad for sheets. And for a minumal charge they will precut everything for you.
 
Originally Posted By: BOBTAILSCan't wait to see what you come up with cause I currently use this and it rubs/ drags in dips and hampers backing up turing around somedays



We use one of these on the back of UTV. So far weight hasn't been a issue. Found a hitch attachment that raised it to a better height (it might have been a drop hitch that had a extra receiver slot turned over). Sure helped with the dragging in dips. Won't help the backing up part though.
 
The muffler heats the bed much more than most realize. It's like a slow cooker when you're putting around.
I had a heavy accessory on back, it shifted a bit making noise.
I found that stinger material slid in the hitch frame sides. A few welded shims made them tight and removable. This gave me a quick pin 3-point hookup.
 
lol Steve Garret..Ive done that very thing when I used to skin a lot in my little shop at home. I always had a fan blowing crossways to blow the stench away from me. You always have dead coyotes with poop either hanging out or smeared around on their hind end....and it STINKS. I can take most other smells but not that. f I skin em nowdays, I do it in the field, and well...just try to get as upwind as possible.

Dave, probly dont help, but I have always hunted out of a pickup, I built a "frame" out of 2x6's, bout the size of those mesh hitch carriers pictured above, butted up against my tailgate, to sort of lay a tarp in, and kitty litter on top of that like you are thinking. It soaks up blood pretty good, but if you hit some blacktop and forget about it it will blow everywhere lol. Need to cover it somehow. I use a tarp big enough to bring back over and cover it, piling something on top and sides for weight.


Works ok, but, takes up space for sure, especially in something like a Toy...unless you have an overhead rack to carry stuff? Always wanted to improve upon it but never got around to messing with it much.

I just got tired of pools of blood in my pickup bed. Just gets nasty.
Mark




 
dave what does the plastic do that bothers you with the hides? I just shake off the cat litter. one other thing I recommend harbor freights heavy duty black disposable gloves. they work great for coyotes or gutting big game animals as well. there is always a box of those gloves in my truck
 
This is what we run...got it at Home Depot I think. One of those big plastic tubs. Just for the exact reasons you mentioned. Keeps the mess a little better contained. I'd fill the bottom of mine with kitty litter. After a decent weekend I'd just dump it. Most of the blood and stuff came out in the litter. Anyway, I think this was 6 coyotes in here. The tuck and roll was from the lid.

Edit...just saw you don't want plastic...oh well.

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I just keep an 'ice fishing' sled (Jet Sled) in the back of the truck. It contains the blood and makes it real easy and mess free to handle them. If I end up not feeling like skinning them and have to dump them on the way to work after the weekend its easy and mess free.
 
Lot of good stuff to think about. Thanks everyone!


Originally Posted By: crittr gittrHey Dave, what kind of dimensions are you working with?

Don't know exactly yet. Will have to get a tape measure on Tim's truck. But thinking somewhere in the neighborhood of 30"L x 24"W x 30"T.


Originally Posted By: steve garrettdave what does the plastic do that bothers you with the hides?

Good question that I don't really have a good answer for. Just two different fur buyers have told me not to put coyotes in plastic, the first one to tell me that was a long, long time ago. So I just always took his word for it and never did. Then I heard another fur buyer (not talking to me) say the same thing at the UTA auction a few years back. And a friend that used to put up about a hundred a year was death on plastic too.

So I've just always avoided it for coyotes I'm going to sell. But, honestly, I'm not sure just what it is about plastic that's bad. For all I really know, it's just a bunch of hooey.

The mention of the exhaust cooking the truck bed got me thinking about putting a piece of foam insulation on the outside bottom, too. Put 1" skids on the corners so the weight isn't actually sitting o the insulation. Some sort of mesh or semi open sides to let a little air flow. Can't hurt.

- DAA
 
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