Colonel Dan's Detector Rack

[ColonelDan]

Colonel Dan's Detector Rack

Anyone who is into metal detecting knows what its like to pack your vehicle for a day in the field or at the beach. This is what my SUV looked like...and that was on a very organized day!

Two detectors, a shovel, a sand scoop, equipment bag and cooler

Not much room left for Miss Mary's suitcase or art equipment when she goes along. Not much usable space for anything else really except for a small area behind the passenger seat. I'm sure everyone has their own version of this load plan but you know the deal.

There had to be a better way. I experimented with different ideas that worked to some level of success but none that fit the primary Cavalry Principle of KISS. I wanted a system that was portable, i.e. easily and quickly installed in and removed from my SUV. It had to be solid and stable with some heft so my detectors could ride safe and sound without tipping over or sliding around back there. Secure vertical stacking seemed to be the solution for me. The question was how to do it.

I thought about several things I could build or re-purpose and finally settled on an unused truck gun rack. It was solidly built for my intended purpose, had rubber protection on the hooks to prevent damaging the detectors and had pre-drilled holes I could use for mounting it on a vertical frame. I decided to use 2x4s: easy to build with enough weight and heft to provide stability for my detectors.

I built a frame that was 20” in height, 24” in width with feet 8” long which prevents tipping over or sliding around when fully loaded with equipment. Padding on the back helps protect the sidewalls of my SUV and a layer on the feet adds an additional level of prevention against slipping.

 

 

My detectors finally have a safe place to ride—they're happy campers!

 

And my load plan now looks like this.

 

Much more available space for Miss Mary to use any way she likes! Life is good!

[RickUK]

Thats a nice setup that you have made,i carry all mine in the boot as us Brits call it lol,mine is always covered up in the rear of my 4x4 and out of sight of possible thieving scumbags looking for another fix.I have a substantial amount tied up in detectors and also all the equipment but if it was stolen then although covered by insurance i doubt that i would get the true value back.

My reasoning is that if i am say on one of my permissions i park up and could walk prehaps15-20 minutes to the field/s that i am detecting on,it only takes some nosey person to look through the window and see some expensive equipment laying 'uncovered' in the back of the tuck and it would be gone in seconds.Hence the reason i keep everything covered,of course if someone want to break in and look around then they would of course find them.But always better to take some precations.

[schoolofhardNox]

Nice, secure set up. My set up is not so neat 😄 I pile everything in the trunk. Since I bring everything I think I would ever need for 10 hunts, it packs nicely against each other. No room to move at all 🙄

[klunker]

When I feel the need for my prospecting equipment to be more organized then I toss it in my Jeep from a shorter distance.

[2Valen]

I thought about making something like that, but in my neck of the woods someone would walk by see it and break in to make a couple of bucks.

I have started making a case that will hook to the clothes hooks on my vehicle so I can insert my detectors and close the back hatch. All I have to do is loosen the shaft, turn the handle 90 degrees and slide it in.

That way when people look in they see an empty vehicle and my seats can stay in the upright position.

When I get it done I will post it on here and give the plans for it.

[Gerry in Idaho]

Well done Dan and thanks for sharing your ideas with some pics.

I don't have pics but will tell you this.  3 of us run around in a 4 wheeler side by side and what we found that works well for the detectors is a bicycle rack that slides into the back of a trailer hitch.  Most side by side ATV's now have a slide in on the back and the bike rack will easily go it.  Then we have spaces with rubber straps to hold 4 detectors that are not in contact with each other.  Sure they get a little dusty or wet if it rains, but we have not had any problems yet.

Thanks again for sharing.

[Skull diver]

31 minutes ago, 2Valen said:

That way when people look in they see an empty vehicle and my seats can stay in the upright position.

Same trick I use since ten years ago.

I found two times broken passenger's glass in a remote area where I hunted multiple times.

Never leave visible stuff when You leave the car to go far from it.