John Lee's Weapons Storage Area

[Sharps40]

Time to weaponize John Lee Jr...well, at least get some weapon storage installed. Been lookin at gun racks....$80 and up and mostly exposed, large, clunky. Neatest one was a center floor mount that held two rifles straight up and down Cruiser Style...but again, too open and inviting...grab hold, jerk and gone.....even with it bolted down and the weapons locked. A bit of undercover is required and I only need to stow one long gun and one handgun. I came up with a plan on the cheep. Total investment was under $25 and it provides adaquate security and cover.

Some of the 1" wide strap steel I have layin around the shop...pays to be a minor horder....cheeper projects later on in life. But, bend em around a large diameter manifold stud puller to get an initial shape.



After trimming them to the correct length, over to the Rockchucker reloading press to put a nice flare on the throat of the hooks.....



Banged, ground, cut and bent em around till they were both the exact same size and shape and drilled mounting and security holes in both in the same places...allows me to reverse the rifle in the truck and still apply the cable lock for security no matter which way the rifle is pointed.



I found the center of the truck cab back wall and established pencil lines to place the hooks 17" on centers. This will fit every long gun I have with ease. Centerpunched and drilled an initial hole, 1/8" for a pop rivet to hold the hooks in place while I align them and drill for 2 more mounting screws on each hook.



Here the Driverside hook, painted black and initially positioned with the aforementioned pop rivet.



Doublechecking the fit with the seat back...just over an inch of clearance, plenty good and low enough it won't be seen. Out of sight, out of mind as they say.



A couple more sheet metal screws on the DS hook and pop riveting in the PS hook for drilling and bolting.



Last time I bought 3/4" dia heater hose, I ordered 4 feet. Counter Gal gave me 7+ feet for the 4 foot price...I think she likes the truck. Anyway, cut off a couple sections from the spare length of new heater hose...squoosh the inside of the hose with a spotz of WD40 and TwistoShove, protective padding for the rifle slides on. Nifty, the inside face flattens out to cradle my long guns and keep em from gettin too aweful marked up.

[Sharps40]

I consider the 30-06 a fine 250 yard big game rifle. Its an equally fine Truck Gun....test fit in the hooks looks good.



With the seat back, plenty low, plenty of clearance. Here, looking from the DS side, the rifle installed for a Passenger Side removal. It works equally reversed for a Drivers Side removal (muzzle pointed to PS side). Nice.



I was hopein one day I'd find a use for the 40eleven gun cable locks I have layin around. This one I found the keys for too and its a Remmie Lock...matches my Remmie 700 gun...La La La!



So far the job was pretty much free. A few scrap parts and left over stuff from many projects. Just a bit of time and thought invested. Heres the expensive part...a pistol vault, previously installed behind the seat of Ol John Lee. It was about $20ish quite awhile back. Quite handy to have in case I stop somewhere and need to temporarily secure a handgun. Its an easy install with some good quality screws and/or pop rivets. I route the additonal security cable around behind the vault and secure it to the fuel tank tie down strap.



And with the seat returned to its driving position, nice. I can transport my weapons in my "Trunk" and keep them secure as well.