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Jeff Zehrer « Profile put the seventh one in his own truck and sold his first unit a little more than a year ago. Most of the units he sells mount in a cradle secured to the floor inside the storage compartment with just "three carriage bolts," he says, a simple matter of drilling right-size holes and tightening the bolts. "Some of the floors in truck cubbyholes are flat. A few models, though, once you open the door, the floor is lower" than the bottom of the opening. "You can mount the toolbox high," he adds, and "all the newer [toolbox] models can be mounted from the top," directly under the floor of the sleeper com- partment, as well. After securing the cradle and the toolbox to the cradle, you're in business. Individual prices for all base models (with cradle) and various add-ons range from "$75 to $185," says Zehrer. Response from driver custom- ers has been great so far, Zehrer says. One of his first booth visi- tors at the Louisville truck show in 2011, however, approached with a demeanor that suggested he wasn't about to say anything positive. What eventually came out, though, validated the care with which Zehrer approached building the Cubby Buddy system to maximize storage volume and optimize ease of use. "I opened it up and didn't think everything would fit in there," the driver told WHAT'S IN A NAME The "Cubby Buddy" name has origins with work Zehrer did with a vocational school in his Minnesota hometown. "The teacher wanted a project for the kids," he says, so the teacher had two groups attempt to improve the toolbox design. "One the kids in one of the groups had an uncle who trucked — and I've always called the storage compartment a 'cubbyhole.' He said 'Cubby Buddy' one day and it stuck." Diversions "If you need a half-inch wrench, instead of wrestling your old toolbox, you can get your tools out just like that." Zehrer. "But I started putting everything from my box into your box and, next thing I know, my box is empty and yours isn't close to full yet." "That put a little wind in my sails," Zehrer says. Cubby Buddy will be demon- strated at all the major trucking shows this year. Performance Enhancer (Relax, this one's perfectly legal) – – FREE Howes Deluxe when you purchase 3 bottles of Howes Products Visit www.howeslube.com for details or call 1-800 GET HOWES Offer ends: 9/30/12, available while supplies last. Shower Bag Toiletries not included. Professional Grade Performance Since 1920 Circle 302 on Reader Service Card or visit truckersnews.hotims.com APRIL 2012 | TRUCKERS NEWS | 21 — Jeff Zehrer