I plan to mount my 20 pound c02 cylinder in the bed of my truck. I hate the idea of drilling into the bed but I do not see any more secure way to move around with a CO2 cylinder. Does anyone have any ideas or advice on what mounting system they have used or seen used?

Thanks in advance.

Just a wild guess -

Check out what equipment a dive (scuba) outfitter would use.

Make a box that the cylinder will fit. Secure the box at the corner of a piece of plywood, so it's accessible in the corner of the truck bed. With other gear on top of the plywood, it's not going anywhere, and no drilling needed into the bed. Maybe a 30 gallon barrel cut to 12-14" and secured to the plywood, instead of a box would work.

I currently have it in a milk crate that has towels rolled up and stuffed down in the crate. There is a chain ran through all four sides of the crate with a carabiner securing it to a tiedown in the corner. Seems to work ok, I maybe over thinking this.

BBQ size tanks fit perfectly into a milk crate, secure to a bed ring with a ratchet strap.

TNADC,

Two major things to keep in mind when handling CO2 tanks. 1) always keep them upright. If laid on the side the liquid CO2 can cover the pressure relief valve which can inactivate it and cause a very violent explosion. 2) always keep them cool. Higher temps cause the expansion and subsequent explosion if the relief valve is inoperative.

I worked with CO2 cylinders for years. I built a simple plywood box insulated with layers of foam insulation to keep them upright and protected from the high temps common in the SE during the summer. I've seen picks of co-workers vehicles after a 5 lb. cylinder ruptured. Both were totaled.