Let's talk about truck tool boxes

[16919]

I'm looking to get a tool box. I think I have decided on black but I haven't made up my mind on either a low profile one over the rails or a chest that would go inside the bed.

Is a weather guard really worth the extra money? I will just be storing extra gear in it and won't be used on a daily basis. My thought for getting the in bed box would allow for a tonneau cover which will help the mpgs.

All thoughts and opinions welcome. What set up are others using?

 

[seafish]

If you can spare the bed space of permanently mounting a tool box there and then covering the whole thing with a tonneou, that would be awesome IMO. Stealth, extra security and better looking with better mpg is win/win/win/win.

BUT what happens if you need to carry around 4x8 sheet goods?? Could you roll the tonneou back all the way and then put one end of them on top of the tool box and the other end on the bed floor, right??

 

[SnoKing]

Tonneau cover will not really effect mileage. I like my setup. Front box stays in 98 percent of the time. The hitch and V-box alternate with the tailgate!

My front Truck Trunk box is about 4" above the bed floor for those times you need to haul a few sheets of plywood or sheet rock. To bad Creative Industries went out of the box business.

SNOKING

#ad


#ad

 

[16919]

If you can spare the bed space of permanently mounting a tool box there and then covering the whole thing with a tonneou, that would be awesome IMO. Stealth, extra security and better looking with better mpg is win/win/win/win.

BUT what happens if you need to carry around 4x8 sheet goods?? Could you roll the tonneou back all the way and then put one end of them on top of the tool box and the other end on the bed floor, right??

I was thinking along those lines too. It would look clean when it's all said and done. I'd obviously lose the bed space so I need to take that into account.

Snoking your setup is pretty sweet !!

 

[Grizzly]

I have a Transfer Flow combo with a 60 gal auxiliary fuel tank and a 8" deep tool box in the bed. Works great for me and it doesn't interfere with the 5th wheel.

george

 

[16919]

Are there any brands that I should be looking at or staying away from?

 

[RustyJC]

I have a black Weather Guard "in the bed" tool box since we tow a 5th wheel and I didn't want to give up any clearance above the bed rails. I purchased this in September 2001 and have used it on our 2002 and our current 2011 trucks. It still looks and works like new. No dents, no leaks, no chipping or peeling, no problems. Quality is remembered long after the allure of low price is forgotten.

Rusty

 

[16919]

Charlie's has a black in bed weather guard in stock that I was eye balling the other day. You fellas are tempting me lol.

 

[VolsFan]

Nice setups. I had a black weatherguard on my old white truck and it was super nice. One I have now is a delta from TSC definitely not as nice but not bad. I like the diamond plate finish on a black truck. The tonneau cover is an Access cover. It rolls up and gives me plenty of room to hook up the gooseneck. My dad has about the same setup, his is a big black weatherguard with a truxedo tonneau cover. I don't care for it as much as the Access, which is much more user friendly.

 

[Bill Lins]

Are there any brands that I should be looking at or staying away from?

Stay away from Kobalt (Lowe's house brand)- latches are weak. Weatherguard & TSC (Tractor Supply) are much more secure.

 

[jhenderson]

I believe Dee Zee makes the TSC boxes.

 

[BDaugherty]

I used to use Home Depot brand aluminum boxes, but had to exchange several under warranty. Around five years ago, I bought a like new used Weathergaurd off CL. While not perfect, it sure is a step above the HD and Delta boxes I owned before. Mine is a low profile over the rail. My only real regret is not having bought a 8' bed to put it in.
One thing that I have done to all my boxes is to install a small light under the lid. It has a 1156 bulb with a on/off switch made into it. Not only does it light up the inside of the box at night, but it does better than the factory cargo lamp at lighting up the bed.

 

[16919]

For mounting an in bed toolbox, did you mount direct to the floor of the bed or use a spacer/washer/etc ?

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I had a bad experience with WG auxiliary fuel tank, and they wouldn't stand behind it. You won't ever see me with one of their products. OTOH, if Transfer Flow makes something, I know it will be best quality and service.

 

[16919]

I had a bad experience with WG auxiliary fuel tank, and they wouldn't stand behind it. You won't ever see me with one of their products. OTOH, if Transfer Flow makes something, I know it will be best quality and service.

Can you elaborate on the bad experience?

 

[16919]

Any insight as to what size chest will fit....and who has the best deals going on weather guard boxes? Thanks in advance.

 

[Mingoglia]

I put a Husky box on mine, the extra deep one that almost goes to the floor. It's black. Definitely not a Weathergard, but I paid $277 brand new at Home Depot with a 20% (or 25?) coupon. It doesn't leak, both latches work, as well as the key. I mainly use it as a "trunk" to keep stuff dry, and not as a security device. If I had any real value tools in there, I wouldn't be as comfortable as one of the other (drastically more expensive) brands. Typically I only have some ratchet straps, a tire pressure gauge, first aid kit, China Freight multimeter, a camp chair, a small tent, tarp, and a couple blankets. When we travel, it will fit two rollaway suitcases out of the rain, with the other before-mentioned stuff. If someone wants to break in to it, I'm not out very much. Now if I was keeping a bunch of actual tools in it, like I said earlier I'd likely look somewhere else.

 

[jhenderson]

I have a 35 gal transfer tank and a bed mount DeeZee that's 24 inches wide. It just leaves room for the factory 5vr mount. I laid a straight edge across the front of the wheel wells and measured to the fuel tank to get my max width for the tool box

 

[Deleted member 995608]

I vote Pro tech. My chest box is going to outlast my life span. Beautiful welds all the way around.

http://www.protech.net

 

[inlinesix3million]

I have a UWC , in use since 2004. Still water tight, latches and locks work. Heavier built than the usual Lowes Home Depot Craftsman... A little spendy but worth it