Toolbox: steel or aluminium?

[CStockton]

What's your preference and why?

 

[Nate]

Aluminum because it's lighter and won't rust. I hate rust!

 

[CStockton]

All the new boxes I've looked at are powdercoated.



Is there still an issue with rust?

 

[Kennywould]

Aluminum I prefer the 1/8" they hold up better!

 

[klenger]

I have an aluminum Weatherguard and really like it. The light weight is nice and the aluminum diamond plate looks nice with most paint colors. See http://www.klenger.net/dodge/tool-box/index.html for details.

 

[blacksheep4x4]

I personally like stainless steel but can't see paying the price. I decided on a Protech aluminum box and love it.

 

[bobwal]

Toolbox: steel or aluminum?

I have a Putco stainless steel toolbox that I have used on my 1992, 1995 3500 trucks and it is currently in use on my 2003 3500 dodge. No rust. The initial cost was high. But, after 13 years use it looks great.









R. Walters, 2003 3500 dually, putco toolbox, putco 4" step bars, 19. 5" Budnik wheels, Mag-hytec rear dif cover.

 

[JHardwick]

All the new boxes I've looked at are powdercoated.



Is there still an issue with rust?

All you can do is prolong it, it'll eventually rust, guaranteed.

 

[ZHutton]

My truck came with a weathergaurd aluminum bed box from tractor supply, it has some dents in it but no problems.



I removed it because I wanted a delta transfer tank/tool box combo that tractor supply now offers. It is also aluminum.



I would not buy steel unless the box was some sort of design that could not be found in aluminum.



The aluminum not only does not rust but it is also a lighter lid which lets the gas shocks last longer, at least they seem to last longer.



I use my bed for all sorts of odds and ends and I know my boxes will get some small dents in them. The things that do these dents to aluminum might not dent steel, but they will chip the powdercoating off because I have seen it happen in a buddy's truck.



Knowing that the box will not rust means a lot to me. Some buddies found out their steel boxes were rusting on the bottom where the ribs of the bed contacted the bed box. Even though they were bolted down either the contact or some flex or something worked at the paint over 5 years and when we stripped the bed of stuff so he could line X it we found out the bottom of his box was not very strong.



We just cleaned and coated it and put some plywood on the inside for a liner but this was surprising to me.



I also like aluminum because I can move it around myself. Some steel stuff I can manage to move around but the aluminum stuff is a lot lighter.



This is my first diesel and even though I bought it used I hope to keep it for a decade or 4. Therefore I am looking longterm at things.



The aluminum box I took out is only a couple years old or so, I would guess it was installed while the truck was close to new. It has some dents and scratches but it is functioning just like a new box in my opinion.