Aftermarket Bed-Mounted Tool Boxes

[badpeanut]

I have a painted steel over the bed rail tool box with two side opening doors on my truck, but it has seen better days.

For those who have tool boxes, what fits and looks good on our trucks?

Do the single lid tool boxes clear the cab light?

Are the single lid boxes worth the premium over the two lid boxes?

The tool boxes that sit flush with the bed rails look nice and don't block the rear window, but do they prevent you from hauling a few sheets of plywood with the tailgate up?

[Longhorn Man]

Mine is about 25 years old, but I will never get one with the 2 side opening doors again. I've had a couple back in the day, and I always hated them.
This tool box is huge, hangs down real low. I can still slide boards under it... but not much else.
And yes... it is a real snap on box.


(I got the latch workin properly now)

[special-K]

I have a cheap single lid on my Highlander,I just mounted it back a couple inches so it wouldn`t contact the cargo light.I like the painted steel boxes the best.Diamond plate is way overdone.I intended to get mine powdercoated white.

[badpeanut]

Longhorn Man, can you open yours from one the side of the truck (can you reach the latches)?

special-K, do you happen to have any pictures from the side which show the tool box placement?

[68K20 x Drill]

Craftsman rear opening...
Doesn't lock, but doesn't open easily either.
Plastic 3rd light broke easy and lets water in.
Score = 2 out of 10

[Longhorn Man]

Yeah, I can reach it no problem, however, some one a few inches shorter may not. (I'm 6 ft w/out my shoes)
The lid doesn't hit the cab/glass/cargo lamp either.
I doubt you'll find one like it though, as i said before, it is about 25 or so years old, and it's a true snap on box, which means it was WAY over priced (to the original owner). This sucker is HUGE... that's the main reason i wanted it.

[Spray-Bomb]

[68GMC454]

i will never buy another one that opens from the sides,, a royal pain in the butt to get anythign out of...

[2bits]

I will be building one out of wood (to match the bed), it will go around the gas tank, and I will put a "floor" on top of the tank for storage on top of it and also beside it. I haven't done the gas tank swap yet, but that is soon to come. Has anyone else made their own?

[JayG]

You might get one of the boxes that sits below the bed edge on the floor, then space it up with brackets so you can slide the plywood underneath.Then it still wouldn't show. That's how I did the box on the "Pink Thing". That's where I put my luggage when traveling. Very handy, but not "eyesore" on a nice truck.

[JayG]

Forgot I had a picture at work. Like this:

[matthufham]

i found some 2X4's at work and particle board so i nailed it all together, painted it, got some I bolts, and locks. cheap and hidden, and it's large enough to hide anything safely. the paint flakes off since its particle board.

[Palf70Step]

I've had this for a while in several trucks. I love it except those ocassional times when I could use the entire bed floor.

This one will end up in the 70 when ever it becomes road worthy.

[special-K]

The lid`s got about 1/4" to hit the light.Prolly can`t tell,I wasn`t quite lined up.The box sit`s back about 1 1/4".Here`s a pic:

[mrein3]

My tool box is almost old enough to be period correct.

I happen to be the opposite regarding tool boxes that open from the sides. It is a pain in the butt to get my high lift jack out of, but for 99% of the stuff I put in and take out it is MUCH easier to do it on the ground from the side then to have to climb in to try to manipulate those crummy latches I've seen on the back opening ones. Maybe if you're taller, and/or your truck is a girly truck (not 4x4 ), the back opening tool box is the way to go.

Below is the best picture I could find. It wasn't taken to show the box.

[Longhorn Man]

My 'girly' one ton ( ) sits fairly high in the back, and the latches are within reach, but if you aren't built like a man (5 foot 10 or better) then you may have problems.
I'll see if I can't get pics of it open and stuff.

[special-K]

You mean built like an oaf?(BTW,I just barely made it into your group,shewee!).I have had mostly saddle-style and I don`t have problem getting things in or out because I only put in what fits.Personally,I like utility beds.