Opinions on PU truck tool boxes.

[884x4Sub]

Well I bought myself my first full size PU truck.....after years with Subs I very quickly have came to the conclusion that Im going to need a bed mounted tool box.

I see two kinds basically checkerplate and plastic.....My thing is it needs to be black....chrome will just not go with the truck....are the plastic ones any good? they re always black....are they reasonably secure and waterproof compared with the metal ones??.....Im a DIY type and I see tons of alum checkerplate ones for sale on Kijiji cheap...is it possible to paint one??.....thanks D

[N2TRUX]

It depends on what you need to use it for. The plastic one are ok, but not very secure. Personally I prefer a hard bed cover. You can put anything you want under it, and no one knows whats there.

[cdowns]

i've always hated giving up any of my length of my pickup boxs as i tended to always be findin cool old big long things to drag home. most times the further away from home the longer the item and if it was at all possible i'd prefer long distance hayuling with tailgate closed
i tended to store my essential stuff in short boxes under my seats// also made boxes to mount on floors in front or behind wheel wellhumps

[kSStamp0182]

i have seen black in-bed diamond plated boxes at northern tool that look sick

[treveiger]

My father got a hard flip tonneau cover with a locking tailgate and that works awesome!
Kinda like these but not sure if its the same brand but im pretty sure this is it.

http://www.tonneaucoversworld.com/bak-bakflip-hd.aspx

[884x4Sub]

I hear ya on the hard covers but I still want to put dirt back there now and then, sometimes I have to haul my garden tractor around....treat it like a truck...its replacing my box trailer so Im looking for a toolbox.....but the last one looks good!....but they gotta be like a $grand....im looking to spend under $500 and the used ones on Kijiji are for like $250 all day long.....D

[71gmcburb]

the diamond plate boxs are normaly made from aluminum and with a little work with an scotch pad you can paint them black or find a black anodized one. they are strong, durable and long lasting and alot more secure then the plastic ones

[67ChevyRedneck]

I took the one that came on the back of my S10 when I bought it and set it "inside the bed" of my silverado. I only keep cheap and light stuff in it, tow straps, bungees, cheap walmart box tool kit, ropes, tarp, jumper cables etc. It stays in place because it fits right down in front of the wheel wells. When I need more room I pull it off the bed.

[zeeklu]

Tractor Supply has some.http://www.tractorsupply.com/vehicle...-black-1091826 Chris

[jb1016]

Yeah, the black diamond plate kind are pretty tough looking. That one ^ @ TSC seems like a killer price.

[special-K]

The plastic ones are a joke. So,stay away from those. You can get steel boxes,but the aluminum diamond plate has taken over the market for the most part. I always bought the steel ones and painted them to match,which looks awesome,IMO. You can find them at truck body places. Companies that make service bodies still make them. Maybe TSC can still get you one. Again,they just flood the market with the flashy polished aluminum diamond plate.

[fun in dirt]

To answer your question.... YES you can paint an aluminum toolbox black.
I did this to one several years ago & it worked great. The paint even stayed on pretty well as it scraped through the trees & totalled the truck it was on when I fell asleep & crashed
The key is in the primer. First clean it up good, like with something like acid mag cleaner. Then prime it with a zinc chromate primer; it's olive drab in color. Then paint it with your color of choice.

Another tip - also paint the inside of the box. That bare aluminum & tools rubbing together turns eveything black if you don't. Or I've used the cheap roll-on bedliner inside them before & that works well too.

[cdowns]

i agree the plastic ones are crap and i've seen tons of them with sag in the middle

i see used diamond plate ones on a regular basis on craigslist and at small swapmeets around here for 50-60 on a very regular basis

[884x4Sub]

Originally Posted by fun in dirt

To answer your question.... YES you can paint an aluminum toolbox black.
I did this to one several years ago & it worked great. The paint even stayed on pretty well as it scraped through the trees & totalled the truck it was on when I fell asleep & crashed
The key is in the primer. First clean it up good, like with something like acid mag cleaner. Then prime it with a zinc chromate primer; it's olive drab in color. Then paint it with your color of choice.

Another tip - also paint the inside of the box. That bare aluminum & tools rubbing together turns eveything black if you don't. Or I've used the cheap roll-on bedliner inside them before & that works well too.

Thanks for the tip!.....is "Zinc Chromate" primer "Etching Primer"?

[fun in dirt]

Originally Posted by 884x4sub

thanks for the tip!.....is "zinc chromate" primer "etching primer"?

yep!