Crazy bed toolbox idea?

[luke1968c10]

I was watching an episode of The Fall Guy on Hulu a while back and he opened a big door on the side of his truck bed and it was a big box that went across the entire bed under the roll bars. I have to re-do Ol'Green's bed again(Never use bondo in the bed of a truck that hauls big loads on a regular basis.)And I got new bed panels front and back that would have to be welded together right above the wheel well.
I was thinking about making the front section open suicide door style and reveal a big tool box, but only in the bed side and possibly as deep as the wheel well on the inside of the bed. It would be a place to store my spare, jack, and lug wrench along with some other tools. Am I crazy or does anyone else think this would work?

[special-K]

I think it can work. It did on the Fall Guy truck. I had the idea before that show came out. Ford did a spare inside the bedside on their F350 Camper Specials. It would be a lot of work. I'd want to move the fuel tank to get the most space

[luke1968c10]

Originally Posted by special-K

I think it can work. It did on the Fall Guy truck. I had the idea before that show came out. Ford did a spare inside the bedside on their F350 Camper Specials. It would be a lot of work. I'd want to move the fuel tank to get the most space

That's pretty cool! I think I have an idea to make mine work, the only thing I'm not sure of is how to build the latch mechanism to be able to latch and lock, while not being obvious it is a door. I would like it to be as hidden as possible with the only clue being the split at the hinge point above the wheel well.

[James the III]

I'm thinking of building a tool box, like you see under the rollback beds of tow trucks.. only not as deep and longer.. and mount on the frame between the frame and bed side..
as there is ton of room.. and it be low and out of sight. The pre made ones are just to deep for this so, unless I find some cheap junkyard ones that I can cut up.. I'll be building from scratch..

[Overdriven]

The handles on utility boxes you see on tow trucks and the like are probably your best bet. If you really want something more stealthy maybe dzus quarter turn fasteners. They're flush mount and won't be too noticeable when painted. But might be a bit of a pain with junk getting into the slot used to turn them.

[luke1968c10]

I might try to put a latch handle in the stake hole. I have just about everything to start on it. If anyone is interested I'll post pics of the build.

[special-K]

Use a solenoid latch for a completely hidden latch

[luke1968c10]

A solinoid latch is a great idea! I have a key fob that I could use to pop it open. I would still have to have some kind of manual override though because one thing I'm planning to keep in there are my jumper cables.

[70blackfish]

OR this......

[luke1968c10]

Hey, thats good. with a chrome strip across the top you would never even see the seam.

[luke1968c10]

Ok' I think I'm going to do something like this-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lc2c...ZBVvtBHhgevyNs

I'm going to make mine fold downward though like the picture above so I can use the bed side like a work bench. If I use the whole bedside as a door there is no clues that anything weird is going on.

Thanks for the suggestions!

[luke1968c10]

Well, I've been working on my toolbox and I kind of like the way it's turning out. I couldn't get my pictures to upload on here so here is a link to my album.
https://www.amazon.com/photos/share/...c5umKg6eif5OKh
Let me know what you all think about it.

[fecklessgadfly]

Originally Posted by luke1968c10

Well, I've been working on my toolbox and I kind of like the way it's turning out. I couldn't get my pictures to upload on here so here is a link to my album.
https://www.amazon.com/photos/share/...c5umKg6eif5OKh
Let me know what you all think about it.

That is really cool. I love the idea of hidden storage compartments.