Truck tool box, Which one is the best???
Moseley
| Posted in Tools for Home Building on
I have a small pick up and need to buy a truck bed tool box.
Which material is best (sheet metal painted, plastic, or diamond pattern steel)?
When it opens, which way is best (one lid hinged at the back of the cab, hinged at the center with two doors opening to the outside).
Are internal trays worth while?
Does anyone know of any magazine reviews of tools boxes?
Replies
I got a smaller Knaak brand box that barely fit behind the cab of my toyota. I had to put it up on 3 1/2" skids to clear the wheelwells. The nice thing about the 3 1/2" lift is that it allows sliding a 6' ladder or 6'level underneath the box.
This box has a recessed lock on drivers and passenger side that is quite secure and it has a single large door that I think bumped into the lumber rack preventing the locking arm from holding it up til I modified the support arm to lock at a bit less than 90 degrees.
The big bin aspect of this toolbox required organizing my tools into boxes that nested well together but I could carry everything I needed in it. The tablesaw, chopsaw, compresser, ladders and levels clearly don't go in the box but they usually stay with the job and are easily chained up for security purposes (either on the truck or at the job).
My only complaint with the box was that I would drop my keyring in my nailbags during the work day and then after work throw the nailbags in the box, lock the lid, get in the truck and then realize I had just locked up all my keys in my relatively secure toolbox.
I quickly learned how quickly a cordless drill and a 1/4" bit could get a padlock open.
I made a bench at home the same height as the truck bed so I could back the truck up to it and slide the fully loaded toolbox off the truck and onto the bench without any help.
It worked for me.
Good luck,
Karl
I've had a UWS aluminum diamondplate box for about 3 years now--took it off my old Chevy and put it on the Super Duty. It's a low-profile, deep-well crossover w/ single lid. For a Toyota they make "mini-size" boxes that have "cutouts" to clear the wheelwells. IMO, for the money, the UWS aluminum boxes are the best value.
If you wanna step up to heavy-duty boxes, Knaack (Weatherguard), Delta, and Jobox all make some beefy aluminum and steel models, but they are expensive. Stay away from the plastic boxes, as they just aren't very strong or secure. And IMO again, the single-lid design is much handier for tradesmen than the "gull-wing" style.
When I finally break down and "work truck" my Super Duty, I'll probably go back to steel Delta boxes and just have them sprayed with bedliner for corrosion resistance. In addition to the front main box, I'll get a pair of side boxes or topsiders to match.
If you want some more info check out this site: http://www.americanvan.com They sell several of the commercial grade box lines. Also, http://www.adriansteel.com
Jason Pharez Construction
Framing Contractor
I've always had Weatherguard boxes. Cross bed are the least convenient, high-side are the way to go. If you live in the city you had better get a welder to add a protected padlock hasp to them.
I'll second the Weatherguard recommendation. I have used them for over 25 years, they have all kinds of configurations and are really well made.
rawson-koenig
they have about all kinds of service bodies, boxes, etc
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http://www.rawson-koenig.com/storage_crossboxes_single_lid.shtml
i like the single lid... as deep as you can get, but still have clearance under
i like the diamond plate aluminum
make sure you get good latching mechanisms, and a single lock for both
here's our latest
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Edited 5/30/2006 6:08 am ET by MikeSmith
Edited 5/30/2006 6:09 am ET by MikeSmith
Edited 5/30/2006 6:09 am ET by MikeSmith
My craftsman diamond plate managed to endure the prying from so low life last week without giving it up and the perpetrator must have been startled as he left the hefty screwdriver as an apology.
ANDYSZ2I MAY DISAGREE WITH WHAT YOUR SAYING BUT I WILL DEFEND TO THE DEATH YOUR RIGHT TO SAY IT.
Remodeler/Punchout
Hey here's a question: Has anyone ever seen or used the System One Full Access boxes? I saw them for the first time last night and think they look pretty nice.