Tool boxes pick-up trucks

The unique Gullwing truck bed tool box is a saddle style box with smart designed tapered lids that deliver easy-to-reach access into the lockable box. HPI offers several finishes with head turning aggressive looks. The Low Profile saddle style toolbox allows for maximum bed capacity and rear window visibility. Add storage space and protection from the weather and safe guard your gear without blocking the rear window.

The High Side toolbox provides secure, easily accessible storage to truck bed rails while maximizing bed space. Available in single and double door configurations with polished aluminum and matte black finish options. The Low Side truck toolbox provides secure, easily accessible storage to truck bed rails while maximizing bed space. These side bed tool boxes are available short or long styles.

Instead of running across the bed behind the cab, these tool boxes run along the bed rails. That makes them generally easier to access than crossbed toolboxes. Unlike top mounted tool boxes, these sit flat and the tools lay flat inside them.

Measure twice, order once — right? Measurements for top mounted tool boxes are more complicated and proper installation should probably be done by a professional. This can take up precious real estate in the truck bed, especially if you have two toolboxes mounted up. Like everything we buy these days, materials are getting lighters, stronger, and easier for manufacturers to make. Sometimes, however, we see manufacturers cut corners where it matters.

Truck bed tool boxes are not the place to skimp out on good quality construction in my opinion! Welding is my preferred method for toolbox construction. Welded seams on toolboxes are usually spot welded and poor spot welds can come apart pretty easily over time or with rust.

Look for good penetration on spot welds and make sure the metal has properly bonded. Rivets are really just as good as welding when things are all said and done. While it may be hard or impossible to tell, one thing to check for is that your pickup truck tool box is made with the right rivets. Rivets must always be as hard, or harder than, the material they hold together.

So, aluminum rivets holding together a steel box will eventually fail and fall apart. Steel rivets must be used with steel boxes. Unfortunately, it also rusts like crazy. Steel boxes must be coated in some way. Paint or bed liner covering the toolbox will help stave off the rust but it only buys you time. Stainless steel is, of course, the answer to preventing rust when toolboxes are likely to get wet or left outdoors. Lightweight like plastic yet even more rustproof than stainless steel, aluminum is basically a win-win.

In most cases, the biggest drawback with aluminum is that it can cost more than other materials. Aluminum can vary from weak to nearly as durable as steel depending on its construction, alloy, and thickness.

However, your tools are likely to scratch and gouge the box. Plus, if you toss things in and out of the bed or load something heavy the chances of damaging a plastic toolbox are greater than a sturdy steel box. One big advantage of plastic is that it tends to be significantly lighter than steel so if keeping weight down is a priority, plastic may make a case. Another thing to keep in mind is that if you do any hot work like welding, plastic tool boxes are susceptible to melting or burning.

For me, mounting my toolbox straight to the truck itself would seem like a no-brainer. Plus hitting a pothole or going offroad can jostle things around so screwing, clamping, or otherwise securing the toolbox jus has to happen. Locking mechanisms on toolboxes have a tendency to foul up real quick. Look for locks that have covers or internal sliding covers to keep dirt, ice, water, and junk out of the tumblers inside.

You can alway spray some penetrating lubricant into the lock every once in a while as well to help keep it free and clear. A: For most crossbed truck tool boxes you will have to get up into the truck bed to get to your tools. The SwingCase series of toolboxes on our list is perfect for easy access.

Side mounted boxes are also much easier to get to than crossbed boxes. A: Aluminum cannot rust in the same way that steel can. Stainless steel is extremely rust resistant thanks to its high chromium content. Stainless steel, especially cheap alloys, can indeed still rust over time it just takes much longer than mild steel. A: Most toolboxes have a mounting kit that comes with them. Some hardware, a couple nuts, and bolts, that sort of thing. Occasionally a toolbox will require custom mounting meaning drilling, tapping, etc.

Usually, truck bed toolboxes sit all the way down to the floor and will partially obstruct the bed. On our list, there are several toolboxes that stop just short of the bed. That means you can still use the full size of the bed for sliding in the sheeting. A: There are so many types out there that I shudder to recommend a single one. What I will say, though, is that you need a lock that engages the lid in more than one place.

Good locks slide a solid bar or multiple points of contact onto the lid. That way anyone trying to pry the lid open will have a harder time. The force of pressure applied to the lid should be spread out among at least two distinct points. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of truck styles on the market today. It all depends on who you are, what you do, and what you prefer!

To come up with the top truck tool boxes, we researched a variety of sources for reviews such as Camping World, Lazy Days, Real Truck and Walmart along with our own personal experience.

We also consulted online magazines for product research and reviews to get as much unbiased information as we could. To help weed out fake reviews we used Fakespot.

With so much quality gear available, we had to narrow it down based on what we felt were the best options for the price. The staff authors have a wide and varied background in RV camping, automotive repairs and backpacking. The authors have decades of experience and are eager to share their knowledge with readers. To help narrow down the selection we used personal experiences along with recommendations from mechanics and retailers. After extensive research, we came up with our list to help you choose the right one for you.

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