Does anybody know of a good way to secure a toolbox on my truck without drilling holes or using bungee cords?
I want a secure way to fasten it down, but I really really do not want to drill holes into the bed.

Does anyone have a recommendation or am I just going to have to bite the bullet and grab my drill?

 

Use J-hooks for mounting your toolbox to your truck. Some toolbox manufacturers are providing them with their installation kit.

Basically this is a threaded rod with a hook on the end. The hook catches the underside of your truck's bed rail. This system works well.

Lou Braun

 

Well, I bought my toolbox second hand, but I shall look into the j-hooks.
It actually sounds like exactly what I'm looking for.

 

I used long J hooks but instead of fastening them under the bed i took them to the front tie down hooks located in the bed. Wont bend the lip of the bed this way

 

How long would those hooks have to be, and where would you buy them, or did you just make them yourself from some threaded rod? What diameter?

 

they had them at Autozone the last time I looked.

the are litterally the shape of a J. about 4-6" long on the straight section (with threads), and the curved part is covered with plastic/rubber.

 

I'll take a look at the parts stores up here.
I need to keep the tie-downs free as the tent I have uses the tie-downs for support.

 

Much obliged, Tylus. That might be a better way to fasten the box, you could certainly torque the nuts tighter without worrying about bending up the bed rail.

 

I use stainless J hook turnbuckles from lowes drilled hoes in ends of tool box and tiedowns in front of bed. under $10.00

 

i drilled the plastic cover on the rail right in one of the little slots on the metal rail so i wouldnt hit the bed. Then i used a bolt and nut with a large washer that caught the metal of the bed and held it in place.

 

just don't do what I did with one of my old F-150's. I just drilled straight through the bed. didn't install a cushion between the toolbox and the bed either.

1 yr later I had to get the bed resprayed on both sides. the hole had started to rust and the paint began peeling for about 12" on either side of it.

those "J" hooks are the best thing since sliced bread for a toolbox install

 

That's probably about the best use for those front tie downs anyway, they're angled upwards so much you can't get any decent size rope through them because they're so close to the bed sides. I cut two strips of reinforced rubber industrial conveyor belt and slip them between the toolbox and the bed rails, when I remove the box there's no damage to the top of the rails. I try to never do it, but if I must drill I always use a marine grade silicone caulk.

 

j hooks, like the others said, no drilling required

 

yep, and I set the tool box on a 3/8 X 4" neopream (sp) rubber gasket to keep it off the rail I had the box off the truck last week and it shows no sign of ever being there. DON'T DRILL YOUR TRUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!