Hey everyone

Well I had a old tool box on a 1990 F-150 I had and of course I drilled (2) 1/4 holes on each side about one inch from end of tool box held for years..
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So i bought me a new tool box for my 97 f-150
A Better Built tool box,, and I like it but it has a new system i have never used before called Grip Rite a system that uses no Drill mounting system...
They have pre-punched knock-outs for each side about 4 on each side,and their hard as heck to punch out ....
so anyway they give you the rubber strips to place on your rail to prevent squeaking and all that ...It says to punch (knock-outs) half way out and put the strips on the rail so i did that....now it's time to place the tool box on the stips with have only one sticky side and that side is stuck to the bed rail..i can't knock the pre-knock out holes out at all their not cut enough...i even tried to drill the sides with my drill with no luck......so what in the heck are they talking about????and even if you get the pre-knock-outs out i don't understand how that helps because it says knock them out and bolt to the strip but it says this is a Grip Rite system that uses no drilling????
I got some of that double sided strong tape you use to put antinas on your windows and that stuff is strong...so i put two nice pieces on the black strips and that baby is so damn strong I couldn't pull it off at alll......so do ya'll think that is safe???? because i really have no ideal what Better Built is trying to tell the buyer of the tool box to do as far as mounting the box?????

 

somone post somthing lol

 

I just bought a box for my 79 and it had a J bolt style hookup that you are supposed to use to hook the underside of the bed and hold the box down.Well i did'nt use it (i have a bedliner)i took sheet metal screws(2 each side) and attached it that way.The doubled sided tape might work for awhile but i would recomend something better.

 

Thanks for the input....i just don't understand this system at all...I mean it makes no since to me..........I used 2 (1/4) holes on my old one and held for years...I still read the directions and have no ideal what the knock-outs are for...

 

I'm not sure where you got the box but one alternative is to take it to them and let them explain the system to you.Or you can just use sheet metal screws.

 

yea i was thinking of useing screws......i hope it works out
thanks for the help

 

I would like to point out in an accident, sheet metal screws will not hold a box, especially in a roll over. J hooks (which sounds like what you are suppose to use) are a good compromise. The best thing is to drill holes in the bed rails, coat the holes with an undercoat, and use 3/8 bolts with grade 5 everything (lock washers included) to hold the box to the bed rails.

 

That's a good point! I used sheet metal screws for two reasons one being my bed is shot and i'm going to replace it hopefully soon.And two with a bedliner it's a pain to use the J hook set up.When i get another bed i plan to go the bolt route cause i'm going to do away with the bedliner and paint in a liner instead.

 

i have a hole drilled in each side of my bed and a hole in the bottom of the box lined up evenly and a bolt holding it in place, works fine to me

 

Jim242002,

I have the same type of box as you, the one from Lowes, Better Built. Your post made me think about the fact that I discovered the other day that my box wasn't bolted down. The previous owner had it sitting on the bed rails and that was basically it. I decided to run over to Lowes on my way home for lunch and see about the fastening system you mentioned. I bought it for approx. $20 (tax included), took it home and had my box properly mounted according to the provided directions in 20 minutes or less. I alos cleaned out the box in the process.

Here's what I found. One all the display boxes (as well as mine) the knockouts were stamped in reverse from the front to the back. IOW, you would punch from the top on two of them and punch *up* from the bottom on two of them (per side). I just bent the tabs in and then took my big Mac flat screwdriver (with broken tip) and punched out the remaining center tang. (about 1/2" wide).

From that, the Grip Rite mount was placed where I wanted it on the bed rail and tightened with the provided bolt/catch piece. From that point, the upper two bolts dropped down into the mount and ticghted up with the provided catch piece. The mount effectively acts as a clamp to the bed rail and you bolt the box to the mount. Simple enough for me to do without having to drill... There were already two drilled holes in the bed rail from a prior box... Oh well, at least ya can't see 'em with the new box..

YMMV,
JB

 

Bikerider900

hey man i appericate that info man...i had no ideal what the grip rite system was..the instructions made me think what in the heck......my old box i had i bolted down...but this one is like yours...

thanks again man..

how u like that box?

 

How do I like the box you ask...

I just bought this truck last Monday, so I've only had it for a week. I'm still busy trying to get the little things I want done to it to give it my "personal" touch done. Tires are done, exhaust is tomorrow, still cleaning the inside and trying to find late model cloth buckets to swap out with the current vinyl bench, Gotta have the windows tinted, trying to figure out if I can add power locks and possibly windows to it.. so I really haven't had time to check the box out to be honest. I did clean it out when I mounted it today. Fow what it is, it seems to be a decent box. The walls are a little on the thin side but seeing that it came with the truck and it's $200 I didn't have to spend, I'm happy. It will hold my gear bag when I take the CR to the woods, will hold my tow ropes, jumper cables and my spare tool box..

I guess you could say it'll do..



JB

 

my box is great...i tow around 2 jacks one is a floor jack the other is the ford jack and 2 jack stands,,tons of wrenchs,drill with bits,towels,hammer,flashlight,gas can full of 2 stroke oil,rope,3 bottles of WD-40,duct tape,gloves,sockets,plyers,chains,and alot of other small things