The price range for these bed tool boxes is insane! Can anyone help point me in the right direction. I have been searching Craigslist high and low but I am picky, I want a black one haha. So I have been looking at new ones.

I am not using it for expensive tool storage, really its just going to be extra storage space when needed, it would be emptied nightly and 75% of the time would be empty.. So I dont need the worlds strongest locks on it, I just want something that wont fall apart on me and the paint will hold up for a long time to come.

The style I am looking at the cross bed, over the rail type box.

 

Most of the black ones are all going the powder coat route. Thats fine and will hold its finish if you dont put to much stuff on it. The really hard part is finding a decent one at a cheap price. Something durable and wont dent etc will run you about 600 on up. Im in the same boat. Im looking myself and really dont want to get that will fall apart in a year or 2. Mine would also be used mostly for storage.

 

If you are going to empty it at night, then you probably want a heavy duty tote instead. There are some good heavy duty plastic totes that can be locked and have wheels so you can take it inside with you.

Doesn't seem practical to go through the expense and hassle of mounting a toolbox if you are planning on emptying it every night...

Just my $0.02...

 

I have a Husky brand box from Home Depot. I've had it for about 5 years and it has held up really well. Was about $300, but I haven't priced them recently.

 

Is the one you got frrom HD painted? I read some reviews they the paint easily comes off..

 

No, mine is diamond plate aluminum.

 

I wish there was a "tractor supply" store in my state looking at them on there they are about 1/2 the price of the Home Depot models..

 

I just installed a Weatherguard box on a couple of the new trucks here at work. 1 is aluminium and 2 were black powdercoat. Installation took about 10 min. each I only have one on the lot to photograph , it is the aluminium one but here are 3 pics of it . Cost was around $743 ea. Expensive but worth it and well made with good features.

 

$743?? for one?! damn! i got my husky box for 60 bucks off ebay and it works great, no rain gets in it either

 

$60 bucks, is an awesome price. But i will bet any amount of money the quality difference is noticable right away. look at the reflection in the weaterguard, the husky looks dull. Also I didn't pay for this thing either. I work for a boss who has enough to buy what he wants. Unlike me price is irelavant when it come to what he wants. I for one do not have that problem, I am one broke SOB. But I work for 4 companies as a fleet mechanic. That is how I have access to rich people things. Weatherguard boxes stand up to the test of time for people who want a substancial box. Husky is a great box for a work truck and we have several of them on the pest control vehicles. But this is the bosses personal truck so there you have it. Remember this as in any other consumer product, You get what you pay for.

 

Yeah those Weatherguard boxes are nice but very spendy.

Here's my Husky box, could use a little polishing, but still looks pretty darn nice for being 5 years old.

 

I'd go into a store and take a look. Those prices on their website seem really high. I'm thinking they might be showing the MSRP, not the actual price they sell them for in store.

Might also check Lowes if they have any stores in your area.

 

About a year ago I was in the market for a black tool box. My father in law had an old one built in the late 70s sitting in his barn. Looked like trash. No keys. Nothing. I got it cleaned it up. Patched some small holes and spray on bed linnered the outside. Painted the inside white. Looks really cool. Works great. Don't forget this rout. Maybe you could get one you like off Craigslist and bed line it. Also another cool thing is when it gets a scratch, I just re spray that area.

 

Before

Snapbucket :: Tool box. Before. picture by Fordguy85 - Photobucket

After ( sorry my camera phone was kinda dark. )

Snapbucket :: Tool box After. picture by Fordguy85 - Photobucket

 

I completely understand you get what you pay for, didn't know it was bosses truck. For an everyday truck I just couldn't justify that money..sorry for the confusion!

And yea, mines due for a polishing