Tool box question
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Elder User
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 505
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Tool box question
Hey guys this might sound stupid but I want to put a truck tool box in my pickup and cant seem to figure which one will fit. I looked at a few and they all seem to be either a chest which will sit in the bed which wouldnt be bad but will take some room up or the cross bed that sits up on the bed rails. I wasnt a fan of that style because you see it and always figured it would be a good option to steal it or whatever. Anyway my question is if I go with a cross the bed style how long does it need to be? Ive seen them 70 inchs to 69 inches. I did a rough measurement and I have 72 from outside to outside so im wondering if a 70 inch box will fit snug enough that it wont rock to one side and fall into the bed. I dont know if you secure the box to the bed this is the first truck I wanted a tool box in. Any help would be great
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,069
Likes: 1
From: Toledo, Ohio
Even if the box doesnt reach inside to inside to fit snug, it should be fine. Mine sits on the bed rails on each side and has a gap on the sides as well as sits up a couple inches from the bed floor.
It did slide about an inch or so back and forth so what I ended up doing is putting 2 small bolts in on each side drilling into the top of the bed rail to keep it from moving.
Better be safe and at least put one bolt in each side to hold it. The weight of what you put in it will probably hold it anyhow.
It did slide about an inch or so back and forth so what I ended up doing is putting 2 small bolts in on each side drilling into the top of the bed rail to keep it from moving.
Better be safe and at least put one bolt in each side to hold it. The weight of what you put in it will probably hold it anyhow.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,197
Likes: 558
From: Central Wisconsin
I have 4 torx bolts with nuts welded underneath the bed rail holding my toolbox on so the average joe can't remove it easily. If you don't secure it somehow its gonna slide up and down the box.
Junior User
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 71
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From: Maryland
I used 4 "I bolts" and opened them up to make a hook. Put a little piece of home door foam rubber seal (like you'd find on an outside door) and screwed through the box and hooked them on the bottom of the lip so I didn't have to drill into truck bed. I've never had it move even after one of my trucks was rear ended at 40 MPH. I don't think the size matters because I've had mine on a 97 F-150, 03 Ram 1500, 86 Chevy C-20, and now my 89 F-250.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,533
Likes: 17
From: SW Florida
I like the cross bed type. That leaves space underneath for small things if you need to carry them. I've had three of these, 2 gull-wing style (lids on each side, hinged in center and open towards each other) and I hated them. They leaked water and the lids wouldn't stay adjusted. But, the first one was free, the second one I paid $20 for.
Now I have one where the lid is one piece all the way across, hinged behind the cab. This doesn't leak a drop of water, and that's even after removing the foam gasket that kept falling off anyhow. Stays adjusted too.
You can either use the J-bolts that most boxes come with to secure it to the truck, or supply your own bolts. Your choice.
Now I have one where the lid is one piece all the way across, hinged behind the cab. This doesn't leak a drop of water, and that's even after removing the foam gasket that kept falling off anyhow. Stays adjusted too.
You can either use the J-bolts that most boxes come with to secure it to the truck, or supply your own bolts. Your choice.
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New User
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
I agree with dixie460. The gull wing style doesnt hold up. The one piece lid is the way to go. The J bolts that came with mine worked great.
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Nov 7, 2007 06:38 PM