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I am planning on getting a set of Swing Out boxes (driver and passenger side) for the truck. The kind that fit tucked over the wheel wells.
I can’t take up space in the center bed (width or length) because I can just fit the ATV as it is. I do not work construction or need to carry heavy tools. I’m looking for bed storage solution for straps, hitch sleeves, pins, tow straps, random crap.
I had one for many years made by Undercover. Likely who makes these as they look almost identical. Never carried anything much heavier than some jumper cables, work gloves and a few hand tools. It split down the length of the box where the metal hinge is at the back of the box. Undercover wouldn't do anything about it other than sell me a new one. I tried to glue it back but even empty the weight of the box hanging off the hinge broke it back open. At the time it was four years old. I think I paid around $200 for it so I was less than happy with how long it lasted before literally falling apart. Mine was always under a bedcover too so it was never exposed to any UV light or anything that would have caused it to fail prematurely. Looked as good as the day I installed it the day it broke.
My solution since then has been a large duffle bag behind the rear passenger seat back for the jumper cables, tire pressure gauge, ratchet straps, etc and now I've added a couple of tool tote bags under the rear seat for hitches, work gloves, etc I can throw in the bed if I need the full back seat floor for my dog or whatever.
I have an Undercover Flex tonneau cover. They also sell a swing away storage box (KCRebel's post). I seriously looked at their box, until I met a fellow in a campground that had them. While discussing the boxes in his truck, he pointed out: accessing the contents of the box while latched was difficult (height of truck - reaching over the side or from the rear - especially in the bottom), anything stowed at the rear of the truck, firewood, other camping equipment, etc, had to be moved to swing out the box, and you had to be careful with how much weight you put in the box. Since I carry "stuff" that I need to get to, in plastic milk cartons at the rear of the truck, (also his idea) moving them every time I wanted into a swing box wasn't going to work for me. FWIW
Last edited by jbrnigan; Jan 11, 2019 at 04:14 PM.
Reason: content
Thanks for all the replies. Anyone that installed these on an F250: Did the boxes cover the LED bed lighting? Dis they block the tie-down rings in the bed?
I have one of these on the passenger side. It does block the light and obstructs the tie-down. The construction of the box is light-duty and the capacity is nowhere near what I expected. It's fine (as others said) for jumper cables, gloves, and a screwdriver. Holding sleeves or gooseneck parts is about the limit of what I was willing to load it down with. I finally bought a proper Weather Guard saddle box and now store grocery bags in the swing-out case.
Also-- on the driver side, there isn't enough room to mount it if you have the 5th wheel electrical connections there.
I have one from Undercover I originally bought for my 2008. I had to do a little bit of redneck engineering to use it, but it works fine. As others have noted, it's not for heavy duty, but it is very handy. I have my hitch ball and other little items in it. I like it well enough for what I use it for.
Thanks for all the replies. Anyone that installed these on an F250: Did the boxes cover the LED bed lighting? Dis they block the tie-down rings in the bed?
Mine is a '17 F350, F250 should be the same. The light is mostly blocked. I am able to use the tie down hook only if the load is high in the bed.
I have right and left from ARE / Truck Hero. I like them, they keep all the little stuff from being everywhere. I agree that they are not designed for heavy tools.
I had in my tundra. And as others noted it was great for the smaller stuff that needed containing. Difficult to get into without swinging out. Opted to not get for superduty as there is so much storage under back set. Have switched to milk crates bunged into the back, easy to remove, and being long version I can carry water jugs or root pax fuel cans or propane bottles as needed.
I received the boxes yesterday and installed one today. I really liked them and the installation is very
clean. No need to drill holes or use self-tapping screws. It all mounts on existing spots in truck.
Bolts pass through the existing holes on the bed frame and nuts tighten from behind with lock washers by taking the tail light housing off:
Installation looks clean:
The locking bracket mounts using the 4 bolts that hold the boxlink plate in place:
I liked them a lot and I was only going to add a rubber stop to the locking bracket so that it would close tight, under a little tension to prevent any rattling. But, I had to return them 😳
The problem for my needs is they stick out past the wheel well and I need all the width to fit my ATV in the back:
I still like the idea of taking advantage of that space for light-duty stuff. My truck is a toy-hauler and a toy on its own, not a work truck and I hardly ever carry heavy tools around. When i do I carry them in a crate in the back then take them out after I’m done.
I liked the design of using the box-link bolts and the available holes on the bed frame so I might make a bracket to put a fixed box tucked in that space.
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