What's the biggest box we can fit in the back of our trucks? I'm in the market for a "tool chest", not a crossover box. Something that sits below or level with the bed rails, black diamondplate, is stronger than hell, is weather and people proof. Do you guys recommend any specific brand?

Also I see that a lot of boxes come with "No Bed Drilling Required!" plastered on the side. How is this so?? I know with crossover boxes they use J-hooks mounted on the vertical...do the chests use the same, but on the horizontal?

 

Munkey I can't envision the set up you are asking about. However, my side mounted boxes were made by "Rawson-Koenig. Inc at 2301 Central Parkway in Houston, Texas 77092 Phone 713-688-4414 or 817-314-5159 in Fort Worth. I'm satisfied with the ones on my Superduty. Cheers...tigerman.

 

>What's the biggest box we can fit in the back of our trucks?
> I'm in the market for a "tool chest", not a crossover box.
>Something that sits below or level with the bed rails, black
>diamondplate, is stronger than hell, is weather and people
>proof. Do you guys recommend any specific brand?
>
>Also I see that a lot of boxes come with "No Bed Drilling
>Required!" plastered on the side. How is this so?? I know
>with crossover boxes they use J-hooks mounted on the
>vertical...do the chests use the same, but on the
>horizontal?

I have seen the "J" hook method and it is a joke! Basically it is just what it says, a "J" hook goes under the bed rails the up between the rail and into the bottom of the box. Thus eliminating the need for drilling. I actually tried using "J" hoks once and they plain don't work.

The best people, weather proof box I have seen is ....well actually there are two....almost identical, they might be made by the same people...is the Greenlee Job Box and the Knaack Job Box. The Greenlee I saw at home depot for less than $300.00 if I remember correctly, and the Knaacks would most likely be found at a truck supply house....you know where you can buy bedliners, hitches, etc. Attatchment methods may be difficult with these boxes. However a good way to make a permanent attatchment would be to locate the box directly over the existing bed mounting bolts, drill the box to match then use the bed bolts to attatch the box to the bed and the bed to the truck frame. Then the box would be basically "theft proof"

Now of course if you want a better looking box, in my opinion, Knaack Weather guard boxes are the best!!!! They come in diamond plate and are the strongest diamond plate box I have seen comercialy available just short of fabricating your own. They are pricey though, but I think they are worth the money. They come in all sorts of sizes and shapes....Hopes this helps. Let us know how you make out

 

I use J-Hooks to hold my tool box in place and they work great. A slot needs to be dremeled into the horizontal section of the J-hook so that is mates with the bed rail sheet metal without sliding around.

 

Weatherguard makes one specificly for Ford. You can get it in black diamond plate. Mine fits right under the rail. I can fit a tarp over it. My original idea was like the other post, where you just use the existing bed mount bolts. But I was told not to use them. To this day I don't Know why. I ended up drilling into the bed anyway, but then I had a Rhino lining put in and just in case, put touch up paint around the holes.

 

Protech will custom fab anything you want and will make it in 1/8" marine aluminum or diamond treadplate. Or Highway Products makes one as well(which is what I have) their address is www.1800toolbox.com If you decide with the Highway products let me know, I get a referral bonus. :-X12