Howdy all,

I have a lead on a free aluminum topper. It would be nice to have to keep my bed from filling up with ice and snow again. Since I need the lockable storage of the toolboxes I have now, I was hoping to mount my cross bed box across the bed as usual, only inside the topper.

I am very aware that it very well will not fit, and most likely will not, but it will be a few weeks untill I can measure for sure, and untill then my brain will be constantly wondering. I am also aware that different boxes and toppers are different sixes. Just wondering if anyone has seen this done, or has tried and failed.

Thanks

 

I almost bought a used fiberglass leer cap from a friend, as my bedbox did fit inside, however because the sides of the cap are angled a bit, I couldn't open the bedbox more than 2" or so. So, I didn't buy the bed cap (topper).

I have a feeling if the bedbox does fit, you would run into the same problem. Being that the bedbox would be inside, protected from the elements, I debated hacking the sides of the bedbox cover a bit to fit, but then I decided it wasn't worth the effort at the time.

 

Yeah, I'm almost positive it'll fit closed. You nailed it, my main concern was having clearance to open the toolbox up. I suppose I can always fab up a rack to mount the toolbox over the wheelwell . I don't need the full width of the bed all that often. Thanks for the reply

 

While in Atlanta last week I seen a pickup with both box and cap on it, it was a full size bed with a short bed cap and the tool box in front. We were traveling 60 MPH so I could not check out what modifications were made to the cap if any but it worked and looked ok as well.

 

There are tool boxes that go the width of the bed, but fit between the bedsides rather than sit across the bedsides. Those obviously would fit as you'd have an extra 6-8" of clearance between the box and the cap. I chose to get the typical across-the-bedsides box because I found one that didn't hit the floor of the bed, leaving me over a foot of space there. This allows me to have crap in the toolbox AND I can slide plywood, sheetrock, plumbing and stuff in the bed down the length and still close the tailgate. Most construction materials come in 8' lengths as I'm sure you know. The topper/cap thing was an afterthought, when a friend of mine wrecked his F-series while his cap was hanging from the garage ceiling, so it's intact, and cheap.

I'm actually glad I passed on the cap... not because I like the bed full of slush, snow, road salt, and dirt. But because a weekend or two after I passed on the topper I had to load and unload several engines with my engine crane, and the topper would have definately have been in the way. So come spring, I'm going to sandblast the inside of the bed, and install a spray-in bedliner so it lasts as long as the outside. The inside of my bed is starting to look it's age. But, I use it almost daily.

 

My truck was used for towing more than hauling, it has a 5th wheel hookup and all the electrical still in place. MY toolbox is a neat set up as the P/O had made a setup that actually has two flat plates that slide up and there is lockable access under the toolbox itself. He kept his box but the one I bought went right into position. I am able to keep a lot of the things I would like to carry under there and still have a clean, organized tool box. My truck is a shortbed as well.