Covered Truck Bed

[lakngulf]

On all my previous trucks I had a tool box attached up front just behind the window. Worked great for whatever I needed. Well, my current truck has a covered bed, the type that will roll up out of the way when open bed is needed.

My issue is "What to do with tools, nails, bungee cords, wasp spray, extra boots, knives, level, rope, first aid kit, come-a-long, fence tools, duct tape, etc = All kinds of stuff I stored in the tool box. What are some good tips and techniques for storing and accessing this stuff without removing the cover?

 

[boggen]

you have tool boxes, that fit over and onto the edges of the truck sides. guessing what you are use to. and then you have more of a 5th wheel setup. that set down and level with truck bed sides. so say a camper doesn't nail the tool box, or bed cover or like can fit directly over everything.

go with a hitch rack / tool box. that fits into receiver were you might pull a trailer or like.

i would imagine someone makes some sort of "drawer" setup. "much like kitchen drawers" that slide back and forth. on some rails for access to stuff.

 

[dave1949]

I've seen trucks used by plumbers with roll-out shelves. Drop the tailgate pull out. Maybe not practical because for heavy bulky loads, it will just be in the way, get damaged, etc.

 

[Gary Fowler]

OR if you don't need all the bed space, just put the tool box at the very front as you had it on your other truck, then mount your roll up bed cover right up against it. I little silicone seal around each of them would make them water tight. If you have the roll up bed cover like I have seen, they can be rolled out and locked in variable positions so that would be my solution

 

[farmer2009]

You can get tool boxes that sit below the bed rail. There are many different styles. One that go across the bed at cab, fender well boxes, drawer stacks. Check out weather guard they have everything but the drawer stacks I think. They even have a Pack Rat. It's a big drawer that fits in bottom of bed and pulls out full length. It's made to go under cross boxes and side boxes and let you put drawer stacks beside also. Some utility companies around here are using this setup instead of service beds. Northern tool and Sears have the drawer stacks.

 

[lakngulf]

You can get tool boxes that sit below the bed rail. There are many different styles. One that go across the bed at cab, fender well boxes, drawer stacks. Check out weather guard they have everything but the drawer stacks I think. They even have a Pack Rat. It's a big drawer that fits in bottom of bed and pulls out full length. It's made to go under cross boxes and side boxes and let you put drawer stacks beside also. Some utility companies around here are using this setup instead of service beds. Northern tool and Sears have the drawer stacks.

A guy on another forum has one of these on each side of his truck bed. Looks like quite a good option, but a maybe a little expensive.

Amazon.com: Undercover SC201D Black Swing Case Storage Box: Automotive

 

[zing]

Kinda low tech, but I use milk crates, tool boxes/bags, rubbermaids, etc. Allows me to quickly grab whatever out of my shed and put it in the bed where the tonneau cover keeps it dry and out of sight. I don't have a roll up one though, I have one of the tri-fold ones that can't be opened when the tailgate is locked. If your rollup one is not secure, you may still want a secure box to keep your tools safe.

 

[farmer2009]

A guy on another forum has one of these on each side of his truck bed. Looks like quite a good option, but a maybe a little expensive.

Amazon.com: Undercover SC201D Black Swing Case Storage Box: Automotive

That's what I was calling a fender well box. They look nice but don't hold enough for me so I can't coment on them other then they are made. You can get them in metal or plastic. I didn't think it was a bad price. As a new crossbox will run 500-700 for a weather guard. Looking at them myself. My current one is in it's 4th truck and some welds are starting to crack. If I have a box I like I never let it go with the truck.

 

[oosik]

I use rubbermaid milk crates and storage bins. Because they will always slide forward, I throw in a hoe to pull them back to the tailgate area when I need them.

 

[lakngulf]

I use rubbermaid milk crates and storage bins. Because they will always slide forward, I throw in a hoe to pull them back to the tailgate area when I need them.

Good idea. Do you have a mat in the bed of the truck? Or do they slide on metal?

 

[oosik]

I have a heavy duty spray- on bed liner- the non-skid type, ha, ha. I also have a vinyl roll-top bed cover which makes crawling to the front to get these wily bins difficult. In my previous pickup I had an aluminum cross bed storage bin. Very good looking but I'm not 7' 4" so I could never reach stuff on the bottom without climbing into the truck bed. The crates and bins are great.

 

[BKBoiss]

I always kept everything in the box under the cover (you know out of sight), unfortunately I worked 5 months strait night shift last winter averaging 16 to 18 hours a night and someone walked over from the next shop yard and cleaned out the back of my pickup while I was gone. Now everything is jammed under the back seat, on the floor back there, in between the car seats and so on. It's orderly just jammed and annoying because usually what I need is buried under half a dozen other things. BTW I had all my old tools from when I was a teenager in my pickup and then my FIL bought my a nice 400 piece set for Christmas and I added other new stuff with the Boxing Day sale. So I put all these new tools in my truck after having the old stuff in there for 8 years and a month later I got cleaned out. They were still in the cardboard and bubble wrap!

 

[zing]

I always kept everything in the box under the cover (you know out of sight), unfortunately I worked 5 months strait night shift last winter averaging 16 to 18 hours a night and someone walked over from the next shop yard and cleaned out the back of my pickup while I was gone. Now everything is jammed under the back seat, on the floor back there, in between the car seats and so on. It's orderly just jammed and annoying because usually what I need is buried under half a dozen other things. BTW I had all my old tools from when I was a teenager in my pickup and then my FIL bought my a nice 400 piece set for Christmas and I added other new stuff with the Boxing Day sale. So I put all these new tools in my truck after having the old stuff in there for 8 years and a month later I got cleaned out. They were still in the cardboard and bubble wrap!

I am not a very religious person, but I do hope there is a special corner of he-ll reserved for theives. :thumbdown:

 

[grnspot110]

I have a "tri-fold" hard cover & use an assortment of storage boxes & some crates so that I can change out when needed. Also have a tailgate lock to keep out the "convenience thieves, won't stop the determined ones, but might make them move on to easier targets! My bed is covered with a sheet of chipboard and hmde. 1/4" plastic bins attached to the fenders to keep smalls along the sides & still have 4' wide open area. ~~ Lowell