Any ideas to improve storage use of my truck bed toolbox?

[sixdogs]

I bought a used truck bed toolbox because I could use it to secure chains, binders, tools and such when I go to auctions. I've never owned one before. It's great but is just a big box with no sliding shelf or anything to make it more useful. As it

There's a lip I am thinking of building a sliding shelf so I can store small tools and yet slide it out of the way but that's all I can figure out so far. Any ideas helpful.

 

[hslogger]

Make a plywood box.bottom rests on inside rails.sides maybe three or four inches max.one bottom four sides and no top

 

[jyoutz]

I bought a used truck bed toolbox because I could use it to secure chains, binders, tools and such when I go to auctions. I've never owned one before. It's great but is just a big box with no sliding shelf or anything to make it more useful. As it

There's a lip I am thinking of building a sliding shelf so I can store small tools and yet slide it out of the way but that's all I can figure out so far. Any ideas helpful.

View attachment 2032572 View attachment 2032571

In my truck box, I have a lot of the small things in zipper tool bags.

 

[sixdogs]

Make a plywood box.bottom rests on inside rails.sides maybe three or four inches max.one bottom four sides and no top

I started with that concept and when I went to cut the bottom of the box to fit, found that because of the top lip I was unable to cut one wide enough to gat inside correctly and sit on that top lip in the side of the aluminum truck box. I could insert a wide enough pice in on an angle but when I went to turn it flat, interference from the sides prevented me from doing that.

When I cut the piece a little narrower to clear the top lip, the plywood was maybe a half inch too narrow for the lip it would ride on and I didn't think it would have enough support, especially as it slid from side to side. I used 11/16" plywood. I tried to show what I mean in the pics below.

I suppose I could build a narrower box that fits in and uses screw on side pieces to slide on the rails and that would work. Maybe there's a better idea?

 

[groundcover]

Maybe a "picture of your box" thread , hopefully it won't go sideways on TBN !

 

[jfsawatzky]

How about a couple prices of longer angle iron sitting on the lips and the box ends resting on the angle iron?

 

[bdhsfz6]

The trouble with the sliding shelf trays in these cross boxes is, they are never on the side where you need them. It seems I'm always walking around to the other side of the truck to get something out of the tray.

Yeah, you can make the tray long enough to reach from either side, but then it's tough to get large items out of the bottom of the box.

The fix for me was to clip a broom handle inside the box lid that I can grab from either side. It has a hook screwed in one end, which I use to grab the tray and slide it towards me. It can also be used to hook things in the box and pull them toward you.

 

[RjCorazza]

I have that same box, but gull wing top. It came with one tray that slides in the channel, so I use a short rubber strap to keep it from sliding around. Never made a tray, but you could also make one up and maybe use raised bolts in the top of the channel to keep it where you want it.

 

[dougtrr2]

If I understand correctly, a fully completed box won't fit in due to clearance issues.

Cut the plywood to the width. Drop it in place. Make a narrower open bottom "box" to a width that will fit. Secure it to the plywood with Kreg screws or angle brackets. I would put a few dividers in the sliding box to keep things organized.

Doug in SW IA

 

[jyoutz]

Just get some Rubbermaid tubs and zipper tool bags. I’ve been doing that for years.