3 Benefits of Truck Tool Boxes: The Different Types of Ute Tool Boxes

Pickups are the most versatile vehicles, which is why almost every tradie owns one. They’re ideal for going off the beaten trail and for those who carry tons of heavy equipment on the regular. Tradies who use them for work find themselves owning too many tools and equipment, with no real place to store them in an organised manner. Nobody likes the rattling of tools in the bed while driving, as it can be disturbing, unpleasant and most importantly – unsafe.

That’s why most tradies get tool boxes for their trucks. They’re practical, durable and designed to transport all of your prized tools and equipment safely.

3 Benefits of Tool Boxes

There are many benefits to owning a tool box, but the 3 most notable include:

• Protecting your tools from harsh weather and environments. You won’t need to replace your tools as often, and no matter the weather – your tools will be safe and sound.
• Keeping your tools organised. They won’t be scattered around your truck bed, and you’ll be able to get what you need faster, thus improving your productivity. Additionally, the chances of a tool getting lost will be significantly lower.
• Preventing your tools from getting stolen. If your tools are all around the truck bed, they’re prone to theft. Keeping them inside a locked tool box will keep them safe and sound.

Types of Tool Boxes

Aluminium Under Tray Tool Box

These tool boxes are ideal for flatbeds and service beds. They provide storage space underneath your truck bed. The reason why I mention the aluminium under tray tool box, in particular, is because aluminium is lightweight, yet just as durable as steel. They range in size, and feature either one or two cabinets per box, depending on their length.

Crossover Tool Boxes

These tool boxes are what first come to mind when people speak of truck tool boxes. They’re exactly what their name implies they are – a truck bed box that crosses over the bed, resting on the rails. They’re typically easy to install, featuring a J-bolt on both sides. The bolt tucks underneath the bed raid and goes up through the wings of the box, where it’s fastened with a nut and washer. They come in a range of sizes, with most being between 175cm and 185cm.

Side Mount Tool Boxes

These tool boxes are the most popular among people who work out of their trucks, such as plumbers, electricians and other types of contractors. They generally sit on either side of the truck bed, and you can combine them with a crossover box. Side mount boxes are laid on the bed rails and are notched, allowing them to extend downward into the bed, along the sides, something of an inverted L when looking from the side. The boxes are attached using clamps to the bed rails and are supported by legs that connect to the bed floor or side.

Topsider Tool Boxes

Also known as top mount tool boxes, they’re popular with home repair workers and builders. They’re similar to side-mounted tool boxes, except they sit on top of the bed rails. These boxes are more like cabinets that open downward for easier access. Their sizes range greatly, and they’re available with single or double doors. You can place a lot of items inside them, leaving plenty of bed space for other materials and equipment.

Storage Drawers

These fall into a few different categories – commercial utility and decked drawers. The utility drawers are metal enclosures that come with slide-out drawers. While you can fit them in pickup trucks, they’re generally used in vans. However, if you want drawers similar to shipping pallets, they’re the ideal choice.

Decked systems, on the other hand, are modularly designed to fit perfectly in the pickup bed. In other words, they’re application specific and are formed to fit the bed, with the top section forming a platform that can be rated as much as 1 Tonne. Each unit comes with sliding drawers that can handle as much as 100kg. Moreover, they can serve as a mounting platform for other accessories such as load lock rings or racks. They’re completely weatherproof, so you can keep even the most expensive and fragile items inside them.

Chest Tool Box

Chest tool boxes come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, but they’re all the same in that you can place them anywhere you can fit them. That being said, if you need a tool box inside the bed to fit under the tonneau cover, or a tool box for the job site or just about anywhere else, they can be the right solution for you. Most of them are made using durable steel or aluminium so that they’re capable of withstanding the rigours that come with outdoor working and constant transport and exposure to the elements. If no other solution works for you, you can rest assured you’ll find a chest tool box that does.