8 Best Truck Tool Boxes

Buying a Truck Tool Box

Truck tool boxes provide secure, stable storage for your tools and equipment when you’re on the road or at a remote site. They’re an excellent way for DIYers with a pickup to keep equipment safe, even if your truck has an extended cab. After all, you never should leave expensive equipment where it’s visible.

Here are some key factors to consider when shopping for the best truck tool box for you.

Security. A truck tool box should have a lock and should be difficult to remove from the vehicle. There is no such thing as a totally theft-proof toolbox, but a well-designed truck box will pose enough of a challenge that a thief is more likely to move on to an easier target.

Material and durability. Truck tool boxes, whether plastic or metal, must withstand the extremes of your local temperatures and weather conditions, as well as the realities of a work pickup. Things will likely be dropped into it, and some will use it as an impromptu step stool. Steel is durable but heavy. Plastic is lighter and won’t rust, but less durable. Aluminum falls somewhere in the middle. Also, take into account the thickness of the material. Thin gauge metal will be lighter but more prone to dents.

Weather resistance. Freezing temperatures or extreme heat can shorten a box’s useful life, making it brittle or overly hot to the touch. But rain presents the biggest weather danger. Truck tool boxes should be impervious to water penetration from above. Some boxes have drainage holes to allow trapped water to leak out. No drainage means spills from oil, cleaning liquids, etc. will be contained in the box. That saves the truck bed from damage, but exposes the tools to excess moisture.

Storage space. Although two truck tool boxes may appear similar in size, their layouts can vary a great deal. Larger tools need bigger spaces, but a single small tool in a big box will be thrown around every time your truck takes a turn. For maximum flexibility, look for a box with adjustable compartments.

Style. Truck boxes are generally categorized by where they sit on the truck. Crossover boxes span the end of the bed, while topside units sit on the side rail. Inner-side boxes also sit on the side rail, but with a lower profile. Saddle boxes are crossovers that leave additional space in the bed corners. There are also underbody boxes that mount below the truck bed or on a trailer. No matter what style you select, you’re giving up space, so it’s really a matter of where you can spare it the most.

Lid position. The lid position and opening direction may seem like a minor point. But after you crawl into the truck bed to open the box a few times, you may find yourself wishing you had something easier to access from the driver’s side. So think about it. A little forethought can save a big headache down the road.

Note: Measure to verify the truck tool box you’re considering will fit your truck bed before making a purchase.

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