6/7
Best Side-Mount Truck Tool Box
Tractor Supply Side Mount Truck Tool Box
The Tractor Supply Side Mount Truck Tool Box runs vertically along the side of your truck bed, allowing for easy access to the length of the box at all times. Its 48-inch length is well-suited for long, narrow items, like bubble levels or light tripods, and the rust-resistant aluminum body keeps valuable tools protected no matter the weather. This low-profile truck tool box won’t obstruct your view as much as other options.
Pros
- Designed to sit along the side of a truck bed
- Has built-in carrying handles
- Includes a lockable paddle handle
- Has self-rising shocks
Cons
- Can only be accessed from one side of the truck
- Relatively low 3.5 cubic feet storage capacity
7/7
Best Topside Truck Tool Box
UWS Single Door Topside Truck Tool Box
If you prefer to keep as much space available in your truck bed as possible, the UWS Topside Truck Tool Box is a strong choice. Built with heavy-gauge alloy aluminum, the 60-inch box rides on the bed rail and opens to the outside of the vehicle.
Stainless steel aircraft cables support the lid when open, and the 90-degree lid position acts as an impromptu work surface that can support up to 1,000 pounds. It’s available in bright aluminum or powder-coat black diamond tread, and comes with a one-year warranty.
Pros
- One-piece design for maximum stability
- Microseal stripping keeps out moisture
- Has stainless steel handles
Cons
What to Consider When Buying a Truck Tool Box
The most important factor to consider when purchasing a truck tool box is whether or not it fits in your specific vehicle. Most models offer this information freely, so take the time to cross-check that your make and model is compatible with the truck tool box.
Make sure that your potential truck tool box has the space and shape to store your tools and equipment. 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.
Keep security in mind as well. If you’ve got expensive power tools, it could be worth shelling out more money for a box specifically designed to withstand break-ins. If you’re mostly storing inexpensive hand tools or supplies, it might not be worth the investment.
Types of Truck Tool Boxes
Truck tool boxes come in several different types, with each having its own pros and cons.
- Crossover: This is the most common type of truck tool box, spanning the width of the bed (or “crossing over”) and supported by the bed rails. Crossover boxes provide a lot of space, but they can sometimes obscure your rear visibility.
- Topside: These boxes sit on rails parallel to the truck bed. They’re essentially large cabinets, and convenient for accessing tools quickly. These boxes do prevent you from accessing the bed itself on the side they’re mounted on, so keep that in mind.
- Side mount: Also called “inner-side” tool boxes, these sit on the side rail like topside versions, but have a lower profile.
- Wheel well: These are relatively small boxes that fit into the empty space next to the wheel wells. Some are stationary while others swing out for convenient access.
How We Found the Best Truck Tool Boxes
As shopping experts, our only job is to help you find a winning product. We start with the research and reporting basics—what products are made of, what they look like and how much they cost—to ensure that we’re only recommending the buys that are worth your time and money. Then, we research the features that speak to the product’s quality, taking advice from industry insiders and subject matter experts on what makes a product a smart value (or worthy of a splurge). Finally, we do the work of combing through user reviews to see how real people interact with the product, and if it stands up to the test.
FAQ
How do you anchor a tool box to a truck bed?
Securing your truck tool box to your vehicle correctly is obviously very important, so make sure you read the installation instructions carefully. If your truck already has pre-drilled holes for tool box mounting (many newer models do), simply use the recommended nuts and bolts to secure it in place. If it doesn’t have holes, you’ll need to drill them yourself with a power drill and metal drill bit. Then, thread the bolts through the holes and tighten them in place.
What size tool box fits a full-sized truck?
Full-size trucks, like F-150s, Rams and Silverados, have larger beds than mid-size trucks, so you’ll need to make sure your truck tool box is wide enough to fit properly. The best truck tool boxes provide this information clearly, a useful way to ensure that you’re dealing with a reputable company. Use a tape measure to gather the distance between the bed rails, the wheel wells and the cab, as well as the height of the bed walls. Then, cross-check those measurements with the tool box you’re considering.
