has anyone ever tried to sink a toolbox into the side of your truck bed

[original balzer]

kinda like build your own utility bed?

I was thinking of these sunk into the side just behind the cab on either side.

I realize it would stick out some but that doesnt really bother me that much. I think if it was done well enough it would still look good.

I guess Im a bigger fan of the utilitarian look anyway. I would rather have a truck that looked tough and functional than one that looked pretty. But I dont want a full on utility bed.

It would take some careful measuring and cutting with a plasma and I think it would have to sink into the bed floor slightly to somewhat center it in the bedside.

OR take it even further and sink them into the side of my extended cabor maybe both

Maybe its just a crazy idea

 

[badmix]

IF you were going to do that, Id rather have reg. utility bed cabinents, ones that open up either to the side or down, so you would get into them from the side. It is very doable. Making it all blend would be the trick and I think some fiberglass would be in order. Basically cut out the outside of the bed sheet metal and put your tool box in and then secure it. Seem simple enuff.

Could get a bulgy prerunner fiberglass rear 1/4 panel. WIth my design, youd never get into cutting the actual bed or the inner wheel well, it would all between the outside and inside sheet metal.

 

[original balzer]

Making it blend wouldnt really be that important to me. I thought of this while helping a friend work on his truck and he has a chest style tool box. his truck really isnt very tall but we still had to climb into the bed find the tool then climb out. It was kind of a pain in the ass. Also his hand tools are in a separat box bolted down inside his chest tool box. He said its to secure it, and its too heavy to really lift out every time he needs it.

I actually have a 93 ford with a utility bed and its SO conveinant to be able to get to your tools. I guess even those style tool boxes mounted the way they are suposed to be mounted would still be easier to get to than a chest tool box. I dunno maybe it was an idea not worth the time and effort.

I have a look in my mind I want to shoot for and its kind of a cross between a work truck and a sporty play truck, if that makes any sense at all.

 

[dremu]

After spending a bunch of time and a certain amount of money on the bed boxes and lumber rack for my truck, I tell ya, the idea of a utility bed is attractive. Especially with a little fiddling to allow 4x8 sheets to fit inside.

Otherwise you're just trying to work the boxes around the existing bed, which wastes space, adds weight, and is generally a PITA.

Actually, I think my ideal choice would be a flatbed, with a big box up front and smaller ones UNDER the bed, but then you run into clearance issues with the tires and the ground, and more time and $$, etc...

-- A

 

[plumber mike]

I love both of my utility bodies and would not work out of anything else at this point in my life.(hard on the knees climbing in and out of the truck) However for the suburban which is a plow,play and backup work rig,I use a weather guard 4 drawer flat setup which is similar to the rat pack. Works awesome and will hold like 500 pounds on top of that.Best of all 4x8 sheet goods still fit.Downside is that american van only lists the rat pack which is a single drawer instead of four and it lists for like $1500

 

[bot0611]

i had an idea a while back to cut a square hole on the end of my wooden bed (under the spare tire mount) and make a box with its slide lid and keep or take some tools in there.