Truck-mounted toolboxes are used by building contractors and tradesmen of all types. They provide a secure place for carrying handheld power tools, tool belts, and other types of tools to and from the jobsite, or when running to pick up materials. These are not toolboxes for organizing small hand tools, but rather boxes for securing larger ones. Other than a sliding tray, they are not likely to have any additional organizers. The idea is that the placement of the tools themselves, in their individual cases, will provide the organization.
For these toolboxes to be effective, they must be mounted to the vehicle, becoming one with it. That prevents any potential thief from just picking the box up and running off with it. Often, the mounting is done from inside the box, making it almost impossible for a would-be thief to get the box separated from the vehicle.
Another concern for contractors is that the toolbox does not prevent them from being able to carry building materials with them. Typically, a full-sized pickup truck is designed so that a sheet of plywood can lie on the bottom of it. If the toolbox is taking up part of that space, carrying that plywood is much harder. To accommodate this, the most common configuration for a truck toolbox is one that spans the bed, mounting onto the top edge of the bed on both sides. Space is left under it for putting in building materials.
In addition to the cross-bed design, there are truck tool boxes that mount on the sides of the truck bed, above the sides of the bed. These, which are designed more like cabinets, provide very easy-to-use storage space for more than just tools. They can also be used for storing parts in a more organized manner. There are also smaller toolboxes that can be mounted within the bed, in the area over the wheel wells.
Steel has been the traditional material of choice for these toolboxes, but some are now made of high-density, blow-molded plastic. While not as secure as a steel box, they are rugged enough to keep the tools from falling out. It is easier for a thief to break into these plastic boxes than the steel ones, as they are built with the idea that “locks keep the honest people honest.”
The most important criteria in selecting a truck-mounted toolbox is finding one that is both durable and has the room you need to store your tools. Remember that you may need a larger storage solution soon, so don’t buy one that is just barely big enough. Instead, look at what you might need over the long term and buy accordingly.
When shopping for truck toolboxes, you must make sure that the box fits your truck. Bed widths and lengths vary, as well as the placement of the wheel well. A toolbox for a “full-sized” truck may not fit yours if it was designed to fit another brand. To get a better idea of what toolbox may suit your needs the best, take a look at our list of the best truck toolboxes in 2022.