Tool box identification
- Thread starter Dodge2500
- Start date
crewchief888
Well-known member
ive been a field mechanic for over 15 years, every box i've used in a service truck self destructed eventually.
what i found over the years is, you really need to secure the box to the truck to avoid the twisting and racking of the box frame.
my latest setup is secured through the bottom of the box in 3 or 4 places, and the back of the box is secured in 4 places as well. i havent seen any more cracking or twisting in the past year or so.
pics are from a previous truck, but the new truck is very similar.
what i found over the years is, you really need to secure the box to the truck to avoid the twisting and racking of the box frame.
my latest setup is secured through the bottom of the box in 3 or 4 places, and the back of the box is secured in 4 places as well. i havent seen any more cracking or twisting in the past year or so.
pics are from a previous truck, but the new truck is very similar.
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bobcatdan
Well-known member
That is actually a rare top box as it was only made for about a year in '79. SO actually knocked of a very popular Beach top box of the same design. It's a 18"deep 26" top box so it's pretty big. Not really ment for road service, while it may last longer then some, it will be destroyed overtime. Go buy a craftsman top box, should last 10 year as a road box.
Lookin4'67Galaxieconv
Well-known member
Get an actual Snap On road box instead of a regular box.
ianguilly
Well-known member
That box has got to be from at least 1981 or 1982 since that emblem is a more modern one then the 1979 emblem.
bobcatdan
Well-known member
For as much flack as they get, just get a craftsman for a road box. I got over ten years out of six drawer ball bearing unit in the back of my personal truck. My old set truck had a set of friction slide boxes from about '08 and they are still in that truck. The beauty of the craftsman boxes is they hold for enough years to feel you got your money worth when they're junk. I currently have a perfomax top box in my pickup. I liked the drawer arrangement. It's holding up fine, but I do not know if the side handles wouy act hold if I lifted, it's about as full as I can get it.
bobcatdan
Well-known member
I think that box has a weird history. I gave the year 1979 because it's the only year I see it in the catalog. Wonder if it had a much longer run in Canada since its aimed against Beach.
crewchief888
Well-known member
a SO road box wont fit in most service bodies, at least it wouldnt in any of the 8 service trucks i've had over the years.
PSYKO_Inc
Well-known member
From what I've seen in service trucks, tool boxes will all get beat to hell eventually. I'd just grab a Harbor Freight box and plan on replacing it in 5-10 years.
bobcatdan
Well-known member
a SO road box wont fit in most service bodies, at least it wouldnt in any of the 8 service trucks i've had over the years.
Exact reason my road box never saw duty. Missed fitting into the compartment by about 1" in every measurement.
crewchief888
Well-known member
i was gonna say a month
like i mentioned before, any box you put in a truck is gonna end up cracking the frame, breaking slides or breaking slide channels out of the frame.
secure the box on the bottom and back, it stops a lot of the twisting of the box frame that leaks to cracks. my CM top has been in 4 service trucks since '04, it's cracked and broken nearly everywhere. after the last "modification" of removing the bottom drawer, making a frame for the bottom of the box, bolting it through the bottom and back into the truck body, i havent seen any more damage.
txvwnut
Well-known member
I've got a c-man bottom box in my service truck, it's mounted in the front compartment and has survived quite nicely. Although it is starting to show its age at 14 years old and being in a truck it's done quite well. I had a SO top box in my previous service truck and it too was mounted in a front compartment and did well for the 6 years I had that truck. The reason I went form SO to c-man was the SO wouldn't fit in the new bin body.
I think the key to toolbox survival is where they are mounted, it's not as harsh a ride if they are mounted ahead of the rear axle.
I think the key to toolbox survival is where they are mounted, it's not as harsh a ride if they are mounted ahead of the rear axle.