Your truck bed organization solutions?

[ishiboo]

I've been through various ways of organizing my truck box with no success. The big 50-gallon containers are too big to be useful, my truck is too high to make truck toolboxes worthwhile (and I'm 6'5 and it's stock!), and I'm sick of having **** everywhere.

I'm considering making an organizer which slides in the box, so I can push it all the way to the front to make room for moving something large, or pull it all the way back. It would have drawers for organizing the typical things I'd like to always carry - spare bulbs, bits, hold down straps/bungee cords, etc., as well as a place for drills, tape measures, etc.

My plan is to use a good quality wood, seal and paint it with an epoxy paint or roll truck bed liner on. This way, I can build in compartment grids for things like the straps to keep them organized.

Anyone have any success organizing their truck bed? I have a large trailer so I don't need to move wood/drywall or anything in the bed, though I'd like to keep it so I can put large things like a snow blower/etc in back if necessary.

 

[csp]

I can tell you that the roll on truck bed liner will not stick to wood for any length of time.

 

[crewchief888]

i have a storage unit in the back of my service truck called a packrat.
it's a large, heavy duty, unit, approx 3' wide, 5'(?) deep and 1ft tall, all steel with lockable slide out drawer on roller slides.
sturdy enough to store several batteries, 30 gal of hyd and eng oil on top of, starters alternators, and bucket pins inside.

i have no idea where they got them from, possibly grainger ?

i dont have any storage solutions in the back of my DD truck, i toss in whatever i need in a tool bag or 2, or use a larger storage box i got from walmart (?), thats big enough for a mig welder, hood, grinders ect.
my DD isnt much of a DD, it sits most of the time, so i dont leave anything in it worth stealing.

 

[jake00]

http://www.weatherguard.com/truck_tool_boxes/view_products.php?subcat_id=18

know several contractors with em, they love em

know a few guys who made sim. things out of plywood, they work ok

 

[srmofo]

http://www.weatherguard.com/truck_tool_boxes/view_products.php?subcat_id=18

know several contractors with em, they love em

know a few guys who made sim. things out of plywood, they work ok

Ive also seen wood versions.

 

[texasmike74]

The big 50-gallon containers are too big to be useful, my truck is too high to make truck toolboxes worthwhile (and I'm 6'5 and it's stock!).

What type of truck do you have. I'm 6' and have a F-350. I don't have a toolbox in the bed but if I did, I would be able to use it. Really I just want to see the truck in question.

 

[jam0o0]

at my old job my boss had a bunch of these:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HAX2F8/?tag=atomicindus08-20
they were more than ten years old and all still worked asside from a few hinges. and they were loaded down with tools, iron plumbing bits and pump motors. i liked them so much i have 3 in my personal truck. if i need to carry some 4x8 i just set the sheet on the boxes and tie it down.

 

[eldirector]

I have a 2x4 across behind the wheel wells, and an old bucket with bungies and straps in it.

I'd like to get a couple of these for some better storage. I don't carry anything too large (tie-downs, jumper cables, and general roadside emergency stuff), so they should work fine. Leaves the bed pretty much open, and fits under my cover.
http://www.truckaddons.com/Catalog/subpages/undercover_swingcase.html

Sounds like you want one of these:
http://www.pickupspecialties.com/Weatherguard/weatherguard_packrat_drawers.htm

 

[eborcim]

I was going to suggest something like the swingout or a metal alternative (Don't know if weatherproof) in addition to the slide out tray.

 

[Az Scooter]

I was going to suggest something like the swingout or a metal alternative (Don't know if weatherproof) in addition to the slide out tray.

Plus one. I have the UWS version in my pickup, and it is great. I cannot imagine having another truck that did not have a tool box like this. I also havea weatherguard chest in the front of the bed for larger items. They are both very weatherproof, but then, I am in Arizona, but also dust proof. Highly recommended.

 

[NJHandyGuy]

again going with the what kind of truck ?

no pics but when i had my 2500 i had 2 creepers (garage sale finds) i mounted 33 gallon totes to when i wanted them i unhooked the bungee cord that held them behind the cab pulled the string i attched to them brought them to the back of the bed and got that io needed waterproof configurable removable and cost me less than $8 a peice ($5 each tote and $3 each garage sale creeper

 

[APEowner]

I have one of the metal toolboxes eborcim posted and several of the roughneck rubbermaid tubs. I keep the metal box in there almost all the time and one of the tubs. I swap around the other tubs depending on what I'm doing (for example all the car tiedowns are in one tub. I keep a cargo bar behind the wheel wells so the tubs don't slide up to the front of the truck. The tubs last about 5 or 6 years even in cold weather while heavily loaded.

 

[PSYKO_Inc]

I'm currently working on a new setup for my truck. I had a camper shell which kept things dry and locked up, but sold it a few months back. I've got a battery box mounted in the front corner of the truck bed so a bed mounted tool box is out. Thinking about picking up a couple 20MM ammo cans and mounting them like this guy did:

 

[camit34]

Check out this thread over on expedition portal -http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9034&highlight=storage

 

[ishiboo]

Check out this thread over on expedition portal -http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9034&highlight=storage

EPIC thread... thank you!!! There are a TON of ideas here, just what I was looking for!

again going with the what kind of truck ?

no pics but when i had my 2500 i had 2 creepers (garage sale finds) i mounted 33 gallon totes to when i wanted them i unhooked the bungee cord that held them behind the cab pulled the string i attched to them brought them to the back of the bed and got that io needed waterproof configurable removable and cost me less than $8 a peice ($5 each tote and $3 each garage sale creeper

2500HD, 6.5' box. The 2500HD is quite low compared to the Ford's and Dodge's, but I can definitely say I want access from the back and not to have to reach over and into a truck box. Plus, I don't want to dig for anything (I had that with a Stanley 25-gallon container, rolled everywhere around the bed and all the hardware rusted).

I'm thinking about making more of a full-length unit, which would allow me to have two deep cycle batteries and an inverter in the front, from which I could charge all my drills/etc. I would have it on casters, so I could make a truckbed-height frame I could quickly unplug and roll the unit out if I needed the bed for something.

 

[Haywood]

What about getting a tool box like this? Then you wouldn't have to worry about moving things in and out of the box if you want to haul things. At least you wouldn't be reaching down into a tool box, the bottom of the box sits on the bed rails.

 

[PSYKO_Inc]

EPIC thread... thank you!!! There are a TON of ideas here, just what I was looking for!



2500HD, 6.5' box. The 2500HD is quite low compared to the Ford's and Dodge's, but I can definitely say I want access from the back and not to have to reach over and into a truck box. Plus, I don't want to dig for anything (I had that with a Stanley 25-gallon container, rolled everywhere around the bed and all the hardware rusted).

I'm thinking about making more of a full-length unit, which would allow me to have two deep cycle batteries and an inverter in the front, from which I could charge all my drills/etc. I would have it on casters, so I could make a truckbed-height frame I could quickly unplug and roll the unit out if I needed the bed for something.

If you only need to charge drill batteries, you shouldn't need an inverter. It'd be quite a waste to go from DC to AC and then back to DC. If your drill charger is the wall-wart type, just find out the output voltage and current, then get the proper type voltage regulator and make your own DC charger for it. If you're crafty, you might even be able to scavenge parts from the AC charger if you don't need it anymore.

 

[sberry]

I have actually stripped a lot I used to carry, got it down to the bare essentials and most of it can do double duty of some type.

 

[Andy Griffith]

I have actually stripped a lot I used to carry, got it down to the bare essentials and most of it can do double duty of some type.

Now that is a working mans farm truck right there. The duct-tape over the shifter is a classic.

 

[Andy Griffith]

I've been researching truck bed tool boxes recently as I want to get away from the dang plastic totes that ride around in the back of my truck. In my case it is a 6.5 bed with canopy that has opening side windows.

I need a solution that doesn't go across the front of the bed and doesn't impede on the 4' width between the wheel-wells. In addition it needs to be openable/accessible through the side windows of the canopy and/or from the tailgate opening.

The closest I have found is the swing out box and the craftsman steel drawer box posted earlier in this thread. But what I would really like is a box (or maybe two boxes) that would go down the entire side of the bed and take full advantage of the space above the wheel well, and ahead and behind the wheel well. This box would open from the top such that I could access it through the side canopy windows.

For those of you who have the craftsman style drawer box behind the wheel well do you find the drawers hold enough stuff? I wonder about the drawers being too restrictive in terms of size? On the other hand, I suppose the drawer style box would be better suited for hand-tools and other smallish items that might get lost in a large open box without any compartmentalization.

Also, I assume the wheel-well boxes make the stock tie-downs useless as they cover them up?

Thanks

 

[little d]

I built one like the Weather Gaurd except it has 3 slide outs. 16" tall, 4' wide and 6 1/2' long. fills my pu bed and leaves enough room on top that i can haul anything i need to. Next to the up right job box i built, best time and money i ever invested!

 

[LIVELY]

I have a sliding bed floor that comes out about 85%--i put my tools in closing containers/have my air compressor on the side/ my hoses behind it and can put my materials above everything
it holds at least 1000 pounds at times and still slides in an out nicely
this is in a 99 f150 long bed
i am very pleased with this outfit

 

[JSGAuto]

Has anyone done something under the truck?

I have a fairly high (stock height) Chevy 3500. I was under there the other day and was thinking of somehow installing a slider, or simply a side opening box. It wouldn't be huge (.50 cal box size). I think a few of them would help keep the clutter out of the truck.

I use it for towing, so no offroading issues with me.

Jim

 

[PSYKO_Inc]

While researching the ammo can idea, I came across a group of Toyota guys that have done the same thing you mentioned (ammo cans under the bed)
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-tacomas/115657-ammo-can-mod.html

 

[sberry]

Now that is a working mans farm truck right there. The duct-tape over the shifter is a classic.

I have an inverter on the pickup but battery power has come along so far I really lean on that. I have a full size service truck but really could get by without it anymore. Most of my own stuff is fixed up well enough and gets ran thru the shop regular I don't have much complicated field work anymore so its more like rescue and I am such a Mcgyver that I can do so much more with less.I don't have self powered welding on the truck but Maxstar in the case and carry a torch although I don't use it often. A couple coffee cans of nuts/bolts/pins, electric connectors and what hand tools I need. Some stuff behind the seat. Common 1/2 socket set, shallow and deep impact sockets, a ratchet, couple extensions and long breaker bar, 15 mm added to the set too, ha 6 larger wrenches.
Couple clamps, sledge hammer with short handle, 24 inch alum pipe wrench with busted handle. 12 ton jack as well as another utility one I can run with battery drill. The cheap 2 ton *** along didn't last but for extra 10$ the 4 ton is ideal, couple slings and chains as well as bungee straps. Jumper cables.
And as important as duct tape farmers magic juice penetrating spray. In my world am lost without that. Also 120V AC and jumper cable lugs on front.

 

[csp]

Keep your rig shiny side up. Lots of projectiles in there if it ever goes over.