Securing a tool box in a pickup bed?

[Richard Ferguson]

I am about to buy a tool box that will fit in the front of my pickup
bed. Since I have a 5th wheel, I will get one that sits below the bed
rails, so I don't hit it with my RV. (The common tool boxes that rest
on the truck bed rails are not a good solution for those of us that have
5th wheels.) I think that I have a line on a box that would work for
$100, sounds like a good deal. If that does not work out, I will keep
watching craigslist until I find something suitable.

My question relates to how to secure the tool box in the pickup. In a
prefect world, I would be able to install and remove the tool box in
seconds without tools. The box would be secure from theft (stealing the
entire tool box) and moving around in the bed. When the box is removed,
there would be nothing in the bed of the truck to snag or obstruct
loading. In fact, when the box is removed, I don't want the solution to
be conspicuous, although I figure that I will have to drill a couple of
holes in the truck bed. Oh, and I would like to have the tool box an
inch or two above the bed so that I could slip a piece of plywood under
the box, and not have to remove the box to carry a piece of plywood in
the bed.

So now that I have said what I want, what can I actually get? Is there
a commercial solution that would work? Does anybody have a favorite
homemade solution? I have some fabrication capabilities, but do not
have a mill or lathe. My first idea would be to somehow install a
threaded hole in the bed of the truck, and I would just run a bolt from
the inside of the truck box to that threaded hole. But I am not 100%
sure of the best way to do this. Is there such a thing as a bolt that
has a hole down the middle with internal threads?

Richard

[B F Lake]

"Richard Ferguson" <***@omitthisatt.net> wrote in message
news:QpBrg.104664

Post by Richard Ferguson
My question relates to how to secure the tool box in the pickup. In a

.....
Oh, and I would like to have the tool box an

Post by Richard Ferguson
inch or two above the bed so that I could slip a piece of plywood under
the box, and not have to remove the box to carry a piece of plywood in
the bed.

We have/had an over the rails tool box and it came too close to the 5er.
The cheapest way for us was to cut a chunk out of the middle and join the
ends and tape it all up so it is still waterproof. It now sits down in the
box, but of course, has no lock-down anymore. If you sit your box on 2X4s
at the outsides it would have a space under it, but would probably sag after
a while, same as an on the rails type.

To secure it, if your truck has eyepads at the bottom of the box in the
front corners, or the holes at the front corners of the rails, you can drill
a hole in the back side or end of your box (or both ends for twice the
security) and pass a chain through the eye and both chain ends into the hole
in your tool box and padlock them together inside. The padlock acts as a
stopper to keep the chain ends inside. The tool box lid is locked so nobody
can get at the padlock(s) If the thief has a bolt cutter to cut the chain
outside then too bad. Of course an enterprising thief would just take the
whole truck!

If water getting in is a concern and you have it up on blocks of wood you
could put the chain hole in the bottom so it can drain.

Regards,
Barry

[Lon VanOstran]

Post by Richard Ferguson
I am about to buy a tool box that will fit in the front of my pickup
bed. Since I have a 5th wheel, I will get one that sits below the bed
rails, so I don't hit it with my RV. (The common tool boxes that rest
on the truck bed rails are not a good solution for those of us that have
5th wheels.) I think that I have a line on a box that would work for
$100, sounds like a good deal. If that does not work out, I will keep
watching craigslist until I find something suitable.

I bought a pretty nice diamond plate tool box from Tractor Supply. I
bolted it through the truck box at each corner. You have to be pretty
close to the truck to know it's there, and then it would take some doing
to get into it. $219..
I have no intention of ever removing it, until I get a new truck.

One year later, it's still there, and still secure.

Lon

[B F Lake]

"Lon VanOstran" <***@wmconnect.com> wrote in message news:***@individual.net...
One year later, it's still there, and still secure.

We have an actual house, so are forever renovating. Before heading to Home
Depot for stuff, the 5er hitch, the generator, and the tool box get taken
out so we have a truck again. Same going to the dump with a load of
whatever got renovated. (Also when acting as a moving truck whenever one of
the kids moves)

Before RVing again, the truck box gets cleaned out, and back goes the tool
box , generator, and 5er hitch, in that order. The tool box holds what used
to go in the back of the cab before we took out the back seat and filled it
with four dog crates etc.--jack, shovel, axe, extra hose lengths, rope,
jumper cables, etc etc.)

For wandering gypsy tourists (full -timers <G>) it might be possible to
leave the tool box in all the time.

Regards,
Barry

[RAM³]

I picked up a diamond-plate bed-width tool chest from Lowe's [Kobalt brand]
that is ~0.5" lower than the bed rails which lets me use my soft tonneau.

I simply use a ratcheting tie-down to keep it from sliding when empty.

When loaded, I'd like to meet the character that can pick it up: I won't
interfere with him - I'd just like to meet the man who'll be able to pick it
up! [It only has ~450# of tools in it. <G>]

Since I've never had a need to remove my FW hitch [plywood rides nicely on
top of it and the tool chest] I don't expect anyone to simply slide the chest
out the back. <VBG>

[Rick Onanian]

Post by Richard Ferguson
bed. Since I have a 5th wheel, I will get one that sits below the bed
rails, so I don't hit it with my RV. (The common tool boxes that rest
on the truck bed rails are not a good solution for those of us that have
5th wheels.) I think that I have a line on a box that would work for

I'd consider a rest-on-bed-rails box designed for a smaller truck,
which should just drop right in.

Post by Richard Ferguson
My question relates to how to secure the tool box in the pickup. In a

[snipped for brevity, but my response applies to whole paragraph]

Drill appropriate holes in bed and box. Weld nut to underside of bed at
holes. It may be easier to wel the nuts to washers on a bench and then
weld the washer-nut combos to the underside of the bed. Install long
bolt through box. Weld or epoxy enough nuts/washers (or a real bushing,
if you like) to the bolt (on the outside of the box) to give you as
much room underneath as you want. Be sure to leave the assembly loose
so the bolt will turn in the box, so you can then bolt it to the nuts
that are welded to the bed.

You'll need to find a local welding shop, since I'm guessing that you
are as welder-less as I am.

The end result will require a ratchet or nut-driver, or you could
epoxy/weld handles to the tops of the bolts. You probably won't need to
crank them down hard. Lock the box and somebody will have to crawl
under the truck with an angle grinder to break it free.

Another idea: L-brackets attached to inside walls of bed. It might be
easiest to weld them on. Else, if the other side of the wall is
inaccessible, you might have room to use toggle bolts. Either way, they
will only work for trucks with double-wall beds (or single-wall too, if
you don't care how your truck looks).

Post by Richard Ferguson
have a mill or lathe. My first idea would be to somehow install a
threaded hole in the bed of the truck, and I would just run a bolt from
the inside of the truck box to that threaded hole. But I am not 100%
sure of the best way to do this.

You can easily make threaded holes in the bed. Drill the hole, and tap
it. See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taps_and_dies
for a general idea of the tool. I'm not sure if the bed metal will be
thick enough to give you a strong hole, though, hence my suggestion on
welding a nut underneath.

I had actually intended to bolt two small ammo boxes (used for holding
spray cans and other stuff I don't want in the cab) to my bed by
drilling and tapping it, but I never got around to it. Since then, I
ran over one of the boxes, and never replaced it; and the other one
continues to flop around the bed when not restrained by my load
retainer ( http://www.tracrac.com/tracrac/accessories.html labelled
"cargo holder" if anybody cares).

Post by Richard Ferguson
Is there such a thing as a bolt that
has a hole down the middle with internal threads?

I think I have seen such a thing, although I don't remember where, nor
can I picture how it would work for your situation.

How does a fifth wheel hitch attach and remove from the bed? I imagine
that the hardware for that would work well for the box too.

[Richard Ferguson]

Interesting ideas. Thanks to all for their comments to date, and thanks
in advance for any other ideas and comments.

I like the idea of an angle iron bracket bolted to the frame under the
bed. Threading sheet metal is not going to be sturdy, but threading a
1/4 inch thick piece of angle iron should be plenty sturdy. The angle
iron could have the tapped hole. I have some 4 by 4 by 1/4 inch angle
iron lying around. Then I just need a hole in the truck bed lined up
with the angle iron.

The 5th wheel hitch removes with 1/2 inch pins secured with hitch pins,
but the hitch rails are permanently bolted down in the truck bed. I
guess I could do something similar, leave some kind of rail or bracket
permanently bolted in the truck bed, and attach the tool box to the rail
or bracket. If I did it right, the bracket might also serve as a spacer
to lift the tool box that inch I was looking for. With a little
creativity, maybe I could make the bracket such that it helped me align
the toolbox....

Most tool boxes are kind of T shaped, and mount on the frame rails, but
they do make simple rectangular toolboxes that would rest on the bed of
the truck. That kind of toolbox, depending on the height, could be
completely below the top of the truck bed. I hope to pick up a
rectangular toolbox on Sunday, assuming that it looks good when I see
it. The exact height of the toolbox vs. the truck bed may dictate if
and how much I can raise the toolbox. I probably will not want to raise
the top of the toolbox much above the bed rails.

I have good welding equipment in my shop, although I am not a great
welder. I drill and tap fairly frequently, I have a decent drill press,
etc. I don't want to weld on the truck frame, but I can fabricate what
I need and then bolt it to the truck frame or bed. I would prefer not
to drill a hole in the flange of the truck frame, and would prefer to
drill a hole in the web (middle) of the truck frame, which is a lower
stress point. I know that I have seen numerous semi-tractors with
stickers telling people not to drill on the flange, which makes a lot of
sense to me.

The point someone else made about a heavy box being hard to steal is a
good one, but I am not planning to put hundreds of pounds in the box.
The generator that I would put in the box weighs about 25 pounds, life
jackets and paddles don't weigh much, .....

Richard

-----------------------------------------------------------

Post by Rick Onanian
Drill appropriate holes in bed and box. Weld nut to underside of bed at
holes. It may be easier to wel the nuts to washers on a bench and then
weld the washer-nut combos to the underside of the bed. Install long
bolt through box. Weld or epoxy enough nuts/washers (or a real bushing,
if you like) to the bolt (on the outside of the box) to give you as
much room underneath as you want. Be sure to leave the assembly loose
so the bolt will turn in the box, so you can then bolt it to the nuts
that are welded to the bed.
The end result will require a ratchet or nut-driver, or you could
epoxy/weld handles to the tops of the bolts. You probably won't need to
crank them down hard. Lock the box and somebody will have to crawl
under the truck with an angle grinder to break it free.
Another idea: L-brackets attached to inside walls of bed. It might be
easiest to weld them on. Else, if the other side of the wall is
inaccessible, you might have room to use toggle bolts. Either way, they
will only work for trucks with double-wall beds (or single-wall too, if
you don't care how your truck looks).
How does a fifth wheel hitch attach and remove from the bed? I imagine
that the hardware for that would work well for the box too.

[Rick Onanian]

Post by Richard Ferguson
I like the idea of an angle iron bracket bolted to the frame under the
bed. Threading sheet metal is not going to be sturdy, but threading a
1/4 inch thick piece of angle iron should be plenty sturdy. The angle
I have good welding equipment in my shop, although I am not a great

You lucky bastard. ;)

Post by Richard Ferguson
etc. I don't want to weld on the truck frame, but I can fabricate what
I need and then bolt it to the truck frame or bed. I would prefer not
to drill a hole in the flange of the truck frame, and would prefer to
drill a hole in the web (middle) of the truck frame, which is a lower

You don't need to mess with the frame at all. Weld to the underside of
the floor of the bed. The bed floor is already good enough to hold the
toolbox up; a simple hole in the bed with a pin would be good enough to
keep the box from sliding; but for theft protection, the bed floor is
strong enough too -- I can't imagine somebody pulling a bolt (attached
to a piece of angle iron underneath, no less) through the bed floor,
let alone four such bolts.

If welding to the bottom results in a little paint damage on the top,
well, it _is_ a truck bed after all, and you do plan on hauling stuff
in it, which will scratch the paint anyway. However, a sufficiently
strong epoxy might be good enough to attach angle iron.

I'd attach and line up everything first, then drill one hole through
all. Then, drill out the hole in the box so it's a little larger, and
tap the hole in the bed and attached angle iron.

Post by Richard Ferguson
stress point. I know that I have seen numerous semi-tractors with
stickers telling people not to drill on the flange, which makes a lot of
sense to me.

Those are highly tempered, heat treated materials that are engineered
for the holes they come with from the factory. I'm pretty sure that
it's acceptable to drill a couple holes in a pickup frame, although I
wouldn't bother for this application.

[Will Sill]

Post by Richard Ferguson
I am about to buy a tool box that will fit in the front of my pickup
bed. Since I have a 5th wheel, I will get one that sits below the bed
rails, so I don't hit it with my RV. . . . .
My question relates to how to secure the tool box in the pickup. In a
prefect world, I would be able to install and remove the tool box in
seconds without tools. The box would be secure from theft (stealing the
entire tool box) and moving around in the bed. When the box is removed,
there would be nothing in the bed of the truck to snag or obstruct
loading. In fact, when the box is removed, I don't want the solution to
be conspicuous, although I figure that I will have to drill a couple of
holes in the truck bed. Oh, and I would like to have the tool box an
inch or two above the bed so that I could slip a piece of plywood under
the box, and not have to remove the box to carry a piece of plywood in
the bed.

SImple. Choose a Positional Levitation Storage Box from importer
Unobtainium Wegottitall Inc, with the switchable Ultra-Power Permanent
Magnet option. (Same material used for fuel magnets). This box will
rigidly hover over the truck bed to allow up to three sheets to the
wind. ... er. . . plywood to ride beneath it, and will maintain
0.4375" (7'16") clearance on three sides so as not to disturb the
paint, yet when the magnetic levitator is decommissioned, the box will
float effortlessly outa the truck even if it is carrying a shipment of
Chinese anvils.

No problem.

Will Sill
The Curmudgeon of Sill Hill

[Ron Recer]

I am about to buy a tool box that will fit in the front of my pickup bed.
Since I have a 5th wheel, I will get one that sits below the bed rails, so
I don't hit it with my RV. (The common tool boxes that rest on the truck
bed rails are not a good solution for those of us that have 5th wheels.) I
think that I have a line on a box that would work for $100, sounds like a
good deal. If that does not work out, I will keep watching craigslist
until I find something suitable.
My question relates to how to secure the tool box in the pickup. In a
prefect world, I would be able to install and remove the tool box in
seconds without tools. The box would be secure from theft (stealing the
entire tool box) and moving around in the bed. When the box is removed,
there would be nothing in the bed of the truck to snag or obstruct
loading. In fact, when the box is removed, I don't want the solution to
be conspicuous, although I figure that I will have to drill a couple of
holes in the truck bed. Oh, and I would like to have the tool box an inch
or two above the bed so that I could slip a piece of plywood under the
box, and not have to remove the box to carry a piece of plywood in the
bed.
So now that I have said what I want, what can I actually get? Is there a
commercial solution that would work? Does anybody have a favorite
homemade solution? I have some fabrication capabilities, but do not have
a mill or lathe. My first idea would be to somehow install a threaded
hole in the bed of the truck, and I would just run a bolt from the inside
of the truck box to that threaded hole. But I am not 100% sure of the best
way to do this. Is there such a thing as a bolt that has a hole down the
middle with internal threads?
Richard

I had a rail level diamond plate tool box in our '01 pickup. It was held in
place by two self taping screws about 2"-3" long (has to be long enough to
make it all the way to the bottom rib of the bed incase you miss the top
part). It traveled that way for over three years and never moved. In
January when I traded trucks, I unscrewed it and re-installed it in the new
truck using the same two self taping screws.

If you want to haul a sheet of plywood after you install the tool box, just
leave the tailgate down and it should fit without going through all sorts of
gyrations of elevating the box or removing it. Of course if you have a
short bed, they too bad, you should have gotten a real truck! <g>

Ron