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Few things are more baffling to me than seeing a nice, new (or even late-model) truck with a mess of tools and gear sliding around the back, scratching up the truck bed and damaging precious gear. You’ve likely invested some hard-earned dollars in both your truck and your tools, so why not shell out a bit more for a rugged and secure truck toolbox?
Truck toolboxes come in a variety of shapes, sizes, materials, and price points, so there’s really no excuse for leaving your stuff exposed to the elements and sliding around like some heathen. With my list of top picks and accompanying buying guide, you’ll be rocking around like a boss in no time.
Summary List
Best Overall: Lund Aluminum Flush Mount Single Lid Truck Toolbox
Best Value: Arksen Durable Aluminum Diamond Plate Toolbox
Honorable Mention: TruXedo TL TonneauMate
Best Plastic: UnderCover SwingCase
Best Low Profile: UWS Matte Black Heavy-Wall Aluminum Truck Toolbox
Best Crossover: Better Built 60-Inch Crossover Single Lid Wedge-In Truck Toolbox
Best Slim Design: UWS Heavy-Wall Aluminum Slim Truck Toolbox
Our Methodology
When it comes to choosing the best truck toolboxes, I wanted to provide you with a well-rounded list that features a good variety of reputable manufacturers with solid track records of providing high-quality, durable products. I included a wide range of price points to suit any budget. I focused on truck toolboxes that use the latest construction materials and design methods suitable for a wide variety of truck makes and models. For more information on the selection criteria, click this link to The Drive’s Gear About page, which explains our methodology further.
Best Truck Toolbox Reviews & Recommendations
Best Overall
Lund Aluminum Flush Mount Single Lid Truck Toolbox
Best Value
Arksen Durable Aluminum Diamond Plate Toolbox
Honorable Mention
TruXedo TL TonneauMate
Best Plastic
UnderCover SwingCase
Best Low Profile
UWS Matte Black Heavy-Wall Aluminum Truck Toolbox
Best Crossover
Better Built 60-Inch Crossover Single Lid Wedge-In Truck Toolbox
Best Slim Design
UWS Heavy-Wall Aluminum Slim Truck Tool Box
Our Verdict
If you’re looking for an ideal combination of durability, functionality, storage capacity, and reasonable price point, my top overall pick has got to be the Lund Aluminum Flush Mount Single Lid Truck Tool Box. This rugged toolbox is constructed from 0.06-inch aluminum and features a sleek, rust-resistant, diamond-plated black finish that is electrostatically applied to make it ultra-durable.
For a reliable and budget-friendly truck toolbox option, try the Arksen Durable Aluminum Diamond Plate Tool Box. It’s lightweight, affordable, is designed for smaller trucks, and features a durable center latch that locks for security and to prevent theft.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Truck Toolbox
While there are many similarities between most decently constructed truck toolboxes on the market, it’s definitely not a one-size-fits-all consideration. There are several important key factors to familiarize yourself with to ensure you’re getting the best choice to suit your needs and that will hold up to the serious wear and tear that most truck owners put their equipment through.
Type of Truck Tool Box
Depending on the size of your truck bed and your usual cargo-carrying activities, you should first decide what type of truck toolbox will most suit your needs. Do you want a saddle toolbox that floats above the truck bed, allowing you full access to the length of the bed itself? Or maybe you want the larger capacity of a chest toolbox that sits on the floor of your truck bed. There are also side-mounted or wheel-well toolboxes that preserve the center of the truck bed and are great choices if you have a tonneau cover.
Weatherproof Protection
The main purpose of a toolbox, besides organization, is protection. Beyond theft prevention, the best protection a toolbox can provide is from the weather. Weather-resistant protection comes in the form of quality exterior materials and proper weather seal around the seams of the box. The best options can keep out the rain and survive a few knocks from hail or rust from water. Look at stainless steel boxes and heavy-duty aluminum toolboxes with a good powder coat for the best corrosion-resistant protection.
Lock
Theft prevention is an important component to truck beds in general since they lack the inherent security of enclosed cargo spaces like trunks. A toolbox with a high-quality, smooth-running lock makes it more difficult to open the lid to deter casual thieves from stealing the inside contents.
Lid and Gas Lift
If you plan on using your toolbox a lot, a high-quality lid is a must. In addition to weather and theft resistance, the lid should open and close smoothly. Good gas lifts to support the lid help with smooth operation since they can take the weight of the lid and control the movement while opening and closing it.
Truck Toolbox Pricing
If you’re looking for a decent, budget-friendly or compact, space-saving truck toolbox, you can find one for between $180 and $299, depending on size, construction materials, and manufacturer. However, if you’re looking for a seriously rugged, dependable, and roomy option that will work well with most commercial pickup trucks or full-length beds, you should be prepared to spend closer to $450 to $750. These models come better made with stronger construction, heavier-duty locks, and are usually backed by serious warranties to protect your investment.
FAQs
You’ve got questions. The Drive has answers.
A: When measuring for your truck toolbox, the most important number to get right is the length of the box. The outside length of the toolbox must measure slightly less than the inside width of your truck bed, or the under mounting space that you plan to use. If you use larger tools, be sure to measure the inside length and width of the toolbox to ensure that it will be able to accommodate your larger tools.
A: The most secure truck toolboxes have independently locking latches, usually one on each side of the box. Some may require different keys to open each lock. Another great option to look for is the added ability to padlock the toolbox for an extra layer of theft prevention. The UWS Matte Black Heavy-Wall Aluminum Truck Tool Box, Better Built 60-Inch Crossover Single Lid Wedge-In Truck Tool Box, and UWS Heavy-Wall Aluminum Slim Truck Tool Box all feature a rugged dual-locking latch system.
A: Low-profile truck toolboxes either sit with the top of the toolbox flush with the rail of your truck bed, or just very slightly raised if they’re rail-mounted. This is designed so that visibility out of your rearview window remains unimpeded while driving or backing up.
A: Every single truck toolbox on my list is thoroughly weatherproof. Other than theft prevention, protection from the elements is the most important thing to look for in any decently constructed truck toolbox. If it’s not weatherproof, don’t waste your money.
A: Well, other than tools and work-related gear, you can store a myriad of things in your truck toolbox, including suitcases, emergency supplies, groceries, camping gear, lightweight items that would blow out of the back of your truck during transport, books, files, important papers, and more.