alright guys. i dont know if anyone else has run into the same idea as i have or not. but i have a 2001 regular bed (non stepside) and i have the plastic bed rail caps that i actually really like on my truck. well i would like to have a toolbox for the bed of my truck. as most of you know if you put a tool box in with the bed rail caps it takes up about half of the rear window. i could get a slimmer box but it still would take up a lot of the window and i think a tool box that's mounted on top of the bed rail caps would look weird and out of place. so my question is has anyone made their own?

i'm thinking about getting a toolbox off of craigslist for a full size truck for cheap and cutting it up and making it a box shape, not a box with a lid. i would use the same lid features it just wouldnt have the extensions that go over top of the bed rails. then that way it could bolt down into place sitting on the floor of the bed and should be right about up to the top of the bed.

has anyone done this? has anyone seen anything like this? also this type of thing might also work if someone had a tonneau cover. opinions/criticism welcome!

 

why not just buy a chest box to sit on the bed floor instead of making one?

 

or cut the plastic rails like everyone else?

 

 

i think that looks bad and there will be times when i don't have the toolbox in the bed so it would look even worse then.

i like the diamond plate. and i can't find those used anywhere so buying a new one would be around 300. chopping up a used regular tool box will prolly be around 100 total.

biketheozarks - where did you get that?

 

You could always use wood too. As long as it works and gets you by, whats the difference. That and you can cover the wood with diamond plate. I liked the bed caps on my truck as well, but when I decided to put the toolbox on, they came off and I got diamond plate bed rails.

 

I got mine from . The prices goes up and down a little bit, the current price is $214.15. This one measures 36 x 19.2 x 12. There are cheaper smaller ones, and there's some bigger ones. Mine turned out to be just the right size for an auxiliary battery & a portable winch carrier. I bolted it down for theft protection.



rolsmojave3, where did you get your diamond plate bed rails? How are they attached, glue?

 

DeeZee. They have a clear coat over them so they never need to be polished and always look great. They are bolted on the inside of the bedrail. Got them locally $90 new. I also have the tailgate cap, I think that was $30.

 

this is what i want without the 200 dollar price range.. like someone said before i could use wood and just bolt/screw diamond plate from a doner toolbox to it. or i could construct it fully from diamond plate.

 

Old thread, I know. But have you tried looking for one in a junk yard? I picked one up for $30. Guy didn't have keys to it so he let me keep everything inside. (He told me to bring back any/all snap-on tools found tho....which I did once I drilled the locks...one 3/8 wrench lol) The diamond plate tool box sits on top of the rails for the tonnaeu cover which I cut a BIG whole in to fit the box. Yes it leaks when it rains but very functional, and I like how it looks. Not sure what your year would look like on top of the rails, but for an '89 I can see over it just fine in the mirror.
Different toolbox in this pic, but you can get the picture

*edit* Tried to link pic from my facebook page, decided to upload to an album here on RF to make sure link works*