Styles, Sizing and Materials: What to Check Before You Buy
A truck bed toolbox keeps your tools locked, dry and in one place instead of sliding around the bed. The right one depends on three things: how you use the bed, how your truck is built, and whether you run a tonneau cover.
Here is how to choose one.
Why Add a Truck Bed Toolbox?
Loose tools in an open bed are easy to lose, easy to steal and hard to find. A mounted truck bed toolbox fixes that:
- Security: a locking lid keeps tools out of sight.
- Weather protection: weatherstripping helps keep rain and road spray out.
- Organization: trays and dividers keep small parts sorted.
Types of Truck Bed Toolboxes
Most boxes fall into one of four styles, each with its own trade-off between storage, access and bed space.
Crossover Toolbox
A crossover toolbox spans the bed from rail to rail, right behind the cab. It sits on the bed rails, so the floor underneath stays open for long items like pipe or trim boards.
Crossovers come in single- and dual-lid designs. A low-profile toolbox sits lower for better rear visibility. Our TrailFX 60-inch low-profile crossover toolbox is one example.
Truck Chest Toolbox
A truck chest toolbox sits on the bed floor instead of the rails. Chests are deep and usually sit against the front of the bed.
Since it stays below the rails, a chest often works with a bed cover. The TrailFX 48-inch wedged truck chest is a chest-style option we carry.
Side Mount and Wheel Well Toolboxes
A side mount truck toolbox runs along one side of the bed. Wheel well boxes are shaped to sit over the wheel well and use space that usually goes to waste.
You can grab tools from the side without climbing in, but each box holds less. See the Dee Zee wheel well tool box for a driver-side example.
Swing-Out Toolbox
A swing-out toolbox is a truck bed toolbox that mounts to the inside bed wall behind the wheel well and pivots out toward the tailgate. Closed, it tucks below the rails.
Boxes like the UnderCover SwingCase are commonly paired with tonneau covers, because they stay below the bed rails.
Truck Bed Toolbox Styles Compared
| Style | Mounts on | Bed floor | Tonneau cover friendly? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crossover | Bed rails behind the cab | Mostly open below | Usually not, unless the cover is made for it | Daily work trucks, long materials |
| Chest | Bed floor | Uses floor space | Often yes, if it stays below the rails | Bulky tools and gear |
| Side mount / wheel well | Bed side or wheel well | Center stays clear | Depends on height | Side access, keeping the floor open |
| Swing-out | Inside bed wall | Mostly clear | Commonly yes | Covered beds, smaller tools |
How to Measure Your Truck Bed for a Toolbox
An inch off can mean a truck bed toolbox that hits the cab or won't sit flat. Measure:
- Outside rail-to-rail width for a crossover.
- Inside width between the wheel wells for a chest that needs to drop low.
- Bed depth and rail height, so a chest or side box stays below a cover.
- Clearance to the cab, so the lid can open fully without hitting the rear window.
- Rail features: bed-side storage, rail systems or rail caps can change how a box mounts.
Aluminum vs Steel vs Poly: Choosing a Material
Aluminum is the most common choice. It's lighter than steel, resists rust and often comes in a diamond-plate finish, either polished or powder-coated black.
Steel is rigid and dent-resistant, but heavier, and it needs a good coating to stop rust.
Poly (plastic) boxes don't rust and resist dents. They suit lighter tools and gear.
Whatever truck bed toolbox you pick, check the latches, lid seal and gas struts. Makers such as Dee Zee publish dimensions and mounting details for each box.
Using a Truck Bed Toolbox With a Tonneau Cover
Most standard crossovers sit on the bed rails, right where most tonneau covers clamp, so the two don't mix unless the cover is built for it. To run both, choose:
- A chest or swing-out box that stays below the rails.
- A toolbox-compatible cover made to fit up against a crossover.
- A low-profile box paired with a cover the maker lists as compatible.
New to covers? Our tonneau cover buyer's guide explains the main styles.
Installation and Load Basics
Many crossovers mount with J-hooks or clamps. Others, including several boxes we carry, require drilling, so read the listing and instructions first.
- Add rubber pads where the box meets the rails to cut rattles.
- Check that the lid and locks line up before final tightening.
- Re-check hardware after the first few drives.
A loaded truck bed toolbox adds weight. The door-jamb loading placard lists your truck's combined cargo and passenger limit (49 CFR 571.110), so count your tools in that total.
7 Things to Check Before You Buy a Truck Bed Toolbox
- Your bed measurements: rail width, wheel-well width, depth and cab clearance.
- Style: crossover, chest, side mount or swing-out.
- Cover plans: whether you run, or plan to run, a tonneau cover.
- Material: aluminum, steel or poly.
- Lid and locks: single or dual lid, latch type and weatherstripping.
- Mounting: clamp-on or drilling required.
- What you carry: long tools, power tools or bulky gear.
Not sure which box fits your truck? Call (806) 621-1226 for a fitment check by phone before you order.
Truck Bed Toolbox FAQ
Do you have to drill to install a truck bed toolbox?
Not always. Many crossover toolboxes mount to the bed rails with J-hooks or clamps, so no drilling is needed. Others, including some wheel well and side-mount boxes, call for drilling into the bed rail or wall. Always check the product listing and the manufacturer's instructions before you start the install.
Can you use a toolbox with a tonneau cover?
Yes, with the right pairing. Chests and swing-out boxes that stay below the bed rails often work under a tonneau cover. Most standard crossovers sit on the rails, where the cover clamps, so you'd need a cover that's designed to work with a crossover box. Check both makers' compatibility notes first.
How do you measure a truck bed for a toolbox?
Measure the outside rail-to-rail width for a crossover box, or the inside width between the wheel wells for a chest. Then measure bed depth, rail height and the space between the box and the cab. Compare those numbers to the box dimensions on the product listing before ordering.
Is an aluminum or steel truck toolbox better?
Neither is better for everyone. Aluminum is lighter and resists rust, which is why it's the most common choice. Steel is rigid and resists dents but is heavier and needs a solid coating to prevent rust. Poly boxes are another option for lighter tools and wet conditions.
Crossover vs chest toolbox: which should you choose?
Choose a crossover if you want tools within reach from the side and need the bed floor clear for long materials. Choose a chest if you need deep storage for bulky gear or want a box that stays below the rails for a tonneau cover. Your bed measurements will narrow it down.
Build Your Truck Your Way With Love-Truck.com
The best truck bed toolbox fits your bed, your cover plans and the way you work.
- Choose a crossover for everyday access and an open bed floor.
- Choose a chest for deep storage that stays below the rails.
- Choose a side mount or swing-out for side access or a covered bed.
As an Authorized Keystone Automotive dealer, we carry boxes from TrailFX, Dee Zee and UnderCover.
Ready to get organized?
Shop truck toolboxes in The Work Rig Collection at Love-Truck.com and build your truck your way.
Love-Truck.com — Built for the way you use your truck.
