Pickup trucks are versatile and extremely functional vehicles. Whether you need one for work, carting your family around, or for hauling small and large objects, they’re a great vehicle to own.
The problem is that it can be difficult to organize everything in the back of your truck. This is where using a proper tool box for keeping everything organized becomes a great idea.
With the best truck tool box it’s easy to keep your small tools and other random parts and accessories organized and easily accessible. They’re one of the most effective ways for organizing your trunk bed so it’s always clean and tidy.
In this post, we’ll be going over our recommendations for the best truck tool boxes. Don’t forget to scroll past our recommendations for an in-depth buying guide and FAQ.
Otherwise, let’s jump right into it!
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The Best Truck Tool Boxes (Reviews) in 2023
Weather Guard Truck Tool Box (Best Truck Tool Box Overall)
It’s the Weather Guard Truck Tool Box that we would recommend as the best truck tool box for most people. This is a universal tool box for trucks that’s easy to install and offers plenty of internal storage capacity.
Those of you looking for a saddle box for your truck will find these to be a good choice. It comes with a number of practical features that make it ideal for storing and organizing your tools.
The saddle design allows for a universal fit in most trucks. It’s designed from heavy duty aluminum and comes with a black powder coat finish.
The lid is easy to open and close thanks to the dual gas strut supports. With your contents inside they’ll enjoy ample weather resistance from a full weather seal with D-shaped ribbed weather stripping.
When it comes to security this box has tamper-resistant, push-button locks that help to keep your tools and accessories secure. On the inside is a sliding small parts tray and built-in compartments on either side for easy access.
Overall, the Weather Guard Truck Tool Box is our top recommendation as the best truck tool box for most people. It’s well-built, durable, and comes with some great features for keeping your tools safe and organized on your truck.
UWS Low Profile Truck Tool Box
The UWS Low Profile Truck Tool Box is another great option if you’re looking for a tool chest in the saddle design. This is a pickup truck tool storage box with a solid design that you can rely on for a long-term durability.
Having been built for max strength, the lid is filled with a solid foam that helps prevent binding. With its low profile design, you’re also offered a better view out the back window when you’re driving.
The box itself features stainless steel handles for dependable security and longer-lasting use, even in poor weather elements. They also have a low profile design, which gives you more clearance for a better grip.
All of the main components are made from extra thick aluminum. The box features a one piece tub, that’s made from welded aluminum and is able to withstand heavy, regular use.
Those of you looking for easy and convenient organization will find this truck tool chest to be ideal for keeping your tools and cargo organized. On the inside is a tool tray as well as built-in screwdriver holders so you can quickly and easily grab small items.
When it comes to installation, the UWS Low Profile Truck Tool Box is available in a variety of different sizes and styles. This means it’s possible to use on different trucks and it comes with pre-drilled mounting slots and hardware for easy installation.
As for security, there are stainless steel locking handles on this tool box. They can be easily locked to prevent easy access by anyone without the key.
It’s also worth mentioning that this comes with a lid rail and gull wing lids. The gull wing lid makes it possible to open the box from both sides of your truck while the integrated lid rail provides a reliable anchoring point for tying down cargo on top of the box.
Overall, the UWS Low Profile Truck Tool Box is another great option that’s loaded with practical and convenient features. If you’re looking for a toolbox that can withstand the rigors of daily, regular use, you’ll definitely want to check this one out.
Yaheetech Aluminum Tool Box (Best Cheap Truck Tool Box)
The Yaheetech Aluminum Tool Box would be our recommendation if you’re looking for a budget truck tool box. This is an affordable alternative to our other higher-priced recommendations while still coming with some great features for pickup truck storage.
The Yaheetech Aluminum Tool Box is made from aluminum and features a high intensive, weather resistant, and corrosion resistant lapping lid design. This design helps to prevent any undesired leakage and keeps your tools and accessories protected from the weather and road elements.
There’s also a seal ring design that helps to protect the internal cleanliness and prevents entry of rainwater into the box. For such a budget truck tool box this one has some great features or protecting your tools and gear.
The square design of this tool box gives it a universal fit, making it possible to use in most pickup trucks. Securing it to the bed is simple with the O-rings for attaching it to the truck to prevent it from sliding.
For security, this box features one built-in lock for safe and secure storage. It also comes with two durable side handles that make it more portable and easy to move around.
Overall, if you’re on a tight budget, it’s hard to go wrong with the Yaheetech Aluminum Tool Box. Despite being a basic pickup truck tool box, this one is a great choice for affordably and safely storing your tools and other related accessories.
Weather Guard Aluminum Saddle Box
The Weather Guard Aluminum Saddle Box is another one of our recommendations from Weather Guard. This is a company well known for making some of the best truck tool boxes available.
There are a number of different features that make this saddle box a great choice. For starters, it features a heavy duty construction with a reinforced aluminum body and powder coat finish.
The lid opens to a full 90-degrees, which is ideal for accessing the tools and supplies stored inside. It even has reduced clearance so you can get the box closer to the cab for maximizing space in the bed.
As for weather protection, the Weather Guard Aluminum Saddle Box comes with a full weather seal for keeping out moisture, even in extreme weather conditions. It also has electrical access and a side box option for even more convenience and ease-of-use.
On the inside is an easy-find organization that includes a removable parts bin, level holder, and adjustable metal tray. There’s even an automotive style rotary latch for simple one touch opening.
Installing this saddle box is simple thanks to the heavy duty mounting brackets. These are crimp free in design and allow for drill-free installation.
It’s also worth mentioning that the lid comes with a gas spring and there are latch linkage guards that shield against damage from shifting cargo. Speaking of cargo, this box is suspended from the rails so there is plenty of room underneath for transporting other cargo and gear.
Overall, the Weather Guard Aluminum Saddle Box is another great choice from Weather Guard. This is ideal if you’re looking for a reliable, durable, and professional level tool box for your pickup truck.
Montezuma Triangle Tool Box (Best Small Pickup Truck Tool Box)
The Montezuma Triangle Tool Box is our recommendation if you’re looking for a small tool box for your pickup truck. Despite its smaller size, this is a great storage box for travelling with tools and other necessary accessories.
The Montezuma Triangle Tool Box is a durable tool storage chest that’s made for a tradesperson looking for durability, reliability, and long-lasting integrity. Thanks to the multi-tiered design on the inside, it’s easy to store and organize your tools while being able to see them all at a single glance.
The storage chest itself is made from high-quality steel and comes with professionally welded seams. This durable design helps to keep your tools safe while extending the lifespan of the toolbox.
For easy access there are gas springs that raise the lid and socket tray when it’s unlatched. This makes it easy to access your tools without having to fumble around with a heavy lid or awkward storage trays.
As for weather protection, there is a water-resistant seal on the lid, which protects your tools against dust and moisture. The heavy duty, steel construction is designed to keep the contents safe from the weather and road debris.
It’s also worth mentioning that this box is equipped with a dual pin locking system. This protects your tools by keeping them secure when the toolbox isn’t in your sight.
Overall, the Montezuma Triangle Tool Box is a great option if you’re looking for a small tool box for a pickup truck. Despite the small design, this one is loaded with practical features that make it ideal for storing, transporting, and easily accessing your necessary tools.
Why You Need a Truck Tool Box
Organize Small Items
It’s difficult to store small and loose items in the bed of your pickup truck. There usually isn’t any built-in storage and without any solutions everything will be sliding around while you’re driving.
With a tool or storage box it’s easy and convenient for keeping small objects organized and contained. This way they’re easily accessible when you need them and they won’t be sliding around the bed, possibly getting damaged or damaging the bed itself.
Protect Valuable Items
Another drawback to leaving everything in the open bed is that it’s open and accessible to people walking by. Most truck tool boxes come with basic latches and locks that are great for securing your valuable tools and other items.
While this isn’t going to deter a professional thief, it makes things a lot more difficult for anybody looking to take something opportunistically. It also gives you the peace of mind knowing you can leave something behind when you park the truck and it’s not in your sight.
More Space in the Pickup Truck Bed
With everything sliding around the bed, there’s less room for storing or transporting larger and bulkier items. Keeping everything in a truck tool box keeps it above the floor of the bed.
This helps to free up space and makes it easier to haul large and awkward items. You won’t need to spend time organizing everything every time you want to use the bed for a particular purpose.
Types of Truck Tool Boxes
Saddle Box
The saddle box is the most traditional form of truck tool box. It’s designed to span from one side of the bed to the other.
Once installed, the box straddles the bed and it floats above the floor. They typically come with a number of mounting options to make it easy to install.
With this type of tool box you’re left with a lot more space underneath for longer and larger items. This would be the best type for most people looking to organize their tools and other accessories being kept in the truck.
Chest
Some people prefer the chest style of truck box. This is more like a typical garage toolbox that’s placed in the pickup bed.
These are designed to sit on the floor of the bed and are usually bigger than the saddle style. However, the drawback is that they take up space on the bed itself, so you’re not able to fully utilize the entire bed for transporting or storage.
Using these tool boxes is simple as there is usually a single latch opening on the front or the top. These tend to be simple in design, easy to install, and a practical choice if you’re looking for a low profile truck tool box.
Side Mount
You’ll most often see side-mounted truck boxes used by contractors or other professionals. This style is designed to run the length of the truck bed while preserving the space in the center.
It’s easy to use a side mount tool box for a pickup truck with the camper shell or tonneau cover installed. That’s because they’re usually designed to sit below the bed rail line while providing easy access to the tools and other accessories inside.
How Much Does a Truck Toolbox Cost?
$150 and Under
In this price range you’ll find some of the best cheap truck tool boxes. These are mostly budget tool boxes that feature a basic design.
The majority of options in this price range are small, basic, and will lack some important features like internal organization or safety locks. However, if you’re on a tight budget, this is a good place to get started for a basic tool box if you need some storage.
$150 to $500
In this price range you’ll start finding mid-range boxes. These will start coming with better organization features and more convenience and their overall design.
You can expect to find options with safety locks, built-in organization, and more reliable design features. Towards the higher end of this price range is when professional use boxes start becoming available.
$500 and Above
Once you get to this price point you’re looking at higher end, professional used tool boxes. These are mostly designed for daily use, regular abuse, and for tossing in your tools without worrying about damaging the box.
You can also expect to get the most space and the best internal organization. Spending this kind of money gets you the best features and overall functionality and capability.
Key Features
Weatherproof
Along with organizing the contents of the tool box, it’s important that they’re protected from the weather and outdoor elements. Weather protection, by design, also works as built-in theft prevention as long as you’re using a lock.
To keep your tools and other accessories safe from the elements you’ll want a tool box that uses quality exterior materials as well as a proper weather seal around the seams of the box. This design helps to keep out the rain, dust, snow, and other elements the box will be exposed to on the road.
For the best weather protection, keep an eye out for stainless steel or heavy duty aluminum tool boxes. These usually come with a good powder coat that offers better weather protection and corrosion resistant protection.
Lock
Having just mentioned theft prevention, this is a feature worth considering if the toolbox will be left unattended for extended periods of time. This is important because truck beds don’t have the same security of an enclosed cargo space, like you would find in a normal car trunk.
Look for a tool box that has a high-quality, smooth running lock so it’s difficult to open the lid. Being able to lock your own box helps to deter casual thieves or opportunistic passers-by from reaching in and stealing the contents inside.
Lid & Gas Lift
If you’re planning on using your tool box on a regular basis, it’s important that it’s equipped with a high-quality lid. The lid should open and close smoothly while having ample weather and theft resistance.
To help with lifting, look for a toolbox with gas lifts which support the lid when you’re opening and make it easier to open the closet. These lifts take the full weight of the lid and control the movement so that it’s easier for you to use.
Material
The best truck tool boxes will be made from high-quality, durable, and reliable materials. These typically include aluminum, steel, and hard plastic.
Depending on your budget, you’ll be able to find the right material for security and portability with a box that comes with the features you want. Plastic and aluminum or ideal if you’re looking for something that’s lightweight and portable.
Steel is a good choice for weather resistance and theft prevention. Don’t forget to check out reviews to see what other people have to say about any of the tool boxes you’re interested in.
Size
The last feature to consider is the overall size of the truck tool box you want for your vehicle. It needs to have enough space to fit inside the truck bed and be able to easily store all of your tools.
Most boxes are available in a variety of different lengths and depths. They are typically limited in width since they need to fit between the bed rails of different truck makes and models.
With a full size pickup you can expect a wider range of universal truck bed tool boxes. Otherwise, you’ll have to be careful in choosing the correct size when it comes to width and other dimensions.
Helpful Tips
- Internal organization is important for easily and quickly finding the different tools and accessories you want. Look for a tool box that comes with internal dividers or compartments to make it easier to organize your setup.
- Consider using a tool chest if you’re looking for something that can be used with tonneau covers. Most of them sit right below the bed rail line, though not every chest design is short enough to work with.
- Just about every tool box can work with a camper shell. Check the dimensions before buying one to make sure it doesn’t interfere with the placement of the shell on the bed rails.
- Depending on the toolbox, you may need to drill into the side of your truck bed for installation. If you’re not comfortable doing this yourself, consider paying for a professional installation. Don’t forget to check out YouTube videos for helpful videos on the installation process.
- The personalized the color and style of your tool box, consider getting some color-matched powder coating. This makes it easy to fit the tool box style with the overall appearance of your truck.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Style of Truck Tool Box is the Best?
It’s hard to pick a specific style that’s the best for most people. It ultimately depends on how much you want to store and how much you’re going to need to access the box.
Chest boxes offer the most truck bed storage, which is ideal if you’re driving around with a lot of tools and other accessories. Saddle boxes are easier to access from the top of the bed, which is ideal if you need quick and easy access to your tools.
How Can You Tell if a Tool Box Will Fit?
The dimensions for most toolboxes can be found in the product description. Start by measuring the width of the truck bed and comparing it to the width of the box.
It’s important for the tool box to be as wide or shorter than the bed itself. This way it can be easily installed and you won’t run into any issues getting it to fit.
The height and depth of the box aren’t as important, unless you’re looking to preserve as much space in the bed as possible. Always double-check the measurements before ordering a specific box.
What Can You Store in a Toolbox?
As long as it fits, you can store whatever you want in your toolbox. Most people store tools and other accessories that they need on a regular basis.
It’s even possible to store household items, groceries, or just about anything else. Whenever you don’t want exposed to the outdoors and weather elements is what you can store inside.
Finding the Right Truck Toolbox For Your Truck
A good truck toolbox can help you keep your tools organized, secure, and easily accessible while you’re on the go.
When selecting the best truck toolbox, consider factors such as durability, size, storage capacity, security, and ease of installation.
The truck toolboxes we have reviewed in this post offer a range of features and benefits, from heavy-duty construction to lockable latches, making them some of the best options available in the market.
Whether you are a professional tradesperson or a DIY enthusiast, there is a toolbox out there to suit your needs.
Investing in a high-quality truck toolbox can help you save time and money by ensuring that your tools are always at hand and protected from the elements.
So, take your time to research and choose the best toolbox for your truck, and start enjoying the convenience and peace of mind that comes with having a well-organized and secure storage space for your tools.
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