Mounting a truck tool box ?

[arcdawg]

Well I just picked up a new to me truck and I want to get a tool box for the back but when it comes to mounting it I dont know what to do. The truck has a bedliner in it and I do not want to cut it to use J hooks.

Truck is a 98 silverado (if that helps)

Please include pics if you have them

-

[greywynd]

Depending on the box, and the stake holes, I've often used j-hooks into a stake pocket rather than under the edge of the rail. One of the joys of 'truck accessories' is they often will conflict with each other. :D

[enlpck]

Mine goes in and out of the bed periodically, so I mounted tiedown rings to the box and strap it in the the bed tiedowns. In a bad area it gets a heavy cable and lock as well.

[arcdawg]

^ Thats kind of how I want to do it. Its a 6ft bed so I want to be able to take it out when needed.

[whateg0]

You're on a welding board! Weld up some pieces of angle to mount securely in the stake pocket with a way to attach to the box. Then when you need to take it out, just detach it from the bracket.

Dave

[arcdawg]

^ I know that I am on a welding board lol.

The point of me asking is that I do not want to remove the bed liner and I do not want to drill holes through the rails. The stake pockets already have tie down hoops that are mounted securely under the bed liner -

[whateg0]

Sorry, didn't realize that the stake pockets were already taken.

Dave

[Rocky D]

Aw, c'mon Brian...drill it! Or get a humongus bungee to hold it in. :D

[boykjo]

Double back tape.....................:D

[k.a.m]

or you can do like i did when i couldnt bring myself to drill holes in my new boat for a trolling motor upgrade, have a friend do it takes away alot of the pain:D

[arcdawg]

Aw, c'mon Brian...drill it! Or get a humongus bungee to hold it in. :D

Yeah thats all fine and dandy Rock, But where I work.......needless to say I am skeptical of the good nature of the locals. Its gotta be bolted but also easy enough for me to remove when I need the extra space. (its a 6ft bed)

[enlpck]

Unfortunately, you may not be able to avoid something you don't want to do when security is a concern. But, more detail on mine:

It has been through several trucks, and with the current one, I needed to be able to get it in and out several times a year without damage. So, instead of mounting across the rails, I just set it long way in the bed. Added benefit is longer items fir easily beside it without hanging off the gate. Drawback it flat items won't slip underneath. Win a little, lose a little.

To hold it in, I made loops that bolt to the bottom of the wings that normally sit on the rail. The loops are a couple inches in diameter, made from 1" (maybe 7/8. it was from the scrap pile), and the bolt heads are tacked to the plate. There is a plate inside that is the same size as on the outside to back up the nuts and limit the risk of tearing trough the aluminum. The box gets a single ratchet strap from one bed bottom tie, through both loops to another bed bottom tie, so the strap pulls down and back into the side of the bed. It DOES NOT move. Also used a ton of sealant inside and outside under the plates due to the swiss cheese that had been drilled in for the previous trucks.

In nasty areas, the spare lock cable for my motorcycle goes through the loop on the cab end (not a lot of access to get in there and cut it easily) and the bed tiedown, which is deep enough to be difficult to get to. Makes sure that it is easier to break open than to take the whole box.

All this required was two accessible tiedown points, one of which is protected enough to use as a lockdown point.

[arcdawg]

^ thanks.

I have a few ideas but I have a feeling that I will have to cut the bedliner. (not happy about that but) It really has to be secured and also easy to remove when needed.

I went to T.S.C. and in their installation kits they provide double sided tape :eek:. I guess enough of it would actually work but....I dont know if I would want to chance it.

[Big_man_tim]

I have my box mounted by bolting a length of chain to each side of the box and then tacking the nuts on the inside so it can't be undone and then use 2 padlocks to lock the chains to the cleats that are in the lower corners of the box leaving the stake pockets empty and and keeping it clean looking and it is still easy to remove if needed

[jbschoppers]

you know out here in the Marine Corps we would just use lots and lots of parachute cord to tie it down.....ha.... just kidding i have been thinking about it and i think that you might have to drill into the bed and mount something up near the cab side of the bed for you to mount the tool box into that way you could remove it and you would not have anything on the floor portion....

[fatfrank]

I just used self tapping screws and screwed down the tool box to the floor of the bed from the inside of the tool box. I lived in Houston at the time and it didn't get stolen. Took about 10 seconds to remove the screws with an electric drill when needed.

[dmk]

They used to also have clamp style mounts. You clamp it to the rails, and bolt to the tool box, not supposed to need drilling into the bed.

http://www.dawsbetterbuilt.com/bbt/griprite_tbmount.html

Not sure how to make it a quick link. I've never used one, but think I have seen them lately at walmart & advance autoparts. Think they run about $30. Might be worth looking into.

Good luck.

[arcdawg]

well as for now I found a really nice rubbermaid tote (heavy duty) and I can fit all my stuff in it and throw it inside the truck when I need to. Its not perfect but it will do the job.

Thanks for all the ideas though. Once it gets warmer I plan on pulling out the bedliner and doing a spray in liner and I will mount the tool box then.

Dawg -

[whateg0]

I always figured the best way to deal with a plastic bedliner was to remove it anyway. When I bought my truck it had one in it. I pulled it out after getting tired of everything sliding all over the place. I found about 1/2 the bed full of sand and crud that had accumulated and gotten stuck between the liner and the bed. Since then, I've never really thought too highly of them.

Dave