over the rail tool box

teamjnz · December 30, 2004

Hi Friends

I hope to be getting a spray in bed liner tomorrow morning (Arma Coating) and a over the rail tool box. I would like some input about toolboxes and installations. I have read the rails are kinda thin and can bend with the J hooks. Also have read that drilling the rails for the install isn't good because of rust. Have also read a post about the bed welds coming apart with an over the rail toolbox That would suck.. To much weight probably.

What brand of box do you have and how is it installed?

Another comments or suggestions would be appreciated

teamjnz

mcreyaufmiller · December 30, 2004

When you are looking at boxes, do not be afraid to pay the extra for a good box. The cheap ones will break and have problems, saving money on this purchase will not help in the future.

teamjnz · December 30, 2004

When you are looking at boxes, do not be afraid to pay the extra for a good box. The cheap ones will break and have problems, saving money on this purchase will not help in the future.

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Tommorrow morning when I'm getting the spray in liner. He named off a few brands. I remember him mentioning Better Built SEC. I looked at them online and they seem good, but I don't recall the material thickness. I liked the black powder coated one better than the bright aluminum finish.

teamjnz

mcreyaufmiller · December 30, 2004

Look at the latch bar on the inside of the box. If it is held on with a thin piece of metal and self tapping screws, run! Look for a latch that has a solid mounting. If the latch is cheap, the rest of the box will be as well.

teamjnz · December 30, 2004

Look at the latch bar on the inside of the box. If it is held on with a thin piece of metal and self tapping screws, run! Look for a latch that has a solid mounting. If the latch is cheap, the rest of the box will be as well.

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I will be looking..

teamjnz

1st new GMC · December 31, 2004

I have a black powder coated aluminum tool box that I bought new a few years ago. It was first installed on my dodge Ram, then when I bought the GMC last month, I swapped it over to the new truck.

I bought it at Lowes (home store) It is a Delta brand. Pretty decent quality. The latches are rivited in, the latching mechanism seems to work very well. I mounted it used 5/16" dia. "J" bolts, and some strips of 3/16" thick black urethane foam strips, so the diamond plate texture wouldn't dig into the paint. It works well. I have at least 150#'s of stuff in the box.

I've seen a nylon glass type of mounting block for mounting a tool box that seems like it would work very well. Another idea to protect the tops of the bed would be to use a bed cap, then set the tool box on top of that. You'd never have to worry about the toolbox damaging the bed. I might do that to my GMC some time in the near future.

There's lots of options. Just take your time and look at everything and decide for yourself.

JamesB · December 31, 2004

I have Better Built low profile black over the rail tool box on my '02 Z71 and love it...

you can find a pic of it here: http://www.bennett-family.com/pics/trucks/DSCN0177.JPG

James.

Chris97K1500 · December 31, 2004

I love my Better built over the rail tool box. One of the easiest ways to tell how good it is. If you try to shut it and the side you push down on is the only one to catch and lock, it's a thin box. Both sides should shut and lock at the same time. Chris

Roostman · December 31, 2004

Ive put several boxes on a several of my previous trucks, and never experienced any problems with beds coming apart. I only buy Weathergard and have been very happy with them. I prefer the "coffin" style (one big door) cause its easier to get big tools like hole hawgs and sawzalls into it. The downside is you pretty much have to get inside the bed to access them.

Halen5150 · January 4, 2005

I prefer a toolbox that sits down in the bed. I have a weatherguard coffin style in mine that I've had for two years now. I've had over-the-rail types before, and they're nice, but it's hard to see over the toolbox when backing up. The only over-the-rail type toolboxes I like are the ones that only come a couple of inches(about)high off the top of the rails. Spend the money and get a Rawson-Koenig or a Weatherguard(made by Knaack, I believe). I've had both , and I wouldn't use anything else. I've heard several cases of over the rail types causing the bed rails to crack.

weletchw · January 4, 2005

I had a United Welding Service over the rail toolbox on my 97 Z71 and have recently bought another for my 03. I found the UWS boxes to have thicker gague metal and better construction than any of the other boxes I looked at, particularly those at Lowes and Home Depot. I bought mine from Agri-Supply.

One mounting method that I have heard of, but not tried is using silicone. Put sveral beads on top of the bed rails and sit the toolbox on top of it. Supposedly this protects the bed and gives a good solid mount. It is also easy to remove in the future by sliding a piece of fishing line under the box. Never tried it, cant vouch for it, it just sounded like a novel idea. The box on my 97 was drilled into the bed rails by the previous owner and my new one is attached by J-hooks with some foam padding under the box. Both have worked fine.

Good luck.

Roostman · January 4, 2005

Another very high quality choice (about as safe and heavy duty as you can buy) would be a McWelco box. They dont come cheap though and arent available through many outlets, but money cant buy a better box.

As for cracking bed rails, I suppose it depends on which truck and model/year etc. On my 96 3/4 ton Silverado, I had my "coffin" loaded to the gills with power and hand tools, day in and day out, and never had a problem. One thing to note is the initial empty weight of the toolbox, steel are obviously gonna tax the weight issue a lot more than aluminum.

teamjnz · January 7, 2005

I bought one.. Its a Delta Pro with push button lid release on the sides. I bought it new for $259.00 + tax. I received a $50.00 discount since 1 of the 4 weld for the left side gas shock is no good. The other 3 are good.

teamjnz

Mighty HD · January 7, 2005

You can't beat a UWS. I paid around $250 I think for my black box. Pics are in my sig.

The lid is very heavy...I can stand on it without any problems. Also, the actual metal is thicker than most. As compared to my work truck's Lowes Kobalt---it's night and day.

weletchw · January 7, 2005

Yeah my UWS sees alot of tailgating action and it takes it all in stride. It gets sat on and stood on quite a bit. One time it even got cleaned out and used as a beer cooler. I think it held about 13 cases plus ice without even straining. (why we didnt just get a keg, I dont know) The only thing i dont like about my blue series UWS is the latch. I prefer the push button like teamjnz has on his Delta. I think it makes for easier one handed opening. UWS does put a push button on their red series, but it was a little too deep for my taste. I like to have a little room under the box to stick stuff and the red series went all the way to the floor.