Projects Truck bed tool box?

After putting over 2000 miles on the truck in the past 6 months or so I have realized that I am really lacking a secure place to keep my tools so I'm considering building a box that I can bolt in the bed. Anyone have any clever solutions to share?

I don't want it to sit higher than the bed rails and nothing that looks too modern but I'm open to any suggestions.

 

Howz about an army surplus Ammo Box Bolted down with a padlock on it? Available in a number of sizes, and they are watertight.....

James

 

That's a good idea, I was also considering something footlocker sized. It'd need to hold some tools and a bottle jack. Also maybe a small cooler and a bag with clothes for overnight trips.

 

What kind of truck is it? HRP

 

I second the army footlocker. That is what I am planing on or a military shipping crate the size of a footlocker. I have been looking for some and ironically they are a little difficult to find locally

 

I've seen numerous trucks that hinge the bed floor,or a portion of it up to reveal storage.
Aside from the driveshaft or dual exhaust,a nice long tray or box could be built in there to hold a floor jack,quarts of oil,tools,canopy.....
Just a thought?

 

HRP, 46 chevy



So there is really no space in the cab for extra stuff. The idea for under the bed would be trick but my gas tank is back in the end and I don't think I could steal enough space to make it worthwhile between the frame and the driveshaft.

 

U sure about that?

 

I just don't want my clubmates stealing my beers, that's the whole reason for this.

They'll do it too.

 

I've got an idea, I'll post my progress. I'm pretty sure it's going to be neat.

 

Ammo can fits almost anywhere, enough space for a bottle jack, spare inner-tube, tools, and etc.

It helps to have a detachable split-rim spare.

 

that's pretty nifty

 

My solution to storage space was to use a trunk that I found in a building I was cleaning out,,turned out to be a trunk that her dad had on a the back of a 1932 Chevy coupe,,works great in the bed of a '32 Ford pickup.HRP

 

I'm fabricating my own bed. The box built into the front will hold 3 ammo boxes, 5 Qts of oil, and a wheel chock, with a little room left over for rags, flairs and such. The ends will be covered by the bed sides, which I'm working on now.

 

I realize that this isn't exactly what you were thinking, but how about a "tonneau cover" for the bed?

I don't know that a real footlocker would hold up very well in the weather where you live. Maybe build something you can lock in metal that looks like a steamer trunk but which has a weather tight lid seal? And perhaps come up with some way to secure it to the floor of the truck bed to keep it from developing legs, if you know what I mean.

 

Here is mine.

 

great suggestions and examples, got the wheels turning

 

Yes, excellent, send that one to me! How about angle iron frame, wood sides and overhanging top? You could also incorporate a pneumatic opener.

 

My buddy Sam built this for me,its not completly water tight but works.

 

that's a nice one!

 

I just don't want my clubmates stealing my beers, that's the whole reason for this.

They'll do it too.
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You sure you want to do that? Your clubmates read the H.A.M.B. and will know your secrets.

 

Awesome, keep these coming!

 

Buy Milwaukee's Best Premium for your beer scorin' buds,it's inexpensive and you can second level the good beer for yourself?

 

have you got any space under the seat riser? maybe slot a battery box under the floor, that you can access from inside?

i remember seeing an article on the Powell Pickup and they had a sliding tube built into the bedside (of course, that was almost a toolbox body in itself) for fishing rods, pruning hooks, etc?

do you have a spare tire mounted under the bed? i saw a circular toolbox somewhere, made to sit inside the spare wheel, sealed air and water tight; it would have to be for an external hanger rig and not the chain crane type...

a .50 cal ammo box would be large enough for a good set of wrenches and sockets, some gloves, and maybe spare radiator hoses and fanbelt.....

 

How about an old cooler/ice box? That's what I've been using for some tools and cleaning supplies.

 

I'm going to do a steamer trunk type box, I'll get a plastic tote and put inside to keep water out.

 

Footlocker idea is cool. Our Diamond T project has polished diamond plate interior bed panels. We bought a polished aluminum locker/tool box on sale at Tractor Supply for half price that somebody had jimmied the lock on. It fits PERFECTLY in the bed, the same height as the bed sides, half an inch clearance on each side, I couldn't have designed one that fit or looked better. Of course, it'd look goofy if I hadn't done the diamont plate thing, but, they make steel ones too!

 

A hidden box like NealinCa's roadster p/u, but a tool box instead of seats?

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=411646&page=2

Chris

 

I was worried that the second picture would show a tiny Dracula coming out of that tool box.