The 9 Different Types of Truck Toolboxes (by Design)
I love my pickup.
I just bought my first pickup truck 9 months ago. I needed one to haul stuff which is pretty much the main reason to buy one. And haul stuff I do. I haul all kinds of things in it.
The only downside is I get asked to help people haul their stuff which is fine. It’s a big favor to them that’s not a big deal for me because I have the truck.
When it comes to hauling stuff, there are some pretty sweet ways to make it easier to do so. One option is the truck toolbox.
As with pretty much everything these days, there are many different types of truck toolboxes to choose from. This article breaks down your options.
Truck Toolbox Designs and Styles
The main distinctions among truck boxes is the design, style and placement in the bed. Below are your main options.
Saddle Box / Crossover / Cross-Bed
Probably the saddle box style is the most popular. It offers plenty of storage but doesn’t take up much of the bed. It straddles the bed-width as follows:
This style is also called a crossover or cross-bed toolbox. It’s a space-saving storage option. Notice how it doesn’t take up much space in the bed and is elevated leaving some clearance underneath.
The regular saddle box lid tilts upward toward the cab.
Gull-Wing Saddle Box
The Gull-Wing saddle box is the same toolbox design but it opens up tilting toward the center so you can access tools from the side of the truck. Check it out:
Tonneau Mate Box
The Tonneau Mate Box is designed so that you can have the saddle-box design and a tonneau at the same time. The box fits lower so it doesn’t impede the tonneau. Check it out:
Wheel Well Toolbox (aka Porkchop Box)
The wheel design is also space-saving in that it’s designed to fit around the wheel well providing storage in a location that’s already not very space-efficient.
Check it out:
Naturally, when buying this type of toolbox, make sure you’re getting one or two. Not all are sold in pairs. Maybe you only want one. The point is to read the fine print.
Trailer Tongue Box
Not technically a truck box. It’s designed to fit on the tongue of trailers which is pretty smart because that’s wasted space. Check it out:
Side-Mount Boxes
Side-mount boxes are just as they sound – they mount on the side of the truck. Check it out:
The example above are fairly tall. You can find shorter options. They can be adjusted in location to accomdate a saddle box.
Fifth Wheel Box
If you haul a fifth-wheel trailer, you’ll need a design adjustment for any crossbed box. Fortunately, you can buy them easily. Here’s an example from HomeDepot.com.
Truck Bed Systems/Kits
Truck bed systems are large storage organizers that take up the entire truck with a surface on top offering more storage. The storage compartments typically pull out like long, narrow drawers. Check it out:
Truck Chest
The truck chest is just that… a big, secure chest for storage. It can be placed anywhere in the bed of the truck which means it’s also fairly easy to remove if you don’t need it. Check it out:
By Material
Truck boxes come in 3 main materials:
- Aluminum: Light, secure and strong.
- Steel (including diamond plate design): Strong and secure.
- Poly (tough plastic): Lighter and tough but not as tough or as secure as aluminum or steel. Not a whole lot cheaper either.
BTW, what is diamond plate design for truck boxes?
It’s that diamond stamp texture in steel. Check it out:
How to choose a truck toolbox?
One suggestion is to use your truck for a while to get a sense of what you typically haul and what you put in the back. If you work a job with tools, get a sense of what you need to bring with you and that you want to store in a truck box instead of a portable toolbox.
Once you get a sense, deciding is a lot easier. These things aren’t cheap.
If still uncertain, a saddle box will probably do the job. It’s by far the most popular since it can store quite a bit but doesn’t take up all that much space.
It’s unlikely you’ll need a full truck bed storage system. These look great and are great if you have a ton of stuff to store securely but it does take up a lot of truck bed space.
What about the wheel-well box? I’m not really a fan just because it doesn’t store all that much. It’s not totally useless but it’s not for me.
Do you have a tonneau cover? If so, that will restrict your options considerably. I have a tonneau cover which I love because it keeps my stuff dry and secure. My MO is a cargo boxe with a tonneau cover. But then I don’t work a job with a large set of tools so I don’t require secure and convenient tool storage as much as other folks.
The best thing to do is use your truck for a bit to see how you use it, what you haul and what you need. At that point it’s probably pretty easy to decide on the design that’s best for you.
Should you get a truck box?
If you’re reading this article, you’ve probably settled on buying a toolbox for your truck but it’s worth asking yourself. Not only do they cost a few hundred bucks but they take up space in your truck.
Seriously, it’s not inconceivable that you buy one, install it (so that it’s not easy to remove) and then you need to haul something that requires more space than you now have. I can totally see that happening.
Admittedly, I have a pile of loose crap in my truck bed that would benefit from a storage box. Notably, sporting equipment and balls of all types.
And then again, if you buy one and it’s not right for you it’s not like buying the wrong house, truck or boat. You’ll get over it. Maybe it’s worth trying a few different designs.
