A good tool box keeps your gear locked, dry and organized without taking over the whole bed. The right style depends on what you carry, how much bed space you need, and whether you also want a tonneau cover.
Crossover tool boxes
Crossover boxes, also called saddle or cross-bed boxes, sit on the bed rails right behind the cab. The lid opens from either side of the truck, and the bed floor stays open underneath.
- Best for: everyday tools and gear you grab from the side of the truck
- Watch for: height. A low-profile box blocks less of the rear window.
- Examples: UWS crossover boxes, many of them built for specific trucks, and the steel Vector 7182 cross-cab box, which holds more than 13 cubic feet.
Chest tool boxes
Chest boxes, also called utility chests, sit on the bed floor, usually against the front wall of the bed. They hold a lot and do not block your rear window.
- Best for: bulky tools and gear you do not need every hour
- Watch for: reaching them. You get in from the tailgate or by climbing into the bed.
- Shop: utility chest boxes
Side mount and topside tool boxes
These long, narrow boxes run along one or both bed rails and open toward the middle of the bed. The center of the bed stays open for cargo.
- Best for: contractors who carry long tools and still haul materials
- Shop: side mount and topside tool boxes
Underbody tool boxes
Underbody boxes mount under a flatbed or service body, usually between the cab and the rear wheels. They add storage without using any deck space.
- Best for: flatbed and dually work trucks
- Shop: underbody tool boxes
Truck bed drawer systems
A drawer system like DECKED sits on the bed floor with two long drawers that slide out at the tailgate. The flat deck on top still holds cargo, and it works under most tonneau covers and truck caps.
- Best for: keeping everything organized under a cover, and hunters or crews with lots of small gear
- Watch for: it raises your load floor, so you lose some bed depth.
Aluminum or steel?
- Aluminum is lighter and will not rust, which matters with Minnesota road salt.
- Steel is heavier and very tough. Look for a good powder coat finish to fight rust.
- Finish: bright and diamond plate look classic, black matches most trucks, and white stays cooler in the sun.
Want a tonneau cover too?
A regular tonneau cover will not fit with a crossover box. ACCESS Tool Box Edition roll-up covers are made to fit behind a crossover box. Chest boxes and drawer systems that sit below the bed rails can often go under a regular cover, so measure the box height against your bed depth first.
Need fuel on the job site?
UWS transfer tank combos pair a tool box with a fuel transfer tank in one unit. See all transfer tanks too.
Before you buy
- Measure the inside width of your bed at the top of the rails.
- Check for factory rail caps, bed rail systems or a bed liner lip that changes the fit.
- Large boxes and tanks can ship by freight. Pickup at our Bemidji shop is always free.
Shop tool boxes
Browse every truck tool box and tool box accessory, or ask us. Fleets and contractors can also see our fleet and business page. Call Truck Covers MN at (218) 308-0045, Monday to Friday, 7:30 to 5.