Truck bed toolboxes are a great way to keep your gear safe, secure, and out of the weather on the go. We rank major toolbox producing brands worst to best.
As an experienced mechanic, I know the value of a good place to store those tools in a garage. As a person who’s willing to help out a friend, I know the value of having a way to carry those tools around. A truck bed toolbox is a great option, not only for mobile mechanics but also for contractors, tradespeople, and folks who just enjoy the outdoors. Rather than tossing a backpack or duffel bag in your truck bed, a truck bed toolbox provides security, protection, and organization for your stuff in a semi-permanent storage solution.
Truck bed toolboxes are available in various places, from Amazon to big box stores to specialty dealers. Most are made from aluminum, steel, or high-impact plastics, and they come in an array of shapes and sizes. How to pick one depends on what you’ll be using it for and what features are essential to your needs. Things like weatherproofing, locking options, and fitment are generally some of the more important factors.
Some brands are better than others in providing those elements. While SlashGear has covered portable toolboxes, which are great for moving tools from place to place, this article will rank every major truck bed toolbox brand. To do that, we’ll be using sales data, recommendations from pros and everyday users, and reviews from trusted sources.
Keep in mind that even the lowest-ranked truck bed toolboxes on this list are still in the top ten, which is impressive given the dozens of manufacturers and dealers out there.Craftsman
The venerable Craftsman brand makes good tools and good truck toolboxes to store them in. The brand has been around for nearly a hundred years, and while it has changed hands a few times and tool quality has fluctuated in that time, Craftsman is still best known for its reasonable prices and impressive warranties, even on new lines like its Overdrive mechanics‘ tools.
All five of Craftsman’s boxes are aluminum, and while there’s not a ton of variety between them, they get the job done at a decent price. Side mount and three sizes of crossover tool boxes are available in both bright silver and black. For the uninitiated, side mount boxes secure lengthwise to the top of your pickup’s bed, while a crossover box hangs across the bed, usually near the cab. Diamond plating, pneumatic lid supporters, and push-button releases are included on most of Craftsman’s boxes, and, like most other Craftsman products, they’re available in-store or online at Lowes.
Some users complain that the aluminum used in Craftsman truck toolboxes is too thin, but for an entry-level or budget-priced box, this should be expected. Other frequently mentioned issues among owners of Craftsman truck toolboxes include poor weatherproofing seals that allow water into the box, undependable latches, and shipping damage. These problems are by no means deal-breakers, especially when you consider that pros recommend swapping out the locks and latches on any truck toolbox after purchase, but they are things to think about when choosing a toolbox brand.Buyers Products Company
Buyers Products Company, founded in 1946 as a regional truck part distributor, is now a leading manufacturer of truck, trailer, and plow equipment. It’s a company with a massive catalog — in fact, a recent expansion of Buyers Products‘ Ohio distribution center was required after the company’s business grew beyond the capabilities of its original warehouse.
Buyers Products Company makes and distributes a ton of truck-related gear, from accessories like truck bed toolboxes, lighting, electrical upgrades, and towing accessories to more heavy-duty stuff for larger vehicles, including cargo controls, tarp systems, snow plows, dump inserts, and salt spreaders. Buyers Products Company manufactures all of its truck, trailer, snow, and ice equipment in the United States. The company’s accessories are popular due to low prices and good construction.
Buyers Products Company makes dozens of toolboxes, from simple open-top trays to two-tier contractor topsider boxes. Buyers Products Company truck bed toolboxes and other equipment are available from local distributors, but it also has a large storefront on Amazon. In fact, three of Amazon’s top fifteen best-selling truck toolboxes are made by this brand. However, it’s worth noting that common complaints include poorly aligned latches and faulty waterproofing on these toolboxes. It may not be as well-known a name as some of the other manufacturers on our list, but Buyers Products Company produces a wide variety of boxes — an almost overwhelming variety, to be honest — earning it a spot on our ranking. Better Built
Founded in 1989, Better Built is a manufacturer of truck bed tool boxes, jobsite storage solutions, and transfer tanks that have grown in popularity, thanks in part to its commitment to providing innovative products for the value-conscious customer. The company was acquired by ProDriven Global Brands (better known under its former name of Werner, Inc.) in 2019, but Better Built maintained its separate brand name in the acquisition.
Better Built steel and aluminum truck toolboxes are available in a good variety of styles, from crossovers to tongue boxes, allowing truck owners to customize their storage options while still providing for as much bed storage as they need. Despite its budget-friendly reputation, many of its boxes include features like full seal weather stripping to protect your cordless drills and other power tools from the elements, gas springs to help lift the box lid while keeping one hand on that coffee mug, and low profile design to provide better visibility when looking back from the driver’s seat.
