Truck Toolbox, Standard Wide or Extra Wide?

[scottkeen]

My tow vehicle is a 2007 Dodge Ram 3500 DRW long-bed.

I want to put a Weather Guard truck toolbox (chest style) that fits lower than the bed rails.

The standard chest toolbox is 19.25"H x 62"L x 20.5"W, 13.1 cu ft
The extra-wide chest toolbox is 19.25"H x 62"L x 27.5"W, 18.6 cu ft

The extra-wide will fit fine in my 8-foot long-bed with the 5th wheel Andersen hitch.

So my question is -- which one do you recommend?

I'm planning to full-time with my Montana next year. I want to put all my tools (cordless drills, saws, air compressors, parts bins, etc) in the secured toolbox. I'm leaning to the "bigger is better" extra-wide box, as long as it fits in the truck bed and clears the 5th wheel hitch, which it would.

We're only talking a 7" width difference between the standard and extra-wide, but that can make a difference between closing the tailgate or leaving it down if I have to haul something in the truck that's 6-feet long.

[RichR]

I think bigger is better- I have a aluminum box in mine-same brand as you mentioned. I have all sorts of good things in it.

[scottkeen]

Originally Posted by RichR

I think bigger is better- I have a aluminum box in mine-same brand as you mentioned. I have all sorts of good things in it.

Rich, are you happy with the Weather Guard toolbox brand? Does it seem pretty secure, relative to other boxes?

I want to go with "bigger is better", I'm just trying to think of any unforeseen issues, either with the truck or the 5th wheel, that will bite me after I get the extra-wide box.

The only negatives I can think of with the extra-wide 27" box are:

1. Unhitched from my RV, if I have to haul my motorcycle in the back of my truck for some reason, I won't be able to close the tailgate.
2. Unhitched from my RV, if I have to haul something 6-feet or longer, I won't be able to close the tailgate.
3. If for God-knows-why I downsize to a short-bed truck, the extra-wide box won't fit, the short-bed wheel wells will be in the way. This is a long-bed box only, afaik.
4. If I have to sell the box, I'm limiting my resale market to only long-bed truck owners.

The positive is that I can put all my tools, spare parts, parts bins, air compressors, jumper cables, fluid bottles, and everything else currently spread out over 4 large 27-gallon plastic totes thrown in the back of my truck all into the extra-wide truck box, and reclaim the back 2/3 of my truck bed again. That's a big deal.

My plastic totes are 3.6 cu ft (27 gallons) x 4 totes = 14.4 cu ft
The extra wide toolbox is 18.6 cu ft

The extra-wide toolbox seems like a no-brainer for me, but I'm just trying to think of any reason I would not want to get the extra-wide.


BTW, Rakuten with Ebates cashback are having a 20% cashback on everything, not sure for how long. Weather Guard truck toolboxes are not cheap -- the extra-wide 18.6 cu ft chest is $821, so the cashback would be $164. Pretty significant. The box is sold by seller "Zoro" on Rakuten, and I asked Ebates customer service if I would get the 20% cashback if I ordered from seller Zoro on Rakuten, and they said yes.

[RichR]

My truck is a 1999 Ford F-350, the box has been in since it was new. Yes I am very pleased with the box, looks like new after all these years. I think I have the same box in a steel in my '77 F-150, that's heavy and would not recommend a steel box.But a good brand name unit.

[twindman]

I have the smaller box. The only problem I have is water somehow gets inside. I can not see how rain on top would get in since the lid overlaps the sides so the water would have to go 'up' a little bit.
The only other way is the holes in the bottom where I drilled to use self taping bolts.
Anyway the lock still works and mine is around 9-10 years old.

[MidMOTraveler]

I had a small maintenance company for 25 years. Ran 9’ dually service bed trucks loaded full.
Downsizing tools was difficult to say the least.
Finally I got real serious and looked at what could be needed realistically.
Ended up with a 4’ chest box and put the air compressor in pass thru. Champion generator and tool box fit across bed.
I am taking being retired seriously !