please recommend a tool box

[brother rat]

I'm going to be picking up my Ranger in a week or so.
The first thing I want to do is put a tool box in the bed.
Can you recommend any brands (DeeZee, Delta, etc.)? And can you recommend any stores to purchase from?
Thanks.

 

[86MUDRCJ]

Personally I like the all metal ones, not diamond plate. It's too bling bling for me. Delta is a good box never had any problems with them.Also the plastic ones are pointless because after time they tend to sag. Hope this helps.

 

[85broncduece]

X2 NO PLASTIC BOXES, I did a job in LA. CA. a few years back and someone cut threw it with a razor and cleaned me out. Deltas are exelent boxes but avoid the boxes with left/right access get a full length door, Ive had issues with the plastic buttons, still not a bad box, but bang the latch to hard and its a pita to open. The husky/kobalt same box 2 different stores atleast the last couple i bought from either were almost identical. but are "blingy" but decent, I think auto parts stores carry about the same chinese made boxes as depot and lowes. If you want alot of lockable storage for the bed look into a knac or is it knnac i cant remember right off but they make tuff a$$ boxes. And congratts on the ranger purchase.

 

[hank857]

contico, delta make good boxes. I got mine used were from the local cable outfit it is a 2 door, but it has hinge pull type of latches not the plastic referred to above. The low price ones are pretty flimsey it looks like and those are the ones from lowes about $150 or so. the better ones all are about a $100 more. The only thing I dont like about the one piece tops are there are no drawers to keep little things in and everything eventually goes to the bottom. My son has a 1 pc door on his f150 and loves it. I am going to put mine back in the bed and then take the fiberglass cover I have and cut it so I will have both. Just did that on my f350 and it looks pretty fair. still have some fine tuning to do, but have to pull the bed this weekend for fuell filler hose and new fuel pump before I can do anything more to the ranger.

 

[Captain Ledd]

I have a UWS TBD-60 (I'm pretty sure). It's the deep version that goes to nearly the bed floor, other models don't do that. When I bought mine maybe a year or two ago they were made in the USA and all aluminum. Here's a pic when I got it installed.

*edit: Mine also has a little tray that slides on the top part, and some spots on the overhang of the bedrail that can hold some smaller things, a pair of pliers and some other stuff hangs out there on mine. I did have a kinda bent lid when I first got it, it stuck and wouldn't open smoothly, but a good push from the opposite side that was sticking and the problem has since been solved. I like it, I'm glad I bought it even if it was $$$.

Here's a link on E-trailer, preeeety sure this is my model, but I'd have to measure.
http://www.etrailer.com/Toolbox/ford/Ranger/2011/UWS00010.html?vehicleid=20111002165

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

My truck came with a Contico, only one latch worked and they would never answer my email requests about what is available for latches... probably been 10 years ago or better by now.

Eventually the one latch wouldn't stay latched and it kept coming open on me, dumped it for a rollbar with a loose plastic box nestled inside my rollbar secured by a cable. If they wanted it they could cut the cable, an aluminum box is far from a safe especially with the advent of cordless sawzalls.

I kinda prefer the diamond tread just because it breaks it up more, it won't show dents like flat panels.

+1 to plastic boxes that are not supported in the center sagging.

 

[6.2]

where i live theres no problem with theft, so i just got an actionpacker, and used self tapping screws to attach it to the bed. stupid cheap, and works great. lockable to.

 

[4.0B2]

I like the "better" or "best" boxes from Tractor Supply.. Pretty much any basic box from autozone, lowe's, home depot, TSC are all gonna be decent boxes.

the "good" boxes from TSC are kinda cheaply made tho.. you get what you pay for.

 

[Captain Ledd]

an aluminum box is far from a safe especially with the advent of cordless sawzalls.

I live in Michigan, rust is a large issue. Besides, with the high end cordless tools, hardly anything is safe. A 3/8" drill bit or so through the lock, the Sawsalls and cutters can cut anything that's gonna be found on a toolbox, steel or otherwise.

 

[brother rat]

thanks for the advice fellas.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I live in Michigan, rust is a large issue. Besides, with the high end cordless tools, hardly anything is safe. A 3/8" drill bit or so through the lock, the Sawsalls and cutters can cut anything that's gonna be found on a toolbox, steel or otherwise.

I was more or less trying to say that if they want it they are going to get it, I didn't even think of the steel boxes.