Aftermarket Tool Boxes

Pot Hole · 02-07-2005, 07:19 AM

I'm curious if any of you have purchased an aftermarket took box for your Titan? I have some misgivings about the factory box (sits up to high and blocks tailgate view - not to mention pricey), so I'm looking for a low-profile, narrow width aftermarket box that won't take up much of my already limited bed space. Ideally, I would like to find a box that could be attached via my Util-Track system, but that may be asking for a bit to much.

Challenger makes a narrow, low profile tool box that fits most full sized trucks, however, they don't appear to have one designed to fit the Titan as of yet. Have any of you had any luck with aftermarket boxes that fit the above criteria that you would consider sharing?

bestatchess · 02-07-2005, 07:40 AM

I am interested also. I need one as described above that will fit in a crew cab and not obstruct the side rails as I have an ARE Z shell. I measured a few at local stores, but they either go over the side rails or are too big and interfere with the wheel wells.

I think with any box that will fit and overlie the utilitrack rails, it is a simple matter to drill holes in the floor of the box and bolt from inside the box to the utiltrack with unistrut spring nuts or the cone nuts from Home Depot.

Pot Hole · 02-07-2005, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bestatchess

I think with any box that will fit and overlie the utilitrack rails, it is a simple matter to drill holes in the floor of the box and bolt from inside the box to the utiltrack with unistrut spring nuts or the cone nuts from Home Depot.

Bestatchess,

I'm familiar with the spring nuts, but I haven't heard of the cone nuts from HD before. Of the two you mentioned, which do you like better?

Oh yeah, don't you mean the side of the tool box instead of the floor or are you referring to mounting a tool box or chest to the Util-Track on the bed floor instead of the side rails?

bestatchess · 02-07-2005, 08:56 AM

I think you could mount to any of the utilitrack rails you could get access to.

Here are the cone nuts:

Utilitrack Yakima bicycle mount

I haven't used either the cone nuts or the spring nuts, but I don't see that there would be much difference.

Pot Hole · 02-07-2005, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bestatchess

I think you could mount to any of the utilitrack rails you could get access to.

I agree. Its just that most sidewall supported tool boxes typically don't reach all the way to the floor. That's why I thought you might be referring to drilling holes in the side of the box rather than the floor.

Oh yeah, thanks a bunch for the cone nut link. I didn't remember seeing this particular thread, hence my ignorance on the subject. Now that I know all about cone nuts, I believe I will pick me up a few just to have around when I'm looking to attach something to my track rails.

Now if you and I could just find the tool box we're looking for....

sandogtitan · 02-07-2005, 08:59 PM

Gents,

I am currently in the process of putting an aftermarket Delta Pro box into my utili-trac. I have actually come up with a great idea. If you take the stock stop blocks and have them shaved down about a 1/2" then you can use them to bolt it to the utili-trac. I'll try to finish it this week so I can get some pictures for you guys.

04Chief · 02-07-2005, 10:06 PM

DeeZee.com. They have several boxes that will fit in our trucks. You will have to drill the box to secure it but what's a little shade tree customizing between friends.

Pot Hole · 02-08-2005, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandogtitan

Gents,
I am currently in the process of putting an aftermarket Delta Pro box into my utili-trac. I have actually come up with a great idea. If you take the stock stop blocks and have them shaved down about a 1/2" then you can use them to bolt it to the utili-trac. I'll try to finish it this week so I can get some pictures for you guys.

SDT,

Would you be so kind as to tell me what model of Delta box you are installing? I'm curious if it is a low-profile box or a standard design and if it is a single lid or double lid?

Chief,

I'll check out the DeeZee web site today and see what they have.

By the way, have ya'll finished up with duck season out there? How'd you do?

sandogtitan · 02-08-2005, 12:40 PM

Alright, after much measuring and thinking. I have come up with an idea. (this is only for hard mounting the tool box to the rails. If you want to use a delta tool box the bottom width is 60" (all full size models) and the bed rails are about 61" so if you take the little rail stops that Nissan has (the ones with the 3/8 bolt on top of it) take it to a machinist and have it shaved down 1/2" then use four of them strategically placed so the stops sit correctly in the rail and bolt it down.
I have now decided to use a Better Built tool box, just because of it's measurements it base width is 58" and I am having four 1/2" shim blocks made and I will just stick the shim blocks in the mix and bolt it down. I should have it done in a week or so, I'll try to post pics when it's finished.
This is what your final "stack up should be" from inside to rail is as follows: bolt w/washer, tool box, aluminum blocks w/shim if needed, and then rail nut. I hope that made sense, if not just wait for the photos.

04Chief · 02-08-2005, 02:04 PM

Sorry but i've never been duck hunting. I did kill 2 deer in 04 and I'm chompin at the bit
for spring turkey season. I've got a box that sits down in the bed, between the wheel wells. I just drilled through the bottom of the bed sprayed primer from under the truck and siliconed around the bolts to prevent rust. My box is a single lid. They have camo patterned boxes that you can order but I got impatient and just took what the store had in stock. I got mine at Tractor Supply Co. for less than $100.00.

Pot Hole · 02-09-2005, 05:14 AM

Sanddog,

What is the width of the box you're installing? Reason I ask is that I'm looking for a narrow width box that won't take up much bed space. I checked DeeZee and Delta Pro and neither company had a box that was less than 20" wide. They did have the low-profile box, but it was the same width as the regular took boxes. I'll be waiting on the pics of your installation....

04Chief,

I had considerd a floor mounted tool box at one time myself, however, I was concerned about being able to reach into the middle of the box from over the bed rails. Now I'm a pretty tall fellow, however, trying to reach over and pick up a box of shotgun shells that happened to be located in the middle of my floor mounted took box seemed kinda tough. Is that the case with yours?

Oh yeah, I always heard it was unamerican to live in AR and not hunt ducks!

sandogtitan · 02-09-2005, 09:01 AM

The base of my box is 17"x58" and the top is 20"x70" and it still has a lot of room below it for any other stuff I need to carry, I'm almost done with the install I just got the spacer blocks yesterday, and I have to go get longer bolts today and I should be able to finish it this week sometime. I originally wanted to sell my bed extender but it sits under the lip of the box beautifully so I'm gonna keep it now. FYI: total cost to date for the box and intall is $300 so I've actually saved about $250 and it's gonna look good. Once I figure it out and get it completely intalled I'll giv you measurements as well.

Pot Hole · 02-09-2005, 09:42 AM

This is pretty much what I'm looking for except that Challenger doesn't make a box that will fit the Titan or at least I can't seemed to find one. I'm gonna email them and see what they say.

Pot Hole · 02-12-2005, 06:21 PM

Well, the folks that make Challenger tool boxes said that they didn't currently have a box that would fit the Titan.

I guess I'll just have to keep looking....

Bayou Titan · 02-12-2005, 07:51 PM

The best way to see if a box fits is to measure it. When I bought my UWS box there wasn't one "made" for the Titan with Utili tracks but the one they make for the Tundra fits perfectly.