How to Mount a Truck Bed Tool Box
While mounting the toolbox into the bed of your pickup isn't difficult, it is a bit more involved than just setting it there and going. Different bed boxes mount differently sometimes, but they all have the same basic principles. Some may require drilling into the bed rails, and some use a component called a J-bolt to simply clamp the box to the rails. In either situation, only simple hand tools (and a drill, for regular bolt-mounted boxes) are necessary.
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Things You'll Need
- Bolts or J-bolts
- Drill (for non J-bolt mounted boxes)
- Bed rail pad
- Wrench set
Instructions
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1
Place adhesive truck bed rail protector tape on the rails where the toolbox will reside. While this step is optional, it is highly recommended and will protect the paint underneath the toolbox, and also provide some cushion for both the box and the rails.
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2
Measure the area just behind the cab of the truck against the toolbox to see where the holes will require drilling, if the box mounts in this manner. Take your time with this step, because you want those holes lining up in the very center of the bed rails for maximum strength. Follow the old adage that says to measure twice, drill once.
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3
Drill the holes in both the box and the bed rails (if the box mounts in this manner). One trick is to place the box in the bed where it will be mounted, and drill the holes through both the toolbox and the bed rails at the same time to ensure they line up. Simply open the lid or lids of the box, and drill the holes straight through. Be sure to open the lid(s) of the box all the way to check that there is no interference with the cab of the truck.
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Mount the box. If the box uses the above-mentioned drilling technique for mounting, simply place the bolts through the holes and thread the nut tightly underneath the bed rails. Using lock washers will ensure that the nuts do not become loose over time, causing the box to shift. If the tool box uses J-bolts to mount them, slide the J-bolts through the factory pre-drilled holes and then tighten the nut down on the inside of the box. Make sure that the curved part of the J-hook is clamped correctly onto the underneath of the bed rails. Use lock washers for this process, as well.
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Tips & Warnings
Steel boxes can be quite heavy, and may require two people to lift into the bed.
