bIf you are planning to install toolbox on your truck bed without drilling, then you need to follow a few steps to do it in a proper way. If your toolbox comes ready for installation with the needed materials and drilled holes, it will take a few hours (2-3 hrs) to fix everything to its right place. So, if you want to know how to install a truck bed tool box without drilling, then follow the below steps carefully to avoid any further hassles.
Toolboxes help protect truck beds from dents, damages, scratches, and rust caused by unstable cargos. They can hold your cargo and tools in place, preventing them from flying out. Let us discuss how to install toolboxes in your truck bed without drilling a single hole.
Table of Contents
Steps on How to Install a Truck Bed Tool Box without Drilling
Materials needed for installing toolbox:
Arrange the following materials before you start installation process of the toolboxes on your truck bed without drilling a single hole.
- The right toolbox for trucks
- Measuring tape
- Wrench or screwdriver
- Safety gloves
- The ideal screws
- Filling materials
- Aluminum J-Hooks
- Nuts, especially aluminum ones.
- Heavy-duty bolts
- Protective clothes
You can purchase specially designed for truck tool box installation from the biggest online shop amazon.com.
Get the Best Tool Box for Your Truck
After arranging all the tools and materials, you need to look for the best toolbox. Always make sure that the toolbox you buy can accommodate all the tools and equipments you’ve or you are planning to buy. The types of toolkits are available in different designs and they also vary as far as application is concerned.
Side toolboxes are specially made for getting installed along the truck’s bed length. These are suitable for longer tools. However, you can install the crossover toolboxes across the cargo bed’s length; they are ideal for bigger tools. And you can store smaller tools in the fifth-wheel toolboxes.
So, you need to choose the right size and types of truck toolboxes for your specific needs. We recommend using stainless steel toolboxes as they perform better and guaranteed longer shelf-life.
Select the place to Install the Toolbox
Next step would be to choose a convenient spot on your truck bed to install the toolbox. The installation process will depend on the toolkit you selected above. If you opted for a crossover toolbox, you’d have to install it across the cargo bed’s width.
For those who bought side toolboxes, you’d have to identify a convenient spot on your truck bed where you have to install the box lengthwise. If you picked a fifth-wheel toolbox, you’d have control over how and where to install the box, depending on personal likings.
Always make sure you pick a convenient location where the cross rails won’t be an obstacle and the box lid will open smoothly. This process will make things convenient and save a lot of time of yours.
Take Proper Measurements
During the installation process, make sure you are taking accurate measurements. Taking proper measurements of the toolbox and truck bed will help to gauge their compatibility. You need to use a tape measure to have accurate measurements of the toolbox’s height, length, and width.
Do not forget to measure the truck bed to know where the toolbox fits neatly, it can cause a lot of future hassles if you start doing the process without concrete measurements.
Mounting the Padding Materials
It may cause damage to the cargo bay while you install the toolbox on to your truck bed. Even if you take good care during the process, there are chances you damage the bottom and sides of the truck cargo. However, it does not look good if your truck bed has some dents and damage mars on it. That’s why you should install foam padding beneath and on the sides of the cargo bay before you start the mounting process.
You can use the toolbox measurements you got above to measure and cut the foam padding to size accordingly. Then fit the filling securely and accurately to the area you want to mount your truck bed toolbox. If your truck a bed features a liner, you don’t necessarily need to install the foam padding.
Alignment of the Toolbox to the Pre-Drilled Holes
The next step would be to align the toolbox to the pre-drilled holes; most cargo bays come with pre-drilled holes in the area just close to the bottom. Moreover, some of those holes come with rubber plugs. You need to remove them for easy alignment.
Hence, always start by removing the plugs and positioning the box properly in line with the pre-drilled holes. You need to open the lid so that you can easily align the holes on the bottom and those on the bed rail of the truck.
Secure the J-hooks and Bolts
Once you properly align the holes on the truck bed and toolbox, start inserting the j-hooks and bolts. The bolts and j-hooks help link the toolkit to the truck bed strongly. You need to use about six j-hooks to maximize the strength of the toolboxes.
Check properly, which j-hooks you are going to use based on the type and size of your toolbox. Make sure the bolts, nuts, and j-hooks align correctly with the toolkit, which will help avoid the issues with irritating sounds coming from the poorly fitted toolbox.
Fasten the Nuts and Bolts
Once you are done with flipping in the j-hooks and bolts, you need to fasten them. To do this step, you can use a spanner or open-ended wrench. Always make sure you do not use more than the required force while tightening the bolts and nuts as that could cause damage to the bed rails. However, you need to tighten them properly so that it does not leave any gaps in between the bed and toolbox, which could lead to irritating vibrations when you start riding the truck.
Check if everything is fixed rightly
Do not forget to check whether the toolbox has been installed properly and securely onto the truck bed. Open the lid to see whether it opens smoothly or not. Check if anything is vibrating or shaking when you ignite the truck. After you are done with all the checking, you need clean the truck bed and toolkit of all the leftover materials and supplies.
Conclusion
In this article, we have tried to discuss all the basics of how to install a truck bed tool box without drilling. You can follow the above discussed aspects while you install your toolbox without drilling. Moreover, you can finish this task successfully if you follow the above-outlined tips. You can use heavy-duty stainless steel j-hooks and bolts to obtain best results..
Always make sure you use aluminium nuts and bolts as they’re more durable and reliable. Lastly, check whether the bolts and nuts you use are solid enough to withstand threats caused by extreme vibrations in rough terrains.
