Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Power Equipment & RV => Topic started by: elkboy on April 28, 2025, 07:17:51 AM

Title: Tool box vs tonneau cover for pickup
Post by: elkboy on April 28, 2025, 07:17:51 AM: Hey there HuntWA!

Just wondering what people's thoughts are on tool boxes vs tonneau covers for pickup trucks.

Security is important to me, but also considering ease of access, weather protection, etc.

Thanks to all in advance!
Title: Re: Tool box vs tonneau cover for pickup
Post by: kselkhunter on April 28, 2025, 07:36:25 AM: It's expensive, but I did a Diamondback HD cover with "cross bin" toolbox insert. Gets the benefit of tonneau cover, toolbox, and can park ATV on top it (1600lbs rating). And can be removed if I need to use the bed for hauling stuff. Have had it almost a year and it's been very waterproof. They have different toolbox options, but I went for the big deep one that goes across the front of the bed under the cover.
Title: Re: Tool box vs tonneau cover for pickup
Post by: baldopepper on April 28, 2025, 09:47:06 AM: Have had a roll up tonneau cover for years. Tool box takes up storage space and I still have to tie down any other things in the bed and also cover for the weather. It rolls up out of the way when I haul bigger stuff and I use a boat hook to pull stuff back from the front. I've also rolled a sleeping bag under it a time or two when I'm on a quick overnight trip. You can get a reasonably good one for under $500
Title: Re: Tool box vs tonneau cover for pickup
Post by: Alchase on April 28, 2025, 09:58:15 AM: I have had Bak-Flip G2s on my last three trucks, fantastic Tonneau cover :tup:

Before that I had two different soft Tonneau covers, one got sliced open by a thief trying to get inside (it was empty at the time) and the other I ripped trying to get 6" of snow of the cover. :bash:

I have never had a Tool Box, so I will let other that have comment on those.
Title: Re: Tool box vs tonneau cover for pickup
Post by: scotsman on April 28, 2025, 10:41:48 AM: I have a hard tonneau and like it primarily for the lockable security. Most of the times when carrying something relatively tall like garbage cans to the recycling center I can just tie the tonneau handle to the trailer hitch to keep things from flying out. For big stuff the struts and hinges are quick release so the cover can be removed by sliding it back / off onto sawhorses. And it looks good on ‘Grandpa's Cowboy Cadillac’
Title: Re: Tool box vs tonneau cover for pickup
Post by: pianoman9701 on April 28, 2025, 11:21:31 AM: You can get both. Diamond boxes come in a variety of heights and configurations.
Title: Re: Tool box vs tonneau cover for pickup
Post by: JakeLand on April 28, 2025, 12:07:14 PM: Quote from: pianoman9701 on April 28, 2025, 11:21:31 AM
You can get both. Diamond boxes come in a variety of heights and configurations.
X2 and you can put a few hundred pounds on top too
Title: Re: Tool box vs tonneau cover for pickup
Post by: rainshadow1 on April 28, 2025, 12:41:12 PM: I've had instances to be annoyed by both.

Soft covers do weatherproofing and outta sight outta mind, but are easy to defeat, and all tonneau covers have to get out of the way to use the "truk" function of your vehicle.

The toolboxes are lockable and you can use the majority of your "truk" but they can get in the way if you haul larger things, and the rest of the box isn't weatherproofed.

I haven't done the box under the tonneau, or the hard tonneau, but I've done soft, segmented, and toolboxes.

A good locking canopy is the best option, IMO, but hard to haul hay, or anything longer than the box.
Title: Re: Tool box vs tonneau cover for pickup
Post by: Fletch on April 28, 2025, 03:15:06 PM: Quote from: Alchase on April 28, 2025, 09:58:15 AM
I have had Bak-Flip G2s on my last three trucks, fantastic Tonneau cover :tup:

Before that I had two different soft Tonneau covers, one got sliced open by a thief trying to get inside (it was empty at the time) and the other I ripped trying to get 6" of snow of the cover. :bash:

I have a bakflip also and realy like it. I too have a boat hook I occasionally use if anything slides forward. Is nice to keep the weather out and items secure. Ive also slept under mine on a 5 night hunt. I would recommend.
I have never had a Tool Box, so I will let other that have comment on those.
Title: Re: Tool box vs tonneau cover for pickup
Post by: CarbonHunter on April 28, 2025, 06:57:03 PM: I’ve always had a toolbox but I drive a long box and haul a lot is stuff that won’t fit under a tonneau cover. I see a lot of the tonneau covers that you can park bikes and quads on and those fit a lot of peoples needs. Really depends on what you planning on keeping dry. I can fit what I need to keep dry in the toolbox or under the back seat.

Even toolboxes are outrageous these days so it just depends on what you planning on using the bed of your truck for.
Title: Re: Tool box vs tonneau cover for pickup
Post by: Alchase on April 29, 2025, 06:52:28 AM: Like I said I do not use a "mounted" tool box, I do use a molded poly removable storage box that fits under my Hard tonneau cover. I store the typical recovery gear, tow rope, safety lights, bungies, elastic cargo net, jump starter.
Every time I think I should mount it (it has the hardware) I need to remove it to haul something, :o