Synopsis: This short article shows how to cram a lot of tools into the back of a pickup truck. Cleverly designed storage bins and drawers are the answer.

In the home-building and remodeling market where I work as a small-time general contractor, competition is stiff. Bidding jobs, scheduling subcontractors and doing some of the work myself can make for long workdays. I don’t have time to be crawling around in the back of my truck, looking for a tool.

To save myself from this aggravation, I built a storage system that consists of a series of wooden drawers and boxes, accessed mostly from the side doors of the truck’s camper shell. I’ve been using the system for nine years now, and I can’t think of too many ways I’d like to improve it.

Boxes and drawers

The storage system, which cost me about $300, centers around two large, removable toolboxes at the front of the bed, each with a set of compartmentalized drawers.

Each box has two drawers and a top cover, all of which are mounted on heavy-duty drawer slides. The bottom foot or so of each box, the last layer of storage, is a stationary bin. Standing at the side of the truck, I slide open the cover to get at the contents of the first drawer, or I move the drawer out of the way to reveal the contents of the drawer or compartment underneath. When a drawer is opened, it is “parked” in the middle space between the two boxes.

Any drawer left open on one side of the truck is automatically shut as the drawer opposite it is pushed open from the other side. When the truck is in motion, the drawers are held shut against rubber dampers with stock cupboard catches. To help the tools ride more quietly, I lined the bottom of the storage compartments and drawers with tight-weave carpet. Tools are on the driver’s side, and supplies, such as caulk and glue, are on the passenger’s side. Larger items, such as power tools, are in the bottom bin.

The boxes take up most of the front third or so of the truck bed, but there is space between them for carrying long lumber and other supplies. Although the two boxes are heavy when stocked, they sit on casters and can be rolled out of the truck, freeing the bed for big loads. Two oak spreader bars keep the boxes in place against the sidewalls of the bed.

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