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Hello everyone,
I was hoping to use the extended cab of my truck to store my tools. i don’t like the idea of a tool box in the bed. I think it just takes up cargo room. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas or suggestions. i was thinking of building something myself, I haven’t really seen anything available comercially that would allow easy access to the different compartments.
thanks
From building boxes and fitting face frames to installing doors and drawers, these techniques could be used for lots of cabinet projects.
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Replies
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tfl1976,
Gary Katz gave mention one time of building compartments in a Nissan King Cab. I believe the post is in JLC's finish carpentry forum.
*The trouble with using the back seat is that your average thief can get into the passenger compartment faster than you can open a zip-top can. On the other hand, a big bed-box with one of those encased padlocks is a time-consuming challenge and more likely to get passed over.
*Unfortunately, Phill does not exagerate. Thieves gained access to my Nissan King Cab by simply jambing a flat bladed screw driver into the lock and twisting. Couldn't have taken them more than a couple of seconds. You could undoubtedly build a tool box in the back of an extended cab pickup that is as secure as one in the bed, but I think you would find that getting tools of any size into/out of it would be fairly awkward. Even without a built-in storage cabinet, getting chop saws, heavy tool boxes, etc. out of my King Cab requires some contortions.
*b TVMDCI have a very large flip lid box behind the cab of my Ram. The box has a solenoid tied into the alarm system so the box locks/unlocks when I arm/disarm the system. I shot the box and the bed with Rhino Linings polyurethane and put a blinking red light in the center-rear of the lid.P.S., With all the effort, the box is my archives for tin shingles, caulk, paint brushes, tape, screws/nails, etc. The back seat is the active storage space for tools coming/going to the job. I cover them with a furniture pad.
*Let me offer that nothing locked in your truck is "locked". All someone needs to break a tempered glass side window is a spring-loaded center punch. Damm, I liked that leather jacket.Ken
*I bought a large rectangular rubbermaid toolbox (About 40"L X 18"D X 18"H) made out of tough plastic, and put a padlock on it. I'm sure a few well placed hammer blows to the lock area would have allowed anyone in, but better 'n nothin. Trouble was, wrangling it out of my Nissan King cab was next to impossible.Now it's just 4 spackle buckets with a rug over them, and keeping the dog in the passenger seat....
*The 4 five gallon bucket thing it what i am using now. i was sort of hoping for a better option. i appreciate all your replies. i understand that putting stuff in the cab is less secure.thanks
*tfl1976 I am using a 96' Aerostar for a work truck now and am using a six foot locking bike cable for extra security. I pass it through the lug that holds the seat down and through my Senco gun, miter-box handle... Something like this might be a little extra hinderance to someone breaking in. I also throw a furniture blanket over my tools most nights, anything to help.
*I have had many different vehicles and tried many different ways to keep tools safe. The one thing that it always came down to was, 'what a thief can't see, a thief don't want'. Nothing ever protected my tools better than having old blankets, shipping pads, pieces of carpet, etc thrown over them. If you can throw down a few scraps of crap as well, this is added urban camoflague that makes the idjits think all you have in there is a buncha crap...Locks failed, Trucks and cars both were broken into. But I never lost a tool that just had a blankie thrown over it. Never.
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Hello everyone,
I was hoping to use the extended cab of my truck to store my tools. i don't like the idea of a tool box in the bed. I think it just takes up cargo room. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas or suggestions. i was thinking of building something myself, I haven't really seen anything available comercially that would allow easy access to the different compartments.
thanks