Trick out your truck

Trick out your truck

New accessories can help you get more work – or play – out of your truck.

It may not be as dramatic as cable television’s “Pimp My Ride,” but anyone who uses a truck can improve on storage and looks with new truck boxes and racks. “It’s not just what contractors are using their trucks for in their work life, it’s also how they use them when they are not working,” says Sam Samsel, director of product marketing and development at Delta Consolidated Industries.

Truck tastes change
“Eight out of 10 trucks sold today have less than an 8'-long bed, so owners must look for ways to maximize storage,” says Samsel.

Samsel suggests looking at the new line of Jobox crew cab chests that are specifically designed for shorter truck boxes. “These new box styles can sit below the rail for better visibility, yet offer easy access to tool storage,” he says.

The boxes have a new latch that was inspired by the ratchet design of Delta’s sister company, hand tool manufacturer Danaher. “The Delta Pro boxes have a new locking system that uses rotary gears to lock the lid in place. This latching system allows the lid to close, no matter how the truck box is sitting or the box is loaded,” Samsel says.

When the lid is closed, a ratcheting mechanism catches the lid and provides a tight lock, rated at 1,000 lbs. of pull-out force.

Contractors who haul gas-powered equipment need fuel storage, which led to the development of Delta’s new “Fuel-’N-Tool” box. “It’s an aluminum fuel tank that sits below the bed profile and allows a cross box to sit on top of it. It fits in short bed trucks,” he says.

Even as truck tastes change, many owners prefer to transfer boxes from one truck to another, says Darrell Audas, operations manager at RKI.

“We have many customers who move their boxes from truck to truck when they trade trucks. We focus on quality to assure they get long life from our boxes,” he says.

He agrees that changing bed styles can make a toolbox system obsolete, and some owners prefer to upgrade their system when they move into a new truck, anyway. “We are seeing owners switch to boxes with a lower silhouette for better visibility. Older-style boxes would block up to 6" of the rear window. Users want greater visibility, and newer box styles help them get that,” Audas says.

Although aluminum boxes with diamond tread plate textures are popular, Audas says there is a trend among truck owners to go with black or white powder-coated aluminum boxes to better match their truck’s style. “Black powder-coated boxes are popular because they match the trim package on the truck. We have some customers who scuff up the boxes and repaint them to match the color of their truck. It’s an image thing,” Audas says.

Audas reports that length of warranty is important to users and, in RKI’s experience, users will pay more for a box that carries a lifetime warranty.

The new generation of truck boxes offer contractors better visibility and greater security. Will Rose, vice president of marketing at Knaack Manufacturing, says the Weather Guard truck box line has undergone a comprehensive redesign, adding features that customers want.

“Security is a big issue with any truck box and we have improved the locking mechanism on the new line of Weather Guard diamond tread aluminum truck boxes. We call it the Extreme Protection Lock, which retracts flush with the box when the unit is locked,” he says. The new lock has an internal ring that spins if the lock is torqued, which can eliminate most keyhole break-ins. “The red retracting button on the lock also makes it easy to see if the box is locked or unlocked,” he adds.

The internal locking bar on the new Weather Guard line is shrouded with an aluminum cover to protect the locking mechanism from jams by tools shifting in the box. Plus, a deeper channel on the front of the box adds rigidity, Rose says. The new box line also features a rubber grommet that allows users to thread a 12-volt line into the box to power accessories. Inside the box, a holder can accommodate up to a 48" level; steel trays organize smaller tools and make supplies within easy reach.

The boxes’ covers are designed to allow a 90-degree opening with only 2" of clearance to the cab. “Other boxes can only open up to 80 degrees with that little clearance,” Rose says.

Installation is easy with less damage to the pickup. The boxes use a crimp- and drill-free mounting bracket system.

Above the bed
When the real estate in a truck bed gets crowded, users look up to find more storage space. “That’s where truck racks come in,” says Samsel.

Delta’s new Kargo Pro Master III racking system makes selection simple. “One model fits all full-size pick-ups, whether they are regular, extended or crew cab. Plus, our mounting system doesn’t require drilling holes into the truck rails,” says Samsel.

The new rack features a removable rear cross beam so the bed can be used to haul tall items. “The rear bar simply slides out of the support posts to open up clearance for tall items in the bed,” he says.

Making the match
With the changing truck styles and new designs in truck boxes, it’s best to rely on your toolbox distributor to help you select the best setup for your needs.

“Not every toolbox will fit every truck box, and that’s where a good distributor can help,” says Audas. “Your distributor works with truck boxes every day. Experts there can help you make sure that you get the best box for your needs.”

Click your way to efficient van storage
If outfitting a truck with toolboxes is perplexing, then designing effective storage inside and outside of vans can be a total brain meltdown.

In the past, experienced distributors of tool storage systems were your best bet for outfitting a van; but with Weather Guard’s new Vehicle Solutions program, the process can become faster and fool-proof, says Will Rose of Knaack Manufacturing.

Vehicle Solutions is an interactive computer program that allows you or your distributor to outfit your van to best fit your needs.

“Configuring a van has always been a time-consuming process. There are many options available and what will fit is affected by van style and model year,” he says.

The software can configure any major brand of work van built from 1999 in four easy steps, says Rose.

In the program, users choose a truck model, then select a trade. From there, it’s simply a matter of adding accessories and reviewing the order. The software provides a virtual 360-degree inside view of the van as you have spec’d it.

Check out the design software at www.weatherguard.com, or go to your participating distributor that has the program set up to include unit costs, labor charges and even other non-Weather Guard components and accessories that complement Weather Guard’s product offering.

Published in the January/February 2005 issue of Contractor Tools and Supplies magazine.