Guys, need some advice. Have a 4th gen, Crew Cab (will post pics when I get the nerf bars on) and would like some weather protection/security for the bed to put everything from nasty crap I don't want in the cab to my golf clubs in.

So, tool box or tonneau? Which is easier to live with? One caveat: whatever I put in I need to be able to remove easily for when I load my bike in the bed.

I looked through the pics thread and I didn't see a lot of tool boxes. I do like the low profile tonneaus though. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

I personally can't live without a toolbox. I carry tools, welding stuff, recovery crap and about everything else I can cram in there. I play golf too, but don't leave them in there and if the weather looks iffy, I just fold up the back seat.

Sounds to me like if you want golf clubs and want weather protection/security that you are needing a tonneau...

 

One problem I see with the toolbox on a crewcab is the space it takes out of the already too short box.

 

Why not both? If it needs to be easily removable, UNdercover has a smooth, paintable cover that comes off easy (http://www.undercoverinfo.com/ses_photos.php)

, and you can get the swingcase toolbox to go with it (http://undercoverinfo.com/new_sc.php).

 

I had a tool box in my 09 then when I got my 10 the box wouldn't fit because of the shorter bed ad wheel well issue's. So I got a cheap Tri-fold (around $200) and I have been very happy with it. It has four quick release lever's that allows me to remove the entire cover in about 60 seconds. I also bought a tub from Wal-Mart that I keep most of my stuff in, so when I ned the bed I just take out the tub and it is empty. The tub I bought was huge and it cost me about $20 bucks The tub is about 4 feet long and 2 feet wide. It was the biggest one they have there. The tub idea has worked so well that I bought another one and it is how I travel now. A couple of other great thing's about the tub is it keep's everything dry from what little water does get in there and it keeps it everything organized.

 

Luckily I have a beater/plow truck for throwing the tools into. I have the Lorado roll up cover on my Quad Cab. I love it. I wouldn't say it is completely water tight but it does a real good job at keeping the leaves and crap out of the bed, as well as keeping prying eyes away from stuff I just bought at the store and threw back there.
Cheap enough that if it ever gets ripped or cut you just by the cover part again

http://www.agricover.com/index.php/p.../category/C11/

Don't the small beds suck though. Man I miss the 8' Bed on my old 2500. Next year when I get a new plow truck (Tool truck) I am getting another 8' bed again that is for certain.

 

I'm able to live with 6'6" or 6'4" but the 5"7" is too short for the stuff I would carry.

 

I couldnt get a toolbox because this bed is near useless already. I have had a toolbox in every truck i've owned filled with recovery, first aid, tools, and other odd/ends to make my life easier. I have had to sacrifice all of that because the bed would be completely useless to me if i had a toolbox.

 

Well I guess I won't be looking at a 4th Gen anytime soon. I'm cutting it close now...

 

haha, not if you plan on keeping your toolbox. I had to move most of my clean items to the underseat storage. This has me leaving all of my tools at the house which bugged me at first but now i am used to it.. Then again i'm not doing the same type of work i was doing when i lived in Tx. I needed my tools with me at all times