What brands do yall own and what have been your experiences? I'm not looking to go cheap - I want it to outlast my current pickup, and serve duty on the next. Specifically, I want a saddle box style that sits off the bed (need room for fishing rods), black, lockable, and completley weather and water proof. UWS? Weather Guard? Ranch Hand?

Thanks for the input.

Weatherguard....made by Knaak

I was always impressed with the seals and key systems.



[This message has been edited by confucius_ag (edited 3/12/2009 5:40p).]

I prefer the chest type over the ones that sit on the rail with the two side boxes. I also wanted to have full bed length on the side. This was a steel Weather Guard that I had Line X spray.

This 10% off has me thinking...

http://www.ranchhand.com/houston.htm

Sunchaser - I like you set up, but I dont have a long bed. In order to have space for fishing rods, gotta get the style that sits on the sides.

It's just a personal preference. I don't have a need for a really big box and I like it below the rail.
You still get the benefit of the full length of the bed on the sides regardless of bed length. If you need full length and width you don't get that...

Ive got mine over the rails and I like having the space below it. It's pretty cheap but then again I dont really have much in there.

I like RKI solid, varied colors and not too pricey

I've had a UWS toolbox for a long time. I don't know if they come in black, but they have all the other features you listed. Mine still works great and I treat it brutally.

^ agree

oh yeah I got a tractor supply and its pretty ****ty

[This message has been edited by clobby (edited 3/12/2009 9:21p).]

RKI.

UWS does come in black. Black series, single lid would have the options I'm looking for:

http://www.uwsta.com/blk_single_lid.html

i got a cheap diamond plate over the rails one from probably auto zone or wally world (it came wiht the truck) and i wouldnt recommend it. Definitely go with one that has the two seperate lids on each end.

There are better tool boxes out there, but I've always had a Rawson Koenig (RKI)

Thanks for the input. Above all, it must be weather proof. I'll be carrying guns in it during road trips during hunting season.

I have a DeeZee from TSC. I bought it new, and its now about 10 years old....still works like it did when new. Id definately get another one.

I have a Ranch Hand in my truck, and it's bulletproof ... I have the Mini Job Box, which sits on the bed floor inside the rails (below), but I've heard great things about their above-the-rail box that gives you room underneath.



The build quality is awesome, and mine has been completely weatherproof.

Phoenix - thanks for the info. You have any worries about the circle lock? Ranch Hand is one of the few without a integrated lock system.

Looking into Trail Boss as well. Made here in TX, and $150 less than the Ranch Hand...
http://www.pickupspecialties.com/Trailboss/trailboss_toolboxes.htm

Honestly, I don't have any qualms about the circle lock (as you can see, it's recessed and would be quite hard to pry off), and I live in what you could call a neighborhood "in transition." I've had stuff taken from and off of my truck, but I have no fears about anyone messing with this box. It's steel, mounted through the bed with carriage bolts ...

Plus, the Ranch Hand dealer that I bought it from (in Irving) was very friendly and knowledgeable, and even had her guys carry out a few different models to my truck so I could try them out. Great service and solid products get my business every time.

Edit to add: The one bad thing about the circle lock is the fact that I can't get to it without climbing into the bed ... While a tad inconvenient at times, it's also a pretty good security feature since it would deter most casual thieves, I would think.

[This message has been edited by phoenix491 (edited 3/13/2009 2:20p).]

I have an eight year old Weatherguard single lid diamond plate and it's still in perfect condition.

For diamond plate it's tough to beat RK or Weatherguard. I personally liked the look of the Weatherguard better which is why I picked it over the RK.

I have a UWS in black. Got it from Texas Truck Riggins in Bryan.

Be sure to check the welds on the latches.

I dont know what brand I have, but a couple of weeks ago, I couldnt figure out why my drivers side quit latching. I thought it needed an adjustment. Upon close inspection, I find that the entire rod that the latch hooks on to came off, as the weld that welds it to the underside of the lid just broke off.

So if you were choosing between Weatherguard and RKI today, which would you get and why?

Single lid styles only. Still deciding between over the rails vs chest type.

I have both. Both are saddle boxes. They are both nice heavy grade boxes but RKI seems heavier. I have no way it actually confirming that. I can't compare directly because my RKI is a 30" box and my WG is a standard width. As such the RKI feels heavier. I don't think that is actually is from a gauge standpoint. I will say I like my locks on my Weatherguard better. I like the way my tray locks in on it as well. The seals are a bit better than RKI. It has a lot of creature features that are nice. The RKI has no real features. It's got a heavy ass tray in it, heavy ass locks, and otherwise it's a box. It also has no upper bed rail storage like most boxes. It's a lot more utilitarian.

I don't care to drill holes in my bed so I have saddle boxes. If you are pulling a gooseneck on a short bed truck then you'll need a Chest style.

You mean fifth wheel? Then I can see chest type being necessary. Picked up a used RKI from a guy selling just because of that. Gonna try it out for a while and see whether it is worth upgrading later. The lack of tray on top of the rail is something that I'll have to address., bc I like that on all the other boxes I have, other than one chest type in one truck.

I like the big tray of this old RKI. The new WG only had a small tray in it. None of the brochures show many pictures of interiors.

Have other short bed trucks with above the bed accessories that aren't impacted by a gooseneck.

Trying to decide whether I want the space under the box vs the added height issues of cross rail boxes. These new trucks are tall, and the Bedstep2 side step may still be to far to the front of the bed to really help help lot.

A quick dose of grease really helps the RKIs open. Greased the latches on the RKI in the '03 Dodge, and box opens pretty well for 350k miles of bouncing.

Saw a WG 60% off at TSC that wouldn't close brand new. Push button mechanism similar to a box we put on a '00 Dodge.

I mean my gooseneck. Cattle trailer is alright. The horse trailer is not. It's alright if you have no terrain but if there is, the saddle box offerings from WG and RKI just aren't going to work in all situations.

The clearance WG is what I got for my 250 but it ended up not working so it went into the 150 which was a little tight but I got it to work. See if TSC has any still on clearance in some of the smaller towns. They are full fledged quality commercial boxes but WG changed the lid design last month so the old ones are on sale.

I really love my RKI. Like you, I got a real nice one for very cheap. The catch was it's a 30" box. Lol. I put it in my short bed 250 and the dove in it is AWESOME. However, it eats a lot of bed space that is already at a premium and with the trailer it wasn't going to work at all since it would hit the trailer. I really didn't miss the above rail pockets, the tray is nice and has a lot of compartments.

For WG, I'd probably go look at one at TSC and see what they are about.

The only tray on the floor at TSC was in the damaged box. Apparently they walk off too. This society sucks when you can't shop due to other people's propensity to shoplift.

Some stores had other WG options but now are all sold out, besides the damaged box.

I can just reach the bottom of the box when standing on the ground. Might weld a catch tray along the rail. Do any new RKI boxes have rail trays?

Paging Big Ben.

Just accidentally found a cool perk of my WG. It has two locks, one on each side. However, you only have to open one of them and push the button on that side to make it open. I'm 75% sure my RKI requires me to h lock both sides before being able to open it. I'll have to test it.