I noticed a pickup the other day that had a toolbox in the very back of his pickup with a dropped center, which allowed for fifth wheel hookup without removing the box. In searching for similar boxes, I came across one website with a box designed in two different ways.
One way is with the normal "top lid" that raises up with three different compartments. The other way was with the center box with a "top lid" but the two sides had doors that opened outward to the rear of the pickup. That one allowed one to open the two sides even if the fifth wheel was hooked to the pickup.
Edit reason: Hot dang!! I figured out how to add photos.
Top lid dropped center toolbox
Front door dropped center toolbox
-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Wednesday 18th of August 2010 10:18:01 AM
-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Wednesday 18th of August 2010 10:45:54 AM
bubbadan said
06:50 AM Aug 18, 2010
Terry, those boxes are a very good design. I really like the one with the doors that open with the 5er hook up.
Terry and Jo said
10:33 AM Aug 18, 2010
Just to clarify a little bit for anyone interested in the above tool boxes, the link is to a company in Texas that I think is a dealer for the manufacturer.
The company called Unique Truck Accessories is out of Sturgis, Michigan.
Terry
Country Dancer said
06:32 AM Aug 21, 2010
These are really cool! We don't have our set up yet, but I'm curious, is it impossible to use a more traditional tool box, up against the cab, with a fifth wheel?
Lenore
Gary said
07:27 AM Aug 21, 2010
Or both! One up against the cab AND one of those that work near the tailgate. Put the more often used items in the rear box and infrequent but needed ones in the front box.
Just a thought. Not sure how realistic that is but might be worth investigating.
53 Merc said
07:38 AM Aug 21, 2010
Wannabe Soon wrote:
These are really cool! We don't have our set up yet, but I'm curious, is it impossible to use a more traditional tool box, up against the cab, with a fifth wheel?
Lenore
Sure you can. I have seen them often against the cab. However, only in long bed trucks. I have a short bed, and I am not sure it is workable in mine.
Terry and Jo said
10:36 AM Aug 21, 2010
What Ken said is true. However, if you are going to use toolboxes both front and back, keep the weight in mind. All that weight plus your pin weight could get you close to your vehicles GVWR.
Also, in our case, we plan on carrying a Honda EU3000is generator in the back of the bed of the F450, so the drop center tool box probably won't work for us. So, keep in mind whatever else you may need to carry in the truck instead of the fifth wheel.
One way is with the normal "top lid" that raises up with three different compartments. The other way was with the center box with a "top lid" but the two sides had doors that opened outward to the rear of the pickup. That one allowed one to open the two sides even if the fifth wheel was hooked to the pickup.
Here is a link:
http://www.pickuptrucktoolboxes.com/Unique/5th_wheel_fifth_wheel_tool_boxes_unique.html
Terry
Edit reason: Hot dang!! I figured out how to add photos.
Top lid dropped center toolbox
Front door dropped center toolbox
-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Wednesday 18th of August 2010 10:18:01 AM
-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Wednesday 18th of August 2010 10:45:54 AM
The company called Unique Truck Accessories is out of Sturgis, Michigan.
Terry
Just a thought. Not sure how realistic that is but might be worth investigating.
Also, in our case, we plan on carrying a Honda EU3000is generator in the back of the bed of the F450, so the drop center tool box probably won't work for us. So, keep in mind whatever else you may need to carry in the truck instead of the fifth wheel.
Terry