Lazy new guy. Cheap truck box solutions?

[entoptics]

Greetings all.

Accidentally bought an RR a couple weeks ago. It's fn sweet. Except...

...I'm coming from a 4Runner TRD Off Road, so not accustomed to the weird invisible air roof over the back half of the vehicle...At least it doesn't have the horrible roll down window which invariably fails to function properly after you take it somewhere with dirt and dust and mud...Hatred of that window is a secret handshake for folks who actually use their Runners in rough dirty places. If you love it, you're either a mall crawler, or you got lucky and yours didn't fail at the first sign of grit and grub ingress...

I digress.

Back to the point of my first post here...

I'm hoping to get a relatively cheap bed storage option, that will get me through till I commit to either a tonneau cover or topper for the long term. I know, I know..."USE THE SEARCH", but I've got a heck of a lot of "searching" in the queue, and I figure there's surely some of you who like to educate newbies on here, so I'm going that route...

I'm looking for a box with the following criteria.

1) 36"-48" long, 12"-18" wide, 16"-18" tall. Planning to just strap around it against the bulkhead, or maybe long ways against one wheel well.

2) Security isn't a big issue. Small town, low risk usage. Just enough to keep honest people honest by hiding my stuff from obvious view. Almost would prefer plastic for the weight/cost benefits.

3) Water resistant.

4) If strapped against bulkhead, needs to be able to open from either side of the bed, which means two latches, either of which will fully disengage the lid.

5) $200 or less, maybe a bit more if it's perfect. The whole point of this will be to get a cheap solution till I really learn the truck and my desires for how I'll treat the cargo area.

For reference, I'm currently running a crappy plastic Sterilite container with hinged lid, about the size of a 60 quart cooler, and I'm mostly fine with it, but the lid is cracked...

Any suggestions?

P.S. This forum seems like a great resource. The googles have lead me here many times, and the info I've gleaned has always seemed to pan out in reality.

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[CACTUSGREYFX4]

I know brand name tonneau covers are expensive but if you spend a bit more than the $200 look at Bison Covers. I paid $600 Canadian for my hard cover but I think the soft one is around $300.

 

[entoptics]

Nice looking rig.

I'm still on the fence with the tonneau, as I do like to be able to just reach in and grab stuff out of my Sterilite box, and here in a few days, I'm very excited to get to haul a years worth of cans to the recycle center without having to finagle them into my 4Runner...

Point being, I think a good box, which will also fit under a cover if that's the route I go, is the first step in my my air roof journey...

 

[John E Davies]

Nice accidental purchase, post some pics please. Check out Go Fast Campers for your topper, they make a tent combo version or just the Topper. Yes it is called that. I am having a few issues with mine, and I have been sealing out dust (work in progress) but they are being worked out. It is the only topper that will stay intact if you drive your RR like you stole it off-road.

Please update your profile with your actual location, and add a profile picture, where in the PNW? Wet Side or Dry Side?

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

 

[fordgt]

I bought these from Home Depot, 2 big ones one the bottom, they each hold 2 smaller ones. The lids are polycarbonate so they are pretty strong. I could easily take them out and set them in the garage or backseat. They sit just below the cover when it’s closed.

 

[SoulMafia]

I use this: solid construction, waterprooof, plenty of storage and great value.

https://www.academy.com/p/magellan-outdoors-pro-92-l-waterproof-gear-box?sku=black-medium-green

 

[Dracena]

I have a 48gal Rubbermaid Action Packer cause it fit perfectly behind the cab of the Tacoma. I've had a 24gal one for 25 years and in great shape after lots of duty (dedicated scuba gear hauler, camp gear, desert dweller, etc).

I'll see how it fits in the Ranger bed when I get home.

Misc link from TW. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/diy-locking-bed-storage-trunk.264975/

 

[Dracena]

Pics as promised. The bed is wider than the Tacoma, so there's some side gap

 

[entoptics]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Several of these tick all the boxes except being able to use it against the bulkhead and still be able to open it from either side from outside the bed. I'm not coming up with anything that will do that either.

Probably have to give up on that idea, and just place it long ways along one side of the bed up against the wheel well, and live with only being able to get into it from one side of the truck.

 

[John E Davies]

I have used Action Packers for years, but I don’t recommend them for an uncovered bed. They are not really waterproof - they are “water wicking”…. The 48 gallon one will be really hard to move around when loaded with gear. and the hinged top requires some clearance on that long side to get it raised. Two 24 gallon ones with end latches will give you nearly the same volume but will be much easier to deal with, and the lids come off completely for easy access.

A 24 will be quite easy to take out and use for camp seating. That is a non- starter for a loaded 35 or 48.

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

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