Decked Toolbox Set to Drop for Mid-Size Trucks
Smart storage system makes your diamond-plated dinosaur obsolete.
Ford puts a lot of time and effort into making its trucks as chock-full of utility as possible. Countless hours of design have led to tons of handy features and just-the-right-size storage compartments.
But as they say, there’s always room for improvement. And if you’re like us, you’ve undoubtedly got a ton of stuff you need to haul around. Things like tools, camping gear, and extra beers. You know, in case of emergency.
That’s why we quickly became huge fans of the ingenious Decked truck-bed toolbox. And if you missed it, we first shed some light on the heavy duty organizational set up earlier this year. But back then, Decked systems were only available for full-size trucks. Now, the company will soon be offering its versatile goods for owners of mid-size pickups, too.
Drop-in toolboxes are nothing new to the world of trucks, of course. But even with built-in locks, they aren’t exactly known for being secure. And they take up lots of valuable space. The beauty of the Decked truck bed toolbox is that it sits flat in the bed of the truck. Sporting a 2,000-pound payload rating, you won’t have to worry about loading stuff on top of it, either.
Underneath that tough exterior lies a ton of usable utility. Full-length drawers slide out like a smooth file cabinet, each one rated to hold up to 200 pounds. And perhaps best of all, installation doesn’t require drilling holes in your precious sheet metal. Nor is it permanent — the Decked toolbox is easily removable if you need the extra space. It’s just pretty heavy, obviously, weighing in at 210 pounds.
‘As someone who used to hop in and out of truck beds 100 times a day to grab tools, I can tell this storage system is going to make hard-working folks’ lives easier.’
F150 Online got a chance to check out the new mid-size Decked system when one of our award-winning automotive journalists, Manuel Carrillo III, tested out the gear himself. And judging from his feedback, it’s safe to say he came away impressed.
“When I first saw Decked’s storage and organization system at their Los Angeles product unveiling, I wondered, ‘Why hasn’t anyone thought of this before?'” says Carrillo. “In the past, people had to either junkpile tools and supplies into their truck beds, or if they were clever, they’d hit up the Home Depot’s millworks section to craft storage systems themselves.
“The problem with home-built units, however, is that they look garish,” adds Carrillo. “Decked’s system blends right in with the truck bed. It’s like a bed liner with drawers, and it looks great.
“Frisking my way through the array of cubbies, I could tell this setup was carefully engineered. Even with an ATV sitting atop one of the storage systems that I tried out, the ball bearing drawers still opened elegantly as though they were holding heirloom cutlery,” continues the auto journalist.
“As someone who used to hop in and out of truck beds as much as 100 times a day to grab tools and supplies, I can tell this storage system is going to make hard-working folks’ lives easier.”
Best of all, the Decked truck bed toolbox attaches to factory tie-down points and is impervious to chemicals and rust. It’s also weatherproof, so you won’t have to worry about a little rain ruining your precious gear. The only downside? It isn’t completely air tight, of course, so dust, dirt, and high-pressure water (like at the car wash) might still be able to get inside.
Still, if you find yourself digging around in some old-school, diamond-plated toolbox, a Decked setup should make your life a little easier. Decked is already available for F-150 and Super Duty trucks, as well as Econoline and Transit vans. And since it’s also now available for the international version of the Ranger, it’s safe to assume that they’ll be ready for the U.S. relaunch of Ford’s mid-size pickup in 2019.
