This article contains affiliate links for products that I use or recommend. If you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, I will earn a small commission at no cost to you, which will go toward the costs of maintaining this site.
VIDEO: Watch the video version of this post to see the cost-efficient, modular truck bed storage system I came up with.
What do I do with this gear in the back of my truck when:
- It’s raining?
- I don’t want it to walk off while we’re inside a store, restaurant, or National Park?
- I want to make sure it’s secure overnight?
Often, folks tend to explore options like DECKED storage for just these reasons. But these systems are EXPENSIVE, and they take away the use of your truck bed to do truck things.
What was I looking for in a modular truck bed storage solution?
My goal with my truck has always been to equip it with things that are useful but can be easily removed, so that when I need to haul lumber for a woodworking project, help a friend move, or haul soil and gravel for a gardening project – I can.
As I looked for a storage solution, I applied the same requirements, along with the value requirement I always do. I want gear that is durable and of good quality, but that isn’t overly expensive.
My truck – a 2021 Nissan Titan – has a bed rail/track system, not just around the sides and cab, but also on the bed. I’ve used it much more extensively than I thought I would when I bought it, especially for camping and road trips.
What I started with
So far, I’ve used collapsible crates to meet my needs – but they aren’t super durable, don’t protect from the rain, and they aren’t very secure.
However, they were a great cheap option when we weren’t sure how often we would be on the road, and I will still use them for certain applications.
Over time, I picked up a couple Ridgid ProGear portable toolboxes and have placed them in the back for camping trips. I wasn’t planning on using them for a full-on truck bed storage system – I just bought a couple because they are very well built and were the right size and right price. The Ridgid boxes come with mounting cleats, but they were designed to be mounted to studs in your workshop or garage, so I never really used them. But one day I realized I could mount them to my rail system!
This worked great for the smaller ones – but not the larger ones I picked up later. Because of their size, they carry more, and the weight would have placed undue stress on the rail.
The solution? I mounted a Molle panel to the cab side of the truck bed using the bed rails / tracks as mounting points. It required a little adaptation in order to connect the panel to the rails, and the Ridgid cleats to the panel. But once in place, it doesn’t look too bad (I could have used black hardware if I really wanted to for a cleaner look) and it’s all completely removable.
The boxes can be removed simply by lifting them off the cleats; I could even remove the Molle panel by undoing a few bolts if I really wanted to.
I can also lock the boxes down to the truck bed by using a cable lock, and then lock the boxes by using a padlock.
Why Ridgid?
I chose the Ridgid boxes over any other for a reason. First, they’re made of resin which means they’re highly durable.
Secondly, they’re water-resistant. They are also stackable, and can be locked down via a cable lock and have a metal-reinforced eye for a padlock to secure the contents inside.
But what sets the Ridgid boxes apart – DeWalt also has a similar line of nice resin boxes (which I have in my garage) – is the price, and the ability to mount anywhere. The Ridgid toolboxes are not part of a line that requires toolbox manufacturer-specific mounting rails. They simply come with cleats that can be mounted anywhere with a screw or a bolt.
This versatility allows me to mount the small ones directly to my truck bed track system with some hex bolts and spring nuts, or any size box to the molle panel along the cab wall. I can then simply lift them to remove (or unlock cable and then remove, if I have them locked to the truck bed).
How much did I spend on my modular truck bed storage solution?
In terms of cost, I spent less than $300. The cost was about $160 on five boxes, $110 for the Molle panel, and maybe $20 worth of mounting hardware that I already had. I’ll also spend maybe another $50 on locks for some of the boxes.
Meanwhile, a single box from the drawer systems can run $100 to $300, let alone the $1700+ on the actual system.
Don’t get me wrong, the drawer systems are really nice-looking and they might be just right for some people. But I prioritize cost and true modularity so that I can use my whole truck bed, and $300 or less to achieve that has been well worth it.
How do I use my modular truck bed storage system?
I use the boxes primarily to store essentials for camping and road trips, such as radios, bathroom products, tent equipment, levels, and chocks – but I will probably leave one or both of the large boxes empty on our next road trip so that we can throw in anything that we buy on our trip, or duffel bags to protect them from the elements and/or thieves.
What if my truck doesn’t have a bed rail / track system?
In this case, you can still mount boxes to your truck bed – there are a few options:
- Mount the cleats directly to your truck bed: I don’t really recommend this because needs change, and if they do you could be stuck with unnecessary holes in your truck bed.
- Check with a dealer to see if they carry the rail system, if one exists for the manufacturer. I know Nissan and Toyota have them, but I’m unsure about others. This is probably the best option, but undoubtedly the most expensive.
- Buy and install your own system. You can find them on Amazon for $200 or less. It will require drilling into your truck bed, but the versatility of a rail system means you can use it for many different cases. Just be sure do some research before buying to make sure there’s a compatible mounting hardware of some type by which to mount Molle panels and/or tools or tiedown points to the rail, before buying. With my OEM Nissan UtiliTrack system, I’ve found that tiedowns from Z1 Offroad work perfectly, and spring nuts designed for electrical use are extremely inexpensive and allow for quick, easy mounting of pretty much anything else. I use these to mount Molle panels, tiedown points, quickfist mounts, and more. They are extremely affordable (a pack of 5 is usually between $5 and $8). Just double check that something like this will fit with the rail/track system you are considering.
VIDEO: Watch the video version of this post to see this cost-efficient, modular truck bed storage system on my truck.
Leave a Reply