What to know when combining a toolbox with a tonneau cover
There are tons of different kinds of toolboxes on the market. Regardless of which one you choose to fit on your truck, you should know that if you intend to add a tonneau cover at a later date, you should be aware of certain issues which will undoubtedly leave you wishing you'd run into this blog before you pulled the trigger.
First off, a traditional toolbox that spans the back of your truck will leave gaps between the box and the cab wall of your truck, so adding any kind of tonneau cover later will not be water tight. Water will most certainly get in behind your toolbox, so buyer beware.
My suggestion is to look at the new bak box by Bak Industries as a better solution. Let me know if you agree, disagree or simply have an opinion.
Tonneau Cover Ladder Racks
One thing that many tonneau covers cannot cope well with are ladder racks and lumber racks. To some this might seem like an insignificant issue, however to those that need a rack, like plumbers, electricians, handymen, Do-it-yourselfers etc., a rack is not a luxury, but an essential. When you consider that a tonneau is oftentimes an essential as well, you would imagine that there would be more tonneau covers made to accommodate racks. The problem is there are not.
BAK Industries has taken a fresh approach to the matter by making all their tonneau covers so low profile that in every instance, you will get full access to your stake pockets! That's really great news for folks that need racks, because essentially, any stake pocket mount rack will work with any BAK tonneau cover. Sometimes there will be some minor tailoring necessary, so be sure to get hold of a BAK tonneau cover expert to ask what racks work best with what tonneau covers.
Tonneau Cover Racks
Also, BAK produces their own tonneau rack systems in the way of the BakFlip CS that work exceedingly well and are quite cost efficient. I know that the popular TracRac also works with BAK tonneau covers, so whether you're a hard core contractor or just a weekender, BAK Industries probably has a tonneau rack to suit your needs as well as your pocket!
Tonneau Covers for contractors & construction
If you're a contractor, a builder, a plumber, an electrician or anyone that works in construction, you likely own a pickup truck and probably want to know what the best tonneau cover choice would be for your truck. In a sea of options, let's consider what's important to you:
Contractors tonneau cover
1. The ability to carry and lock up your tools in the back of your truck is probably very important. As such, a hard tonneau cover is a must, as a soft tonneau probably won't give you the security you need.
2. Water resistance is very important too. You don't want your expensive tools, plans, samples or gear getting damaged form the elements.
3. The ability to gain easy access to your truck bed is important. You don't want to move that wheelbarrow, saw, table, fridge, furniture or anything else that's large and have to now find a place to store a large monster of a tonneau cover. That's why a good folding tonneau cover or retractable tonneau cover would suit you better.
4. Consider that space in the back of your truck is precious, so be careful not to get a folding tonneau cover that takes up a quarter of your bed or even worse a third or half of your bed. Look at the new BakFlip folding tonneau covers. They will give you great security and full use of your whole truck bed when you need it, without having to remove it. retractable tonneau covers like the RollBak are very strong, but remember, they have a canister that the cover rolls into which can get in the way.
5. You probably have the need to use a rack every now and then. This point dramatically reduces your options for a good contractors tonneau cover, because if you consider the important features you need out of a tonneau cover, there are very few that cater to your precise requirements. Now what you need is a tonneau cover that gives full security against theft and the elements, full access to your truck bed and the ability to accommodate a contractors rack.
To my knowledge, the only such tonneau cover is the BakFlip Contractor Series (CS). This folding tonneau cover has a really trick contractors rack built into it that can slide and be removed in seconds. It is strong, American built and designed for the Ultimate Contractors rig. The BakFlip CS gives you options to add tie downs, lumber grips and other job solution tools to your tonneau cover as well.
BakFlip CS contractors tonneau cover
BAK Industries is also able to make a custom tonneau cover for you to work with a toolbox that you may have on your truck as well. check them out at www.bakliner.com or call them at (818) 365-9000.