When you have a truck, it’s easy to end up with a ton of gear and tools in your truck bed. It’s simply a convenient place to put things. However, as the items continue to pile up, it can become difficult to find what you need when you need it. It’s also harder to keep the items secure in the truck bed.
If you have a lot of cargo and tools that you regularly store in your truck bed, an ideal way to keep them organized and secure is to install a truck bed drawer system. Truck bed drawers are different from tool boxes in that they typically provide a deck above the drawers, which gives you the entire use of your bed along with the extra storage.
Whenever you install something in your truck bed, it’s always important to install a bed liner first to keep your bed from being scratched or dented. DualLiner is the best truck bed liner on the market for full-size domestic trucks.
How Do Truck Bed Drawers Work?
The Decked system is probably the most popular brand on the market and is somewhat of a template for other styles of bed drawers. The purpose of bed drawers is to give you easy access to anything in your bed while keeping the bed’s original functionality. The drawers are beneath a steel-reinforced polymer resin top, which raises your bed’s original floor by about 12 inches. It can support 2,000 pounds of cargo on top. Essentially, you lose a little bit of your truck bed’s depth, but gain an organized system to keep things safe while still having a deck for cargo on top.
Image copyright TruckVault
Benefits of Truck Bed Drawers
A truck bed drawer system offers a secure place to store a variety of cargo, including tools, fishing gear, camping gear, firearms, sports equipment, and much more. Possibly the most useful feature of a drawer system is that it offers two distinct levels of organization. The bottom level can be accessed without having to bother with anything being carried on the top. Truck bed drawers also offer a level of safety and security that is hard to match with other storage options. Drawer systems are constructed of strong, durable material and most are also lockable.
Types of Truck Bed Drawers
Truck bed drawer systems tend to be pretty similar across brands. The main differences usually involve the material used and the amount of drawers. Most drawers are lockable and a 2,000-pound load capacity on the top is common. Some truck bed drawers feature carpet on top, and some also come in half-width to occupy only one side of the bed. The price range for a truck bed drawer system usually starts around $1,000 and can go as high as $4,000.
What To Consider
When it comes to buying a truck bed drawer system, you’ll have a few things to consider. Your specific truck model might make a difference in terms of what’s available. Most drawer systems offer a 2,000-pound load capacity on the top level. The amount offered at the bottom level can vary. For example, the FleetWest system has a 1,000-pound capacity single drawer, while the Tuffy Security system has a 400-pound capacity and two drawers.
Some drawer systems also include side compartments, tie-down systems, lighting for the inside of the drawers, different drawer face finish options, and more. The more copious and complex your options, the more expensive the system is likely to be.
Popular Brands
Decked is probably the most well-known truck bed drawer system on the market. However, there are several other brands that are starting to make their mark as well.
Cargo Ease
Image copyright Cargo Ease
The CargoEase system is constructed from aluminum and features 2,000 pounds of top load capacity, plus 600 pounds of capacity for each drawer. You have a choice between 9-inch or 12-inch drawer depths, and a long and wide drawer divider is standard. The drawers are lined with felt that is both stain and mildew-resistant. A turn-key dual-latching lock system is standard. The size and price of this system vary depending on options and models, but it starts at $2,000.
Decked
Image copyright Decked
Decked is the original truck bed drawer system and is constructed with HDPE and galvanized steel. Each drawer can hold 200 pounds and the top level can hold 2,000 pounds. The drawers are lockable, easy to close, and easy to remove. The Decked system is weatherproof, made in America, and starts at $1,100.
Load’N’Go
Image copyright Fleetwest
With the Load’N’Go truck bed drawer system, you’ll get a single 1,000-pound capacity drawer and a 2,000-pound top load capacity. The drawer system is constructed of 14-gauge A-160 Jet-Kote steel and 16-gauge galvanized steel. A double-locking system of cylinder and padlock is standard. The price for this system starts at $2,200.
TruckVault
Image copyright TruckVault
TruckVault bed drawers are made of steel and offer multiple locking options, including keyless entry. Most models come with full-length drawers and cover the width of your bed. However, half-width models are available too. The TruckVault system is waterproof and dustproof. This is one of the only systems that offers a range of design choices such as four different carpet colors and seven drawer face finish options in different types of wood. The price starts at $3,300.
How To Install Truck Bed Drawers
Installing truck bed drawers can be time-consuming, but it’s also pretty basic. Simply fit the pieces together according to your specific instructions and then attach them to pre-established points in the truck bed. The Decked system specifically features no-drill installation, but your mileage may vary on other models. Truck bed drawers are heavy though, so you may need a second person to help.
No matter which truck bed drawer system you choose, you can rest assured that the DualLiner truck bed liner is compatible. The DualLiner bed liner offers complete truck bed coverage and prevents cargo shifting with a Zero Skid rubber bed mat.
