Access your tools directly from the truck side with this rail-mounted Lo-Sider truck box. The box mounts on your truck bed rails, keeping your tools easy to access and saving valuable storage space in the bed itself. These truck toolboxes are ideal for full-sized and compact pickups. Pair the Lo-Sider truck box with a Crossover, Saddle, or Gull Wing truck toolbox to maximize your truck bed storage. This durable truck toolbox is crafted with corrosion-resistant and lightweight diamond tread aluminum. The stainless steel push-button locks help your tools stay secure and accessible, and a weather-resistant seal keeps moisture and dirt away from your equipment. Mounting hardware included.
Specifications
| Box Material | Aluminum |
|---|---|
| Box Thickness | Aluminum - 0.056" |
| Depth | 16 |
| Door Material | Aluminum |
| Gasket Type | Weather Resistant Seal |
| Height | 13 |
| Hinge Style | Aluminum Continuous Hidden Hinge |
| Pro Series | False |
| Rain Gutter | False |
| Shelf | False |
| Width | 70 |
Technical Overview: The 13x16x70 Inch Diamond Tread Aluminum Lo-Sider Truck Box – Engineered for Professional Utility
The 13x16x70 Inch Diamond Tread Aluminum Lo-Sider Truck Box stands as a pinnacle in professional-grade mobile storage solutions, meticulously engineered to address the demanding requirements of tradesmen, contractors, and discerning enthusiasts. This robust storage unit is specifically designed for integration onto the bed rails of diverse pickup trucks, from full-sized workhorses to compact utility vehicles. Its core design philosophy revolves around optimizing tool accessibility while preserving invaluable primary cargo space within the truck bed – a critical consideration for professionals frequently transporting large materials, equipment, or multiple specialized tools.
The "Lo-Sider" designation is central to this product's utility, indicating its low-profile, side-mounted configuration. Unlike traditional crossover or saddle boxes that span the entire width of the truck bed, the Lo-Sider design positions the storage compartment along the interior perimeter of the truck bed rails. This strategic placement ensures the entire floor area of the truck bed remains unobstructed and fully available for oversized cargo such as lumber, ladders, machinery, or pallets. The design also facilitates direct, unobstructed access to tools and equipment from the side of the truck, eliminating the need to climb into the bed or navigate around stored items, thereby enhancing operational efficiency and safety in dynamic work environments. This ergonomic advantage is particularly beneficial when the truck bed is loaded with materials, allowing critical tools to remain accessible without extensive cargo rearrangement.
Advanced Material Science: Diamond Tread Aluminum Construction
At the heart of the 13x16x70 Inch Lo-Sider Truck Box's superior performance and durability is its construction from premium diamond tread aluminum, featuring a substantial gauge of 0.056 inches. The selection of aluminum as the primary material is a deliberate engineering choice, offering a compelling balance of critical properties essential for a high-performance truck toolbox.
Aluminum: The Foundation of Strength and Durability
Aluminum, renowned for its exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, provides significant advantages over alternative materials such as steel. Its inherent lightweight nature contributes to reduced vehicle payload, translating into improved fuel efficiency and decreased wear on truck suspension components. This is a critical factor for commercial users where operational costs and vehicle longevity are paramount. Furthermore, aluminum exhibits superior corrosion resistance compared to steel. This property is not merely superficial; aluminum naturally forms a passive oxide layer upon exposure to air, which acts as a robust barrier against environmental degradation, including rust, oxidation, and chemical corrosion from road salts, moisture, and industrial pollutants. This self-protecting characteristic ensures the longevity and structural integrity of the toolbox, even under harsh outdoor conditions and continuous exposure to varied climates, from arid deserts to humid coastal regions.
Diamond Tread Pattern: Enhanced Structural Rigidity and Aesthetics
The exterior of the toolbox is fabricated with a distinctive diamond tread pattern, also known as checker plate. This textured surface is not merely an aesthetic enhancement; it is a functional design element that significantly contributes to the box's structural rigidity and overall performance. The raised diamond pattern disperses stress across a wider area, effectively increasing the material's bending stiffness and resistance to denting and scratching compared to a flat aluminum sheet. This makes the box more resilient to impacts and abrasions commonly encountered on job sites or during transit. Beyond its structural benefits, the diamond tread pattern provides a non-slip surface, which can be advantageous if the box is occasionally used as a temporary step. Aesthetically, the pattern provides a professional, rugged appearance that is highly resistant to showing minor scratches and scuffs, maintaining its visual appeal over extended periods of heavy use.
Optimal Thickness: 0.056 Inches
The material thickness of 0.056 inches (approximately 1.42 mm) represents an optimized gauge for this application. It provides ample structural integrity and resistance to deformation under typical loads and impacts without adding excessive weight. This specific thickness strikes a balance between robust construction and overall manageability, ensuring the box is sturdy enough to protect valuable contents while remaining light enough to minimize impact on vehicle dynamics and fuel consumption. This gauge also facilitates precise fabrication processes, including cutting, bending, and welding, contributing to the overall fit and finish of the unit.
Advanced Security and Accessibility: Stainless Steel Push-Button Locks
Tool security is a paramount concern for any professional, and the 13x16x70 Inch Lo-Sider Truck Box addresses this with a sophisticated and highly functional locking system. The integration of stainless steel push-button locks ensures both robust security and effortless accessibility, even under challenging conditions.
Precision-Engineered Locking Mechanism
The push-button lock design offers immediate and convenient access. A simple press of the button disengages the latch, allowing for single-handed operation – a crucial feature when carrying tools or materials. The internal mechanism is engineered for smooth, reliable actuation, minimizing the chances of binding or sticking, which can be problematic with lower-quality locking systems, especially in environments exposed to dust or temperature fluctuations. Each lock is designed to engage securely, providing peace of mind that contents are protected during transit and when the vehicle is unattended.
Stainless Steel Durability
The choice of stainless steel for the lock components is a significant factor in their long-term reliability and security. Stainless steel is inherently resistant to corrosion, rust, and tarnishing, ensuring that the locking mechanism remains functional and aesthetically pleasing despite constant exposure to the elements. This material also boasts superior mechanical strength and hardness compared to conventional steel or zinc alloys, making the locks more resistant to physical tampering, cutting, or drilling attempts. The robust nature of stainless steel means that these locks will withstand years of heavy use without compromising their protective capabilities, providing consistent security for valuable tools and equipment.
Uncompromised Environmental Protection: Weather-Resistant Seal
Protecting valuable tools and sensitive equipment from environmental aggressors is a primary function of any high-quality truck toolbox. The 13x16x70 Inch Lo-Sider Truck Box features a meticulously engineered weather-resistant seal, designed to form an impenetrable barrier against moisture, dust, and other contaminants.
Gasket Technology for Superior Sealing
The gasket, typically composed of high-performance elastomeric materials such as EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) or specific rubber blends, is strategically integrated along the perimeter of the lid. EPDM, in particular, is valued for its excellent resistance to UV radiation, ozone, extreme temperatures, and general weathering, ensuring the seal remains pliable and effective over many years. When the lid is closed and the locks engaged, the seal compresses, creating a tight, hermetic closure that prevents water ingress from rain, snow, or road spray. This design is critical for preventing rust on metal tools, protecting electronic devices, and maintaining the operational integrity of power tools and sensitive instruments. The absence of a rain gutter, as noted in the specifications, underscores the reliance on this robust seal and precision fit of the lid to provide comprehensive protection, requiring a well-designed and properly seated gasket.
Defense Against Dust and Debris
Beyond moisture, construction sites and off-road environments are rife with fine particulate matter. The weather-resistant seal acts as an effective barrier against dust, sand, and dirt, which can otherwise accumulate on tools, clog moving parts, or degrade sensitive components. By maintaining a clean and dry internal environment, the toolbox contributes significantly to the longevity and reliability of its contents, reducing maintenance requirements and extending the lifespan of expensive equipment.
Precision Engineering: Aluminum Continuous Hidden Hinge
The functionality and security of a truck toolbox are heavily reliant on the quality and design of its hinge system. The 13x16x70 Inch Lo-Sider Truck Box incorporates an aluminum continuous hidden hinge, an exemplary feature of precision engineering that offers multiple benefits over conventional hinge designs.
Continuous Hinge Advantages
A continuous hinge, often referred to as a piano hinge, extends along the entire length of the lid. This design distributes the stress of opening and closing evenly across the entire seam, significantly reducing localized wear and tear on hinge points. This contrasts sharply with discrete hinges, which concentrate stress at specific points, making them more susceptible to fatigue and failure over time. The uniform load distribution of a continuous hinge ensures exceptionally smooth and stable lid operation, preventing wobbling or binding, even with frequent use or uneven loading of the lid. Furthermore, the structural integrity provided by a full-length hinge makes the lid far more resistant to prying attempts, enhancing the overall security profile of the toolbox.
Hidden Design for Aesthetics and Security
The "hidden" aspect of this hinge refers to its internal mounting, where the hinge pin and leaves are concealed within the box's structure when the lid is closed. This design offers several advantages. Aesthetically, it provides a clean, streamlined exterior appearance, free from exposed rivets or hinge barrels. More importantly, from a security standpoint, a hidden hinge eliminates external access points that could be exploited by potential thieves using cutting tools or pry bars. This contributes significantly to the overall tamper resistance of the unit. The aluminum construction of the hinge complements the box material, eliminating concerns about galvanic corrosion that could arise from dissimilar metals in contact and ensuring consistent durability and resistance to environmental factors.
Optimized Dimensions and Storage Capacity
The specific dimensions of 13 inches in height, 16 inches in depth, and 70 inches in width are not arbitrary; they are carefully selected to provide optimal storage capacity and ergonomic integration within a wide array of pickup truck beds. The 70-inch width allows for ample storage of longer tools such as pry bars, levels, conduit benders, or certain power tools, making it exceptionally versatile for various trades.
Strategic Space Utilization
The 13-inch height ensures a low-profile fit above the truck bed rails, minimizing obstruction of rear visibility and aerodynamic drag, while still offering substantial vertical storage volume. The 16-inch depth provides a generous interior space, accommodating a variety of larger tools, equipment cases, and supplies. This particular volumetric configuration (13"H x 16"D x 70"W) balances the need for significant storage with the "Lo-Sider" principle of preserving the truck bed's primary cargo area. The absence of a built-in shelf ("Shelf: False") is a deliberate design choice, offering an expansive, unobstructed internal cavity. This allows users maximum flexibility to organize their tools as they see fit, whether through custom foam inserts, modular bins, or simply accommodating bulkier items that would be hindered by fixed shelving. It provides a blank canvas for personalized interior organization, catering to the diverse and evolving needs of different professions.
Seamless Integration and Versatility
One of the most compelling features of this Lo-Sider truck box is its designed versatility and potential for integration into a comprehensive truck bed storage system. While formidable as a standalone unit, its true power is unleashed when paired with other specialized toolboxes.
Modular Storage Ecosystem
The ability to pair this Lo-Sider box with a Crossover, Saddle, or Gull Wing truck toolbox allows users to create a highly customized and modular storage ecosystem. A Crossover box, typically mounted across the truck bed near the cab, provides additional secure storage and often includes internal trays. When combined with a Lo-Sider, this setup maximizes the utilization of space both above the bed rails and across the bed's front. A Saddle box, similar to a crossover but often with dual lids, offers similar advantages. A Gull Wing box, with its dual-lid design opening upwards, provides excellent access from either side of the truck and complements the Lo-Sider by covering the width of the bed while the Lo-Sider covers the length along the rail. This synergistic approach enables professionals to categorize and store tools more efficiently, dedicating specific boxes to specific types of equipment, thereby streamlining workflow and enhancing overall productivity. The Lo-Sider effectively fills the "side-rail" storage niche, complementing the "across-bed" solutions, creating a holistic storage solution without sacrificing primary bed cargo area.
Effortless Installation and Maintenance
Recognizing the practical needs of its users, the 13x16x70 Inch Lo-Sider Truck Box comes complete with all necessary mounting hardware. This includes robust clamps or J-hooks designed for secure attachment to the truck bed rails without the need for drilling into the truck body, preserving the vehicle's integrity and resale value. The installation process is straightforward, allowing for rapid deployment and ensuring the box remains firmly affixed, resisting movement and vibration during transit, even over rough terrain.
Maintenance requirements for this aluminum toolbox are minimal. The corrosion-resistant diamond tread aluminum surface can be easily cleaned with standard automotive cleaning products, maintaining its appearance and protective qualities for years. Periodic inspection of the weather-resistant seal and lubrication of the stainless steel locks are recommended to ensure optimal performance and longevity, though the inherent durability of the chosen materials means these interventions are infrequent.
Conclusion: An Investment in Efficiency and Security
The 13x16x70 Inch Diamond Tread Aluminum Lo-Sider Truck Box is an essential investment in operational efficiency, tool security, and vehicle utility for any professional. Its meticulous design, premium material selection, and advanced engineering features deliver a product that consistently exceeds industry standards. From the lightweight yet incredibly strong 0.056-inch diamond tread aluminum construction, to the secure, corrosion-resistant stainless steel push-button locks, and the impenetrable weather-resistant seal, every component is optimized for peak performance and durability in demanding environments. The continuous hidden hinge ensures smooth, secure operation, while the generous 70-inch width and open interior provide versatile storage for a wide range of tools. Designed for seamless integration with other truck bed storage solutions, this Lo-Sider box not only organizes and protects your tools but also maximizes the functional cargo capacity of your pickup truck, enhancing productivity and providing lasting value. It is more than a toolbox; it is a critical component of a fully optimized mobile workspace.
