Factory fleetside toolbox?

[Number21]

I was just reading the original 1973 Chevy brochure from here:
http://brochures.slosh.com/index.shtml?1973

And I found this:


I would LOVE to have one of those tool boxes shown at the bottom built into the bed on my '73! I've never seen such a thing on one of these trucks before. Is there any way to add that to my truck without building something completely custom? Does anybody sell any kind of "kit" or other parts for such a thing? Anybody have any more pics of a factory job?

[Justins76]

I saw one on a Ford once and thought it be handy.

[irishman999]

Thats awesome. Ford pickups are the only trucks I have ever saw that option on.

[ont_guy_38]

My Dads 73 had that tool box

[bigblock73]

it was also an option for the 67-72 bodystyle, not sure what years though

[walkerb]

I have seen those on some of the early camper editions. There pretty cool

[48cj2a]

Anyone remember "The Fall Guy" truck...having a hard time finding pics of the secret bed compartment with guns and gear, but did find this one:

[87 chevy silverado]

Originally Posted by 48cj2a

Anyone remember "The Fall Guy" truck...having a hard time finding pics of the secret bed compartment with guns and gear, but did find this one:

i have seen this an i saw one time same took a squrbdy bed and made a trailer into it and it had a lil tool box in it (short bed to)

[tucsonjwt]

I had one on my 73 C20 longbed. Unfortunately, it was in the rust belt, so the cover of the toolbox and the surrounding metal all rusted and rendered the toolbox useless. It really was not very heavy duty - more like a glove box door, and the gap around the edges made a great place for road salt to start eating away the metal. Mine was screwed shut when I got it because it was falling apart. In a salt free environment it would be a good idea, but I would prefer a larger custom box like the flatbeds have.

[into69z]

I salvaged the trim that goes on the door-I see them here in so cal pick a parts two this year so far

[gsxrdoug]

I have it in my 71 c20

[Number21]

So does LMC or anybody sell any replacement parts for that? I haven't been able to find any...

[orangejulius72]

i have a 72 c20 longbed with this tool box in the bed, i cant find parts for the locking mechanism. how rare is this to have this toolbox?

just fyi.. im just starting the restoration of it and any help or ideas where to find parts would be appreciated.

[jocko]

Originally Posted by orangejulius72

i have a 72 c20 longbed with this tool box in the bed, i cant find parts for the locking mechanism. how rare is this to have this toolbox?

just fyi.. im just starting the restoration of it and any help or ideas where to find parts would be appreciated.

Contact member Lockdoc for mechanism, he sells them occasionally.
Box is not rare, many ordered between 69-72, mostly 71-72. More common on 3/4 tons as they were ordered as work trucks, although I have seen a few on C10s. I have one on my 72 custom camper, but it's a separate RPO from the camper stuff. It was a common combo though, folks that planned camping needed tool space.

[knightowl73]

damn i wish i had pics to show. my dad did somethin like this when i was about 16, though it wasnt in the bed.
He had this project that never got finished, was a crew-cab dually. he welded the upper parts of the rear doors shut and made a slide out toolbox on each side and used the bottom halfs of the doors for the actual door. the drawer itself was heavy duty and pretty big, but the actual drawer wasnt as tall as the bottom of the door since he was still running a bench in the back of it, tho it did sit pretty tall into the back window. the bed was going to be a dump bed, but he lost interest after all the metalwork on those doors was done and sold it. the only reason he even bought the thing was for the BB400 pontiac motor and 400 trans someone had previously put in it. Would have been real cool to finish.

[willett]

i think they discontinued the option in '75 or so due to premature rust issues

[Pop's C-10]

I'm sure that can be fabbed up some what easily..build a box, cut tha door of tha bed side but put it on tool box sliders...it would be cool for keepin basic hand tools & few other thing

[orangejulius72]

ill see if i can post pics of my toolbox.. its actually in decent shape.. no rust. just missing the locking mechanism.

[str8axle55]

There was a guy in Ct on CL selling an an NOS one. He had it listed as a pre 73. I remembered this thread and thought it had a curved door more like 73 and up. I emailed him and never heard from him. It had a fiberglass box, and was complete, as far as I could see.

[Steve Hafner]

I'd also like to see a toolbox on a 73 or newer truck. ANYBODY have one ?

[Steve Hafner]

Below, is a picture of the only 73 and up toolbox I've seen.

[87 V20 Scottsdale]

Originally Posted by Steve Hafner

Below, is a picture of the only 73 and up toolbox I've seen.

Anybody else notice the fuel filler neck on the cab?

[special-K]

When I bought my '72 K/20 Highlander it had a '73-up tool & stowage door mounted on it in place of the original. The truck wasn't rusty,it had a crease where they ran against something that must have taken the door out. It didn't quite fit,of course,but it opened and closed fine. I installed a correct rustfree one I bought out of Oklahoma back in '90. Once I installed that I could never get the damn thing to open!

[Steve Hafner]

Originally Posted by special-K

When I bought my '72 K/20 Highlander it had a '73-up tool & stowage door mounted on it in place of the original. The truck wasn't rusty,it had a crease where they ran against something that must have taken the door out. It didn't quite fit,of course,but it opened and closed fine. I installed a correct rustfree one I bought out of Oklahoma back in '90. Once I installed that I could never get the damn thing to open!

. . . and I bet you don't have a picture of it either !!!

[87 chevy silverado]

i was thinking the same thing