freebird01
Post Turtle!
So im going to building a flatbed for my truck. I keep seeing these "Buyers" brand tool boxes... Are they any good? How do they compare to DeeZee or any other brands for that matter?
Is there a name on the latch? I spent some time working for Reading Truck Body and they liked to use Eberhard latches. I can handle cheap latches...as they can be replaced with better ones as time goes on. How are they for the doors sealing? Water getting in? Rust?
@freebird01 I couldn't find a name on the latch all it had was a China stamp
Hi-
I was the truck box guy at a farm supply store. I also have a 1991 F Super Duty that has under flatbed boxes on it. The store carried a few different brands and I consistently saw DeeZee and Delta boxes brought back due to faulty latches and guys had tools they needed for work stuck in them. I've seen their thinner gauge metals and ugly welds break too.
I never saw any of the Weatherguard brand manual twist mechanism boxes ever have a failure of any kind---welds, latches, hinges, etc. When I bought my 91 I was happy to see it had those. I saw a couple of abuse-related failures on their spring loaded push button style latch on some Weatherguard cross bed boxes, but not any in normal service.
The other brand that never came back was Protech. They're usually aluminum rather than steel like the Weatherguards. Protech us a good company and they had excellent customer service when I would call in specs for custom boxes. Therir non custom boxes really are well made and quality.
If I were buying I'd be comfortable with either brand but probably lean toward Weatherguards due to lower price than Protech. The steel is also an easier repair for a hobby skilled welder like myself.
thanks... doesnt surprise me...hopefully they share the same hole pattern as a good name...would make it easier to replace with better later on.
ill probably end up with the buyers brand due to cost. Weatherguard makes some nice boxes but they are pretty pricey... Protech didnt have much of a selection in underbody boxes.
the way i have my flatbed designed i want to use 18x18x30's in the front and 18x18x24's behinid the wheels. then i will make a filler panel to look like a wheel well and to hold my filler necks.
This is great advice. I don't have the patience to fill the rear tank on my truck because it's so slow and tedious.I'd do a bit of planning to allow for good flow to the tank