How we made this guide: picks and specs come from our catalog and fitment data, owner quotes come from verified reviews and every guide is checked and edited by Trevor Hall.
The Weather Guard 127 crossover, from $1,340 on the F-150, is the box most owners should buy: 11.0 ft³ across the rails, clamped on with no drilling. For a box of a different kind, the Weather Guard 174 lo-side, from $981, sits on one rail and keeps the middle of the bed open. Under $500 the UnderCover SwingCase, from $219.99, holds straps and hand tools by the driver side wheel well.
Shop by type in the crossover, lo-side, wheel well and chest collections. The Weather Guard range lists every size. Shopping for a different truck? The all-truck tool box picks cover every bed size.
| Pick | Type | Outside size | Capacity | Material | Lid and lock | From, F-150 | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weather Guard 127 | Crossover | 72"L x 20"W x 18"H | 11.0 ft³ | 15-gauge aluminum | Gas struts, 1Key UltraLock push-button | $1,340 | 4.9 (272) |
| Weather Guard 117 | Extra-wide crossover | 72"L x 27-1/2"W x 18-1/2"H | 14.4 ft³ | Aluminum diamond plate | Gas struts, One Key push-button | $1,189 | 4.9 (221) |
| Weather Guard 121 | Crossover, sold as low-profile | 72"L x 20"W x 18"H | 11.0 ft³ | Aluminum diamond plate | Gas struts, 1Key UltraLock push-button | $1,340 | 4.8 (144) |
| Weather Guard 116 | Steel extra-wide crossover | 72"L x 27-1/2"W x 18-1/2"H | 14.5 ft³ | Formed steel | Gas struts, One Key push-button | $1,229 | 4.7 (37) |
| Weather Guard 174 | Lo-side, 56 in | About 56"L x 17"W x 13"H | 4.0 ft³ | Aluminum diamond plate | Gas strut, 1Key UltraLock | $981 | 4.8 (16) |
| Weather Guard 184 | Lo-side, 41 in | About 41"L x 17"W x 13"H | 3.0 ft³ | Aluminum diamond plate | Gas strut, 1Key UltraLock | $918 | 5.0 (8) |
| Weather Guard 172 | Wheel well, driver side | About 46-5/8"L x 15-3/8"W x 16-3/8"H | 3.4 ft³ | Aluminum diamond plate | Rotary latch, 1Key UltraLock compatible | $935 | No reviews yet |
| Weather Guard 664 | All-purpose chest | 62"L x 20"W x 19-1/4"H | 13.1 ft³ | Aluminum | Offset-hinge cover, retracting lock | $978 | 4.7 (20) |
| UnderCover SwingCase | Swing-out wheel-well case, driver side | Upper case 29" long, lower case 15" long, 8" wide | 1.5 ft³ | ABS composite | Key-lockable rotary handle | $219.99 | 4.8 (141) |
Ratings are the owner reviews on our product pages. The text we quote and count comes from the reviews on file, a featured selection: 200 of the 127's 272, 200 of the 117's 221 and every review for the other boxes.
What fits your F-150 bed
On the 2015 to 2026 F-150 our data lists three beds. The 5.5 ft box is on the SuperCrew, the 6.5 ft box fits any cab and the 8 ft box is limited to the Regular Cab or SuperCab. Each has 50.6 in between the wheel wells and is 21.4 in deep (bed size guide).
A crossover clamps across the rails, so rail span counts more than bed length. Our data has no rail-to-rail figure, so measure your own with the tool box measuring guide.
Every Weather Guard box here is listed for the 1997 to 2027 F-150, and the 127, 121, 172, 174 and 184 listings give the bed style as Styleside. None names a bed length, cab or rail system. None names the Flareside bed. The SwingCase comes as two driver side parts. SC201D fits the 1999 to 2014 F-150 and 2010 to 2014 Raptor, with Styleside rows. SC203D fits the 2015 to 2027 F-150, the 2017 to 2027 Raptor and the 2023 to 2025 Lightning. Both list any bed length.
Best overall: Weather Guard 127 crossover
Best overall
Weather Guard 127 Aluminum Crossover Truck Tool Box, Full-Size Standard, Bright Aluminum (127-0-04)
From $1,340 · The full-size crossover most F-150 owners should start with.
It starts above the 117 but takes 7-1/2 in less of the rails, uses the 1Key UltraLock that the lo-sides share and has the most ratings here, 272 at 4.9. Twin gas struts in welded shields lift the lid to near 90 degrees, and clamps come in the box.
The 121 is Weather Guard's full-size low-profile model, yet its listing gives the same 72 in by 20 in by 18 in size, 11.0 ft³ and From price as the 127, and we found no Weather Guard figure showing it sits lower. Choose between them on finish. For boxes with a lower listed height, read our low profile tool box guide.
“Fit perfect on my 14' F150 King Ranch, easy install took about 30 minutes all hardware was included!”
Weather Guard 121 Aluminum Crossover Truck Tool Box, Full-Size Low-Profile, Bright Aluminum (121-0-04) owner · 5 out of 5 stars
“This is a very good box. I would not hesitate to buy it again. It fits like a glove on my 2019 F150 and it comes with every to attach it to the truck.”
Weather Guard 127 Aluminum Crossover Truck Tool Box, Full-Size Standard, Bright Aluminum (127-0-04) owner · 5 out of 5 stars
Pros
- Clamps included and no drilling listed
Cons
- One 3-star owner found the front of the lid sat about half an inch above the rear
- One 2-star owner dislikes the new lock, which does not sit flush
- It spans both rails, so it uses the bed's upper space
Skip it if you want the bed center open, or if you also run a tonneau cover and have not checked the clearance. See the cover section below.
Most room: Weather Guard 117 extra-wide crossover
Most room
From $1,189 · A 27-1/2 in wide crossover with 14.4 ft³ for loads of gear.
The 117 is the same 72 in long as the 127 but 27-1/2 in wide, which lifts capacity to 14.4 ft³. Its 27-1/2 in depth covers 7-1/2 in more of the rails behind the cab than the 127, which counts most on the 5.5 ft bed. The steel 116 is $1,229 at 14.5 ft³ (aluminum vs steel). Browse all full-size truck tool boxes too.
“So glad i went with this box, very simple to install and will be more than enough for what i want to use it for.”
Weather Guard 117 Aluminum Crossover Truck Tool Box, Full-Size Extra-Wide, Bright Aluminum (117-0-03) owner · 5 out of 5 stars
Pros
- 14.4 ft³, the most of the aluminum crossovers
Cons
- A 2-star owner of a 117-52-02 on an F-350 has to push the lid from the center to latch both sides
- At 27-1/2 in wide it takes more rail room
“As other reviews have said you have to get into the bed and push this lid from the center to get this box to positively latch on both sides.”
Weather Guard 117 Aluminum Crossover Truck Tool Box, Full-Size Extra-Wide, Bright Aluminum (117-0-03) owner · 2 out of 5 stars
Latching is the repeat complaint. In the reviews on file, 8 of the 200 for the 117 and 4 of the 144 for the 121 say the lid needs a push, a slam or an adjustment before both latches catch. One 121 owner cured it with shims.
Skip it if rail space is tight or you carry a few hand tools. The 127 does it in less width.
Best lo-side: Weather Guard 174
Best lo-side
Weather Guard 174 Lo-Side Truck Tool Box, 56" Bright Aluminum Diamond Plate (174-0-04)
From $981 · A 56 in box on one rail that keeps the bed center open.
It sits on top of one bed side rail on under-rail clamps, with no drilling listed. That is the same rail a cover mounts to, so see the cover section before you pair them.
“Perfect! Fits exactly right.”
Weather Guard 174 Lo-Side Truck Tool Box, 56" Bright Aluminum Diamond Plate (174-0-04) owner · 5 out of 5 stars
Pros
- Leaves the middle of the bed open
Cons
- 4.0 ft³ holds far less than a crossover
- One owner found a dent on arrival and one box without keys
The listing names no bed length. On the 5.5 ft SuperCrew box the floor is 67.1 in long, so measure the free rail before you choose the 56 in 174. The 41 in 184, from $918, holds 3.0 ft³ and leaves more room. No Weather Guard box in this guide starts lower. Skip it if you need more than 4.0 ft³ or want both rails free for a cover.
Wheel well option: Weather Guard 172
Wheel well
Weather Guard 172 Wheel Well Truck Tool Box, Driver Side Gloss Black Aluminum (172-5-04)
From $935 · A driver side box that mounts over the rear wheel well.
It mounts over the rear wheel well and adds a 12V access port. The rotary latch is 1Key UltraLock compatible, keyed alike on request.
The listing gives the 1997 to 2027 F-150 with a Styleside bed and no wheel-well measurement, so measure the space around your wheel well before you order.
Pros
- Uses space most owners leave empty
- 12V access port
Cons
- 3.4 ft³ is modest
- No owner reviews yet
Skip it if you want reviews behind it or need space for longer items.
Chest: Weather Guard 664
In-bed chest
Weather Guard 664 Aluminum All-Purpose Chest Truck Tool Box, 13.1ft³, Gloss Black (664-5-01)
From $978 · A 13.1 ft³ chest that sits against the bulkhead.
The listing calls it an in-bed box set against the bulkhead. See our install guide for how the boxes mount.
Set against the front wall, the 62 in length runs across the bed and the 20 in depth comes off the floor length. That leaves about 47 in of floor on the 5.5 ft box and about 59 in on the 6.5 ft box. Our data gives 65.2 in of floor width on the 2015 to 2020 truck and none for 2021 to 2026, so measure a newer bed. Skip it if you need the whole floor for plywood or bikes.
“Fits like a glove in F150 extended cab”
Weather Guard 664 Aluminum All-Purpose Chest Truck Tool Box, 13.1ft³, Gloss Black (664-5-01) owner · 5 out of 5 stars
Pros
- 13.1 ft³ is more than the 127 or 121
Cons
- One 2-star owner of a 664-52-01 traced a leak to a cracked weld
- A 3-star owner heard it thump on the road when empty and wished it opened from both sides
- It takes bed floor space
“Most pick-ups have a lip on the front of the bed. So it will NOT fit flush with the front wall and still open.”
Weather Guard 664 Aluminum All-Purpose Chest Truck Tool Box, 13.1ft³, Gloss Black (664-5-01) owner · 4 out of 5 stars
Budget side kit: UnderCover SwingCase
Small items
UnderCover SwingCase Swing-Out Truck Bed Toolbox
From $219.99 · A swing-out ABS box for straps and hand tools at a much lower price.
The listing calls it a swing-out wheel-well toolbox: an upper case 29 in long over a lower case 15 in long, 8 in wide and up to 15 in deep inside, with a key-lockable rotary handle and weathertight seal. The listed load is up to 75 lb. Both F-150 parts we list are driver side, and it suits straps, gloves and a few hand tools.
“The box is pretty well made and it fits my F150 really well.”
UnderCover SwingCase Swing-Out Truck Bed Toolbox owner · 5 out of 5 stars
Pros
- Far less than any Weather Guard box
Cons
- 1.5 ft³ is small
- A 3-star owner found the plastic soft
“These boxes are plastic and not a very hard plastic. Although it has a lock on it someone could very easily break into it.”
UnderCover SwingCase Swing-Out Truck Bed Toolbox owner · 3 out of 5 stars
Skip it if you keep valuable tools in the bed.
How to choose
Locks differ more than the boxes do. The 127, 121, 174 and 184 use the 1Key UltraLock, which the listings call keyed alike. The Weather Guard video below shows how the cylinder takes a new code. The 172 is listed as 1Key UltraLock compatible, keyed alike on request. The 117 and 116 here carry the One Key push-button lock and the 664 its own EXTREME PROTECTION lock, so do not plan on one key for those. For mounting and lock care, read our guide to securing a truck tool box.
Boxes and tonneau covers
A cover can run over a box only when the box sits inside the bed. The 664 is the one box here whose listing puts it below the bed rail. It is 19-1/4 in tall and the F-150 bed is 21.4 in deep, which leaves about 2 in for the cover's rails, so check that against the cover's own sheet. The 172 listing gives no rail clearance. The 174 and 184 sit on top of one rail, so confirm with the cover's sheet that both can share it. Two SwingCase owners on file found the case blocked their cover's handle. Which boxes clear a tonneau cover goes deeper, and the best hard tonneau covers for the F-150 covers the cover side.
Price bands
- Under $500: the UnderCover SwingCase, from $219.99.
- $500 to $1,000: the Weather Guard 184, 172, 664 and 174.
- Over $1,000: the Weather Guard 117, 116, 127 and 121 crossovers.
These are From prices on the F-150, and a finish or lock suffix can change them. Every size and type is in truck tool boxes.
Frequently asked questions
What size toolbox fits an F-150?
The 2015 to 2026 F-150 bed is 50.6 in between the wheel wells and comes in 5.5, 6.5 and 8 ft lengths. A 72 in crossover spans the rails, so measure that span and the lid clearance.
What is the best brand of truck tool box?
We list Weather Guard boxes and the UnderCover SwingCase, and the 127 has the most reviews, 272.
Do all truck tool boxes fit an F-150?
No. The crossovers listed for the F-150 are full-size 72 in boxes. The 127, 121, 172, 174 and 184 are listed for a Styleside bed, and the SwingCase comes as a separate driver side part for 1999 to 2014 and for 2015 to 2027.
Does a tool box need drilling?
The Weather Guard crossovers and lo-sides here list under-rail clamps with no drilling required. The SwingCase listing says some drilling on select trucks, and at least nine SwingCase owners on file drilled, tapped or trimmed a liner while one found holes ready. One put it this way.
“Everything went fine except the kit does not come with self-tapping screws and Ford doesn't tap those holes.”
UnderCover SwingCase Swing-Out Truck Bed Toolbox owner · 5 out of 5 stars
How long does installation take?
The 117 and 116 listings give about 20 to 30 minutes, the 664 about 20 to 40 and the SwingCase 30 or less. One 121 owner on a 2014 F-150 reports about 30. Times for the 127, 121, 172, 174 and 184 are not on file.
Find a tool box that fits your bed
Related guides
- F-150 Bed Size by Year and Cab: 5.5, 6.5 and 8 ft Dimensions
- Best Truck Tool Boxes: Crossover, Low-Profile, Chest, Wheel Well and Underbed Picks
- Truck Tool Box Dimensions: Sizes by Type and How to Measure Your Bed
- Best Tool Box for Under a Tonneau Cover: What Clears a Closed Cover
- Best Hard Tonneau Covers for the Ford F-150: 8 Picks by Bed Size