Bed storage options

Hey all,

I have a 13 TRD Sport Access Cab. I’m on our local SWAT Team and my gear has to go everywhere with me in case I get called out. Obviously, with the access cab, throwing everything in the back seat just takes up too much room.

does anyone have any good ideas for a lockable/weatherproof option for the bed? I’ve looked at bed boxes, but they’re either stupid expensive or they’re the husky brand and get terrible reviews.
Not trying to spend a fortune because this is for work, and it’s on my dime..

thanks!

 

Even though there not cheap, a topper shell and some plastic totes would be a good solution. You could even tint the windows to keep eyeballs at bay.

Or even a hard tonneau cover with the totes.

 

I’m planning on keeping “the dangerous stuff” locked to my seat frames under the seats. I Really need space for all the clothing, boots, helmets, gas masks, etc. somewhere in the bed.

 

Hard tonneau cover or truck topper
Both fairly available on the used market

 

Diamondback or Retrax tonneau and a lock for the tailgate. As somebody who owns a Retrax... I 100% would have gotten a Diamondback if I wasn't mounting a RTT to it.

 

Locked and secure is the kicker here. A bed box or used topper is likely going to be the cheapest, but not cheap. You might be able to find a used Decked system. A large Rubbermaid Action Packer somehow secured to the bed might be an option.

 

on my local facebook marketplace there is a guy that sells used pelican cases and military cases of every size and shape. I procured a few from him for storing things and have a nice case I put in my bed. Its locked ot the tie downs with a beefy steel cable and has two padlocks. But I also have a bed shell with no windows.

 

I was able to find a used Decked system from a member here on TW and it's been a fantastic addition to my truck, and with a locking tailgate you're all set. The system isn't immediately recognizable like the larger gear boxes that stick out the top of the bed so most people quickly looking at my truck have no idea I have additional storage behind the tailgate. One caveat is the original Decked system's "ammo cans" are not waterproof, and you'll need to check the top deck parts for any cracks which could allow water into the drawer spaces.

 

A topper/canopy and a drawer system. Check out Secure In-Vehicle Storage Systems | TruckVault and they do work with military and law enforcement agencies.

 

https://www.bpfabricating.com/collections/tacoma/products/bpf-2005-2023-toyota-tacoma-tailgate-panel

Helmet, no.... gas mask, maybe. Clothes, maybe. Additional ammo, probably. Other tactical items, totally.

It's limited in space, but it's lockable and discreet. It's not weatherproof but with a little bit of work, you can limit the exposure to moisture.

And I think BPF offers an LE discount.

 

Someone will just steel the whole tailgate.

 

Possibly. Remedied with a Pop-n-Lock or a tailgate hinge lock (hose clamp).

 

This seems... weird. Our tactical team has take home tahoes with truck vault drawers and such in them provided by the city vs OP is expected to respond to emergencies in his POV tacoma with his gear in rubbermaid containers?

 

I agree, but some small and rural towns may not have the budget.

 

And that's probably what this is too, but man... liability through the roof for MVA's while responding in a non-emergency vehicle and theft for any of the firearms/gear.

 

Yeah, benefits of a rural area and lower budget. We respond in personals and are expected to have gear with us at all times. With that said, it’s on the rare end we get called out. But it’s a liability with all the gear in my truck constantly.

Some of our guys have department take homes, some work for the county and have take homes, and a couple detectives with take homes. It’s about a 50/50 split between personals and department issued vehicles.

 

So because I have a personal, I’m trying to find a lower budget option for locking all this crap up and not having a back seat piled to the roof with gear.

luckily I live in a very safe area where vehicle break in’s don’t even cross my mind, but that’s not to say it can’t happen. It’s also an 11 year old truck at this point, likely not the target of thieves, at least not in my area.

 

Alright, here's some options.

1. rear seat delete deck
2. I saw a guy turned a stock rear seat (double cab though) into lockable storage
3. Decked, v1 or v2 your call
4. If you don't want Decked (expensive), here is what I did as cheap good enough for me, but it is not expensive firearms that have to be secured: plywood raised bed platform, locking top, you can also put a tailgate lock (PopnLock)
underneath the wood I have 3 very big clear plastic totes that can be carried by hand, simply because they are one of the things that fit underneath the wood to hold things. And was cheap. Sterilite from walmart. I think they even kept dust out from off roading.
Underneath I have a genuine Bed Mat so it's grippy to avoid sliding and banging around. The problem is bed mats (vs bed rug) tend to soak up dirt and even if I washed it, still is dirty. Like if I lay on it with a clean shirt, it will dirty the shirt. Not ideal. But with clear totes, things are in the totes. Not touching the bed mat.

5. harbor Freight plano cases. I have them on a roof rack. Theoretically they might fit in the bed and be lockable.
6. Racks. Roof rack, bed rack, you name it. With or without something like a softopper. Not to mention shells that can have shell racks put on, or gear mounted to them.
Point is, racks give you more room to mount gear and/or boxes onto them.

At the end of the day it is a small truck and these are things folks do to try and get more room.
That's exactly what I did. Camped in my truck, literally ran out of room and went "oh shit, I need a roof rack."
Because of the running out of space, I had things in cheap storage that I really needed with me, not in storage. At the time did not have a roof rack to put them.

There is a lot of products. But sometimes an idea doesn't exist. I'm not saying start a company invent and patent something but,
even making it yourself.
Like for example, what if there was a way to have slideout drawers in the backseat, stacked up to the ceiling. Almost like a file cabinet, to hold what you want.
Yes there is seat delete decks with a drawer, but they are only at the bottom, and the purpose is usually flat with room above to slap a big fridge on top.
Kind of like Milwaukee packout system or something.

or maybe there is govt product solutions that already exist for this type of thing that are hopefully universal and can fit any vehicle, can be made to fit, or even made for the Taco.

They make locking bed cubby doors but decked might block that. Same goes for MOLLE panels.
There's also roof MOLLE, like MESO Customs (may be out of stock) or KFlo's Krib.
Rear window MOLLE.

I'm not saying switch over to a DCSB or DCLB but those are options. Me personally sometimes I wish I got ACLB > my DCSB...
the 6' bed looks sick, and close rear window to operate by hand
but no ability to easily carry passengers at least not in the cab.

the fancier it is the more it costs.
one example, saw a rack. Goes onto shell. I forget which company can't find pic right now.
Ladder rack. But, it appears to unlock and slide/swing down brought angled where the side window is, to access gear. Versus a rack that is stationary on top requiring climbing up to get to things.
To add to that difficulty, my HFT cases don't have struts, but I got a cheap kit and plan to add them. To keep the lids open. Some folks add lights as well.

And to see things, people add lights. For example:
-Meso interior LED, red/white (it's bright)
-Matt Gecko LED options in the bed

any cover in the bed can potentially be made waterproof, it's just more work than simply installing it.
For example, sealant
or, the factory front square long piece in the Tacoma bed has gaps to let in water, regardless of what you run on top of it. I've heard of folks unbolting that to silicone the shit out of it, re-install, before putting any top. Among other things. Haven't figured out that one yet.
One company also makes rubber gaskets you can add around openings to seal.

Me personally I like the ease of combination locks, just not the time it takes to open them. Keyed defeats the point if plan is to lock fob in truck and leave it. And more keys to mess with. And not every product is combination.
locking bed cubbies for example, I believe the only one that offers combo lock pattern is PopNLock with their I think it's called BedVault and BedVault XL
(though that is small stuff)
and usually means me climbing in hoping there's enough light in the bed (daytime) to actually see the combo digits...

 

Don't get me wrong. That looks fantastic. I'm glad they're offering it, no one else does.



but why for that amount of money is there no inserts into the tailgate and do they have to be home made?
Because now your gear is falling into places, jumbling, and hitting internal components.

Maybe with enough DIY thoes components could be rerouted,
and if castings are made for fiberglass buckets, that could potentially allow for cutting off and deleting those reinforcement brackets
which don't work anyway given how fragile the tailgate is known to be.

If that cable was routed in a different way, the whole thing could potentially be cut off, to have room for a singular large pocket...

say like any other vehicle tailgate storage

I'm not saying they should do that. It would raise price, for one.



also, OP, I saw a guy add bedside storage to a 2nd gen Ram where it flips open. Not sure if that could be done to a Tacoma

or potentially a wider bedside like fiberglass that might allow for more room behind it, to be made into that



OR, depending on the budget

some kind of Ute box type of thing. Many options of that out there.




the box opens. The bottom rear sides have compartments.
And some of them have a big long slideout compartment/drawer above the tow hitch that hides underneath the box.

and, if the Tacoma is too small (it is small), maybe something else would work better that is bigger, like a 1500 or 2500.
IDK about an SUV depending on the size.

Plus, in terms of lock security, as you probably already know
locks vary.
Some lock cylinders are cheap and can be easily and quickly defeated with something like a paper clip or screwdriver and hammer, or door pried open.
My roof box locks can probably be grinded off or bolt cutters, but I don't keep anything crazy in there.

Are they paying for this Batman Tacoma Build or what

theres also bed toolboxes

 

I wanted to secure items in the bed, but also wanted flexibility to move or remove storage unit:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...gen-tacoma-today.6499/page-4978#post-13375306