Canopy VS. Tool Bed Box....thoughts...

So I've come to another fork in the road when it comes to storage... should I stick with the canopy or go with a black tool box??

Canopy:
Pros: full bed coverage, colour matched, looks great, secures rear window from being broken into etc...
Cons: can't access box from sides, heavy, limits visibility

Tool box:
Pros: looks great, better security for tools/equipment (I'm a carpenter), lighter than canopy, etc.
Cons: doesn't secure full bed, leaves rear window open to be broken into, etc.

I currently have the colour matched insulated leer canopy.

So what are your thoughts and opinions on what the best way to go is...

 

Canopy and it' not even close IMO. So much more versatility with the topper. Keep what ya got.

 

All depends on your uses. I was in the same boat for a while. I ended up realizing a tool box suits me much better for a few main reasons.

- A good brand toolbox actually keeps the contents safe. Cheap toolboxes and canopies are easy to break into and I regularly put expensive tools in my box.

- My friends tacoma has a canopy and I HATE HATE HATE backing up at night with it on. You cannot see behind your truck at all.

- A toolbox is much faster and easier to remove by yourself if you want to use the truck for something that requires the whole bed.

I ended up getting an over the rails weatherguard box as it suits me very well right now. However If I ever have the space to store a canopy, I think the ultimate setup would be to have a toolbox that bolts to the bed of the box so you can use it and the canopy at the same time. I would normally have just the toolbox on, and only put the canopy on when I need it.

Something like this http://www.weatherguard.com/truck_tool_boxes/view_products.php?subcat_id=15&model_id=670

 

I voted tool box that way you still can use your bed.

 

Canopy

 

bed rack with box...

 

I have both and the tool box has been sitting in my garage for over a yr now. I find that the topper much better suits my needs and looks fantastic IMO. There certainly are limitations to the topper as mentioned; HARD to see in reverse (add aux back-up lights) and limits what you can haul, but the good out weighs the bad.

The topper is very secure and can protect much more than a tool box. Ikd what you drive around with but I know that a lot of my tools (tile saws, mitre saws, weed whacker, leaf blower etc) will not fit in a tool box. In the winter its a no-brainer to have the topper on! AND you can sleep under it regardless of the weather! also I put a nice roofrack on the topper and thats how I haul my kayaks, lumber, and other crap; with a toll box that isnt possible.

Sometimes in the summer depending on what I'm doing I'l switch to the tool box but that is rare. Also I have a DC, so if I put the tool box in it leaves me w/ such a small bed its totally impractical.

Topper fo sho!

 

that's alot of help you guys! thanks! i agree TIPICOTACO... i'm a carpenter so it would make more sence to have the canopy because the table saw, mitre saw etc wouldn't fit into the box... I'll just have to make something up for the rear of the bed to store stuff in.

would it be over kill to keep the canopy on and to get the type of box that sits inside the rails to have both the box and canopy for extra security?

I am getting a new compustar alarm put in...does anyone know if there are any add-on features for alarms that i could use to have it sensor the canopy back window also???

 

You're a carp. You live in a rainy, maybe snowy climate.
You "work out of your truck" (I take it).

Get a canopy with windoors and a reinforced, load bearing roof with rack.
You can get the rack later if needed.

I just saw that you're hauling a table saw and chop saw....definitely canopy.
You can also build yourself a "slide-out" (oversize drawers) to make access to the rear of the bed easier.

 

Someone on here has a shell and the most awesome toolbox I've ever seen. It's hinged at the tailgate, so it swings out, and opens from the front, which is the rear when you swing it around. It's about as wide as the fenderwells, so it doesn't protrude too much. I'm on my phone and unable to search, but I think it's in the huge toolbox thread. It's what I plan on getting. My snugtop with windoors should be here in about 2 weeks. Ill use the toolbox to keep the tools, and emergency stuff secure and the shell is mainly for the dogs and winter travels. So I vote both!

 

I have a toolbox but would love to have a shell instead. I like the look of a shell on a lifted truck.

 

Would have gone w/ a shell in a long bed for camping purposes. But since I'm rocking the SB, I opted for the toolbox.

 

When it rains and fogs up it makes it crazy difficult to see out the back of my truck. The rear window fogs up and then the camper window fogs up too. But, I do enjoy the added protection of the shell and the fact that it makes it look different.

 

I have a toolbox right now but I just bought a camper shell today. We'll see which one I like better.

 

I have both. I use the toolbox in the summer for everything from guns to chainsaws to towing/recovery equipment and spare parts. I use the camper shell in the winter because it keeps the snow out of the bed and it means I can leave all 4 pairs of skis in the back indefinitely.