I’ve had great luck with Delta and Weatherguard. I used to buy the old boxes that had the welded bracket fir a circular lock. Most toolboxes made today have horrible cheap locking systems. when I buy a toolbox these days it’s a KNAACK box.
I just need a box for s stepside. No underbody. These are the hardest things to find on the dang planet.
Has anybody had any luck polishing an older box? I don't know the brand of mine. it is the kind with the butterfly lid on each side which I like as i don't like climbing into the bed to get into the box. It is getting pretty dull and i thought it might be worthwhile to polish it and hit with with some form of clear coat. Any experience with that? I don't mind starting a new thread on it but it seems there might be some ideas here.
I've polished aluminum diamond plate a couple times. Plan on destroying a few polishing pads. I have used 3M Mag and Aluminum polish and I think it is one of the best out there. I've been polishing aluminum since 1973 when I bought my first Harley. 3M part # 051131. When I'm happy with the way it shines I use Eagle One NeverDull polish wadding. It takes some time but the results are well wort it. Hope this helps. Good luck.
[QUOTE. the only thing I've done to it in the last 20+ years is replace the gas rams on the lid.[/QUOTE] You could have been a cheap azz like me and just used a scrap hold up stick when needed.
This. I see a lot of used Weatherguard boxes for sale for anywhere between $150-300. Not too bad! Won't an S10/Ranger sized toolbox fit?
Some diamond plate stuff already has a protective clearcoat like coating that delaminates /dulls likemy tailgate protector. It's a bit of effort and looks worse if you half ass do it. I wiped off whatever that protective coating is with lacquer thinner and started polishing. First a compound, then wadding polish, and then Mother mag and wheel. It's been a few years since I did the gate protector and it will take some pads and considerable effort, and it takes some effort to keep it nice once done. I've dome much Harley and oddball aluminum stuff myself. In process for a front end I'm getting ready to redo. Started as rough "as cast" clearcoated legs. The top is after sanding and a quick polish with a heavy cut compound. The bottom is a little further along.
You could have been a cheap azz like me and just used a scrap hold up stick when needed.[/QUOTE] I just got really good at getting what I needed with one hand. I dealt with it that way for too long. FYI I think WeatherGuard wanted something like $80 for a new set of them, but I plugged the part number off the side of the originals into Amazon and got some replacements for less than $30. They work great.
I did the part number trick with the gas rams on mine and took it one step farther. The latches on mine were bad, one was broken and I had no keys for the other. i called the manufacturer and they wanted 45 bucks per latch for replacements. I got the part number off the latch and plugged it into ebay. A perfect replacement came right up for 10 bucks each. Apologies to the OP for playing with his thread. i would look into the used market and the junkyards for a box unless you are looking for a really pretty one.
Years ago I put a cheap Northern Tool box on the front of my trailer for holding tie downs, a winch, etc. The aluminum diamond plate is holding up well, but the cheap steel hinges and latches are all rusted.
