5 Tips for Installing a Cross-Deck Toolbox in Australia

Thinking and dreaming about upgrading and improving your UTE is entirely normal. Everyone does it. Your UTE has multiple options and many items you can include on the basic look – from roof racks to ladders to tool boxes.

Australia is known for its UTE culture. Many people use these vehicles for more than just commuting to work. UTEs are excellent for off-road trips and all kinds of different outdoor adventures. However, owning a UTE is not enough, and you must adjust them for the wilderness.

Many options are available if you want to upgrade your vehicle and turn it into something suitable for your next adventure. Of course, one of the essential items you must own is the toolbox. If you don’t want to cover the entire rear tray, you might want to install a cross-deck toolbox.

What is a cross-deck toolbox?

A cross-deck toolbox is a piece of equipment installed over the rear UTE bed. It provides extended storage space and better organization of your tools or other items you’re planning to carry. Cross deck tool boxes come in various sizes, shapes, and materials.

They may fill the entire rear bed of your UTE or only a part of it. Depending on your needs and wishes, the toolbox can be arranged differently, which makes it a contractor’s best friend. This toolbox is installed across the deck and is accessible from both sides.

The cross deck toolbox is installed side-to-side from one end to the other but leaves the rest of the tray open. If you’re thinking about installing something like this, keep reading to see the most valuable tips you must know when doing it.

1. Look up the state’s rules and regulations

Every state in Australia has different rules and regulations when it comes to driving with additional equipment over the rear tray. Not all allow the same dimensions, looks, and additional items, so you must do thorough research and find out what is allowed and what is not.

Also, you must know that what is legal in one state might not be in another, so risking this is not the smartest thing to do. If you’re planning to go camping or visit an off-road track in another state, you must be sure that you have your toolbox optimized for the trip.

2. If you’re mounting it yourself, ensure you know how to do it

Many companies will ship a particular toolbox to your home address. However, the box needs to be mounted to your vehicle. Every toolbox is different, and you need skills and experience to mount it yourself. It may seem simple, but it never is.

You may order a simple caravan drawbar toolbox or a robust toolbox UTE canopy, but in both cases, you will need some drilling, screwing and precision. If you don’t add it perfectly, many issues may arise later from your lack of skills.

Instead, you might want to ask a professional to do it. There are lots of shops that design, develop, and install various boxes. They have true professionals working there that will know how to get the job done right. If you feel confident, you can always do this yourself.

3. Search for an excellent shop with skilled professionals

With many different toolbox shops, you must find the one that will be perfect for you and your needs. Check out some of the available ones nearby and find out more about them. In the Melbourne and Sydney area, there are dozens of excellent shops, so check out a bit more about them online.

Find out about their work. Read some reviews from previous customers and check out their experience in the business. Those who have been around long enough are usually an excellent choice. Those who enjoy a great reputation among their customers are also a great fit.

Hiring professionals to get the job done is an excellent idea. This will end your worries about whether you can do it yourself and if you do a poor job mounting the box. A professional can’t go wrong, and even if they do, you can always return and ask them to fix what they’ve done.

4. Wear some safety equipment while working

Tool boxes are robust items that may hurt you if you don’t handle them well. Always wear all available safety equipment when mounting one of them on your vehicle. Think about safety gloves, goggles, and some protective clothes. A helmet is also a wise idea, as one tiny miscalculation and a piece of the metal might go straight to your head.

If you go to the toolbox shop, you’ll see that the pros are doing the same. If they are doing it, and they are confident in their moves, you should be doing it, too. It doesn’t matter if you’re trying to mount a big canopy or a tiny under tray tool box.

5. Think of all the details before ordering the toolbox

Once you order a toolbox, there’s no going back. Think about all the details before ordering it. Think about the design, the material, the colour, and the size of the toolbox.

If you own a UTE that has specific dimensions and you can’t find a proper cross-deck toolbox, you can order one custom-made. Once you have the box in your hands, it’s hard to make changes that will help you fit inside the rear tray, so think of all the details before ordering.

Top Reasons to Install a Cross Deck Toolbox

When trying to create the perfect UTE setup, you need the ideal storage solution. These vehicles are enormous, but you must install the right toolbox to see them fully functional. 

1. Extended storage area

Installing a toolbox means extending the storage area of your vehicle. Although it may not look this way, as you’re covering an open area where everything can fit, you’re getting more storage because you can’t load bigger items without providing protection.

You might transport things on short distances without traffic around, but if you want to drive, you’re risking items to fall out. Installing a toolbox means creating wide and high storage area where many tools and personal items can fit in.

2. Enhanced safety of the cargo

Transporting often means stopping at gas stations, open parking lots, and places where thieves will easily reach over the bed to steal what you have inside. When you own a toolbox, you provide the best possible protection.

Add a lock that you can open with a key only you have. Aluminium tool boxes are known as lightweight but extremely durable and safe. No burglar can cut through this toolbox without using heavy machines creating extreme noise and attracting attention to themselves.

3. Protection against all weather conditions

Aside from burglars, an even bigger concern for everyone transporting items is the weather. The hot sun during the summer, heavy rain and hail during the rainy season, and the snow in the winter may be a tough challenge for every UTE owner.

These tool boxes will provide the necessary protection against all weather conditions. You will never worry about your belongings, no matter where you’re going and what you’re doing - camping, contracting jobs, commuting to work, or anything else.

4. Improved looks of your UTE

Aside from the many transport benefits, installing a cross-deck toolbox also has an appearance benefit. Owning one of these tool boxes means transforming the looks of your UTE. Many users will add one because it makes the vehicle look much better than it already is.

They will add a specific design, paint it differently or add a personalized touch. When they are driving through the city streets, the vehicle will catch the attention of nearby pedestrians.

5. Higher resale value

Once you create the perfect setup, you’re getting a vehicle that has lots of benefits and helps you do your daily job and tasks. Simultaneously, it gives you an asset that has value. If you’re one day planning to sell your vehicle, you can offer it at a higher price.

The resale value of the UTE becomes higher as everyone’s looking for a vehicle that has additional equipment on it. Your investment in a toolbox of this kind will pay off when you try to sell it.

6. Better organization and accessibility of your items

Being a contractor means you must always carry lots of tools with you and use them daily. With dozens of different tools many contractors lose track of where they’ve placed the one they need. A toolbox of this kind provides the best organisation, providing perfect accessibility.

The cross-deck toolbox is often in the shape of a canopy and is accessible from both sides. The contractor can reach inside and use the toolbox that was previously installed. Additionally adding drawers, shelves, and other organizational items will improve the functionality even more.

These six points show the benefits of installing cross-deck tool boxes. These boxes are an excellent way to handle the contractor needs, camping ideas, and many other things. Getting one means enjoying your trips but also creating a more valuable UTE with a higher resale value.