You must take a few measurements to determine the size of your truck bed. Once you have the dimensions in hand, you can decide whether a certain tool box can fit in that area. Most truck tool box manufacturers follow the standard sizing for truck beds when they design their tool boxes, but you should double-check your F-150 before you purchase one.
Measure from the top of one truck bed wall, across the bed, to the other wall to determine the appropriate length of tool box for your truck. Take this measurement from behind the truck cab where the tool box would be located. The tool box length that will fit on the F-150 is 69 ¾ inches.
Measure from the front truck bed rail, located right behind the truck cab, to the wheel bed. Go from the truck bed toward the tail gate until your measurement reads at least 20 1/4 inches from the bed rail -- the minimum required space between these two points for a tool box. The standard width of tool box that goes in a F-150 ranges from 19 7/8 to 20 1/4 inches.
Measure from the top of the bed rail straight down to the floor of the truck bed to determine the vertical depth of the truck bed rail. F-150 standard bed trucks have a depth of about 9 inches.
The most frequently used metal used for truck bed tool boxes is aluminum. This allows for a pleasing exterior look while also supplying a lightweight, durable, rustproof surface. Some manufacturers may use other materials, such as steel.
