The most versatile vehicle that has been made both for driving in urban and rural environments is the ute. But that’s not the only defining feature of a ute as its unique dimensions make for a perfect trade vehicle that can also be brought onto a campsite without sacrificing anything. Utes also offer great visibility all around and an engine powerful enough to keep up on the motorway with a loaded bed.
They come both as 2×4 and 4×4 vehicles with the latter being able to offer more traction and control, especially on more challenging terrain. You can also equip your ute with loads of accessories, one of the most useful ones being an under tray toolbox.
Advantages of an Undertray Ute Toolbox
Location
The most obvious reason why you’d want an underbody ute toolbox is because of where it gets mounted. Being under the chassis of your ute means that you get to keep your bed clear from added luggage. This makes an underbody truck box a convenient and seamless solution.
Access
With under ute tool boxes, you get a unique access point that requires you to bend over or kneel down depending on your ute’s ground clearance. But nonetheless, you’re better off doing that than climbing up into your ute’s bed every time you need something. All you’ll need to do is take a step or two from your driver’s side and reach in to get whatever tool or equipment you need for the task at hand.
Protection
There is added protection from the elements as well as prying eyes when it comes to under tray toolboxes. They aren’t that easy to spot, unless you make them so, and the rain and sun won’t get to them as much as they would if the toolbox was in your ute’s tray. Despite being mounted closer to the ground undertray toolboxes are still a safer option than most ute toolboxes.
Design
Its unique design makes it compatible with your ute’s underbody which makes for a custom-made toolbox. This can increase your ute’s resale value in the long run as an underbody toolbox makes for a more functional vehicle. You can have a toolbox that will open on both sides of your ute but this will need to be able to go across the area where the bed and cab come in contact.
What to Look For in an Undertray Ute Toolbox
Dimensions
In order to get a compatible and usable toolbox you need to get the dimensions right. As mentioned above, this is kind of a custom underbody truck box since it needs to match your ute’s undercarriage. Without taking measurements you won’t get the right size toolbox and you won’t make the most out of the space underneath.
Capacity
Another important factor of undertray toolboxes is their storage capacity. Larger toolboxes offer more storage capability than smaller ones, there’s no doubt about that but what you have to consider is the space underneath your ute. This will be the determining factor in this case.
Security
Although under ute tool boxes are not that available to thieves that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look for a secure under tray toolbox. This will be one that will work together with your central locking or that uses locks for every door and/ or drawer. Having both locks and your ute’s central locking at your side is a big plus.
Waterproof
A waterproof toolbox is more than necessary in this case as undertray toolboxes sit closer to the ground than ones that go at the back of your ute. You might need to go over deep water crossings or a river and you don’t want your tools and equipment to get flooded. Therefore a toolbox with proper seals is going to be a must. These seals should be placed at areas where there is an opening or some sort of movement like drawers and doors in order to prevent water as well as other contaminants from getting in.
Materials an Undertray Toolbox is Made of
Steel
Steel undertray toolboxes are the strongest you’ll come across and they are also the heaviest. Being able to withstand heavy impacts steel toolboxes are not the greatest when it comes to withstanding corrosion. But if treated properly and with the right coating you can make steel toolboxes last longer than usual.
Aluminium
With an aluminium ute under tray toolbox, you can expect the longest of lifespan when it comes to corrosion. This is because aluminium is a naturally corrosion-resistant material that doesn’t require any special treatment in order to stay that way. Just don’t expect to be able to carry a lot of weight with an aluminium toolbox or to be able to survive as many encounters with hard objects.
Final Words
Don’t get me wrong ute’s are rather versatile and functional vehicles but they wouldn’t have come this far without their openness to aftermarket accessories, especially the more functional ones. A toolbox might be the more common accessory but it’s not the only one that can change the way you use your utility vehicle.
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