Flatbed Toolboxes, Manufactured for Real Work
Tools, equipment, and heavy-duty gear are essential for a flatbed truck to perform, so the toolboxes installed on it must be equally dependable. A toolbox that rattles loose, corrodes, or forces you to choose between deck space and accessibility isn't doing its job. Wickum Weld manufactures aluminum toolboxes for flatbed trucks out of our Vancouver, WA manufacturing facility, built to mount topside or underbody depending on how your truck is set up, what you need to access on the job, and how often you're in and out of the box.
Every configuration Wickum builds starts with the same marine-grade aluminum and the same manufacturing standard. The difference is where the box sits and what tradeoff it's built around. This page covers the flatbed toolbox options Wickum offers, what separates each configuration, and how to get one manufactured for your truck.
Topside Toolboxes for Flatbed Trucks
Topside toolboxes mount on top of the flatbed deck, keeping tools and gear within arm's reach without requiring you to climb underneath the truck or dig through a cluttered cab. Wickum's topside toolboxes are manufactured from marine-grade aluminum, built to handle the weight and vibration of daily flatbed work without loosening at the mounts or corroding from weather exposure.
Topside placement is the right call when quick access matters more than maximizing deck space. Service trucks, utility crews, and anyone who's in and out of their toolbox multiple times a day tend to prefer this configuration. The tradeoff is that a topside box does take up some of the deck's usable surface, so sizing and placement matter more here than with an underbody setup.
Topside toolbox details:
• Marine-grade aluminum construction, manufactured to resist corrosion
• Mounted for fast access without climbing under the truck
• Manufactured to standard sizing, with custom configurations available for specific deck layouts
Underbody Toolboxes
Underbody toolboxes mount beneath the flatbed deck, keeping the full top surface of the bed clear for hauling materials, equipment, or cargo. This configuration is manufactured for crews who need maximum usable deck space and are willing to trade some accessibility for it. Tools go in and come out less frequently than with a topside box, but nothing on the deck itself is sacrificed to storage.
Underbody boxes see more direct road exposure than topside units, so the marine-grade aluminum construction matters even more here. Corrosion resistance is what keeps an underbody box functional season after season instead of seizing up or rusting through. Like the rest of the Wickum lineup, underbody toolboxes are manufactured from marine-grade aluminum and built to standard sizing, with custom configurations available for specific mounting and clearance needs.
Underbody toolbox details:
• Marine-grade aluminum construction, built to withstand road spray and weather exposure
• Keeps full flatbed deck surface open for cargo
• Manufactured to standard sizing, with custom mounting configurations available
Step & Access Toolboxes
For flatbed setups where deck height makes getting in and out of the truck bed a regular hassle, Wickum manufactures step-style toolboxes that double as a mounting point for tools and as a stable step up to the deck. These aren't an afterthought accessory. They're manufactured to the same durability standard as the rest of the lineup, built to be stepped on daily, in all weather, without deforming, loosening, or becoming a liability underfoot.
Step boxes are typically paired with a topside or underbody configuration rather than used alone, giving crews both storage and safer, more convenient access to the deck in one manufactured unit.
Flatbed Storage Boxes
Beyond topside and underbody configurations, Wickum manufactures general-purpose flatbed storage boxes for crews who need enclosed, weatherproof storage that doesn't fit neatly into a topside or underbody category — irregular tool sets, larger equipment, or supplies that need to stay dry and secured during transport. Where topside and underbody boxes are defined by where they mount, storage boxes are defined by what they need to hold, and they're manufactured to your flatbed's dimensions rather than sold as a fixed universal size.
This makes storage boxes a common choice for fleet and commercial operations that need a consistent, secure place for equipment that doesn't fit standard toolbox dimensions: generators, hoses, larger hand tools, or job-specific gear.
Choosing the Right Flatbed Toolbox Configuration
Most flatbed owners land on one of three approaches:
• Access-first — a topside toolbox for crews in and out of their tools all day
• Space-first — an underbody toolbox for crews who need the full deck clear
• Combined — topside or underbody paired with a step box, or a dedicated storage box for oversized or irregular equipment
There's no single right answer. It depends on how the truck is used day to day. Wickum manufactures each configuration to the same standard, so the decision comes down to fit for the job, not a tradeoff in build quality.
Why Flatbed Owners Choose Wickum Weld
• American-made — manufactured in Vancouver, WA, not imported
• Marine-grade aluminum — corrosion-resistant and durable without adding steel weight
• Configuration flexibility — topside, underbody, step, or storage box, manufactured to fit your setup
• Hand crafted, not mass-produced — every toolbox is manufactured to spec, not stamped out as a universal fit
• Built for daily use — manufactured to hold up under repeated loading, weather exposure, and road vibration
Get Your Flatbed Toolboxes Manufactured Right
Ready to outfit your flatbed truck? Contact Wickum Weld or call (360) 837-0706 to get started.
