Trying to make a Plano Sportsman's Tote Work...

Howdy y'all.

To preface, I've been looking for some good bed storage that would fit underneath a Gator trifold tonneau. For a couple of reasons, I haven't bought it yet, but I do plan to. So the idea is for this storage to neatly fit underneath the tonneau while also remaining secure when the tonneau is either open, or in this case, not installed yet.
So, I've seen plenty of topics on the forum waxing favorable about the Plano Sportsman's Trunk. By all accounts, I like it too, so I went and bought one. I had planned to drill holes into the box and use those big fat Torx bolts to screw the box onto the bed, but the bolts are too far apart for that to work. I can't see any tiedown points that aren't rope or strap hooks, so right now I have the box "secured" to the bed with bungees. I don't have D-rings at the rear of the bed like 3rd gens do, so I have to use my rail cleats for now. I don't like it since it's not very secure, but so far it works.

Is there any good way to really get that box secured to the bed mechanically (i.e. with hardware, and as few straps/tiedowns as possible), so that it frees up my rail cleats? (please excuse the bird shit haha)

 

You could buy one of those pack of 2 OEM bed tie downs and install them at the rear. Then install some eye bolts on the sides of your Plano boxes and get some turnbuckles to anchor to the tie downs.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...vations-shovel-axe-mounts-sf-bay-area.804084/

Buy the tie downs I'm selling (they sit under the bed bolts) and strap it over the top.

 

I would roll with a bed divider to keep that box where you want it.
I found it to be very useful.

 

Aluminum flat bar can be bought at hardware stores and you can drill holes into it and that's how you can "tie" it to the bed Torx bolts. Aluminum flat bar is soft enough that you can use home tools to work on it and it won't rust either. Still rigid enough though.

 

I think I may combine these two ideas. I found a set of V-rings that install to the factory Torx bolts that I can probably use to do the job. That way I have V-rings at the back of the bed as well as securing the box to the bed. The bolts look a bit rusty so maybe I'll soak them in WD-40 before trying to hit them with the impact driver.

 

Will a metal job box fit under the cover?