4 Reasons to go for Aluminium Ute Toolboxes

First introduced back in the 1930s, the ute wasn't everybody's favourite when it came to using the same vehicle for work and leisure. At least it wasn't the case in Australia. It took some time for it to become the iconic vehicle for Aussies and today it's synonymous exactly for the same purpose it was built for.

The original design goes to Ford and although it has changed over the decades the ute has stayed the most practical and versatile vehicle that can be used for all kinds of activities. Utes are also fuel efficient as some can have a consumption of 6.5l/ 100km with a tank of about 80 litres. You can also add various accessories to a ute.

Benefits of Aluminium Ute Toolboxes

Weight

One of the accessories you can add to your ute is a toolbox but not just any toolbox, one made of aluminium. Why are aluminium toolboxes special, because, first of all, they are extremely light. This makes new aluminium boxes for utes good for fuel economy and easy to put on and remove from your ute.

Durability

While aluminium makes for lighter toolboxes, it doesn't necessarily make for weak ones. Aluminium ute tool boxes are much more durable than some of their more impact-resistant counterparts. That's because aluminium has excellent anti-corrosive properties which don't require the material to be treated in order to stay that way.

Weatherproof

Aluminium also makes for toolboxes that can survive in different weather conditions. No matter if it's sunny or if it's pouring down torrential rain you will only need to give your toolbox a good wipe down to keep it in good shape and your tools will stay dry no matter what. The occasional hosing down is required for aluminium toolboxes but this won't do anything to the material or the tools.

Appearance

One thing that no other metal has on aluminium is its looks. Aluminium boxes for utes look much more professional than steel ones. That's especially the case if you go for checkered aluminium ute tool boxes which have a unique design that will make your ute look much better than with just a chunk of metal being put on it.

What Matters in a Ute Toolbox

Size & Capacity

One of the main aspects of an aluminium ute box is its size and therefore its storage capacity. The larger the toolbox the more tools and supplies it can store especially larger and heavier tools. But keep in mind that larger toolboxes add more weight and are more difficult to remove and put on your ute.

Design

There are many different designs of ute toolboxes made of aluminium as the material is much easier to shape than, say, steel. You'll come across drawer, cross-bed, under-tray and canopy aluminium toolboxes as the more common ones.

Drawer toolboxes, as you'd expect, come with sliding drawers that help you organise your tools and supplies much easier which is what makes them ideal for both tradies and DIYers.

Cross-bed aluminium ute tool boxes are placed across the bed, hence the name. You can access them quite easily from the top which is why cross-bed toolboxes are better than drawer toolboxes when it comes to storing more frequently used tools.

Under-tray boxes are able to fit under your ute's tray which gives them a unique advantage over other types of toolboxes. That's the ability to provide both an easily accessible storage space and a free cargo space up top at the same time. You'll need to further protect such a toolbox from road grime though.

Canopy ute toolboxes are made to fit under a canopy which makes them the perfect solution for when you're going camping or just want to store some outdoor equipment. They're not limited to that though.

Security

Since you're storing your bread and butter in a ute toolbox it's important to have your gear and supplies safe from theft. The main thing here is to go for a ute toolbox that has locks and if it's a drawer toolbox you should have a lock on each drawer. A heavy-duty T-handle and hinges are a must-have too. A properly sealed aluminium ute box will help prevent your contents from getting wet in severe weather conditions.

Accessories

While not all, there are ute toolboxes that can be equipped with certain accessories which make it more feature-rich. This includes lights, a ladder, dividers, trays and even an attachment point for a UHF antenna. Again not all of these accessories are going to be compatible with all types of aluminium ute boxes since you can't put an antenna on an under-tray toolbox.

Final Thoughts

A ute is already a practical vehicle but with accessories such as toolboxes, you make it even more practical. Even the smallest of toolboxes can make a big difference in how you use your ute and make it more valuable. As long as you get the box that fills your needs you're going to benefit from it immensely.