Instructions for Measuring Your Truck Bed for a UWS Tool Box or Transfer Tank Truck tool boxes and transfer tanks can add extra utility and function to your pickup truck. However, getting the wrong size tool box or transfer tank can be quite frustrating — imagine getting your new tool box and then realizing that it doesn't fit your truck bed or interferes with your 5th wheel setup. It happens more often than you’d think.
Before we get started, you will need to understand these key definitions and details. What's a truck bulkhead? A truck bulkhead is the wall within the truck bed that is closest to the cab. This wall, or bulkhead, prevents cargo from colliding with the cab. This will be an important detail when measuring to get the correct size tool or transfer tank. Short-bed vs. long-bed trucks: Short-bed trucks have shorter beds and often times the wheel well is closer to the bulkhead.
Written, Step-by-Step Instructions for Measuring Your Truck Bed for a Tool Box or Transfer Tank Step 1: Start by Measuring the Exterior Bed Rail Width — From A to B You can do this by measuring the width of the truck bed from the outside edges of the truck bed rails, nearest the truck cab. This means you will measure the widest point of the exterior of the truck bed, to the outside edge of the rails where the tool box will be mounted. This will give you the width of the bed frame rails.
number and notate as "interior bed rail width." In the example above, the distance from C to D is 65". Step 3: For Transfer Tank Fitment, Measure the Wheel Well Width — From E to F For transfer tank fitment, this step is critical. Next, you will measure the space in between the wheel wells inside the truck bed. This number will give you the width of the interior of the truck bed which you will compare to the crossover tool box or transfer tank width later.
This is important — a tool box too deep will not fit inside the bed, and a tool box too shallow will not maximize storage space. Measure from the lip of the bed rail, G, to the floor of the bed, H. Make sure your tape measure is straight and record this measurement as "vertical bed depth." In the example above, the distance from G to H is 19.25".
well hump begins and take your measurement to note how much space there is between the bulkhead and where the wheel well begins. Place a piece of tape on the bed rail at this measurement. Be sure to write down this number and note as "distance to wheel well". In the example above, the distance from I to K is 20". The piece of tape is placed on the bed rail at the 20" mark. Continuing on the previous measurement, you will measure downwards from the tape towards the wheel well hump.
the bed closest to the truck cab. This measurement is important as you will need to ensure that your tool box or transfer tank does not interfere with your trailer hitch when towing. This is especially important in short-cab trucks. In order to measure correctly, grab a lengthy 2x4, a pole or a long straight edge of any kind.
Measurement 4: Vertical bed depth — 19.25" Measurement 5: Distance from bulkhead to wheel well — 20" Measurement 6: Wheel well depth — 14" Measurement 7: Length from bulkhead to gooseneck ball hitch — 37.25" (for towing applications only) Finally, Browse UWS Truck Tool Boxes & Compare Your Measurements with the Tool Box Dimensions Find one of the many UWS truck tool boxes or transfer tanks available on the UWS website and locate the dimensions.
Step 1: Make sure the top of the tool box is not too small. The tool box lid must sit at least 1.5" on each bed rail. To get this measurement, subtract the tool box lid length from the interior bed rail width. In the example above: 72.875" – 65" = 7.875". The final number should be at least 3" or greater, or the tool box will not fit properly. In this example, the final number is 7.875" so the tool box will fit. Step 2: Make sure the interior bed rail width is greater than the tool box body width.
Step 4. Make sure the wheel well humps will not interfere with the tool box body. In this example, the tool box lid depth is 20" and a piece of tape was placed on the truck bed rail 20" from the bulkhead (see the video above for guidance). Next, notice the tool box body depth is 11.75". Measuring downwards from the tape, see how much depth there is available over the wheel well humps. In this example: 14" – 11.75" = 2.25". You will need 1" of clearance to ensure the tool box will not rub.
To get this measurement, subtract the length from the bulkhead to the hitch from the tool box or transfer tank width. In the example above: 36" – 20" = 16". The final number should be 6" or greater or the tool box or transfer tank may interfere with the 5th wheel or gooseneck hitch.