Tool Box Buzz

SwingCase Undercover Swinging Truck Bed Toolbox

SwingCase Undercover Swinging Truck Bed Toolbox

Manufacturer: SwingCase
Price: $398

Features and Specifications | SwingCase Truck Storage Box

Features:

• Locking Latch and Hinge pin
• Easy reach pull out handle
• Maximizes otherwise often wasted space
• Bed elevated to allow for full width panels/sheets
• Easy to remove and reinstall when extra bed space is needed
• One-year warranty

Specifications:

• Material: Poly Plastic
• Outer dimensions: upper case 29” long, lower case 15” long, 8” wide
• Inner dimensions: 15” max depth, 8” min depth
• Recommended Weight Capacity: 75 lbs.
• Price: $398/set (driver and passenger side boxes)

Installation

Installation of our SwingCase Truck Storage Box was very straightforward and easy. It took about 10-15 minutes per side. And all it really required was a socket set and a torx head bit + driver. We removed the taillights first to get access to the through holes pre-drilled where the back hinge plate mounted.

Then we unbolted the pre-installed tie down plates and used the existing torx head bolts to fasten the latching plate right over the top of the tie down plate. This allows you to still use the tie down point if, for instance, you decided to temporarily remove the SwingCase Tool Box.

Overall Performance

The SwingCase rotated out about 130 degrees from the locked position. This made it easy to reach the tray and items on top but we still had to do some leaning to reach items on the bottom of the case. This wasn’t a big deal as it was still a significant improvement from having items slide to the front of the bed and needing to climb in to grab them. This also may not be an issue for tall folks. Overall the swing and locking actions consistently worked great. The SwingCase fit well and was very well sized. If the case was any bigger it might get overloaded easily. If it was any smaller than it wouldn’t fir enough tools/gear to be very practical. So it fit the Goldilocks mantra of being “just right.”

We were pleasantly surprised at just how much stuff we could fit in the SwingCase. The non-standard shape means that not all tools may fit in the case, but overall we got every tool we wanted into the case. We dedicated the drivers side case to hand tools and PPE. The passengers side case was dedicated to straps and ropes.

Key Design Features

Security Features

Let’s start with the locking latch. It functions as both a lock and a latch to open and close the case. We appreciated that the lock and turning latch bezel are both made of metal. We also liked the metal hinges cover flap. This will come in handy in the winter when it prevents snow from getting on the keyhole of an exposed SwingCase Truck Storage Box. Nothing worse than a frozen lock preventing you from getting into your toolbox when its freezing out!

The inside of the lock catch is also made of metal and held in place with a serrated-head locking screw. We had to tighten the screw during installation but it has remained secure since.

Next we want to highlight the smart design of the hinge locking pin. The same key that unlocks the latch on the top also opens and secure the hinge pin. The pin fits in a machined gap in the metal SwingCase hinge assembly after the Storage box hinge female receivers have been lowered over the male hinge plate ears. The whole pin then locks into a groove machined into the face of the hinge plate to keep it secure. Its a simple but effective design. It could be better if this piece was fabricated out of metal. It wouldn’t be difficult to break this pin and remove the storage box with a little effort. A metal locking pin might make this more difficult!

We also appreciate that there is a spot for an optional (and much more secure) padlock. This creates a metal on metal attachment point that is very secure. This was a nice feature SwingCase included for those times when you have higher priced tools or gear loaded up.

Functionality & Ease of Use

First we love the hinged swing design. It was a simple but effective design. All you do is pull the yellow lever and the case swings out. The lever is easy to reach when standing behind the tailgate. It arcs out approx. 130 degrees until the SwingCase body makes contact with the tailgate support cables or the lid makes contact with the tonneau cover (second pic in this section).

One limitation we found was that on the passenger side, a closed Tonneau cover obstructed the SwingCase from fully opening. We were still able to get to our tools without flipping the 3rd section of our Tri-fold Tonneau cover back but had to hold the case open to do so. This wasn’t a critical issue as we normally have the Tonneau cover folded up once we get to the job site but it’s worth pointing out.

Weather Protection

Good news here; the SwingCase Truck Storage Box has a foam seal strip around the entire edge of the lid. Bad news; the locking latch doesn’t pull down tight enough to compress the foam and from a water resistant seal. But the downward protruding lip hangs down almost an inch so any water falling onto the top of the case will naturally run off the case keeping your tools dry. There is no IP rating for the SwingCase though. So while anecdotally it worked well in adverse weather conditions (yes we kept the Tonneau open during a few heavy rain storms to put it through it’s paces), we can’t give you an official “rating.”

Recommendations

There are 2 recommendations for improvement on the SwingCase Truck Storage Box. First, the hinges need to be made of stronger materials like stamped steel or aluminum. We have concerns about the longevity of the plastic hinges as an obvious design weak point. The cost of using better materials here would be minimal and, we think, be well worth the investment. It would also offer increased security as breaking into this tool box would be more difficult with better made hinges. Although we recognize that if someone wants to get into any toolbox they are sure to find a way.

We also recommend a stronger and more secure design for the latch catch. It seems like manufacturing cost, not durability or security were key factors here. The SwingCase is designed as an ambidextrous unit, meaning that its the same box mold for the drivers and passengers side. the Metal latch catch slides into the molded rails and catches on a plastic tab in a cut out space on the metal latch. So even though the lock, latch, and latch catch are all made of metal, the total integrity of the locking system relies on a small molded plastic tab. Not an ideal design for a case that might have some expensive tools in it!

Final Thoughts | SwingCase Truck Storage Box

This is one of the times I regret not buying a tool or accessory sooner. But that comes with a caveat… That’s because I already had a secure Tonneau cover (Check out the TBB LOMAX Stance Review) on my truck. This toolbox is something that will be a quick initial purchase whenever the time comes to upgrade my work truck in the future. It retains critical bedspace by efficiently using otherwise wasted space, stores securely in place, has a ingenious swinging access design, and offers decent weather protection. It is a bit pricey for the overall material quality and design though; The plastic could be heavier duty, with sturdier hinges and a higher quality locking mechanism. We recommend that SwingCase spends the extra couple dollars on these upgrades or drops the price point a bit to compensate. Otherwise this is a well thought out and awesome truck box!

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