Just like a truck in the US, a ute in Australia is one of the most iconic vehicles, especially for tradies. It is the most functional and versatile vehicle an Aussie can have. You can use a ute for both work and family activities. While a ute may not look as good as a crossover SUV, it has both a big enough storage and passenger space to comfortably take you, your family and your belongings from one point to another.

This is especially true if you go for a dual cab ute which has two rows of seats alongside a big open boot at the back. When it comes to using your ute for work, you can implement all kinds of accessories at the back, such as canopies and toolboxes. This way, you can have all your tools organised and safe from prying eyes. A popular type of toolbox on the market today is a gullwing toolbox, which thanks to its unique design, makes accessing tools extremely easy.

What is a Gullwing Toolbox?

Compared to regular ute toolboxes which open much like a standard portable toolbox, a gullwing toolbox opens as a Tesla Model X. The two doors present on gulling toolboxes open like a seagull in flight. The doors act as wings fully extended and slightly raised upwards. This is possible thanks to gas springs.

What to Consider in a Gullwing Toolbox

Material

From your work boots and tools to the type of vehicle you drive everything in a tradie’s life needs to be durable. Gullwing toolboxes are available in different types of materials, but the two most commonly used ones are steel and aluminium. Steel toolboxes are known for their strength and they can take quite the beating, be it from tools or external factors. However, they aren’t the lightest option, and they lack anti-corrosive properties.

Aluminium toolboxes are known for being lightweight and having great anti-corrosive properties, but they are not as strong as steel ones. But being heavy takes its toll on fuel consumption which is not going to be the case with an aluminium gullwing ute toolbox.

Size & Capacity

The size of the gullwing toolbox is going to be determined by the size of the boot. Make sure that your gullwing toolbox fits the boot and still provides enough space for all your equipment and tools. This can be done with a toolbox that uses space inside efficiently, which is usually made possible with shelving. Usually, the more shelving a toolbox comes with – the more it can store inside. Just make sure your tools and equipment fit into it without any issues.

Safety

A gullwing toolbox isn’t going to do you any good if it isn’t safe. If the toolbox is moving and shifting while you’re driving, and every tool inside does so as well, then it can quickly become hazardous. Make sure the toolbox you’re getting is durable and solid, and also has a high build quality that doesn’t make it open when there is slight turbulence.

Access

Although accessing your tools and equipment is something that a gullwing ute toolbox makes easy, you shouldn’t shy away from making things even easier. Make sure to choose a position for your gullwing toolbox that allows you to open the doors easily and get to them quickly. Don’t put your toolbox so that it has the doors on the back of your ute, as that will mean you have to go all the way around to get to them.

Purpose

Sometimes, tools and equipment are not the items you want to drive around with. Instead, you want to put other items such as a couple of cold beers to keep your thirst satisfied at the end of a working day. I know it’s a toolbox we’re talking about, and that you shouldn’t use it for anything else, but sometimes, you need to bring extra equipment with you. Make sure your new gullwing toolbox has enough space to accommodate any items you’ll need in case of an emergency.

Ute Dimensions

The dimensions of your ute will determine the dimension of the boot, as well as the toolbox itself. However, what you can do is change the configuration and layout of the shelves inside of the toolbox and allow for a bigger capacity toolbox. But before you do that, you need to ensure that the shelving can be removed. That’s not an ideal solution though, so you should first get the biggest toolbox your ute can handle, and then decide whether or not you need shelving to be removable.

How Do I Secure My Ute Toolbox?

While not all gullwing ute tool boxes are made the same, in order to secure one on your ute you’ll usually need to use a set of 4×10 mm bolts. Some gullwing toolboxes will require smaller bolts, but if the manufacturer of the toolbox requires you to use some pensioning equipment, make sure to use a smaller size bolt. This is due to the fact that the tensioning can damage the thread and even break the bolt if it’s too big for the hole it needs to go in. Smaller bolts will make it both easier and simpler to secure a ute gullwing toolbox, even with your usual home setup.