The Truck Toolbox Is the Ultimate Aftermarket Tailgating Machine: Endless Possibilities

Folks, I think this may be it! I have officially stumbled upon what could be the ultimate tailgating, overlanding, and expanding slide-in toolbox, or party machine, as I like to call it; believe it or not, Australia is responsible for this one, too. Whip out those checkbooks because today's story may have you traveling to the land down under.

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Photo: Southern Cross Caravans

Ladies and gents, take a nice long look at the images in the gallery, and as you do, let your imagination run wild with the sort of gear you can load up into the Truck Toolbox (TT). Yes, that's its name, but honestly, it doesn't matter what you call this Swiss Army knife-like and truck-mounted 'toolbox;' what you can do with one blows away all other notions of what can be achieved at a tailgate party, among other activities.

Now, I may be getting ahead of myself; first, allow me to point out a bit about the hands and minds behind the TT. That way, you can understand what this unit is actually prepared for, and all that starts with none other than Southern Cross Caravans, a crew that's been active since 2010.

Sure, I don't expect you to have heard of this crew, but once we're done here, you'll never forget them. This team initially began their journey into the RV and off-road game by supplying "modest" camper trailers with soft floors. Yet, they quickly grew to power due to their love of this lifestyle and "unwavering dedication" to this game. Oh, and just so we're on the same page, 14 years later, this crew can spit out a camper ranging from simple weekenders to fully-equipped expedition machines.

Photo: Southern Cross Caravans

The latter of which brings up to the TT. How? Well, the TT is the sort of truck add-on that's designed for the toughest of trips, often being mounted onto the rear of overland rigs and carrying all the necessary gear you'd need to survive cross-country treks, no matter the lands.

As for why I feel this may be one of the most amazing pieces of after-market gear that you can dump onto your truck, the list is really endless. However, I am going to throw a few examples at you regarding what you can do with this thing.

Overall, the manufacturer's spec sheet doesn't mention anything about how this puppy is built, but it's not easy to see that aluminum, fiberglass, and steel are king here. With those materials and a few others, we end up with a toolbox that's 240 cm (94.4 in) long, 220 cm (86.6) wide, and 152 cm (60 in) tall. If we multiply those three digits, we're looking at a total of 8.02 cubic meters (283 cubic feet) of space. Think about what you could bring along on your outings and adventures.

Speaking of things to bring along, there are already a few systems integrated into the TT. This includes a drop-down slide-out tray for fridges, two 100 Ah batteries, a 3,000 W inverter, circuit breakers, and a controller for solar panels. Did I mention the 300 W of panel power on the roof?

Photo: Southern Cross Caravans

The question is: what the heck are you going to be doing with all that space? If only you could see my face and hear me laughing. What to do with that space!? I'll tell you what.

For starters, the first and foremost use for this machine is as the manufacturer destined it to be, as an indispensable aid to any adventure in the wild, no matter how big or small. This bugger can be loaded up with fridges full of food and drink, the tools you may need to repair a blowout while out in the wild, or even used as a worksite machine with all the tools you need on the job. But I have a different idea for using something like this, as nothing more than the most equipped tailgate party machine ever!

Picture the following: you and your buddies have been planning a weekend getaway in the desert for the past couple of weeks, and the time has finally come to go out there and get dirty. After all the planning is completed, part of the group will be bringing along fifth wheels and some with just good old toy haulers. But you, you're bringing the rest of what's needed to live like the kings and queens that you are.

Photo: Southern Cross Caravans

Because of the seemingly endless space the TT has for cargo, you're in charge of bringing the coolers, cooktops, extra water and gas tanks, outdoor showers, and even some of the tent annexes the crew needs to connect all their RVs and travel trailers into a campsite the likes we'll rarely see.

Slide the solar panels out from underneath the roof rack, and be sure to check with Southern Cross if you can put a tent up here; by the looks of things, you can. As for that massive pass-through, it's here that you can store e-bikes, kayaks and fishing rods, and once it's empty, why not lay down a sleeping bag and take a nap.

Finally, there's this thing's price. Now, take a moment to think about how much what we've discussed can cost, and even comment on the number you came up with. Once you do all that, just sit back and be blown away by the fact that the TT is currently up for grabs at a starting price of $24,000, and that's in Australian dollars. What you're paying in USD comes out to a tad under $16K.

There is a catch, however. There aren't a whole lot of Australian manufacturers that ship their goods outside of the land down under. That said, it looks like the only way you can get your hands on a Truck Toolbox is by moving to Australia. Better yet, just use it as inspiration for a setup with endless possibilities. Honestly, who cares if it's a cube with wheels; it's one hell of a cube!

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