Milwaukee Packout Truck Bed Mounts: How to Pick the Right One
A Milwaukee Packout stack is only as secure as the bottom box. Loose in the bed, the whole stack slides on the first hard stop and tips in the first tight corner. A truck bed mount gives that bottom box something to lock onto. This guide compares every type of Packout truck bed mount, shows which one fits your truck, and covers locks, drilling and tonneau clearance before you buy.
Short answer: Pick the mount by where you want the stack to ride. Heavy stack at the front of the bed: a bulkhead rail with a keyed Stack Lock. Organizers on the bed walls: bedside panels. A plate on the floor, a platform or a service body: a universal plate or locking plate. Loads that change every day: rails with Swivel Straps. On a 2015+ F-150 or 2017+ Super Duty, start with a Boxlink plate, which uses Ford's factory mounting points with no drilling.
The 5 types of Packout truck bed mounts
| Mount | Where it bolts | Holds | Keyed lock | Drilling | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Universal plate | Any flat surface: bed floor, platform, shelf, service body | One Packout stack | No | Usually, on a bare bed floor | $49.99 |
| Locking plate | Any flat surface | One stack, locked | Yes | Usually, on a bare bed floor | $69.99 |
| Bulkhead rail + Stack Lock | Front wall of the bed | Full-height stacks, including rolling boxes | Yes | No, on supported trucks | $549.99 bundle |
| Ford Boxlink plate | Ford's factory Boxlink points | Stacks along the bed wall | Varies by model | No | $44.99 |
| Bedside panels and rails | Factory bed rails along the bed walls | Organizers on the walls; straps for everything else | Panels: yes | No, on supported trucks | $99.99 panel |
Prices are NVMOS prices and change with the manufacturer. Check the product page for today's price.
Universal plates
Integral Plates – Universal have the same lugs as the top of a Packout box, so the bottom box clicks onto the plate the same way it clicks onto another box. They bolt to any flat surface, which makes them the go-to for service bodies, flatbeds, platforms and van floors. Milwaukee also makes its own Packout Mounting Plate (part 48-22-8485). Either one stops a stack from sliding. Neither one stops it from walking off.
Locking plates
The Integral Locking Plate adds a keyed lock to the universal plate. Use it anywhere a plain plate works but the stack rides in an open bed or an unlocked compartment.
Bulkhead rail and Stack Lock
The heaviest stack belongs at the front of the bed, ahead of the rear axle. Integral's bulkhead rail bolts across the front wall, and the Stack Lock Toolbox System locks and stabilizes a Packout stack on it with keyed locks. Integral sells it as complete bundles for the F-150 5.5' bed, Super Duty and Chevy/GMC 1500 and HD, plus a Stack Lock for any Integral bulkhead rail if you already have one.
Ford Boxlink plates
2015+ F-150 and Raptor and 2017+ Super Duty beds have Ford's Boxlink mounting points built in. Integral Boxlink plates bolt straight to them in half, full and upgraded versions, so a Ford owner can mount Packout without touching a drill.
Bedside panels and rails
The bed walls are the most wasted space in most trucks. Bedside panels bolt to the factory bed rails and hold half and compact Packout organizers on the wall, keeping the floor open. The Integral Bedside Panel fits the 2005+ Tacoma, 2007+ Tundra and 2019+ Gladiator and has a keyed lock. Full-size Packout boxes don't fit it. For loads that change every day, Integral Rails give you anchor points anywhere along the bed, and Swivel Straps ride the same rails.
Which Packout mount fits your truck
| Truck | Best first mount | Add next |
|---|---|---|
| Ford F-150 and Raptor, 2015+ | Boxlink plate | Stack Lock bulkhead bundle (5.5' bed) |
| Ford Super Duty, 2017+ | Full Boxlink plate | Stack Lock bulkhead bundle |
| Silverado and Sierra 1500 (2019+) and HD (2020+) | Stack Lock bulkhead bundle | Rails + Panel Kit (1500) |
| Ram 1500 and HD, 2019+ | Rail + Swivel Strap Bundle | Locking Plate for the main stack |
| Toyota Tacoma, Tundra and Jeep Gladiator | Bedside Panel | Tundra: Full Panel Bundle |
| Ford Transit van, 2014+ (148" wheelbase) | Rail + Stack Lock Bundle | 2- and 3-pack bundles for more stacks |
| Flatbed or service body | Universal plates | Locking Plate |
Model year and bed length decide fitment, so match both before you order. For complete builds by truck, see Packout truck bed setups by truck.
Do you need a lock or just a plate?
If the stack rides in an open bed, get a lock. A plate keeps the stack from sliding when you brake. It does nothing to keep someone from unclipping the stack at a jobsite or a gas station. A Stack Lock or Locking Plate holds the bottom box with a key, and because Packout boxes latch to each other, everything above it stays put too. A truck with a locking cap or a closed service body can get by with plain plates. If you need fully enclosed storage instead, compare Packout vs drawer systems.
Mounting without drilling
Vehicle-specific kits are the no-drill route. Integral's bulkhead rails, bed rails, bedside panels and Boxlink plates bolt to factory points on the trucks they're built for, and Integral says they install with no cutting or drilling. Universal plates are different. On a bare bed floor, a service body or a platform, you'll usually drill and bolt through. That's normal for a service body. In a pickup bed, use a vehicle-specific kit if one exists for your truck.
Tonneau, topper and bed rack clearance
This is where most Packout mounts go wrong, so check it before you order.
- Tonneau covers. Panels on the bed walls can block a tonneau's rails. Integral's Tacoma, Tundra and Gladiator bedside panel isn't compatible with tonneau covers.
- Toppers and caps. Bedside panels work under a topper. Measure your tallest stack against the cap's door opening, not just its interior height.
- Bed racks. Rack feet often clamp to the same bed rails that panels use. Check where your rack's mounts sit before you add panels.
How to install a Packout truck bed mount
- Confirm the fit. Match your truck's model year and bed length to the product page.
- Mount the base. Bolt the rail, panel or plate to the factory points, or to the floor for a universal plate.
- Click on the bottom box. It latches to the plate the same way it latches to another Packout box.
- Lock it. Turn the key on a Stack Lock or Locking Plate.
- Test it. Stack it, load it and make a few hard stops in an empty lot before you trust it on the highway.
Integral's install video walks through mounting the locking rail for rolling Packout boxes.
What NVMOS carries
We carry the full Integral Truck line: universal and locking plates, bulkhead rails and Stack Lock bundles, Boxlink plates, bedside panels, rails and Swivel Straps for Ford, GM, Ram, Toyota, Jeep and the Ford Transit. More Packout reading: How to Organize a Work Truck with Milwaukee Packout.
Shop Integral Truck Packout mounts →
Frequently asked questions
How do I keep Milwaukee Packout from sliding in my truck bed?
Lock the bottom box to the truck. Bolt a Packout-compatible plate, bulkhead rail, Boxlink plate or bedside panel to the bed, then click the bottom box onto it. The boxes above latch to it, so the whole stack moves as one with the truck.
How do I lock a Milwaukee Packout to a truck bed?
Use a mount with a keyed lock, such as Integral's Stack Lock on a bulkhead rail or the Integral Locking Plate. A plain plate stops sliding but doesn't stop theft.
Does Milwaukee make a truck bed mount for Packout?
Milwaukee makes a universal Packout Mounting Plate (48-22-8485) that bolts to a flat surface. It doesn't make vehicle-specific truck bed kits. Those come from companies like Integral Truck.
Is Integral Truck made by Milwaukee?
No. Integral is a separate Colorado company. Its mounts are designed to hold Milwaukee Packout boxes and organizers, but Integral isn't affiliated with Milwaukee.
Do I have to drill my truck bed to mount Packout?
Not with a vehicle-specific kit. Integral's bulkhead rails, bed rails, bedside panels and Boxlink plates bolt to factory points. A universal plate on a bare bed floor usually needs drilling.
Will a Packout mount work with a tonneau cover?
Bulkhead and floor mounts usually do, as long as the stack is shorter than the bed rails. Bedside panels often don't. Integral's Tacoma, Tundra and Gladiator panel isn't tonneau-compatible. Check clearance for your cover before ordering.
Can I stack Packout on a truck bed mount?
Yes, that's what they're for. Lock the bottom box to the mount and stack the rest on top. Keep the heaviest boxes at the bottom and the stack at the front of the bed.
Not sure which mount fits your bed? Call a real person at (920) 249-7744 or reach us through our contact page with your truck, year and bed length.
