Transform a Truck Bed into a Tailgating Machine

This story was produced in partnership with Krylon, the spray paint brand that can easily restore, refresh, recolor, and revive any project.

We probably don’t have to tell you: Tailgating season is underway. Standing in a parking lot and grilling for hours with friends is a time-honored American tradition. But just as important as the dogs and burgers are the do-it-yourself innovations that turn an everyday vehicle into a mobile grilling, chilling, and snacking machine. That was the goal for Bennet Wilson who, with a bit of sanding, Krylon® spray paint, and tinkering, turned the bed of his pickup truck into a touchdown-celebrating machine. Here’s how Wilson transformed his truck into a truly stunning tailgating rig.

Step 1: Prepare the Truck Bed

To transform this old pickup truck’s bed into a celebration machine, Wilson needed to prepare it first. He started by sanding down the liner of the truck’s bed with a sanding sponge. He then wiped the whole thing clean and masked the parts of the truck bed with tape that he didn’t want spray painted.

Next, Wilson sprayed the truck bed with Krylon® Automotive Truck Bed Coating. “It’s basically like putting a sprayed on, thick, plastic coating on the truck bed,” Wilson says. “So it’s going to keep it from getting scratched and dinged up. It makes it look nicer. Instead of having a beat up truck bed, you’ve got a protective covering on it that looks nice.”

Step 2: Get Your Cans

Wilson wanted to change his truck’s toolbox into a center for all things tailgating. So he took it and dismantled the inside. “There were some old, plastic dividers and compartments in there,” he says, “so all that stuff just got stripped out.”

He masked off with tape anything he didn’t want spray painted, and using Krylon® Fusion All-In-One™ Gloss Sunbeam and Gloss Patriotic Blue, he sprayed the inside and outside of the toolbox.

Step 3: Fill it With Essentials

Wilson took some fasteners and placed them in the lid of the toolbox so he could attach his cookware. “You pop the lid and all of your stuff is laid out there,” he says.

Then he filled the bed of the toolbox with everything you need for a good tailgate: lawn chairs, a grill, and a cooler for burgers and drinks. “I got everything so it fit and was organized, and the toolbox had two little side things, so you could put condiments and whatever else you needed in them,” he says.

Step 4: Have a Blast

Then, it was game time. Wilson put the toolbox in the truck’s bed and drove it to the lot. He found it made getting to the game a whole lot easier. “You don’t have to get all your stuff out of the garage every Sunday,” says Wilson. “You just got your toolbox and all your stuff for tailgating is in there. Plus, my bed liner can stand up to the rigors of the parking lot thanks to Krylon® — not to mention giving my toolbox its unique look.”