How Tall Are Packout Drawers on a Truck Bed Slide?
If you're considering Milwaukee® Packout™ drawer boxes for your truck bed, one of the first questions you'll probably have is:
Will they fit underneath my tonneau cover?
The answer depends on which OzTech slide and Packout mounting plate you choose. Here are the measurements you need to know.
Packout Drawer Height at a Glance
When using Milwaukee Packout 2-, 3-, or 4-drawer boxes, the overall height is:
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Burro Utility Slide: 19.325 inches
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Skeletal System with High Packout plate: 17.875 inches
These measurements are taken from the top of the truck bed ribs to the top of the Packout drawer box.
That means the first step in determining whether your setup will fit under a tonneau cover is simply to measure the available vertical clearance in your truck.
Burro + Packout Drawer Height
With Packout 2-, 3-, or 4-drawer boxes mounted on the OzTech Burro Utility Slide, the total height is:
19.325 inches
If your truck has 20 inches of clearance between the top of the bed ribs and the underside of the tonneau cover, for example, that leaves approximately 0.675 inches of nominal clearance.
Skeletal System + Packout Drawer Height
The OzTech Skeletal System gives you a lower-profile option.
With the High Packout mounting plate, the total height of a 2-, 3-, or 4-drawer Packout box is:
17.875 inches
That's 1.45 inches shorter than the Burro configuration, which can make a meaningful difference when you're working with a low-profile tonneau cover.
High vs. Standard Packout Mounting Plates
We offer both Standard and High Packout mounting plates for the Skeletal System.
The High Packout plate is required for 2-, 3-, and 4-drawer Packout boxes if you want the drawers to operate properly. It provides the necessary clearance for the drawer boxes to open fully.
The Standard Packout plate can also be used to mount the drawer boxes, but the drawers will not have full functionality because the lower mounting position restricts their ability to open.
If you're installing Packout drawers and want to use them as intended, the High Packout plate is the configuration to use.
View the Skeletal System Packout Mounting Plate
How to Check Your Tonneau Cover Clearance
Before ordering, measure the actual clearance in your truck rather than relying only on the published height of your tonneau cover.
1. Measure from the bed ribs
Measure vertically from the top of the truck bed ribs to the lowest point of the tonneau cover or its hardware.
This is important because our Packout height measurements are based on the top of the bed ribs.
2. Compare your measurement
Use these numbers as your reference:
| Configuration | Height |
|---|---|
| Burro + Packout drawers | 19.325" |
| Skeletal System + High Packout plate + drawers | 17.875" |
The Skeletal System configuration gives you 1.45 inches more vertical clearance than the Burro configuration.
3. Check the entire installation area
Don't assume the tonneau cover has the same clearance everywhere.
Rails, brackets, hinges, crossbars, folded sections, or other hardware can reduce the available space. Measure at the location where the slide and Packout boxes will actually sit.
How Much Clearance Do You Need?
We recommend allowing some room between the top of the Packout box and your tonneau cover rather than trying to fit the setup with only a fraction of an inch to spare.
For example:
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18 inches of clearance: Not enough for the Burro; only 0.125 inches above the Skeletal System configuration.
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19 inches of clearance: Not enough for the Burro; 1.125 inches above the Skeletal System configuration.
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19.5 inches of clearance: Only 0.175 inches above the Burro configuration.
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20 inches of clearance: 0.675 inches above the Burro configuration.
These are simple height comparisons. Your actual truck may have variations in clearance depending on the bed, tonneau cover, rails, and mounting hardware.
Don't Forget the Tailgate
Tonneau cover clearance isn't the only measurement that matters.
You also need to make sure the slide has adequate clearance from your tailgate when it is closed.
We recommend approximately 0.5 inches of clearance between the moving portion of the slide and the highest point of the tailgate.
Some trucks have taller tailgate designs that require additional consideration. Certain late-model GM trucks, for example, require an additional spacer.
What If I'm Using Other Packout Boxes?
The measurements in this article are specifically for Milwaukee Packout 2-, 3-, and 4-drawer boxes.
Other Packout configurations can have different dimensions, so if you're combining standard toolboxes, organizers, crates, or other Packout components, check the dimensions of your specific setup.
Which OzTech Slide Is Right for Your Truck?
If you're working with limited vertical clearance, the Skeletal System with the High Packout mounting plate measures 17.875 inches, compared with 19.325 inches for the Burro with Packout drawers.
If you have more room under your tonneau cover, the Burro provides a dedicated Packout-compatible slide configuration.
Both systems give you easy access to your gear without having to climb into the truck bed to reach what's stored at the front.
Measure your available clearance, compare it with the numbers above, and you'll know which configuration will work for your truck.
If you're unsure about your measurements or configuration, contact us with your truck year, make, model, bed length, tonneau cover, and available clearance. We're happy to help you figure it out before you order.