A hidden storage/utility system is incorporated in a bed (12), which includes wheel wells (19) and fender/side panels (15), of a pickup truck (10) without altering the bed's external appearance for reducing attraction for theft. The storage system includes storage boxes (22, 23) located adjacent the wheel well (19), the fender/side panels (15) as outer panels of the storage boxes (22, 23), and hinges (30) to open and close the fender/side panels (15) over the storage boxes (22, 23). The storage boxes (22, 23) do not extend inwardly beyond the wheel wells (19), and do not extend upwardly beyond the upper surface (24) of the bed (12). An initial fabrication method incorporates the hidden storage/utility system into the bed during fabrication of the pickup truck (10). A conversion method for an existing bed (12) on an existing pickup truck (10) cuts the fender/side panels (15) from the existing bed (12) and re-attaches them thereto with the hinges (30) to form the outer panels of the storage boxes (22, 23).