Looking for tool organizational system suggestions (AKA Mil. packout-type kits) for a beginning Handyman who will eventually branch out on his own.

[Banjorear]

Hi All:

I'm a former elementary school principal who retired in January. All my life I've been handy and done all sorts of projects from automotive to home. Recently, I started working for a local Handyman outfit and plan to branch out on my own shortly.

Right now, I have multiple soft sided tool bags. One for cordless and another for hammers, screw drivers, etc. It's bulky and disorganized which is driving me crazy.

I know Milwaukee and Rigid have "pack out" type systems, but would to hear what guys are using in the field and the pros and cons of each.

I am Milwaukee based with my cordless tools.

Before I drop some money in a system, I'd really like to hear what other guys are using.

Thanks,

Tim

 

[nafets47]

The best on the market is Toughbuilt stacktech. They unfortunately will be going out of business but they are the best. I use Flex Stack Pack which is good, a friend of mine uses Packout, another uses Rigid, and another uses Husky. All have their good points but in my opinion Stacktech is the best of all.

Their locking system is superior to everyone. They have locking drawers which is a huge bonus, and you can get drawers instead of open lid on everything. If I were starting out again I would get Stacktech. Like I said they are going out of business. But who is warranting boxes?

 

[Dave455]

Congratulations on your decision. I hope you have a great time.

I have to say though, that choosing tool (and parts) storage for the handyman role is quite tough.

I do a bit of handyman work, and I tend to carry basic tools in a metal box. I would be the first to admit it’s not ideal. It’s too heavy and the tools sit on top of each other. If I was buying a bag for the purpose, it would probably be some sort of Veto bag. Not much else presents all the tools so well, but also protects them.


I quite like the Milwaukee Packouts. I didn’t at first, I thought they were overpriced, but they are a lot better made than most similar boxes, and I think they would be my choice for things like wall plugs, or other small consumables. I have a few in that role.

I’m not convinced that boxes with plastic lids are really strong enough for things like screws. I tend to know what jobs I’m doing and just grab what I need from my stores, but if I was carrying a lot of screws I’d probably go for steel boxes like these.


The whole business of power tools is difficult. At the moment I tend to carry them in the manufacturers cases, but these are far from ideal. A member here made up a metal cantilever box with an impact driver, and all the bits he could conceive using. I think this is probably the way to go, certainly for smaller power tools, and I will probably go down this path.

You can get small cantilever boxes from firms like Toyo, and even colour code them - one for drill and drill bits, another for impact driver, and so on.

 

[Zewnten]

What are you hoping to accomplish with switching from soft carry bags to hard cases?

 

[BTL-A4]

Buy some used ones of each type and try them out. You can probably sell them for close to what you paid if you don't like them. Organization like this is going to vary from person to person, so you have to find what works for you.

I would go to the stores and play with them and see which ones are easy to use, open/close, stack, etc. How do they feel: cheap or well-made?

 

[Dixie_Flatline]

Former refrigeration tech, and you can add another vote for Veto. I bought my first bag back in 2006 and I still have it out in the garage full of tools today. I'd absolutely take it back out on a job tomorrow if need be and have zero worries of failure. It fits all my hand tools along with a Makita cordless drill or impact driver if I want to stuff it in there. Plastic packouts I have zero faith in their lasting very long in daily use, at least down here in Tennessee. Too hot, and if you are leaving it in a vehicle they will start to warp over time since you can just multiply the heat factor inside an enclosed space in the sun. My work van was an oven and it was painted white. I've mentioned it in another post recently, but take a look at Montezuma!

 

[Banjorear]

What are you hoping to accomplish with switching from soft carry bags to hard cases?

More organization and the idea of condensing them into one box vs. two soft bags. Also, being waterproof would be ideal. Especially if I need to get rid of trash and the tools are in the back of truck bed while the cover is flipped up.

 

[Banjorear]

Buy some used ones of each type and try them out. You can probably sell them for close to what you paid if you don't like them. Organization like this is going to vary from person to person, so you have to find what works for you.

I would go to the stores and play with them and see which ones are easy to use, open/close, stack, etc. How do they feel: cheap or well-made?

Sure, I understand. I went to Home Depot today and did just that. I was little underwhelmed by their choices.

 

[Banjorear]

This Dewalt rolling box did catch my eye.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-28-in-W-12-Gal-Polypropylene-Rolling-Tool-Box-DWST28100D/206463159?g_store=965&source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&fp=ggl&pla&mtc=SHOPPING-BF-CDP-GGL-D25S-025_011_TOOL_STORAGE-NA-Multi-NA-PLA-NA-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NA-StorageDevices_BControl24_LIA&cm_mmc=SHOPPING-BF-CDP-GGL-D25S-025_011_TOOL_STORAGE-NA-Multi-NA-PLA-NA-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NA-StorageDevices_BControl24_LIA-22780311513-181960156309-2465267040136&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22780311513&gbraid=0AAAAADq61Uf0guxg1MDj7uyIDL0wP_W0K&gclid=CjwKCAjw7p_UBhBlEiwAhpIs7z6Ki67xjX4i781wSXXs_PJsPfSpNBRtRiyUGRiZeHu71puXQLuBgxoC4DgQAvD_BwE

 

[a6hux]

Do you have a truck, van, or tool trailer? Do you know your jobs before hand or are they on call type services?

 

[Banjorear]

Do you have a truck, van, or tool trailer? Do you know your jobs before hand or are they on call type services?

I have my own truck currently and, if I stay with my current situation, may be getting a van provided by the owner of the company.

I only work three days a week (my choice) and I'm working to try and get my own business off the ground. Once it does, I will leave and build my own brand.

Currently, I do know the jobs days in advance.

 

[a6hux]

Knowing the jobs in advance is nice. I think that Dewalt box would be great for your power tools. Then I would have a bag or box for your go to tools, and a specialty bag for electrical stuff. The more you do you will be able to find tune your setup. I had weather guard pack rat boxes in my truck and a Dewalt backpack for hand tools.

 

[i84x]

Packout is great if you need all of the super specific stuff they also sell or the assortment of 3rd party mods and add-ons, if all you want is the basic boxes I wouldn't say they are #1, I also don't like their drawers, in mine the bottoms have all dipped and catch on the one below even though there doesn't seem to be much in them.
Milwaukee also doesn’t have much choice in soft bags, you can have either an open tote or a backpack and that is kind of it.

 

[KnurledNut]

I find all the modular systems just take up too much room for the storage they provide. Too much plastic bulk wasted in the way they have to be built taking up limited cargo space. Bags for me. I use some metal boxes too.

 

[cgrutt]

I currently use pack outs primarily with a Klein backpack and electricians tote. The pack outs are somewhat organized by role (tiling, plumbing, drywall, cement, etc) but I always have two or three with most used tools. One has most of my cordless tools the other has basic Carpentry tools. The Klein backpack is a pretty much do all. I keep a cordless impact driver and a drill in it along with DMM and a variety of hand tools. The electricians tote has most of my wiring stuff generally used on camera installs.

I like the Klein back pack but its very heavy almost too heavy to wear comfortably for anything more than a few minutes. I can tackle many different projects with it though and usually have it in my truck.

I dont use the large wheeled pack out that often but I'd definitely get one if you go this route. Especially for large projects. I'm considering getting a second one.

Just yesterday was talking to a plumber on project Im working on about his Veto pro pack. It looked awesome and thinking about picking one or two up.

Also recommend a good belt. I use Occidental leather belts and bags. Usually have it on at any project with at least tape measure, pencil and razor blade holder. I have other pouches that I add when needed but generally only add additional pouches on Carpentry projects.

 

[bwringer]

There's a lot of personal preference, so you just sort of have to try things until you're happy.

I despise, detest, loathe and can't stand soft bags and backpacks. Mainly it's just really hard to find stuff down in the darksome bowels at the bottom of any soft bag. When heavily loaded, it's much harder to pick up and carry a soft bag than a hard sided box, and of course you mostly can't stack soft containers.

And of course some people love soft bags and/or backpacks, and that's OK. You do you.

I've never really noticed a hill of beans of relevant daily differences between Milwaukee's Packout and the many other plastic box systems. The advantages of Packout are not really in daily use; it's more that the system has been around a while and is very popular. The system is not going to vanish and you'll always be able to find and buy new pieces easily as you need them (at least for the foreseeable future). And there's a ready market to buy and sell Packout pieces.

One feature that does make a difference to me is any color other than black. Red, yellow, snot, blue, etc. all make it a lot easier to see and find stuff. Black bags or boxes are great at hiding stuff, plus they absorb heat if they're ever in the sun.

The downsides of Packout stuff, of course, are cost (although they do have modest sales once in a while, and sometimes you can find used stuff) and the related fact that bright red Packout boxes absolutely scream "STEAL ME!".

As with any plastic box system, they do waste a lot of space with over-styling and pointless macho greebling to make them look ruff-n-tuff. (Of course, some of those molded features are functional, for strength and interlocking.) They're also carefully designed for incompatibility with other systems, which I guess we've come to expect and accept.

 

[nafets47]

I believe the boxes are great for people that are doing handyman work, you know pushing a cart around as you can configure to your needs. But that is basically if you have elevators and flat surfaces everywhere.

I got several Veto Pro Pac bags which I prefer to stackable organizers. My MCT is fantastic and one day I will need to post some pics because it is awesome. I would not do any other brand of bag because they just become a pit of ****.

But I feel like your question has been answered with the above posts.

 

[AEAdam]

The thing I like about pack out is, you could have a bunch of plastic boxes of stuff, each light enough to carry, but you can clip them together and wheel them around. In that basic utility, Im not sure how to differentiate between one brand and the next.

My situation is different in that I’m working in just my property. My stack is 100% drawers, so it’s like a mechanics toolbox I can disassemble and carry up stairs. I like that a lot.

I currently have 2 small parts boxes, one for PPE, one for first aid. Then obviously fasteners. I’ll take some pics today if that will help.

 

[LXCam]

I’m heavily vested in Klein modbox. No matter what brand you decide to do with be considerate of how big you go. That large dewalt chest is handy but it can end up as a catch all and get extremely heavy. Having smaller boxes dedicated to certain tasks has worked out much better for myself but that comes with a cost obviously.

 

[acer66]

I am using boxes almost exclusively for reasons already mentioned.

I am residential remodeler who does not much prolonged outdoor work where boxes stay outside nor do the travel in an open truck bed.

Most of boxes are Bosch L-Boxxes and Systainer.
They are not the most sturdy and do not offer a lot of protection against the weather but more than enough for me.
In 10-15 years I managed to break two Bosch boxes to constant overloading otherwise no issues.

Packout would be overkill for my needs.

I have dedicated boxes for electric, plumbing and metal work.
Then I have various boxes with supplies and tools.
Some have inserts for tools in them, others have custom inserts but most of them have none.

Additional I have empty boxes that I fill up with tools and supplies according to the next job.

I have a dolly and rolling cart for them.
Most of the time I use the cart if needed.

I had a bigger rolling craftsman box similar like the DeWalt box mentioned and that was always much too heavy.
And due to my organizing skill like a black hole and hard to find anything.

My daily hand tools with a 12V drill I have in a larger tool bag.

On a side note I used 5g buckets to move things for a specific task around.
Which I got tiered of because everything I needed was buried at the bottom.
Did I mentioned my organizing skills?
When I saw these over at Tekton.
Which now come to think about it now might replace my daily tool bag.

Stacking Deep Open Tote (LT-BOXX 3) | TEKTON

Discontinued: This product was removed from our current lineup. OLB21023.

www.tekton.com

Good luck and success to the OP on his endeavor.

 

[AEAdam]

Pics as promised. Please take my lead if you have responded.


This is an older pic and I have more boxes now.

But the set of drawers thus far has been my favorite.


The upper side rack was probably stupid expensive, but it was a game changer for me. As you can see I've got (right to left) pencils, then chisels and my paint scraper, then screwdrivers, then hard to see but my utility knife and scissors. The spot for tapes is awesome.



Flip side is hammer storage on the long forks. Drove a drywall screw in the back corner to hang my Japanese saws.

Some of the bulkier boxes are just battery nailers. I have a router box.

In the top set of drawers I have layout tools, speed squares, bevels etc, then M12 drivers, a stubby, a surge (which I don't need) and the right angle driver and a box of bits.

Last drawer is my M18 drill and boxes of drill bits.

Bottom drawers are my multi tool and all its accessories. Last drawer is sander and sanding blocks etc.

Hope this helps

 

[Banjorear]

Wow. That is impressive.

 

[woody 73]

OP forget the fancy -schmancy items, sure they look nice but it's back that you should be concerned with, so first things first you want something on wheels, (two) it must be small enough to lift into your car fully loaded with tools and(three) strong enough to take without coming apart.

Something that you can get up the steps without hurting your back and again strong enough not to fall apart from all the heavy tools. Look for any small heavy plastic boxes with a large collapsing handle, something like all airport baggage come with that have set of wheels; that Milwaukee is nice but much too big to schlep around, your back will thank you.

They used to make an army box on wheels that held a few trays that service men could roll around, something like tool mobile tool chest, but watch the weight because they add up fast, the smaller the better.

Hope that helps good luck in your search, try used army on eBay.

 

[danski0224]

I know Milwaukee and Rigid have "pack out" type systems, but would to hear what guys are using in the field and the pros and cons of each.

Milwaukee Packout is expensive and there's significant wasted space in the volume that the box occupies.

Ridgid has basic plain boxes that lock/clip together. Despite looking at other systems, these continue to meet my needs for basic bulk storage.

I also have a couple of Sortimo boxes with dividers, and really like them for smaller items. Similar to the steel box with trays in Post 3. The Sortimo plastic boxes with the clear lid are virtually indestructible. They were hard to get in the USA when I got them, and expensive. But have 100% been worth it. Parts do not migrate from one space to the next.

Sortimo: https://www.mysortimo.us/en_US/Storage-Bins-&-Boxes/T-BOXX/c/47220?q=:tsa

Looks like they now lock together, which would be nice. My insert boxes are different colors. They may not offer the metal cases I have any longer, at least not in the USA.

 

[LeeG]

I use the Ridgid boxes if they have to handle weather, and Systainers if they don’t. I prefer systainers because they are less likely to get overloaded and have much less bulk. I keep “kits” for common tasks with all the items needed for that task - basic electrical, conduit electrical, pvc plumbing, copper plumbing, drywall patching, etc.

 

[JerseyBoatBuilder]

I would go with a pack out system of your choice and also a bag and backpack that is soft bottomed for setting on customers counter tops, floors and other surfaces that might scratch or get damaged.
A bucket with a strong lid also so you carry things into a job and use it as a seat when needed

 

[alinc100]

What ever system you go with get drawers. Nothing ***** worse than needing to unstack 5 boxes to lift a lid.

 

[AEAdam]

OP forget the fancy -schmancy items, sure they look nice but it's back that you should be concerned with, so first things first you want something on wheels, (two) it must be small enough to lift into your car fully loaded with tools and(three) strong enough to take without coming apart.

Something that you can get up the steps without hurting your back and again strong enough not to fall apart from all the heavy tools. Look for any small heavy plastic boxes with a large collapsing handle, something like all airport baggage come with that have set of wheels; that Milwaukee is nice but much too big to schlep around, your back will thank you.

They used to make an army box on wheels that held a few trays that service men could roll around, something like tool mobile tool chest, but watch the weight because they add up fast, the smaller the better.

Hope that helps good luck in your search, try used army on eBay.

You have described Milwaukee pack out style boxes pretty well.

I think the concept is, you remove some core box with wheels, and it has an extendable handle like luggage. You pull that out of the truck, then depending on your path to the work site, you either just take that then hand carry all the smaller boxes and snap them together on site or not, or you use the base as a trolley and snap together a bunch of boxes and just wheel them all in.

I would look at the specific box systems’ attachments. They all fit together, but some have corner struts (like Milwaukee) that you can pass bungees or ratchet straps thru to attach into your work vehicle or other stuff (scaffolding?)

For my money, Milwaukee had the biggest variety of compatible boxes and tool bag and accessories. They are readily available at Home Depot, and I suspect have staying power. Otherwise, I’m not whetted to Milwaukee and didn’t really compare the competitors.

I promise to take updated pics today, but where I currently am, I have 2 stacks. The one with the drawers has a small parts box on top holding screws. The other stack (not drawers) has my first aid kit on the top lid and my PPE box on top of that. Both of these are attached on top of the lid of the box below and don’t need to be removed to open that larger box’s lid.

Probably every system is the same. But if you are following me, pics help because they show how these things can be used. The youtube reviewers have these sterile set ups like they've never done a days work in their lives.

Case in point: I hired a carpentry crew to help do the high exterior stuff I just can’t reach or couldn't do alone efficiently. Each carpenter had a packout bag they kept their toolbelts and personal tools in. Those packouts sat outside uncovered last winter in the snow. That’s another use. They used them like foot lockers. I think the only advantage of a pack out like system was linking them up inside the team’s work vehicle.

 

[ecotec]

I would go with a pack out system of your choice and also a bag and backpack that is soft bottomed for setting on customers counter tops, floors and other surfaces that might scratch or get damaged.
A bucket with a strong lid also so you carry things into a job and use it as a seat when needed

I agree with this, wholeheartedly.

A medium size bag, with the tools to do 90% of jobs, is a necessity.

You don’t need a packout stack to do every job.

Veto makes a Tech MCT with a rubber bottom.

 

[Banjorear]

Thanks, all

 

[Jgaz]

My approach to your question may not be the best solution for your handyman job but it certainly has been an improvement for the jobs I’ve been doing when my son left one rental house and moved into another.

I also dislike tool bags and their “black hole” storage features.

Here is my first attempt at a no bag solution using a Ridgid case purchased last Xmas for <$30.

Show us your Ridgid tools and tool boxes

Well, the Milwaukee guys have their own thread and I'm sure the Dewalt guys have their own thread as well, but I see no love for the Orange team. Time for us to change that with this thread. Feel free to post up any of your Ridgid Power tools, hand tools, tool accessories and tool storage...

www.garagejournal.com

Edit: The above link doesn’t that you to the intended post. I don’t seem to be able to correct the problem. Please look at post #8 in the linked thread.

 

[AEAdam]

I think you will find there are core tools you need on nearly every single job. Then task specific tools.

As a handyman, those core tools could be something like:

• Tape measure, laser measure, maybe laser level
• Screwdrivers, a couple electrical pliers. Cutters, circuit tester
• Flashlight, headlight, stud finder?magnets?
• Graph paper and pencils or better, iPad with an Apple Pencil.
• Pocket knife, putty knife, paint scraper, sand paper, file?

The rabbit hole I fell into to was, almost regardless of the job I’m doing, I seem to need drills, drivers, my multitool, squares, screwdrivers etc. Were I to make dedicated kits I’d have tons of duplicates. This tells me my “core” is kind of a lot of tools.

I think this is worth your while to think about.

Pics as promised:


This is my “core” tool set


Top is screws


Thin packout is first aid.


Then PPE. Both of these are nice clean places to store this sort of stuff in what can otherwise be dusty, dirty, sometimes wet climates.

I can open all these lids without removing them from the stack.

 

[AEAdam]

Drawers:

Top drawer is squares and bevels.


M12 Drivers


M18 Drilling


15ga nailer (barely fits. C’mon Milwaukee, you can do better). This is like a wood glue gun. The stainless nails are good, but don’t hold like ring shanks so I use this to temp attach stuff.

Multi tool & sanding etc

 

[Renegade1LI]

I went with the dewalt tough system, it's the only one that lets you store the boxes individually. The hand truck is also useful as a stand alone hand truck to move whatever. Plus it's very convenient to move boxes from the shop to truck to jobsite & keep them stored on racks.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/dewalt-tough-system-long-term-review.528842/

 

[AEAdam]

I have a bunch of my woodworking hand tools in Rubbermaid storage bins. In the end, all these “systems” are just steps up from cardboard boxes to varying degrees. The Rubbermaid boxes stack nicely. I also use and like plastic milk crates. They also stack and make decent stools and steps.

I think having spent a good bit of money on the Milwaukee packouts, the drawer units are nice. But the others are really just plastic storage boxes with sealing hinging lids. The drawer units are expensive and the drawers don’t feel optimized for the tools many of us are looking to store.

So while I like what I have, I think there are tons of low cost alternatives. I think the organization is more important than the organizers.

 

[IndyGarage]

So while I like what I have, I think there are tons of low cost alternatives. I think the organization is more important than the organizers.

I like this statement. I think it really depends on the kind of work you do. I do a dozen different DIY type jobs every week. It might be carpentry one day, changing a light bulb, gluing something back together, hanging a picture, painting , electrical wiring , or fixing a toilet after that.

Personally, I have a series of toolkits, ranging from what I carry in my pocket - A multitool and a utility knife, to a series of smaller to larger Hand carry "toolkits", the smallest being a pouch with a few tools and a small tape measure, the largest being a Veto Pro pack. Next up is a Milwaukee packout setup, then my home shop, which is not portable, then my stand alone shop, which is also stationary.

The most used by far is the Veto Pro pack. It carries enough tools to do what I need to for many simple projects, but I often combine it with some specialty tools - stepstool or ladder, jawhorse, clamps, battery tools: track saw or circular saw, multitool, recip saw, angle grinder.

The Milwaukee packout setup is not as useful as I thought it would be. First, with two or three stacked containers with tools in them, it's heavy - it rolls easily across the floor, but it's not easy to get in and out of the truck and it doesn't do stairs well. I found myself only using it for jobs where I moved it to a location and it stayed there for awhile. For example, I bought a new condo that needed quite a bit of refurbishment and I've had the packout there for the past six months. There are quite a few stairs at that location, however. My solution to that is Milwaukee makes a Veto-style open top tool bag that clicks onto the packout. I bought one of those and I just take it to the actual work location, along with whatever specialty tools I need. So really that means the Packout is a toolbox and the Open top bag is my portable toolkit - so back to the Veto pro pack.

The two features of the packout that are indispensable for me are a multi-container storage unit for supplies - screws bolts, wire nuts, etc. Of course you can buy any number of container systems, but I have one of those that I use constantly. And the other thing is I bought Milwaukee's 1/4 and 3/8 socket set in the Packout container - that set is awesome and is so convenient to use.

If you are really serious about DIY for others, at many locations, I would think about a tool truck setup. I think I could make an awesome setup with a retired Uhaul 10 foot van truck filled with tools. I bought one of them to move furniture and it is the best vehicle for hauling a lot of stuff, yet it is no larger to park or harder to drive than a pickup. Of course if you fill a truck up with tools, then you have to start thinking about theft and where you park it.

 

[zimman]

I'm not a handyman. I just work on ****. LOL
Milwaukee
Decked
and whatever else you need.
Zim

 

[AEAdam]

I like this statement. I think it really depends on the kind of work you do. I do a dozen different DIY type jobs every week. It might be carpentry one day, changing a light bulb, gluing something back together, hanging a picture, painting , electrical wiring , or fixing a toilet after that.

Personally, I have a series of toolkits, ranging from what I carry in my pocket - A multitool and a utility knife, to a series of smaller to larger Hand carry "toolkits", the smallest being a pouch with a few tools and a small tape measure, the largest being a Veto Pro pack. Next up is a Milwaukee packout setup, then my home shop, which is not portable, then my stand alone shop, which is also stationary.

The most used by far is the Veto Pro pack. It carries enough tools to do what I need to for many simple projects, but I often combine it with some specialty tools - stepstool or ladder, jawhorse, clamps, battery tools: track saw or circular saw, multitool, recip saw, angle grinder.

The Milwaukee packout setup is not as useful as I thought it would be. First, with two or three stacked containers with tools in them, it's heavy - it rolls easily across the floor, but it's not easy to get in and out of the truck and it doesn't do stairs well. I found myself only using it for jobs where I moved it to a location and it stayed there for awhile. For example, I bought a new condo that needed quite a bit of refurbishment and I've had the packout there for the past six months. There are quite a few stairs at that location, however. My solution to that is Milwaukee makes a Veto-style open top tool bag that clicks onto the packout. I bought one of those and I just take it to the actual work location, along with whatever specialty tools I need. So really that means the Packout is a toolbox and the Open top bag is my portable toolkit - so back to the Veto pro pack.

The two features of the packout that are indispensable for me are a multi-container storage unit for supplies - screws bolts, wire nuts, etc. Of course you can buy any number of container systems, but I have one of those that I use constantly. And the other thing is I bought Milwaukee's 1/4 and 3/8 socket set in the Packout container - that set is awesome and is so convenient to use.

If you are really serious about DIY for others, at many locations, I would think about a tool truck setup. I think I could make an awesome setup with a retired Uhaul 10 foot van truck filled with tools. I bought one of them to move furniture and it is the best vehicle for hauling a lot of stuff, yet it is no larger to park or harder to drive than a pickup. Of course if you fill a truck up with tools, then you have to start thinking about theft and where you park it.

excellent post

Devil's advocate: Unlike my rubbermaid boxes or milk crates, you can link up these tool box systems and push one thing around the worksite. While I wouldn't want to move that linked up unit, I can break it apart and move the constituents up stairs or even ladders.

Agree the clear topped small parts boxes are pretty awesome. Carrying them like a brief case without fear of the lid opening or the parts/fasteners jumping their partitions is awesome. Linking those to other boxes is also convenient, especially when you don't need detach the parts box to open the lid of the box below. Last, those clear parts boxes are boxes of boxes. I find I pull out entire bins and bring those individually to the jobsite rather than carry the entire box of boxes (example: deck screws).

 

[mikey03]

Check out YouTube Morgan maintenance he is a tool nerd who is a pro handyman and setup some real sweet kits. Watch his truck load out video

 

[308guru]

Is there any reason to spend time on looking at products other than Milwaukee Pack Out? I'm not blind to the fact that other companies have some decent offerings, but in less than an hour at Home Depot you could build whatever you think you need. It's like legos for big kids. You can pick up addons later at almost any store in any town.

My point is, Milwaukee has a boat load of offerings and seems to have this market cornered. Why not jump in?