Durable and portable toolbox. (Recommendation please)

[Redemption]

Hey there, i'm starting to collect some hand tools to work on my vehicle, I just graduated and spent my voucher with snap on. These are the tools I currently have, i'm looking for something portable so that I can toss it in the truck or an suv and take it camping, or use it on a jobsite ect. I am in love with the pelican 0450 but can't really afford that at $600 range. I will be shadowing the box so that none of the tools are loose in the drawers and was wondering if anyone had any boxes they would recommend for this purpose.

If anyone has owned a pelican 0450, I would love to know how you like the toolbox and how hard it is to move with just one person.

 

[zeke markham]

I've gota Pelican 0450, it's my heavy road trip box. And I do mean heavy. Fully loaded its 90 pounds. Unless I absolutely need it I just grab my tool bag and the exact tools I need for the job. It's a hassle.

 

[Redemption]

I've gota Pelican 0450, it's my heavy road trip box. And I do mean heavy. Fully loaded its 90 pounds. Unless I absolutely need it I just grab my tool bag and the exact tools I need for the job. It's a hassle.

I tend to always need something when i try to grab just what i need, and lose tools in pouches/bags. The two major reasons i liked the pelican 0450 was the weatherproofing and the ability to protect my investment while being mobile.
Really appreciate the response.

 

[TheCarbideRat]

I have 2 Waterloo MM23BK boxes in my truck, the top section can hold 1/2" drive deep-well sockets standing longitudinally no problem. Im sure they weigh 75 pounds or more with tools inside and being a plastic box seems to handle it fine. I hate the mesh drawer liner which is popular now so I lined the drawers with duct tape and that has worked out fine.

I had a Kennedy cantilever for many years as my road box but the Waterloos have been great.

 

[mattgood65]

I run two Snap-on KRA59's, bought them used on craigslist and ebay, $200 each, I wouldn't go any other way

 

[TheCarbideRat]

Those are nice little boxes ^^

the Waterloos are one handers, so easier to get into and out of the worksite or shop.

 

[T45]

I have 2 Waterloo MM23BK boxes in my truck, the top section can hold 1/2" drive deep-well sockets standing longitudinally no problem. Im sure they weigh 75 pounds or more with tools inside and being a plastic box seems to handle it fine.

Cman relabels this rally-style box and it goes on sale for $30 ish.

For a rally style box the cman is well made and easy to work out of.

But the 450 and rally box is not a comparable form factor.

 

[tarbellb]

Sounds like you are young and ambitious, maybe you can outfit the Ridgid toolboxes sold at Home Depot.

They are excellent portable boxes, cheap, durable, and get lots of good reviews on here.

Those and some DIY dividers and foam and youd be in <$300.

 

[Redemption]

Not interested in the ridgid boxes. The lack of access into the bottom box, and having to pull out trays to get to the very bottom just sounds like a nightmare.

 

[TheCarbideRat]

By the way, the drawers in the Wloo are steel, thus the duct tape. And the drawers lock via the lid.

 

[SantaAna12]

By the way, the drawers in the Wloo are steel, thus the duct tape. And the drawers lock via the lid.

Sounds good Carbide.
Is the hinge plastic or metal?

 

[TheCarbideRat]

Plastic yet the pin is steel.

 

[TheCarbideRat]

Another feature is they are designed to be stackable, the reinforcing contours in the lid add strength and fit into thr bottom of another MM23BK.

I weigh 180 and although I wouldn't step on the box for any amount of time it could be done I also had 2 smaller yet full of tools boxes on top of one and it seemed ok.

 

[SantaAna12]

Thanks Carbide.

Sorry Redemption, I just reread your post.

 

[Rarified27]

Not interested in the ridgid boxes. The lack of access into the bottom box, and having to pull out trays to get to the very bottom just sounds like a nightmare.

There are no trays to remove from the Ridgid boxes. There's a standard style tote in the middle box which doesn't obstruct the bottom so you can reach beyond or remove it and the bottom is a plastic box on wheels. Remove the lid and there's nothing in your way.

 

[T45]

Another feature is they are designed to be stackable, the reinforcing contours in the lid add strength and fit into thr bottom of another MM23BK.

I weigh 180 and although I wouldn't step on the box for any amount of time it could be done I also had 2 smaller yet full of tools boxes on top of one and it seemed ok.

A stack of them on a trolley like those rigids would be nice.

The main operational flaw with all of the rally and cantilevers is that once you fill them full of tools to capacity, you and they are both barely mobile, and/or awkwared to transport. The idea of using two (half full) is almost more attractive. Walking 100 yards with them is kind of a hassle, for example with assymetric load of 75 pounds in one hand.

IF you could stack them and then wheel them around, they would start to look/function maybe alot more like that beta toolbox. The contractors style boxes like ridid and dewalt etc lack the drawers, and make it a real hassle to work out of--you need everything in tool rolls--and you need to alot of real-estate at the worksite.

And process wise, to explode all the tools, and repack them is maybe 5-15 minutes of extra time (done twice so up to 1/2 hour) which ads upp if working on a couple sites or you need to resecure your tools to take a break for lunch, etc.

 

[Finky198]

I have one its my main box and it can not safely be move solo. It's over 150 lbs probably closer to 165. I've said this before and I'll say it again it a great box if you need 100% protection for a small set of tools. But its overtly expensive, heavy, and has little storage compared to the reg style of boxes.

Don't just buy it for the Cool factor.

While it's nice that I have a road box ( I rarely move it now) that could do about 90% of car rebuild and I have no foam in my box just for reference. Yet I don't have enough room in the box for any 1/2 drive sockets, impact guns, hammers, wrenches, prybars, or specialty tools they have to travel separately in a bag which adds 20-40lbs to the set up.

If you can keep a small kit 75 lbs or less it's a great box.
But even at that weight there not easy to move... and it will only roll on smooth surfaces.

 

[4Kings]

I've got a couple subs that roll into our plant with Dewalt TSTAK outfits. Very cool and completely customizable. Might be worth a look.

http://www.dewalt.com/en-us/products/gear-and-equipment/tool-storage/tstak