Not every job I come across affords me the luxury of working from the garage so I'm curious as to what most people do when they need to go mobile with their tools. Specifically sockets but other loose tools as well. I've perused the tool box thread and 95% of people are storing them on rails of some sort. I understand the factory cases take up a lot more space than rails, but what are you doing with the cases? Landfill? Any pictures of your best solutions will be greatly appreciated.
Going Mobile
- Thread starter Tenex
- Start date
I work within walking distance of home, so I've been using my son's old wagon to transport my stuff each day.
I just got stuff to weld a new wagon. It's gonna be all steel, airless heavy duty wheels, double-decker, with a ladder rack. Oohhh baby!
I just got stuff to weld a new wagon. It's gonna be all steel, airless heavy duty wheels, double-decker, with a ladder rack. Oohhh baby!
BDT/NWMN
Well-known member
We could recommend anything from an ice cube tray or a tackle box to a bread truck. But We could be far more specific If we knew what line of work you are in..
I have found some of those space wasting plastic cases to actually be a very efficient way to store some sockets,, along with Hansen socket racks, and steel socket trays..
How many jacks and hoists will you bring with? ,, how about a torch and welder?,, air compressor? Can only make assumptions and wild guesses as what to suggest.. Could you fill us in on a few more details?
I have found some of those space wasting plastic cases to actually be a very efficient way to store some sockets,, along with Hansen socket racks, and steel socket trays..
How many jacks and hoists will you bring with? ,, how about a torch and welder?,, air compressor? Can only make assumptions and wild guesses as what to suggest.. Could you fill us in on a few more details?
Finky198
Well-known member
I have a pelican 0450 mobile tool chest, its the main box I work out of stores most of my hand tool except for my pry bars, hammers, and wrench rolls. It stays at my bench unless I have to repair our equipment in the field.
All of my other stuff is on shelves and is more grab and go depending on what I might need.
If your doing basic stuff where you just need a good set of hand tools plus a few extras this would be a great start.
You can squeeze a lot of tools in this little box, shut the lid it's even got 3 handles and wheels. I had the foam in it but way to much wasted space, i'd rather have twice the amount of tools and have to do a little organizing when I arrive on the job site it only takes 10 min to tidy it up before getting to working without it.
VVV Oh and I have yet to have a socket come off the craftsman plastic rails I cut them to length and each set of sockets is on it's own rail
All of my other stuff is on shelves and is more grab and go depending on what I might need.
If your doing basic stuff where you just need a good set of hand tools plus a few extras this would be a great start.
You can squeeze a lot of tools in this little box, shut the lid it's even got 3 handles and wheels. I had the foam in it but way to much wasted space, i'd rather have twice the amount of tools and have to do a little organizing when I arrive on the job site it only takes 10 min to tidy it up before getting to working without it.
VVV Oh and I have yet to have a socket come off the craftsman plastic rails I cut them to length and each set of sockets is on it's own rail
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I used to be the master of mobility,
Noone makes good road boxes anymore though I do like the look of the extreme tools ones on strictly toolboxes.
I had two 30" road boxes on either side of my van at one point and towed a trailer with two HF service carts (beef up the caster mounts before you try it) and used various large stanley plastic boxes to transport power tools and several bucket jockeys to get outside of the vehicle when I wasn't going to be there long.
I prefer deep foam cut out to fit sockets wrenches ect. As it usually guarantees you arrive at the job with everything in the same spot. (Rails **** especially in a trailer with no suspension everything comes off no matter what.)
I prefer to stand my deep well sockets up in deep or double layered foam cut outs as well as it saves horizontal space in the drawers and can effectively double a drawers capacity.
The laser etched IR impact sockets come in awesome blow molded cases that used to come in handy but have since been discarded.
Hope any of this helps.
Noone makes good road boxes anymore though I do like the look of the extreme tools ones on strictly toolboxes.
I had two 30" road boxes on either side of my van at one point and towed a trailer with two HF service carts (beef up the caster mounts before you try it) and used various large stanley plastic boxes to transport power tools and several bucket jockeys to get outside of the vehicle when I wasn't going to be there long.
I prefer deep foam cut out to fit sockets wrenches ect. As it usually guarantees you arrive at the job with everything in the same spot. (Rails **** especially in a trailer with no suspension everything comes off no matter what.)
I prefer to stand my deep well sockets up in deep or double layered foam cut outs as well as it saves horizontal space in the drawers and can effectively double a drawers capacity.
The laser etched IR impact sockets come in awesome blow molded cases that used to come in handy but have since been discarded.
Hope any of this helps.
If you're speaking of mechanic type tools, I think I can be of some help.
Over the last few months I think I've finally come up with a 'road tools' set that is both complete and easily transported. I've previously struggled with proper (rust free) storage that is quiet enough to have in the passenger compartment of my crew cab truck.
I'm now carrying my road tools in small Klein (and other makers) zip up tool bags, all contained in a large canvas Klein tool bag. I'm able to carry full sets of sae and metric wrenches and sockets, pliers, hammer, big breaker bar, pry bar, etc, etc behind the rear seat of my crew cab f250 with no annoying rattles.
Sockets are on rails in zipper pouches, wrenches are wrapped in tie wire inside zippered pouches. Only a few items (hack saw frame, large file, large 1/2 breaker bar, large pry bar) don't fit in the smaller pouches and are loose in the large tool bag.
Over the last few months I think I've finally come up with a 'road tools' set that is both complete and easily transported. I've previously struggled with proper (rust free) storage that is quiet enough to have in the passenger compartment of my crew cab truck.
I'm now carrying my road tools in small Klein (and other makers) zip up tool bags, all contained in a large canvas Klein tool bag. I'm able to carry full sets of sae and metric wrenches and sockets, pliers, hammer, big breaker bar, pry bar, etc, etc behind the rear seat of my crew cab f250 with no annoying rattles.
Sockets are on rails in zipper pouches, wrenches are wrapped in tie wire inside zippered pouches. Only a few items (hack saw frame, large file, large 1/2 breaker bar, large pry bar) don't fit in the smaller pouches and are loose in the large tool bag.
JKady
Well-known member
4 rail matco socket holders and a hand carry box for the rest, nothin fancy.
FMC1959
Well-known member
I am not sure if you are looking at mobile as in something that will be in a mobile trailer or truck, but remains in the truck/trailer when you get to the job.....example, a 42' or larger tool cabinet for all your sockets and other tools. Or do you need something that goes onsite when you get to the job?
For the latter there are many choice that have come on the market in recent years; Dewalt has their Tough System and also their TStak system, Ridgid, Makita, Bosch, Festool and Tanos all have systems. By system meaning that they stack & connect together whatever combination you want. They have carts you can wheel onto jobsites and some to go up stairs.
Some like the Ridgid and Dewalt TS have airtight seals and very solid construction that make them more weather resistant and can handle rough handling. The other systems are not considered weather resistant but have great organizational benefits and possibilities.
All this being said, 2 more items. I would say none of them are optimized for a mechanic's tools setup, but you can definitely find a way to organize your sockets in any of these.
The other thing is that these are all nesting & stacking systems but there are other choices also. If you have the $$$ and want one of the best, look at what Pelican offers.
For the latter there are many choice that have come on the market in recent years; Dewalt has their Tough System and also their TStak system, Ridgid, Makita, Bosch, Festool and Tanos all have systems. By system meaning that they stack & connect together whatever combination you want. They have carts you can wheel onto jobsites and some to go up stairs.
Some like the Ridgid and Dewalt TS have airtight seals and very solid construction that make them more weather resistant and can handle rough handling. The other systems are not considered weather resistant but have great organizational benefits and possibilities.
All this being said, 2 more items. I would say none of them are optimized for a mechanic's tools setup, but you can definitely find a way to organize your sockets in any of these.
The other thing is that these are all nesting & stacking systems but there are other choices also. If you have the $$$ and want one of the best, look at what Pelican offers.
I'd say I am a mechanically inclined individual, but certainly no professional.I can't afford multiple tool sets unless I start buying everything from Harbor Freight thus I am looking for mobile solutions for moving tools. How do I get them from the box into the car without creating a clusterf*ck in my tool bag? Hand tools only. No air compressor, oxy-acetylene torch, generator, or welder. I'm slightly OCD so I have a hard time disregarding the blow-molded cases for my sockets.
FMC1959
Well-known member
Then do some Google searches on the above systems I mention, they are specifically aimed at the contractor that takes things from his shop, to the truck, then onsite to the job. Between all of these systems, there is a lot of variety, one of these should be perfect for you.
Brownsfan
Well-known member
What type of work will you be doing? I do automotive electrical almost 100% mobile. Sockets are all sets in blow molded cases. That's really the only way I could come up with to stop from loosing them.