Portable tool tray? Shop to trailer and back.

[pmason0]

I'm looking for ideas to easily moving tools from the shop to the trailer for when I go to the track. Instead of having a heavy tool box.
Thinking of something of a tray that has handles on the ends that I could put in the tool box but lift out and put into a holder or something in the trailer.
Probably magnetic socket and tool holders to keep them from moving around.
Ideas?

 

[scab]

Re: Portal tool tray? Shop to trailer and back.

This sounds like a perfect excuse to buy a second set of tools.

 

[pmason0]

Re: Portal tool tray? Shop to trailer and back.

Well I'm already part way there with that, but in reality it would be like my 4th set, home, cabin, shop, and now trailer

 

[chrisa7164]

Re: Portal tool tray? Shop to trailer and back.

and the problem with that?

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: Portal tool tray? Shop to trailer and back.

and the problem with that?

Wondering the same thing myself. It doesn't have to be a complete set like home or all high dollar stuff. You're not rebuilding the engine at the track . . . are you ?


I'd just keep adding to what you have, pick up some decent used stuff at swap meets, flea markets or when the stuff goes on sale.

 

[pmason0]

Re: Portal tool tray? Shop to trailer and back.

Well maybe not a whole engine, but this weekend had to replace the alternator as it failed. The one thing at the track everyone is willing to share and help, needed an extension swivel. While I have a socket set and wrenches in the trailer, I would of really liked my ratcheting wrenches. As I keep adding spares to the trailer, starter, ecu, wires, spindles, bearings, axels, pads, and on and on, now an alternator, I had one at the shop from a car I stripped, but was able to borrow one from a friend that had more issues than I did. Figure if I have one in the trailer it will never break again Nice thing about having an enclosed trailer its a portable garage.

 

[tez929rr]

I have never had a good reason to buy one, but I always thought these montezuma boxes were cool, and may be what you need. And there appear to be several sizes.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200367736_200367736

 

[WILD-BILL]

I started out doing exactly what you are. Moving tools back and forth between the garage and trailer got to be a PITA.

I kept track of those tools I needed/wanted over time I slowly gathered my trailer collection. I now have a set at work, in the garage and in the trailer.

Not all those sets are an exact duplicate of the others either. For exapmle, there are no metric fasteners on any of the race cars so I don't need or have any metric tools in the trailer.

The best thing I did was order the SAE only tool set Sears had in their catalog a few years back. Not sure if it's still available though.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: Portal tool tray? Shop to trailer and back.

Nice thing about having an enclosed trailer its a portable garage.

Yes you're right about that. I have the tools to go in the trailer, I just don't have the trailer.

I'd keep buying stuff little by little. You know you need a swivel extension now so make that the next purchase.

I'd start a list of what you need. Every time you make a trip to some place that sells tools pick something up, give copies of the list to family for gift ideas or every payday, grab something. Before you know it, you'll have it full. Don't forget to check out the hot deals section here to for some good buys.

 

[pmason0]

Thanks for the inputs, last winter I started building a mini pit cart, but came to the realization that now I filled it up it was going to weight a ton. I was wanting to put more weight on the back of the trailer behind the car but this would of just been too much.

 

[tez929rr]

BTW, I think those Montezuma boxes are designed to be top boxes, so you could have a pretty cool setup pulling the top box off with the right stuff already in it.

 

[gipraw]

I keep a small craftsman top box loaded with what I need at my shop for larger jobs. It sits on a bench in my garage for everyday use. When I need it at the shop I pull the truck into the garage. The bench it sits on is the same height as the tailgate. I slide it in and head to the shop. When I bring it back it slides back onto the bench. It makes it easy to move back and forth.

 

[geojag]

I have an old 3-drawer and top Craftsman "Rally" handbox. When full it is a little heavy, but much easier than say a top box. Not sure if that is comparable to your current heavy toolbox, or if it will hold enough tools for you, but it works for me.

 

[zmotorsports]

I mounted a Snap-On topbox to the top of the workbench in my 26' Haulmark Edge trailer. Mostly equiped with hand tools and the few specialty tools that I need I keep a list of what goes out of the shop and into the trailer so I can put them back into the shop when unloading the trailer. This way I don't end up with having tools in the trailer that I need when working in the shop and the trailer is in storage.

I had two friends years ago that had boxes that they would load into their trailers for the track and then upon returning home they would unload them and wheel them into their home in the garage/shop. It worked well for them but not what I wanted to do. One had a MAC Macsimizer that he had fabricated mounts into the front wall of the trailer and latch the toolbox to the trailer front. He would use the winch to pull it up the gate and into the trailer. Once it was in the trailer it was fairly easy to move around. This way he had his tools and a benchtop/work surface all in one, he even had a small vice mounted on it.

The other friend custom built a track cart with a little larger pneumatic tires on it and would do the same thing, strap it to the front.

Mike.

 

[pmason0]

Picture of the front of my trailer, build a bench, you can see the a toolbox on the floor, some tools in the shelf in the bench. Blue boxes are spare parts etc.

 

[APEowner]

I keep most of my common tools in this box -> Link I just roll it into the trailer or if there's not enough room in the trailer I roll it onto the motorcycle lift and load it into the back of the truck.

 

[e-tek]

Kind of a odd question.....doesn't every cheap tool box come with a removable inner tray?

 

[OldMedic]

Re: Portal tool tray? Shop to trailer and back.

We always used a "pit cart" they come in many varieties, ours was custom built chassis that we secured an inexpensive tool cabinet to.

It also housed the air compressor, generator, and parts.

 

[pmason0]

OldMedic, that was kind of what I was building (see picture above) but I was thinking that would be a lot of weight on the nose/tongue of the trailer. Was going to put one of those Honda generators in the bottom. I guess maybe if I take the shelf out. The trailer is a 24ft, have the scooter up front, one set of tires on the side wall.

 

[ZRX61]

This was also my first thought.

Kind of a odd question.....doesn't every cheap tool box come with a removable inner tray?