road mechanic tool organization????

[mech-tech]

Fellas, I am in need of advice. I am a road mechanic on heavy equipment, and for the life of me, I can't seem to find a way to keep my tools even kinda organized. I have tried just about every socket rail design and they either let the sockets fall off the rail and scatter EVERYWHERE or they hold the sockets on sooo tight my oily greased up hands can't get them off the dang rail. How do other road guys have their sockets set up? My other tools seem to kinda stay put, but the constant never ending searching for sockets is getting old. I hate to buy all new socket set just to have a nice neat plastic tray to hold them together, but it looks like that is my only other option. The 1/2" drive sockets seem to be the worst at jumping around while boucing down the road.

What works for a regular top box set up? I do like the idea of the sockets standing up on trays, but there is noooo way they will stay there.

HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[richfinn]

I have magnets mounted all over my van to store my most commonly used tools/sockets.

 

[garfunkle24]

I glue all my wrench rails, socket rails etc into the drawers. I also use a ton of dividers etc to stop everything piling up into a draw-jamming ball of tools. Can take pics later if you want.

 

[mech-tech]

My set up is basically a closed top work bosy on a half ton truck. I have a regular top box sitting it the bed, but for the life of me, can't keep the sockets in order. I can deal with having to search for a wrench in a drawer, but sockets are a different story, though it would be nice to have all wrenches neatly placed

 

[franzdom]

Perhaps Mechanics Time Savers magnetic socket trays are the ticket.

 

[garfunkle24]

Here's a bunch of pics I found. You'll notice holders I made for sockets, lots of dividers, wrench rails glued down, punches in rolls etc.

 

[JASTECH]

I took my top box out and am going to try the 3 Husky 16 compartment tool bags. Will keep fingies crossed.

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

For the sockets, have you thought about a piece of 3/4" to 1" plywood with holes drilled to fit the sockets and then put plywood in a tray or a drawer?

Please don't laugh and ridicule me ... I use one similar to this:

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-4-dr...0930792000P?prdNo=11&blockNo=36&blockType=G36

Fits a ton of 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" drive sockets and accessories. In the garage I put it on a small four wheel dolly (HF). Put it in the trailer, bring it next to the race car, sometime pull out just a drawer. But the stuff stays put in the drawers.

 

[bobcatdan]

Been on the road 3 years now. 1/4 and 3/8 on hansen trays. 1/2 in the plastic boxes they came in. I have zero problem with tools shifting inside of the craftsman box I have so all I can say is take the corners easier.

 

[mech-tech]

I may have to consider glued in trays and racks. I think my biggest problem is that I sometimes have to walk away from the truck to get to the broken equipment, so I always wanted a way to just grab the socket rail or wrench rack and bring the whole thing, but once I get on the road, things seem to move around and get lost. I did think about using tool bags, but I pack waaaayyyy too many tools in the trtuck for that. Looks like some customizing is in order, and LOTS of glue!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Holt]

Check My sig you may get a few ideas in there.

 

[sdguy55]

might not be what you have in mind but i would take a hard look at montezuma chests. in my opinion they are the best roadboxes. If you get the biggest one it doesnt look very big but it holds ALOT of tools. And they are built very tough.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using Tapatalk 2

 

[thightower]

Snap on has some nice rails. you put the sockets on the square then turn to lock on. they are nice but they are pricey.

 

[Pointsnorth]

Snap on has some nice rails. you put the sockets on the square then turn to lock on. they are nice but they are pricey.

Look at the Mechanic's Time Savers Lock-A-Socket Trays, as Blue Point ones are just rebranded.

 

[RV77]

Im not an road tech but I use these and filthy hands dont make a differance.

 

[bts]

Fellas, I am in need of advice. I am a road mechanic on heavy equipment, and for the life of me, I can't seem to find a way to keep my tools even kinda organized. I have tried just about every socket rail design and they either let the sockets fall off the rail and scatter EVERYWHERE or they hold the sockets on sooo tight my oily greased up hands can't get them off the dang rail. How do other road guys have their sockets set up? My other tools seem to kinda stay put, but the constant never ending searching for sockets is getting old. I hate to buy all new socket set just to have a nice neat plastic tray to hold them together, but it looks like that is my only other option. The 1/2" drive sockets seem to be the worst at jumping around while boucing down the road.

What works for a regular top box set up? I do like the idea of the sockets standing up on trays, but there is noooo way they will stay there.

HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know were your coming from. I spent 15 years on the road repairing earthmoving and small plant equipment. It can turn a lot of stuff that is fine in the shop to junk in a short period of time.
For my standard 1/2" and 3/8" ones I bent up L shaped bits of metal sheet and stuck them in the box with a bit of silastic. They had a taper so I could run imperial sockets one way and metric the other.(bit hard to explain) Bit of thin foam on the top and it worked fine. Well, better than anything else I tried.

 

[Chadwilliam1]

put new shocks on the truck. my thought would be Hansen trays with magnets glued on the under side.

 

[EvilWelder]

I have all my sockets on rails or in the trays they came in packed tight in the top drawer of the chest on my truck, wrenches are in rolls and the 3/4" set is still in the Snap-On box.

 

[crewchief888]

been a field mechanic at my dealer since '04, only 3/8" & 1/2" dr sockets in the top of my box.
mainly in MTS magnetic holders, or the original stamped steel boxes.
1/4" & 3/4" dr sockets are kept in another compartment, 3/4" dr sockets in acro bins, 1/4" dr stuff in a repurposed blow molded box

i keep a mac toolbag in the truck in case i have to lug tools to a machine that i cant get close enough with the truck

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

For the stuff in the service truck, I have a bunch of old-school steel boxes and trays. The boxes I picked up at yard sales/swap meets/etc. and the trays were built by a friend in the tin shop.

Snapon, Proto, Mac, Armstrong and some of the others sell the metal "set" boxes separately.

 

[lauver]

Crewchief,

You're asking an awfull lot from that old Crafty chest that was never designed or intended for road service; it was intended as a light weight consumer grade box. I'm surprised that it's still holding up... you have gotten your monies worth though. I see a few repairs have been made to brace it up...

 

[deerhaven]

i agree with az catskinner i also use small boxes for most things use alot of magnets all wrenches go in rolls

 

[crewchief888]

Crewchief,

You're asking an awfull lot from that old Crafty chest that was never designed or intended for road service; it was intended as a light weight consumer grade box. I'm surprised that it's still holding up... you have gotten your monies worth though. I see a few repairs have been made to brace it up...

i bought that box back in '99 when i was racing. the race shop wasnt really set up with much more than a few hand tools, i had most of my clamps, vice grips, and assorted fab stuff in it , bouncing around in the back of my truck for 8 months or so. after the season started it spent most of it's time being slammed around inside the trailer.
it's been in 2 different service trucks since '04, and been welded back together 3 or 4 times. it's really on it's last leg now, the inner panel on one side, (where the slide rails are stamped in) has broken completely off.
when i get my new service truck, (sometime next year), i'll have to figure something to make some more repairs, unless i can convince the big boss to spend the money on the drawer system for the new body.

 

[bobcatdan]

I have craftsman friction slide box bought in 08 in my truck. No failures and no complaint. My kra 62c will not fit in my truck and I'd rather not beat that box up.

 

[crewchief888]

I have craftsman friction slide box bought in 08 in my truck. No failures and no complaint. My kra 62c will not fit in my truck and I'd rather not beat that box up.

i've destroyed just about every box i've ever put in a service truck...

matco, mac, CM and kennedy

 

[PECVD2]

been a field mechanic at my dealer since '04, only 3/8" & 1/2" dr sockets in the top of my box.
mainly in MTS magnetic holders, or the original stamped steel boxes.
1/4" & 3/4" dr sockets are kept in another compartment, 3/4" dr sockets in acro bins, 1/4" dr stuff in a repurposed blow molded box

i keep a mac toolbag in the truck in case i have to lug tools to a machine that i cant get close enough with the truck

Crewchief888,

I hope you don't mind if I steal that pic of your road box for my screensaver, that is IMO Awesome!

 

[crewchief888]

Crewchief888,

I hope you don't mind if I steal that pic of your road box for my screensaver, that is IMO Awesome!

no problem

 

[JWILL]

Magnets for wrenches and tool rolls for all else.

 

[bustdknuckle]

I have the 36" Montezuma that sits on my snap on box and push it around the shop. it can hold a lot but has some empty space under the screw diver and rachet slots kinda ***** to grap a tools and go away from the box but everthing is organized

 

[318fekim]

Ever thought about military ammo cans? I have a bunch in my van and they work great.
mike

 

[E.T.Privott]

easyest way that i found to keep my tools in place was shown to me by an old "mean *** son-a-*****" equipment mechanic for the land clearing company i worked for many years ago when i was breaking out in the work force. if you lost one of his tools you best have a new one the next day or have quit the day you lose it !!! did i say mean, well i ment to say "MEAN" !!! he had his box set up with a flop down lid with spongy foam glued to the lid, as it layed on top of his tools it kept pressure on them so they did not rattle so he drove. they stayed put as he bounced along getting to the broke equipment, as you closed the lid you pushed the draw back into the box and god help you if you didn't put his tools back were they belonged. hell of a wrench, just mean as hell (sockets in the socket draw, drivers in the driver draw, hammer in ....) and if he went to get a socket and it was in the wrong draw..... they were right were they should be. foam glued on a wood, layed on top and closed in the box keeps them tight !!!

 

[TireTracks]

Mabey try and use the old skool metal socket trays, that have a "handle" that holds the sockets inside?

 

[Cassette50]

Im not an road tech but I use these and filthy hands dont make a differance.

What make are those rails ? Magnetic ?

 

[RV77]

What make are those rails ? Magnetic ?

Yes they are magnetic and the maker is Mechanics Time Saver

 

[HzEmall]

Old post, but what are all those other thread lock tubes?

 

[geartow]

" Loctite lipstick"
http://www.na.henkel-adhesives.com/industrial/product-search-1554.htm?nodeid=8797710090241

 

[Protofarmer]

Old post I know, but I use Hansen for 1/4 and 3/8 that are riveted down in place and powerbuilt magnetic socket rails for 1/2" deep and shallow in my road box. You have to mount them without a liner or they'll move but I think they are great!

 

[Farmall 1066]

I used the Hanson trays for years, but they break eventually.
Current setup is a Montezuma box riding on top of a Weather Guard Pack Rat.
Rides in back of 3/4 ton Chevy most of the time.
Like the Montezuma for the organization and the Pack Rat for the drawers and ability to store long tools and compartments that can be divided up as needed.

 

[Gmonkee]

Rolls for wrenches and small made to fit boxes for socket sets.

Doesn't take a lot of tin bending skill to make boxes to sacrifice to the gods of truck travel. Make them solid and simple. They will get beat up fast.

 

[G-Ram]

Great thread! Looking at getting into field service work and would love to see more organization/setups.