Tool storage for apartments?!

[Snoxxy]

What’s up everyone

I recently moved to Japan and had to move into an apartment. When I still lived in the states I had pretty good tool collection, a lot of which I sold and consolidated down into some of plastic lockable totes from Home Depot for shipping them here, as the totes had a rubber seal and seemed to not let moisture in.
Fast forward a few months and I’m settled in and I don’t think I have ever hated something as much as I hate those stupid totes! I can organize anything as it’s just big boxes no dividers no anything!
So I’m looking at solutions I can keep in my apartment. I live on the 2nd floor and I do not have an elevator, plus I go to track days with my chaser so being able to bring the essentials is necessary !
I am down for any and all suggestions but big roller cabs are not gonna fly;(

Thanks so much

Phil

 

[General Geoff]

Pelican cases with the open cell pickable foam. Shadow all your tools for organization and secure fitment so they don't go flying around during transit.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004JJNO6K/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[michelin]

Buy a big rollcab. Use cantilever boxes for track days. Don’t tell me the Japanese with all their technological advancements can’t get a rollcab inside your apartment. What if you had to buy a piano for your daughter. You’d let her play outside because it’s too big? Call a fire brigade. I don’t care how but get it in there. This is GJ. We don’t want complaints, we want results.

 

[madmanc]

how about a top box with a small table under it , i know how you feel as i only have a flat on a second floor but i have a roller cabinet and top box in my cupboard and a cantiliver and rally box for mobile days

 

[ReggieR]

There are none. Keep tools at a friends while you live in an "apartment" / AKA long term motel , and save money until you get a place to stay for decades.

 

[Daddy B]

Maybe look at the Dewalt Toughsystem or Tstack system. Or anything along those lines. Heavy duty, sealed against the elements and portable. Just use foam, socket rails, wrench racks, trays, bins, dividers, whatever you like to organize inside.

 

[Snoxxy]

Thanks for all the replies, the solution to bring the tools over here was the Ridgid box system that is VERY similar to the Dewalt tough system, and well it barely rolls its so full haha. i also have a large husky tote full with larger tools thats in their own cases, i.e. tap die set, and such.
thanks for the suggestions though, i'll let you guys know what i come up with !

 

[Max]

Try a search for "mobile tool box". You don't say how many tools you have, but there are options that are more box like:

https://www.dewalt.com/products/gea...age/tstak-3-pc-modular-mobile-tower/dwst60404

Or options that have a few drawers:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002ZZHK9W/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Or full boat tool boxes with drawers:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00254YA6E/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I personally like the Pelican, but it's spendy and there are likely similar but cheaper options out there...

Max

 

[Holt]

How about a picture of what you are working with and all your tools. That sould help us out in suggestions.

 

[L.Cheapo]

When I lived in apartments and dorms in college, I had a 26" Craftsman 9 drawer rollaway in a closet, and a three drawer Craftsman carry box for taking tools with me. I never lived on the first floor and was able to carry that empty rollaway up and down stairs by myself. Of course I was in my 20s at the time...

 

[Lassen Forge]

When I was an apartment dweller (god, 2 lifetimes ago) I was in the same pickle, and that's when I got my dad's old cantilevered Kennedy box... made a pair of skids on a "sled" to slide it up and down the stairs... but it got my tools to and from wherever I needed them for a job. My main box was at work but the Kennedy did whatever else I needed, but I think the above idea of a small roller box in a closet or corner makes sense if you have the luxury of that kind of space...

There is another option - rent a small storage space for your main box... if you're lucky they'll let you do some "light maintenance" there as well...

 

[davethorik]

Hand carry boxes. More than one for different tasks/storage. I use an old Cman carpenters box for my mobile auto repair, I can fit my 2' ratchets in it.

 

[PoorOwner]

In Japan I bet you can put your tool box in front of your car in the parking structure and no one will be stealing it.

Seen it done in Hong Kong.. you would need a lot more locks in HK though.

 

[FigureItOut]

Thanks for all the replies, the solution to bring the tools over here was the Ridgid box system that is VERY similar to the Dewalt tough system, and well it barely rolls its so full haha. i also have a large husky tote full with larger tools thats in their own cases, i.e. tap die set, and such.
thanks for the suggestions though, i'll let you guys know what i come up with !

The Ridgid system may be visually somewhat similar to the Dewalt Tough System, but the similarity ends there. The little Ridgid deal is a light duty toy in comparison.

That said, definitely take a look at the Bosch or Sortimo LBoxx system. I love mine.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930AZ using Tapatalk

 

[Rarified27]

The Ridgid system may be visually somewhat similar to the Dewalt Tough System, but the similarity ends there. The little Ridgid deal is a light duty toy in comparison.

That said, definitely take a look at the Bosch or Sortimo LBoxx system. I love mine.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930AZ using Tapatalk

I respectfully disagree with the assertion of Ridgid being toys. I've had the mine for at least 4yrs and they've withstood such a beating I purchased another set.

Did you experience something with them which caused a complete failure of the product?

 

[FigureItOut]

I respectfully disagree with the assertion of Ridgid being toys. I've had the mine for at least 4yrs and they've withstood such a beating I purchased another set.

Did you experience something with them which caused a complete failure of the product?

No, my comparison was a bit exaggerated. In fact I think they're pretty nice, and have recommended them in certain use cases. That said, they're just not built the way the Tough System is. The price of each is commiserate to its construction.

The OP mentioned that his Ridgid wasn't rolling well when fully loaded. I don't think he'd experience that with Tough System.

To reiterate, I think that Ridgid stack is nice, and have almost bought it multiple times. To better illustrate the point I was trying to make, compare the build of the Dewalt dolly pictured below to the roller base portion of the Ridgid stack. The stark difference put the word toy in my mind, and it wasn't fair.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930AZ using Tapatalk

 

[bpjr]

I'd get a bunch of tool boxes that were small enough to carry when full. I used to live on boats and that's the way I did it for small spaces.

 

[Rarified27]

No, my comparison was a bit exaggerated. In fact I think they're pretty nice, and have recommended them in certain use cases. That said, they're just not built the way the Tough System is. The price of each is commiserate to its construction.

The OP mentioned that his Ridgid wasn't rolling well when fully loaded. I don't think he'd experience that with Tough System.

To reiterate, I think that Ridgid stack is nice, and have almost bought it multiple times. To better illustrate the point I was trying to make, compare the build of the Dewalt dolly pictured below to the roller base portion of the Ridgid stack. The stark difference put the word toy in my mind, and it wasn't fair.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930AZ using Tapatalk

^ I'd absolutely agree with the rolling issues and hope Ridgid is considering a cart for those of us moving a lot of their boxes, but not needing the large bottom piece. When I need 3 organizers and a crate, I can't roll any of them and still use a hand truck.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 

[Lassen Forge]

Want the total badass approach? Get a Kipper GMTK or a Pelican 0450 system. Not cheap, but if you need a way to secure and take tools.. if they're good enough for the hell the military puts them through...

 

[RedneckWelder]

You can spend stupid money for various things or you can get a few normal cheap hand carry boxes and organize them for tasks...i.e a basic auto set in one, electrical tools in another, specialty tools in another and so on. Pack them in tight and you should be good to go. Not ideal but it works.

If you had an elevator then the stacking roller systems would be ideal but I wouldn’t want to wrestle them up and down the stairs

 

[Snoxxy]

Want the total badass approach? Get a Kipper GMTK or a Pelican 0450 system. Not cheap, but if you need a way to secure and take tools.. if they're good enough for the hell the military puts them through...

I work with the Military as a civilian, and the Pelican 0450's and SnapOn equlvilant are pretty awesome, as is the Pelican 1650. In the military aviation world I don't think there is a tougher box out there! That being said, the 0450 is very $!!! I might end up getting 1 down the road, but even if I filled it up as much as I could I would need at least 4, probably 5.

The idea is great though. something to think about!

Phil

 

[dan360]

A trick of millwrights around here is to buy this big Harbor Freight hand truck with pneumatic tires and start adding things to it.

https://m.harborfreight.com/600-lbs...775.html?utm_referrer=https://www.google.com/

You can add hooks, shelves, brackets, etc and make quite the little tool moving cart out of it. A few sawmill guys I know have welded smaller tool cabinets to it and you can stack soft bags, hard chests, etc on it. Even carry around little compressors.


I also like these CLC 1526 square maintenance tool bags. They will hold a LOT and aren’t so big that they get unreasonably heavy when topped off. Plus the little plastic box in the bottom is great for electrical connectors, screws, bolts, washers, etc.

https://www.cpooutlets.com/clc-1526...MInaGrzcK83gIVB9lkCh24QA2LEAQYBCABEgIXiPD_BwE


Don’t overlook the quintessential “Bucket Boss” 5 gal bucket organizers either. Unless you’re worried about style points.

 

[madmanc]

This is my flat set up

 

[madmanc]

Lives in the cupboard and the travel box sits on the following in front

 

[anndel]

I work with the Military as a civilian, and the Pelican 0450's and SnapOn equlvilant are pretty awesome, as is the Pelican 1650. In the military aviation world I don't think there is a tougher box out there! That being said, the 0450 is very $!!! I might end up getting 1 down the road, but even if I filled it up as much as I could I would need at least 4, probably 5.

The idea is great though. something to think about!

Phil

Where you at, Zama?

 

[Snoxxy]

Where you at, Zama?

Yokota, but I live off base