Tool Tray for Automotive Work?

[Beemer]

Lately I've been thinking I need a tool tray to set in the engine compartment to keep the tools from trying to escape when set on the radiator, airbox, fusebox, etc. While recently changing the truck's battery, the wrench, sitting on the airbox, decided to make a run for it and ended up on the frame wedged behind the airbox so it took an hour to retreive it and 5 minutes to change the battery.

My first thought was a magnetic tray but on second thought there isn't much exposed metal under the hood.

Anyone have something they use for small jobs in the engine bay?

 

[Jarhead0408]

I like GrypMats. They’re made of silicone and do a bang up job of keeping tools together under the hood.

There are several copies at a lower price point and a version sold at HF as well.

 

[Lassen Forge]

I do use magnetic trays, sometimes it takes some imagination to figure where to put it, but they're hard to beat. I *almost* epoxied one to a fender well so it was always there, but that seemed a bit excessive...

 

[Beemer]

I like GrypMats. They’re made of silicone and do a bang up job of keeping tools together under the hood.

There are several copies at a lower price point and a version sold at HF as well.

Cool, thanks. I see they are priced to payoff the hosts at Sharktank though.
I see reasonably priced alternatives.

 

[CGarage]

I do not like storing tools over an engine bay.
It is asking for trouble and poor practice. That is why the Hazet Assistant exists and other tool trolleys.

 

[Beemer]

I do not like storing tools over an engine bay.
It is asking for trouble and poor practice. That is why the Hazet Assistant exists and other tool trolleys.

I'm talking about smaller projects that don't warrant hauling that much out there. It's just a couple wrenches or sockets, a few removed nuts or screws, a light bulb or fuse and the likes. There's no harm in having that stuff in the engine bay provided there's not an open carb or similar that would make for complicated errors. To me a tool trolly would be excessive and would kill the enthusiasm.

 

[CGarage]

They make fender covers with storage pockets that are padded in that case.....

 

[Wolfe 21]

Rural king sells a version of the grypmat from Crimson (house brand) for like $20. Has all 3 pieces included instead of the buy it by the piece harbor freight ones. I do like the HF blue color better though. If you have one local, check the store mine has them marked down after Xmas.

Crimson trays

 

[sparky 1971]

For smaller things I use a magnetic tray about the size of a bread pan stuck to the bottom of the hood.

 

[Fedwrench]

As long as we're only talking about a few small tools, this is handy:

Grip on Tools Magnetic Stainless Tray with Handle 67451 - The Home Depot

Transport and keep parts, tools, and hardware from being misplaced with the selection of this durable Grip on Tools Magnetic Stainless Tray with Handle.

www.homedepot.com

You can also use a tool tote tray like the ones found in many smaller tool boxes:

Armstrong 16-653 22-1/2" x 8-1/2" x 3" Tote Tray USA

Armstrong 16-653 22-1/2" x 8-1/2" x 3" Tote Tray USATote Tray,22-1/2", Product Number:16-653 Length Inches:22-1/2 Width Inches:8-1/2 Height Inches:3, Weight lbs:2.97 Height: 3" Length: 22-1/2" Width: 8-1/2" Materal: Steel Series: Tote Tray These are new and unused but they were shipped in...

cripedistributing.com

However, I'm with post#5, a tear down table, two shelf cart, or a regular cart is the way to go. It gives you a portable space within arm's reach for tools, phone, parts, beverage, snacks, whatever, etc.

 

[Renegade1LI]

Bought the blue HF one, matches boxes and is working out great, easy to clean. Next trip back will get the smaller ones.

 

[carmantl]

I have the Rural King Crimson ones and really like them for the price.

 

[lardy1]

I think the silicone things are handy but I learned long ago about leaving/losing/damaging tools or the vehicle by leaving tools laying under the hood. I like them when I'm working down low and they keep tools and parts/fasteners off the concrete. The dividers are very handy. Off the original topic but I do woodworking and I like them on my bench for a safe place to lay sharp tools without them touching other things.

 

[CGarage]

I know quite a few mechanics who have damaged vehicles and lost tools because they absent-mindedly left items under the hood.
It happens.
Storing items there sets one up for failure.

 

[Kasal]

I have this one, and another that is made up of three pieces (generic from Amazon). The reason I liked buying them was for fear of losing tools in the engine compartment.

 

[Beemer]

For smaller things I use a magnetic tray about the size of a bread pan stuck to the bottom of the hood.

LOL, we have gravity in our town.

 

[Beemer]

I know quite a few mechanics who have damaged vehicles and lost tools because they absent-mindedly left items under the hood.
It happens.
Storing items there sets one up for failure.

My tools sets are all in or on holders so I always know when something is misplaced when the job is over.
The issue I am trying to solve is the time lost retrieving the run-aways on our current truck that doesn't have a flat surface under there.
After doing it for over 60 years the kind of risk that concerns you is hardly worth worrying about.

 

[Beemer]

Thanks for the suggestions guys.
I think a silicone tray is interesting and worth a try.

 

[nicks78camaro]

3 piece set from Rural King https://www.ruralking.com/catalog/product/view/id/173327#

 

[Beemer]

3 piece set from Rural King https://www.ruralking.com/catalog/product/view/id/173327#

Thanks but there are no Rural Kings in our area.

I am thinking one of the right sized tray will suffice.

 

[ForrestT]

Rural king sells a version of the grypmat from Crimson (house brand) for like $20. Has all 3 pieces included instead of the buy it by the piece harbor freight ones. I do like the HF blue color better though. If you have one local, check the store mine has them marked down after Xmas.

Crimson trays

Just bought a set of these. Great deal. Highly recommend for the price.

 

[VolvoRyan]

Get all the things mentioned above. They're all super useful and cost is considerably less painful than the stress caused by losing, say, an M5 nut.

-Ryan

 

[FMB4]

HD card board 'tray' style boxes are what I've using for many decades now (both under the hood and under the vehicle). These are often canned cat food boxes and the like. I toss them once they get oily or start to fail.

 

[ZRX61]

HD card board 'tray' style boxes are what I've using for many decades now (both under the hood and under the vehicle). These are often canned cat food boxes and the like. I toss them once they get oily or start to fail.

Ditto

 

[Stillgottimefor1]

 

[Beemer]

Question that comes to mind is why is a 10"x14" silicone food tray $7 ????
Are men the suckers in the marketing world?

 

[Beemer]

Hell no. Dentist anxiety!

 

[Beemer]

HD card board 'tray' style boxes are what I've using for many decades now (both under the hood and under the vehicle). These are often canned cat food boxes and the like. I toss them once they get oily or start to fail.

Everybody has a cardboard box but they won't stay put in my truck's engine bay where there are few level resting places and any that are there are too small for stable support.

 

[Beemer]

I've always liked these caddys: They are good sized and will hole a 12" tool.

Maybe glue a silicone kitchen mat (cheap) to the bottom would make it a "stay put" work tray.

 

[sparky 1971]

LOL, we have gravity in our town.

It must be some powerful gravity to overcome the magnets. You do realize that the magnets will hold tools. It's not magnetic just to keep the parts tray from falling over don't you?

 

[Renegade1LI]

I bought the three sizes at HF, i liked that they match the boxes and nest inside the big one. The rural king looks like the same ones at half the price.

 

[kbeefy]

I have the 3 piece Grypmat set, but really only use the biggest one.
I also use magnetic trays quite a bit for holding fasteners. Even if theres no metal to stick it to it still holds on to hardware pretty well. I usually use several to keep hardware from different components seperate.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

I seen a Kobalt version of these at Lowes tonight. Came in a two pack one had a magnet and the other didn’t. I think they were around $22

 

[M635_Guy]

Hell no. Dentist anxiety!

I kinda agree. But I'm with the rest who don't like the tools-under-the-hood thing #thingsIsayongaragejournal

I really like my Grizzly tray:

 

[scooby074]

I use either one of the traditional old school metal square tray with the 4 magnets Blue Pt. MRB15B or a plastic "gardening" tool tray like post 29. Usually its the plastic tray I go with. It can hold long ratchets and extensions, hammers etc. Great when doing brakes because you can easily carry all your tools wheel to wheel. Ive been considering gluing a couple rare earth magnets to it to hold screws etc in one place but they would also catch rust which is a PITA.

 

[Beemer]

It must be some powerful gravity to overcome the magnets. You do realize that the magnets will hold tools. It's not magnetic just to keep the parts tray from falling over don't you?

I don't work from the cloud

 

[Beemer]

I bought the three sizes at HF, i liked that they match the boxes and nest inside the big one. The rural king looks like the same ones at half the price.

Something like that on Amazon for 50 bucks. Most likely all the same item in different colors to justify different pricing.

 

[Beemer]

I kinda agree. But I'm with the rest who don't like the tools-under-the-hood thing #thingsIsayongaragejournal

I really like my Grizzly tray:

That's not at all what I had in mind. That job would have a rolling cart nearby.
My use is for the small 15 minute jobs that need a couple tools and a couple supplies.
All the same, losing stuff in that engine compartment is going to generate some colorful language.

 

[gmcgeo]

I like GrypMats. They’re made of silicone and do a bang up job of keeping tools together under the hood.

There are several copies at a lower price point and a version sold at HF as well.

Thanks! i forgot about the grypmats! I just ordered it right now

 

[garfieldzzz]

I use stainless steel trays used in places like subway for onions and stuff. They are easy to clean, relatively cheap and available in several sizes.
In Europe its called GN Behälter.
Example: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MF3ZS5J/?tag=atomicindus08-20