Toolbox / All Terrain Cart reorganizing suggestions.

[Chris_the_wrench]

Howdy,

I'm looking for some suggestions to get my current tool storage settup abit more under control and hopefully wedge a few more pieces into this box or add another...

I have a small farm and work on our equipment and many others in the area on the side. I work on a wide range of trucks, tractors, boats, rv's, lawnmowers, chainsaws, etc. I have a shop that is the rough equivalent of a 4 bay shop, but only two of the bays are accessible by cars. I use the two that aren't car accessible as a tool room and have several work benches for smaller jobs. In this room I have several roll away tool boxes filled with the tools I need. The 2 bays that are car accessible aren't able to fit anything larger than a stock suv(door height issues), so most of work is done outside. I'm currently building a 2 bay highroof cover for such work, but it won't be enclosed or even a cement floor for sometime. The areas where I usually work require traveling over sloping gravel surface from my tool storage area. I was using plastic tool trays, but they never held enough and I was making CONSTANT trips back and forth. In addition I do occasionally need to go mobile and load the tools into the pickup. My current setup allows me to hoist the full box into the bed utilizing a chain hoist.

SO, I had a Snap-On 26" top box that was being under utilized so I dropped it onto a rusted out garden cart to try and cobble together a mobile setup that would work for me. Overall it's worked out quite well. The cart can handle the rough gravel, and I have most of the tools I need with me.

I plan to replace the cart with a newer version, this one is shot from previous work, I watch chunks of rust flaking off with every day that passes. I'd like to build the new cart to fit closer to the box to make it easier to move around inside.

MY QUESTIONS are I would like to be able to find a spot in the toolbox for my 1/2" drive impact set(green box), and 3/4" drive sockets that currently live in a 5 gallon bucket. Also I've broken several of the Hansen tray posts during travel and need new socket organizers. I was thinking of possibly doing the ernst socketboss system. Those alone may allow me to condense my sockets? Also the wrenches bounce in and out of the trays, any suggestions there? I had some magnetic center rail holders, but those worked only so-so also.

I've considered moving to a larger box like the snap on road box or adding a 3 drawer box under my existing setup.

Thoughts or suggestions appreciated, sorry for the rambling.
-Chris

 

[Chris_the_wrench]

Pics

 

[kctyphoon]

Farm huh? Any kinda small ride on mower /tractor/atv? What about a cheap flatbed trailer with some tool boxes bolted to it as a more permanent set up?

Or check this out - radio flyer all terrain wagon

https://www.target.com/p/radio-flye...8oU3VB-mCkdk3IZJ5ZRoCfXkQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[wkndwarrior29]

I bet if you took the time to cut kaizen foam for the drawers it would keep everything in place - and you would know if you are missing something.

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[Chris_the_wrench]

I fixed the images I originally uploaded incorrect so people can see what I'm currently using. The manual powered cart works well for dragging the tools around, it fits inside the shop easy enough.

I'll replace the green cart with something similar, perhaps a tad smaller to make maneuvers easier. I'm looking for suggestions on fitting more stuff(the 1/2 impact set, the 3/4 sockets and probably 1/2 a dozen larger combo wrenches) into the box, or adding on some additional storage.

I need new socket organizers, and would like some wrench holders that hold them abit better.

It was mentioned to add foam, how do the drawers deal with that without getting jammed??

Thanks
-Chris

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Ernst all the way for your setup. You're wasting a crazy amount of space with the Hansen trays in a portable. Since moving into a service truck, I've learned just how much you can fit in a 26" top box.

This is the top section of my 26" cheapo Waterloo box in my work truck. All the 3/8" sockets are on Ernst rails (including the impact universals), 1/2" deep impacts are on Craftsman rails. Some of the misc is either metal rails or Gearwrench. Everything has its place, and is packed tightly enough it stays put even running up to mountaintop sites.

 

[wkndwarrior29]

Foam is pretty rigid, I don't think it would jam the drawers.

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[crewchief888]

get rid of the hansen style socket holders.

biggest waste of space in a toolbox.

if your sockets were on rails, or in MTS magnetic holders, you could possibly get all the 3/8" and 1/2" dr sockets in the top compartment.

ive been working out of service trucks for over 15 years, i feel your "pain"

i have 3/8" & 1/2" dr sockets in the top compartment, 3/4" dr in the bottom drawer, all my 1/4" dr stuff is together in a repurposed blow molded box stashed elsewhere in the truck.

 

[WittHay]

They make reverse wrench organizers,less space wasted in the drawer. Also big wrenches loose in the bottom drawer. When you are working on your own stuff, don't put full complete socket sets in the box. Just enough tools in the box to get the outside jobs done.