Dewalt announced new steel shop storage products a few years ago, but they’ve kept a relatively low profile since hitting the market.
With all of the interest we’ve been seeing about the new Milwaukee tool cart, but also the comments about how much it costs, it seemed like a good idea to talk about some alternative options. But before I start working on a roundup post that looks at different brands and configurations, it seems like a natural choice to take a renewed look at tool carts from Dewalt, Milwaukee’s top competitor in quite a few different tool categories.
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First up is the Dewalt utility tool cart with sliding top, model DWMT78088. After it was first announced, I received so many emails asking about this tool cart.
This Dewalt tool cart features two drawers, each with 100 lb load ratings, and a sliding top that separates so that you can access easy-reach hand tools and supplies. The top surface gives you a temporary work surface, or a way to transport something bulky, while the inner compartment holds tools that would otherwise slide off a smooth top level.
Dewalt says that the top surface is padded to protect the tool box and to provide a work surface. The sliding top is lockable.
At the bottom is a lipped storage area, for bulky tools and supplies.
There’s also a power station, with power outlets and USB charging ports.
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The Dewalt tool cart is 32″ wide, 16.20″ deep, and 41″ tall, and it has a 500 lb total weight capacity.
Price: $207 via Acme, higher elsewhere
Buy Now(via Acme Tools)
Compare(via Amazon)
Next up, here’s a Dewalt “basic utility cart,” model DWMT78086. It has two 3″ trays, and can support up to 500 lbs of evenly distributed weight.
The cart measures 32″ wide, 16.20″ deep, and 41″ tall.
This is aptly described as a basic utility cart, but sometimes that’s all you need.
Price: $90
Buy Now(via Acme Tools)
Something to Consider
I learned something just now, when searching to see if there were any International tool carts that resembled these Dewalt tool carts:
Some of Dewalt’s prior steel tool storage products appeared to have been manufactured by SPG International, and these tool carts have many of the same characteristics, such as the shape and attachment of the side handle. SPG International declared bankruptcy last November, and it looks like they have sold their assets as part of a liquidation process.
So, these tool carts might be a “now or never” purchase, but also replacement part availability might be uncertain. This *could* be a “last call” of sorts. We reached out to Dewalt for more information, and will update the post once we hear back.
Update:
We are changing manufacturing facilities and will continue to support the DEWALT Utility Cart platform, including those SKUs. There is still stock in our warehouse and we don’t foresee a disruption in the ability to buy these carts.
jason gloekler
wish i was in the market for a roll around tool cart as id snatch one up at that price for sure. I really like the sliding top.
Chris
Now 207 dollars is more reasonable then what Milwaukee is trying to peddle their’s for
Ron
Here’s Craftsman version of the Dewat.
https://www.sears.com/31-in-2-drawers-mechanic-tool-cart-350/p-00952233000P
Stuart
Yes, but you can only buy that one at Sears locations that still have it in stock.
The Dewalt has a higher load rating, and also the combo power strip.
Nathan
Other than I like milwaukee’s add of that v notch. you could add that to nearly any cart.
Otherwise the top dewalt one with the sliding top I think I would have. Shame it’s not yellow. but otherwise I like that one alot more – for the price.
But I do think the power cord things are fundamentally useless. I get that you could put your chargers on there – somewhere – and then run the plugs down. say you have 2 of them. So you could dock your cart after shift – plug in to the wall. battery chargers run maybe locked up in the top – not what I would call safe but whatever.
I get that – but if it saved 50 to leave that piece off so I could use my own power splitter cord device. I’d be even happier.
David Funk
$199 for the slide top at Bomgaars this week, love mine.
Julian Tracy
That Craftsman version looks to have plastic formed sliding top sections, whereas the Dewalt looks like metal. That’s be enough to go with the extra $50 cost.
Husky at Home Depot has quite a few options as well, at reasonable prices and good build quality
Matt J
I’m generally (and in my experience, rightly) skeptical of most anything that comes out of Harbor Freight, but I’ve heard some good things about their U.S. General toolboxes and carts, and they kind of fall into an area where I feel like I don’t require the absolute greatest thing available. They look great and seem pretty well priced. Anyone have any experience with them? Looking at this one in particular: https://www.harborfreight.com/tool-storage/tool-carts/30-in-4-drawer-black-tech-cart-64096.html
Like the number of shallow drawers for screwdrivers, socket sets, wrenches etc. Just want to make sure that the sliders and the like will hold up over time.
Blythe
I’ve had the 5 drawer HF cart for over around 10 years, and i still love it. Certainly isn’t a daily use item for me, but it’s has been pretty loaded down for the duration and is holding up fine. Casters aren’t the best, but certainly functional
Steve F
I have the old HF 44″ tool chest and it honestly is fantastic. Way better than the crappy Craftsman ones I have, with stronger construction, better drawers and slides, etc. The trick with harbor freight is sorting the trash from the treasure but their tool chests are actually quite good.
Mike
We have dozens of 4 and 5 drawer carts around our manufacturing plant, and they have 0 issues.
I would say they are the best cart / $ period.
Mike
I always thought the split/slide top was a neat idea, and better than the lift tops. Never had one though so I’m not sure if it works as well in practice.
mattd
there is a whole 100 page forum thread on garage journal about mods to the hf carts. https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=137365 IMO these really are the cart to beat. put that dewalt sliding top on a HF 5-draver and you hit all the bases on what I want in a service cart. the price for that milwaukee makes me feel like they think they are competing with snapon, when in reality EVERYONE that makes a small service cart is competing with the harbor freight one, and needs to either price or build accordingly.
The other thing that that forum post show is that the HF carts are cheap enough that people don’t mind, or even ENJOY, having to mod them for their specific needs. where as if you buy a $400+ cart then you might be annoyed when it does not have something you later find yourself wanting.
The What?
I’m glad that this was discussed because it does a good job of emphasizing how Milwaukee is straight up ripping people off for a tool cart. Milwaukee needs to change their name to Evil Red cuz there ain’t nothing good or honest about them. Not only was Dewalt smart enough to not have a drawer on their cart that doesn’t have a top (like the bottom drawer on the Milwaukee cart) , but they made a badass breakaway split sliding top that gives you access to the drawer from the top of cart as well as from when you open it but also can carry longer objects & has a higher weight capacity than the Milwaukee cart. $400 for a plain Jayne Milwaukee cart that has a lower weight capacity and an exposed bottom drawer so it can rust out whatever you put in it versus the $207 Dewalt tool cart that has a hell of a lot more to offer than what Milwaukee does and it costs half the price. Why would anyone feel compelled to pay an extra $200 for a cart just because it’s red and has a Milwaukee logo on it?
This is another example of how & why Milwaukee ‘s sheisty bullsh_t represents everything that’s wrong about tool marketing and promoting and pricing. And another great reason to stay away from the Evil Red.
Adam
So you’re saying that everything they say is a lie, and none of their tools are worth using?
I agree the cart is expensive, but to say everything they make is junk and that everything they say is false because of this one overpriced item is completely ridiculous.
Dave
I’m 100% a Milwaukee guy, but even if they were both the same price I might like that first DeWalt cart better than (at least as good as) the red one posted yesterday.
Frank D
Well, does that not look like a handy cart with a sliding top, two drawers, …
Maybe leave the top cover off on the handle side.
Bolt a piece of cutting board to the other half.
Add cup holders.
Add four outside side storage bins, or maybe three and a reel rod.
Put your battery charger in the top, drill hole and add grommet for plug to go through.
And, Bob is your uncle for $250!
KMR
I’ve yet to see any open bottom tool cart that didn’t become a crap storage collection area.
Matt J
I personally view that as a feature. Keeps my work surfaces, which would otherwise become crap collection areas for stuff that doesn’t fit in the drawers clear.
Boggsy
I saw this slick looking (no pun intended) one about a year ago at just one local Home Depot. I walked up to it muttering “please be soft close, please be soft close” NOPE, Hope ya like your drawers flying open because you were too lazy to lock it before moving it around.
Somehow, Harbor Freight is currently winning the tool cart battle (but they are charging for it).
https://slickdeals.net/f/9759979-36-dewalt-tool-chest-top-99-and-bottom-199-at-home-depot-b-m-ymmv