Dewalt will be coming out with a ToughSystem 2.0 tool storage system, updating their line of ToughSystem modular tool boxes.
This first-look of the new Dewalt ToughSystem 2.0 tool storage system is made possible thanks to Travis (@toolsbydesign). If you’re on Instagram, definitely follow him, and considering following us (@toolguyd) too while you’re at it.
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The new ToughSystem products won’t start shipping until April 2020, and I’m sure that more information will be made available before then.
To start, Dewalt ToughSystem 2.0 looks much more contoured than their current tool boxes, with rounded edges.
The biggest upgrade looks to be the new spring-activated side latches, or at least they look spring-activated. If you watch Travis’s video below, you’ll see that they appear to auto-latch during stacking, and you press the bottom of the latches inwards to unlock a tool box for removal.
I have been using Bosch L-Boxxes (and also Dewalt ToughSystem) tool boxes for a while. While the Bosch/Sortimo L-Boxx auto-latching connectors can be helpful, they can also be clunky when trying to stack heavy tool boxes. It will be interesting to see how well these ToughSystem 2.0 tool boxes connect under load.
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There will be tool trays, for stacking inside of the tool boxes, seemingly in a similar fashion as Dewalt’s Holiday 2019 mechanics tool set.
There will also be half-size tool boxes that can stack on top or to each other.
It appears that the new ToughSystem 2.0 tool boxes will be backwards-compatible with Dewalt’s existing ToughSystem tool boxes, but we don’t know if that has been confirmed yet.
Curiously, images of the new Dewalt ToughSystem 2.0 jobsite radio and charger show “Gen-1” style fold-down latches.
It’s not yet clear whether all Dewalt ToughSystem products will be replaced with updated ToughSystem 2.0 products.
Photos are used with permission, check out ToolsByDesign‘s STAFDA 2019 video coverage for more:
John
After 20+ years of commercial photography with too many black equipment cases, I will not buy any more deep black interior cases of any kind. Too easy to lose visibility of smaller things; I just hate cases with dark interiors. Dewalt parts containers have yellow inserts for a reason, easy to identify items due to a contrasting color. They should do the same with the inside of the black hole boxes.
John
I am not fully understanding the yellow tray inserts. The video didn’t show a standard box being opened. They stack inside but if you’re using the full box, I assume it’s still just a black interior. But just like the parts inserts, I do like the tray inserts.
Wayne R.
I too avoid all-black interiors for the same reason. All that darkness really tends to inhibit smooth attention to the project when you gotta stop, grab a light and dig for a small thing.
Jim Felt
Pelican does make bright yellow and perhaps a half dozen other case colors. The various insert styles are another matter. ;-)~
Jon
The latches for opening the boxes are what drove me to the Milwaukee Packout. I found them a little difficult to open. Glad they’re switching to ones that are like the Packout.
Jo Bourque
Those cases look just as cheap, flimsy, and crappy as the previous generation. In gen 1, I had bought 6 extra large cases, filled them to half of the recommenced weight and All of the handles broke off in 1 month. The new ones have the same crappy handles. None of the cases lasted more than 6 months for electrical work, with the average being 4 months. Absolute junk. The medium tool boxes didn’t fair much better. Such a waste of money.
The Milwaukee cases are just as bad with the wheels easily breaking on the extra large case.
Wooden tool boxes fair much better as long as they were glued with PL Premium. Will last for years. I use cabinet plywood when I can’t get marine plywood.
The best by far is a Pelican case. You spend good money once and you’re done, and have an unconditional lifetime warranty that Pelican warranties without question. They make chest style tool boxes, as well as the pull out drawer style. It’s easy to find used Pelican cases too. I make sure to buy them without foam to keep my cost down. When I need foam, I go to a foam shop to buy better, more dense foam for 30% of the cost of OEM foam.
Corey Moore
I’m an industrial electrician, working in surface and underground mining, and our crews have a mix of several people owning ToughSystem, packout, and rigid, and no one has had the level of issues you’re describing, in the nearly two years I’ve been with this outfit. Many more of my mining contractor friends and associates have had these systems much longer, myself included, and haven’t had these issues outside of unintentional misuse. I’ve broken two of the Gen 1 yellow clips trying to carry a fully loaded medium/large boxes underneath.
Jo B
I’m glad that you’re having success with them. Maybe it was a bad batch that came to Western Canada. They cannot handle our cold temperatures like a Pelican case can. It’s came to the point where I now look for militarized gear, tools, and clothing before buying construction grade just so that the stuff lasts longer.
Tim D.
Lol, I sure hope it’s the cold. Based on your first comment, I thought to myself “this guy is rough on stuff”.
Sounds like Pelican is for you!
Corey Moore
That cold makes a lot more sense. We’re high desert, so we’ll bottom out around -10/-15 in a typical winter, I’d say for average lows. 105 in summer is common, too lol But I can see that constant, severe cold affecting these blow molded plastics.
Shawn
Sounds like someone just trying to advertise lol.
Chris
The cases are prototypes at the moment, I’m sure it will change before then
Seth James
I have uses the gen1 system for a few years now for my welding equipment and longterm storage on job sites. Only ever had 1 latch break and it was an easy fix by replacing a screw. The handles have held up with easily 150 pounds in the box. It sounds like you either hate dewalt, or new toolboxes in general.
Dan F.
Sounds to me actually like you have the T-stack cases and NOT the Tough System. There is no way under most circumstances these handles fail that often. I’ve abused and overloaded my TS boxes for years and they never let me down or have even deteriorated at all.
T-Stack on the other hand is more DIY built quality.
Skullnick
My cousin is a master electrician of over 30 years and I inherited most of his DeWalt tough cases also due to broken handles… and he takes care of his tools, like he has OCD. Just for the record, handles didn’t break due to the cold. He now switched over to Milwaukee.
I personally been using Pelican cases for my photography gear for decades… those things will survive an apocalypse before they break. They are the real deal.
Jared
The new boxes sure look nice. If the pricing stays roughly the same I think these might be in my future. I’m hoping they have a drawer box coming out too though.
Chris
Watching the video:
1. At the one minute mark, is he saying “this is the only one with the half size.”?
2.These auto latches definitely look more clunky than the “packouts” slide to lock system. It looks like it may require me to remove one box at a time if I have several half sizes stacked together due to them having to tilt back/towards each other in order to release. This also looks less useful in a space constrained enviroment than the “packout” because I have to leave room on either side in order to get access to lower boxes.
Stuart
Another downside is that it doesn’t look like you can have the tool boxes stacked but not latched together. I do this often with ToughSystem and Systainer tool boxes. ToughSystem tool boxes especially – if they’re not mobile, I leave them unlatched so that I can grab the box I need with minimal hassle. With the new latches, I’d have to unlatch all the top boxes to get to a bottom one.
Graham Howe
I have a lot of the version one boxes along with some of the racks and find them excellent. However I’m not sure about the styling of these new ones, the extra contouring makes them look cheaper and less tough in my mind, though I’m sure they are just as robust. I don’t have the trolley and really don’t latch my boxes together much at all, so the automatic latching is of no interest to me. I do like the idea of smaller half boxes being stacked on top, but again probably not much use to me. The insert trays are nice though, I keep quite a few small woodworking hand tools in my boxes, the moisture barrier prevents them rusting, but it is difficult to organise smaller things. It would be really good if those trays are compatible with the original boxes, especially if the foam inserts are available.
josh Morris
I really hope those insert boxes and precut foam fit in old boxes
Also want the new stereo so pissed that the old one has slowest possible charger a proprietary charge plug and doesn’t take flexvolt batteries
Joe H
I’m fine with the styling as rounded edges tend to be more durable than a sharp corner. If these latches use a spring then I wonder if the latches can be replaced separately if they wear out or break over time. I heard many complaints about the main support handle breaking for the standard tough system and I hate a flimsy support handle when moving these types of setups. I know the L-Cart Carrier is available. I want more drawer options for these style tool box systems that don’t bow under weight in the hot sun and cause issues opening and closing.
Tim D.
I had the same thoughts/concerns with the latches. In an always up position means they’re going to take a lot of abuse, especially if the case isn’t centered just right.
Bob
Hopefully the rounded design did not sacrifice interior space. I also think that around the edges for durability reasons.
I like the yellow inserts. I hope they fit the GEN 1.
Looks like they got rid of the pressure relief valve. I don’t fly or go on a submarine with my boxes so I guess it doesn’t matter to me 🙂
As far as the latches go I only carry my boxes latched together if they’re empty. Usually too heavy to carry if more than one is together. Well the larger ones anyways. That’s why I like that hand truck cart. You can get out the bottom boxes without having to take everything apart.
Looking forward to some clearance prices on the GEN 1’s. I think I’ll grab a radio if it’s cheap enough
Nathan
all I really see there is Tstak. Would have been nice to see a rail demonstration. I hate to assume they will use the same rails that toughsystem 1 did. I mean those short boxes won’t but if I could stack 2 of them on a full width box and rail that whole combo that might be very useful.
Also sort of wish those insert trays has lids of their own or some retaining system. So that I could make up a tray for say 1/4 drive sockets and ratchets. Take the tray as a whole out of the box and over to a location.
interesting development regardless.
Jared
That’s an interesting idea about the trays. Depending on how well they fit a standard metal tool box, maybe a user could store all tools in them and then “load up” the mobile ToughSystem box for particular tasks or jobs. That’s awfully close to how I typically use my tools when I can’t bring the work to my shop.
Idan
They showed lids that integrated with the trays as well
PETE
That seems like a strange strategy. Personally, I would prefer the gen 1 boxes.
Corey Moore
Just noticed that the half cases open from the outside, inward. That’s an interesting decision. Kind of unsure what the benefit/thought process is there. Maybe just more robust to have the hinge along the broader side? At first I thought it was cool, but for the life of me, I can’t figure out why lol
Gui
Is someone know when the thoughsystem 3 drawers unit will finally be available ?
OldDominionDIYer
Interesting how Dewalt adopted many of the features from the competition (Packout). The latches are nearly identical, the rounded edge (despite them choosing the “other” edges), the beefier handle on the base unit also looks like a near copy, The partially inset wheels (not sure about this but it does appear that way from the video) are also similar to the Packout. And the introduction of half width container is another Packout copy. I commend DeWalt for making improvements to their mobile storage system, it always benefits the consumer. Any word on the weight handling capacity? It was less than half of the Packout rating but I bet that has improved with the new design as well.
Stuart
*cough* https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/craftsman-versastack-tool-bag-112019/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Nothing wrong with competitive inspiration, as it often works out to users’ benefits.
Dave
I’ll look to purchase some gen 1 boxes at lower prices soon
Aaron
I just want the large size toughcase+ to integrate toughcase with TStack and then adapter so that TStack sideways will mount to toughsystem. Then they can form Voltron.
Bill
DeWalt needs to make a toughsystem dolly
Aaron
https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/dewalt-ds450-toughsystem-wheeled-tool-box/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/dewalt-tough-system-tool-case-preview/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Corey Moore
There’s been a ToughSystem dolly since the day 1.0 was released. It’s a huge plus over the competition.
Patrick
Perhaps he meant the 4 wheel TSTAK cart that you stack on top of and can rotate 360 degrees. I have two and they are amazing. Even Milwaukee has adopted that design for their Packout. I’d love to see that added to the TS system.
Corey Moore
I suppose usefulness would be dependant on ones application, there. I have ToughSystem, and therefore presume many others do, because it seems aimed more towards outdoors travel, higher volume carrying capacity, and for traversing job sites. I can’t think of a time I would have had a use for a ToughSystem floor cart. I imagine if packout is selling enough to warrant theirs, I may be missing an application. Just seems to me that if you needed your mobile stack outside of the room it was currently in, the actual dolly, or comparable 2 wheeled base unit would be the far better option.
Bill
Yes, that’s what I meant. I have the 2 wheel dolly but would like a 4 wheel dolly for the shop. Mount the drawer system and the radio to take it wherever I go ?
JoeM
I’m just confused, seeing these makes me think “TSTAK Inspired” somehow… They’ve become like a heavy-duty TSTAK with what appears to be backward compatibility for the ToughSystem Rails… Except… instead of slots, they’re just indentations on the side, where you have to hope the rails pinch hard enough to hold them.
I mean, obviously the latches have taken over for the Rail system, but… I’m very confused… The selling point for Tough System over TSTAK is Latches versus Rails… Full Kit versus Individual boxes.
…Now the Individual Boxes are becoming Full Kit Boxes? I wished many times for the larger tools to have ToughSystem and TSTAK compatibility, so one could theoretically lock a FlexVOLT air compressor into a TSTAK carrier, or slide it onto the ToughSystem Rails of the carrier… but I never thought for a second that they’d hybridize the BOXES themselves… If this is what Milwaukee Packout is like as well… I’m sorry Team Red… but this is a bad configuration for both companies, and I am QUITE POSITIVE you can both do better than this…
…Honestly…What the hell are they smoking in the development departments these days? Asbestos? Anthrax? Carbonite Shavings?
Paul
I have knocked off latches a couple times loading the truck. If the latch is open and something slides down beside it, it easily catches the latch and pulls it off past the screw. Most of the time just remove the screw and put the latch back on. If the screw strips out it takes a little more work (glue or larger screw) but isn’t a big deal. Agreed about NOT using the side latches. I use the side latches when I stack the boxes in the back of a pickup or on a trailer. But even then normally if it has something in it, even unlatched I have never seen them pop off the top of the box underneath and go anywhere unlike Packouts. I mean it stays where you put it in almost any circumstance. The one and only time I had problems is that I had an empty tote loosely stacked on top without the feet engaged and without the side latches. It was windy that day and I was on an interstate. I was between exits and noticed it start moving. The right gust of wind caught it and tossed the tote out the back. 10 minutes later when I got back to it, the tote was totally unharmed even after getting tossed out the back onto pavement at 70 MPH. So now I engage the latches especially on the totes.
Five things I’d like to see improvement. First off both red and yellow fall down when it comes to smaller parts. Red has the half-width box but 50% of it is taken up by the plastic and latches. The best boxes are the full or half width Dewalt small parts organizers. They’re not so teeny that you can’t really fit much more than a few odds and ends in them like a lot of the clear organizers and not so big like the full Toughsystem 150 that it holds an entire 3 pound box of nails in a bin. I end up putting the smaller half width organizers into a larger Toughsystem box like the base 450 with wheels. They could easily sell more bins/boxes, dividers, etc., as accessories fairly inexpensively (with good margins). Those “organizers in a box” look like a step in the right direction but also look like big Red’s waste of space issue.
Second not sure how to address this but when it comes to tools that are longer than the boxes, the only solution right now is to let it hang out a tote. This is kind of the opposite of the above complaint…how can we make it longer. Probably not going to happen but hey, you gotta ask. Maybe I could put it in the Toughsystem version of the job box but man…job boxes are already crazy expensive for what they are and then they made it a super premium. Only thing I like about it is that it solves the big problem with job boxes…keeping them organized so they don’t just end up being a big pile of tools in a box that nobody ever uses because you can’t find anything except what’s on top.
And my third wish would be adapters or clips or just plain more options. I love the idea of clipping my tool bag to the top of the system. Right now I just have to either put it inside a tote where it takes up a lot of space, sling it on the side of the carrier, or carry it separate. This is the only thing I really like about Packout. Second is clips/adapters. I mean T-Stak has some good points. Why does this need to be an either-or decision? I mean when I’m doing an electrical equipment install for some of the job I need 350 or 500 MCM lugs (think 1″+ diameter cables). It takes big tools like hydraulic crimpers and knockout punches, 1/2″ impact wrenches, sometimes sockets in the 1-1/8″ to 2″ size range, or impact hammers to run concrete bits to sink anchors. Then I need a whole bunch of little lugs and terminals and wire nuts for the control wiring stuff. On the same job, with the same guys. We’re “universal”, why not our tool boxes?
Same with the third system in the “organizers” that exists but is not compatible with either one. I’m not suggesting selling an adapter to fit Packouts onto Toughsystem which would be very cool, just sticking within the SBD “family”.
Fourth wish: Yep, the color thing is awesome. My laptop/tool bag is orange inside to make it easier to avoid tools getting lost, why not the boxes themselves? The yellow cooler is a nice start. I do understand that they are probably adding huge amounts of carbon filler to the plastic for strength which makes it jet black and that’s unavoidable. Still, would be nice…
Fifth, they have a rack system for vans, shops, and trailers. Why not pickups? Truck boxes suck for all the same reasons that job boxes suck…you have a nice box but no organization. Why not sell say a cross box that accepts Toughsystem boxes vertically just like the job box? Or some kind of side-box rail system where we can clip the boxes onto the side of the bed rails? Or maybe a drawer slide out bed box system with Toughsystem boxes hanging off the sides? Again…it’s a system, so it should cover all the bases.
They had just about discontinued carrying Toughsystem at the local HD’s around the Raleigh area. Just noticed yesterday they’re back. They sort of have the 130, the mid size, and the roll around base separately in a sort of nondescript end cap. Then another end cap has a tool combo kit inside a Toughsystem box. That’s it. Too bad for such a great system.
Aaron
I also want these things and am glad Paul took the time to detail it.
Bob
Found a good YouTube video of 2.0 tough system boxes at one of the trade shows. Never heard of this guy but he seems to be pretty legit and informative.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OGSOHWFmuVI#
Says 2.0 is “fully compatible” with 1.0 but didn’t show it being connected.
2.0 did not have the metal latches on the back so you can lock your boxes to the dolly or in your van racking. Perhaps it’s molded into the plastic or maybe these were prototypes as he said and it’s not on them yet?
I am optimistic about the insert boxes fitting in the 1.0 those look really slick.
I too wish they had boxes that would fit some of the larger tools like the porta band saw or the 60V recip. Though in this form factor I think it would have to be a really deep box and I think you would end up with a lot of wasted space?
Looking forward to getting my hands on them next spring/summer when they finally trickle down to my local Home Depot. I can’t blame Home Depot for not having a ton of these in stock. They take up a ton of space and probably not a huge turnover rate on them.
Ib
They showed on the right side boxes that it connects
Jessica
Any updates on the 2.0 system? I can’t find any new information about it.
Stuart
I’m sorry, but I have not heard anything new.
Jimmy
Almost 2 months since last post above. Any updates? I’m going to call Home Depot and see if they know anything.
Stuart
No new info yet.
Chris
Acmetools.com has this listed at $229
Estimated shipped date of July 7th
Jammer
It looks like ACME tools will be shipping the 2.0 cases in July and August.
https://www.acmetools.com/shop/tools/dewalt-toughsystem-2-0/dewalt-toughsysyem-2-0-ds165-tool-box-dwst08165
Chris
I just ordered this on the home depot website. Will be delivered on July 17th, 2020
Acmetools.com say estimated ship date of July 15th now.
Chris
Arrived today