Home Depot launched in-store displays of the Dewalt ToughSystem DXL large format modular tool box and workstation system 6 months ago, as part of their holiday tool deals and promos section.
I visited my local Home Depot stores throughout the season, and it didn’t seem like the Dewalt DXL tool boxes were budging.
Now, 6 months later, Home Depot has started discounting these Dewalt tool box and workstation products online.
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They still have the 5pc combo for $1195 online. With the current deal pricing, you can buy all of the 5 pieces separately for a total of $999.98.
Dewalt sent me a sample set when the new ToughSystem DXL system came out, and I have since purchased 2 more of the 4-wheel carts.
It’s great for what it is – a versatile and modular workstation – but it’s also pricy and much more specialized than other modular tool box systems such as the Milwaukee Packout, Ryobi Link, and Dewalt ToughSystem also available at Home Depot stores.
I’m surprised it took Home Depot 6 months to budge on the price, and think they might have to increase the savings to sell through everything before Father’s Day promos need to go up.
Buy it at Home Depot:
Dewalt 2-Drawer DXL Tool Box: $279, was $329 (save $50)
Dewalt 1-Drawer DXL Tool Box: $249, was $299 (save $50)
Dewalt DXL Work Top: $63.98, was $79.98 (save $16)
Dewalt ToughSystem and DXL Cart: $159, was $189 (save $30)
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Travis
They had these on display at my local Home Depot yesterday. They seemed nice enough. Don’t really have a use for them but I am sure they work for some specific purposes. One thing that made me laugh is how dusty/dirty they are. Not sure where they were stored but they looked like they had been in the store for 5 years. Cannot imagine why a Dewalt or HD rep didn’t make them look presentable.
Frank D
They’re very nice. I would like to ” adopt ” a few … but when you are into a few systems already, and with the price point; a person would need a motivated buyer for the storage stuff they already have, to ” switch ” alliances.
Andrew
They fit the tough system lineup. I got a set of 3 2 drawer units, a table top, and the caster set. I had been wanted them for awhile and found a new unused set on marketplace for about 60% of retail. It works well, been using it for about a month. The drawer dividers are versatile enough, the drawers are sturdy enough, it’s easier to load and unload from the truck than my old rolling tool cart. And, my existing touch system boxes can be mixed in on the top as I do different tasks.
Aaron lev
That’s not really accurate as I have both Tough System 2.0 and the DXL. I originally thought the were fully adaptable with each other and to my disappointment. That said I like the DXL system.
The biggest disappointment though was how poor of an experience purchasing was through Home Depot!
*Note to DeWalt: Home Depot never has stock in store and the DeWalt brand should do direct sales
TomD
These look nice – but darned if the modularity is “build it once and leave it forever” which means they’re going up the entire swath of various carts and workbenches and such.
$1000 is the price of a https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-Tool-Storage-52-in-W-x-22-in-D-Heavy-Duty-Red-Mobile-Workbench-Cabinet-48-22-8559/317342131 or two or three US General carts.
Once you don’t need the modularity on a standard basis, this is hard to justify.
Andrew
Doing service, and needing a rolling tool cart day in day out on different sites, these are ideal. The tough system drawers lacked any quality that I wanted to invest in. I’d invested in the parts boxes and tool boxes in the tough system line already. The DXL line keeps on that locking footprint and allows you to go to a larger, toolbox, like foot print. The pricing is dumb. $80 for the table top is just dumb but it is what it is. The $160 for the casters is hard to justify. The folding tough system dolly was about the same price and much more versatile. But overall it’s a good line so far
Will
They have had the same display set in my local home depot since fall. One is the drawer units is broken, big chunk of plastic out of the front, it’s filthy dirty. Can’t imagine this is going to entice anyone to spend a grand on it. For the life of me, I don’t understand why Dewalt put money into developing this instead of more toughsystem components that are actually of use to those of us that have toughsystem. Development has been painfully slow, then they everything new they release is incompatible with the rack system. Are you discontinuing the rack system Dewalt? Because that was the only reason I bought Toughsystem. It’s the one feature that stands out from everyone else. Who wants to stack and unstack to get access to a box?
eddiesky
I received my in a box so I don’t know why HD displays them like this. Even my local HDs have them dirty, and dinged as well. I want to see them drop the price on their Toughsystem as I need the handtruck or two.
Witness
In my experience HD isn’t very good about keep floor stuff maintained; I just don’t get it. It doesn’t motivate me to buy.
Andrew
That was a good feature, I ended up setting up my truck with all the small bins on hinge edge. Then they went to the 2.0 line, which fouled that plan and honked me off. I have bought into the DXL line as I was carrying a harbor freight mechanics cart for large service jobs and it was just way too much to load and unload by myself.
Saulac
Too large. Size wise, I like Dewalt ToughSystem the most. I can carry most boxes with one hand. Somehow that (sideways) is how I want to carry things. Both hands (in front) get into my walking. At least most brands now have the “amo cans”. I used them for my core tools that I may need carry up stairs…etc.
PW
Like some, I was suitable impressed with the quality and design when they appeared in stores late last year. But they are out of my budget. On a per-cu-inch basis, they don’t make sense for a lot of use cases.
I can see them being useful for niche applications – but are there enough of those to justify the amount of floor space they’re consuming in HD stores?
It seems like something that needs to be either much cheaper and/or maybe order-only to reduce overhead costs. But then people wouldn’t be able to inspect before they buy. A conundrum.
I would be so curious to know what DeWalt’s market research was like before they launched this.
eddiesky
GRRRR.
I just got one of these, and yes, FINALLY fits the DeWalt flooring nailer/stapler since I’ve complained here numerous times on how can DeWalt sell a tool without a case that needs a storage case? So it fits in a single drawer, with room for manual, hammer, nails and even my flooring jack tool. I like the feel. But HD sells these without their packaging box. Case in point, you might find cosmetic damage and/or dirt on them.
(Got mine here through Acme referral of Stuart)
Rog
They should have just invested all this money and effort into blowing out their existing TS line, no one was clamoring for another line
Jared
I think the DXL system looks AWESOME. I can’t see myself justifying the price tag for my home shop, but having a cart like the one in the second photo with drawer boxes on a mobile cart with a worktop? That would be sweet!
That does seem like a somewhat specialized and expensive tool for Home Depot to devote the floorspace to though. That’s not a critique of system, just a note that it’s big and bulky and likely doesn’t move a lot of inventory. Those are attributes of a product you sell online but don’t keep in store.
Philip+Proctor
I grabbed another dolly on sale. They’re all I need to use with my Tough System boxes. The DXL boxes are too big and heavy for the way I work.
Allen Martin
I personally think these are great. Unlike so many others that are just way to small / compartmentalized to be practical and flexible. These give you tons of space to work with. My use case is to make it a tool chest. Those non modular setups are completely impractical to move. This you just unstack and move with tools still loaded. If I need to take tools somewhere this is nirvana.
Doc Dawg
Agreed
Excellent system
We just purchased 6 sets for our field medical surgical unit
Harrison
These seem outside the wheelhouse of your average home store shopper. More of a Grainger type of product.
Maybe they figure someone with strong Dewalt tendencies will buy them for their garage? I would have a hard time justifying the cost and inefficiency vs. classic steel rolling tool cabinets, unless I had some sort of mobile industrial technician job.
Goodie
Couldn’t agree more. I think these are a case study in DeWalt marketing these in the wrong venue. I can see these being popular with commercial/industrial customers – folks who need really nice rolling tool carts that are stable, lightweight, and high quality. The companies those folks work for are buying from Grainger or another industrial supply company – generally not HD.
It’s the same reason you can’t typically find the Milwaukee ForceLogic Press tools (which are 4 figures) for plumbing in HD and it’s usually a deliver order tool from them.
MFC
These are just too heavy once loaded with tools. It’s fine to take one piece at a time, but that’s not how the system was designed. Most new construction has rock and gravel around it until all of the trades are through, then they pour the concrete. These are made for only concrete, but are too big for trades going into a customer’s home. I honestly have no idea who the niche is.
Has someone found these to be a better option in their trade? I work in electrical, framing, plumbing, hvac, etc. and no one has this, not even in the commercial landscape.
C
Union carpenter downtown Chicago, we work in office building doing commercial work, I’ve had packout since day one , I needed to carry more and the packout 4 wheel dollie was impossible to push on uneven Chicago sidewalks , it would hit tiny bump and want to tip over ( 3 boxes high) I switched to the DXL and it’s a world of difference , so much easier to push , you can 4wheel with this thing and not worry about it PLUS I carry 50% more – I’m 50 , have been in the trade for 29 years , this will last till retirement
MFC
Ok, good to know. I pushed one of these around at an expo and it was fine on concrete (and astro turf), but I couldn’t imagine pushing this around on the granite or crushed concrete I’m normally dragging my packout on. It does make sense that it would have more balance, but up stairs, or anything like that seems like a nightmare. I have my packout loaded with hand tools and power tools and I sometimes have to take the top box off so that it’s only 2 high, and that still gets heavy going up 10+ stairs.
Lev
I actually like the idea of drawer boxes. I have the smaller ones. But these ones are to high priced, even at the current discount. I know they’re twice the size, but even so, it’ll just have to be others will get the deal. I have other things more important to invest in. These take to big a chunk of change at once.