Dewalt has quietly expanded their ToughSystem 2.0 lineup of tool storage products with a new clear-lid organizer, model DWST08040.
The new Dewalt ToughSystem 2.0 organizer is compatible with other ToughSystem products, and can serve as the base to full-size tool boxes and organizers, or the brand’s half-width organizers.
The new ToughSystem organizer features 10 removable bins – 2 large cups and 8 smaller ones.
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As with Dewalt’s other ToughSystem organizers, the bins are quite large and sized to hold bulk quantities of fasteners, plumbing fittings, and other construction parts and supplies.
There is also a built-in compartment that Dewalt says is designed to accommodate long tools.
The organizer features the same one-touch latches as can be found on their other ToughSystem 2.0 tool boxes and organizers, for connecting stacked units together.
The organizer has a grommet seal, and achieves an IP65 rating for its resistance to dust and water ingress.
It also features a suitcase-style handle for vertical carry.
Price: $44
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Discussion
What I Like
- Clear lid – which is pretty much mandatory
- One-touch ToughSystem 2.0 connection latches
- Improved ToughSystem 2.0 closure latches
- Weather seal w/ IP65 rating
- Reasonable pricing
What I Don’t Like
- Fewer containers than previous ToughSystem organizer
- Different container sizes than previous ToughSystem organizer
- Wasted space in the middle
Dewalt says that there’s a built-in compartment for holding long tools. I suppose this is true, but what could you possibly fit in there?
The original Dewalt ToughSystem organizer features 12 bins – 8 small and 4 large. Its layout can be described as measuring 4 bins across by 4 bins deep, with the base unit bin size having a rectangular geometry.
The new organizer looks to have a square bin geometry, and this leads to layout where you have 4 bins across by 3 bins deep.
If the bins are completely square, and I assume they are, their orientation doesn’t matter when putting a bin back into the organizer. This is not true when you have rectangular bins that can only be oriented in one direction.
In other words, it looks like you can rotate the bins to be oriented in either direction. The same cannot be said about the bins in the original ToughSystem organizer – or most brands’ removable bin organizers.
The upside is that each bin is larger, and you don’t have to keep track of individual bin orientations. The downside is that you get 10 cups instead of 12, and a “long tool compartment” that you might never find a practical use for.
Overall Thoughts
Honestly, I’m a big disappointed in the design, although I’m open-minded that my opinion could always change once I see the new organizer in person.
Let’s say you’re an existing Dewalt ToughSystem tool box user. Dewalt says that ToughSystem 2.0 prodicys are backwards compatible with all ToughSystem products.
While this might be true, what happens if you want to swap parts bins between organizers. Well, you can’t, as they are now different sizes.
The original ToughSystem organizer had large bins. The ToughSystem 2.0 has even larger bins. This can be a benefit, depending on your individual needs and preferences, or a downside.
On its own, the organizer seems to be an okay design. As part of the ToughSystem line, the different configuration and bin sizes might frustrate existing users.
The 2-Drawered Elephant in the Room
A couple of readers wrote in, expressing concern that they couldn’t find the ToughSystem 2-drawer tool box at any online retailers. Well, maybe this is why – here’s a look at the new ToughSystem 2.0 2-drawer tool box.
Details on the 2-drawer unit are not available at this time.
Maybe we’ll also finally see a 3-drawer tool box, similar to the one Dewalt showed off at a 2017 media event. Even if not, the 2-drawer unit is still welcome.
MFC
This is what I was waiting for: A gleam of a drawer unit. I was just googling this today and could only find the last version at a few places. Thanks Stuart.
Franck B.
The problem for me with large organizers (that fit 22″ systems) is when you fill them with dense items (fasteners, some types of fittings, other metal things) they get quite heavy. For electrical they don’t get heavy but I don’t usually need to carry such a large amount of each type.
So, I go with smaller, less robust organizers. But robust enough to be kicked around with a few pounds of stuff.
My experience is they do tend to work well with copper plumbing fittings, but I only need one or two to hold most everything.
MoogleMan3
I have several of the half size version of this new organizer and love them. I grabbed them when home depot had them on sale for $20. This version has the same issue of the larger packout organizers: they’re not good for smaller or smaller quantities of fasteners.
I generally use them without the cups.
Doug N
Two other changes from the 1.0 organizer I noticed: the clips are attached to the lid instead of box so can be opened in a stack without disconnecting it (good). But no slots to attach to the toughsystem wall racks (bad).
Stuart
Oh – I didn’t even notice that!
So what’s a user supposed to do if they have the large ToughSystem cart or the wall rack?!
Franck B.
It’s now a “slim” unit. The shorter height units don’t slide into the wall/van racks, and must be attached to a “carrrier” to be held in. It’s the same with the half-width ones, for obvious reasons. The new organizer is now grouped in with the other organizers, and that’s how it makes sense.
Hoser
The fact that these don’t mount to the shop or van racking is a no go for me. I have a bunch of these filled with fasteners and fittings and all sorts of stuff. Being able to grab one with the fasteners I need off the racking is one of the main reasons I went with this system. I don’t want to have to stack these on other containers when each one is full of screws and very heavy, and then waste time trying to unstick and restack them to get to one container. Long story short, this is a huge disappointment and leap backwards to me.
Franck B.
I understand what you mean, because I really like the racking system. Unfortunately the marketing team felt going with half-size and other size organizers was more important than the shop/van racking. The suitcase does come with and fit the old-style organizer bins, not sure if an opaque top works for you, but I’ve had the prominently label my boxes now so a clear top isn’t that important for me.
Aaron S
I have a couple of the wall racks, the rack cart, 3 of the old style organizers, maybe a dozen of the fully opaque boxes with cups, several tstack clear lid organizers, tstack drawers with cups, and the deep pro organizers with cups. All of this to say I have 3 rack systems this isn’t compatible with and 6 shapes of dewalt cups (5 of them yellow) that this isn’t compatible with. Dewalt keeps releasing things that are almost compatible with each other but not really and it is super annoying.
Lyle
You should find out where their headquarters are and write them a letter and send them pictures. Ask them if the product manager for this product could explain this cluster f*ck.
Franck B.
The old organizer bins (the two-sized ones) were compatible across both the DeWalt/Stanley/Facom and Craftsman Tstak/Versastack, and also the Craftsman Tradestack. There are two sizes of Craftsman Tstak organizers (the newer one is slimmer) but they used the same bins. I think those same bins also fit some other storage units I have from various other systems, that size seemed to be quite popular. And the Tradestack ones come with snap on lids, which are kind of nice, I wish they could be purchased separately.
Odds are that the new ones are the same as from some other system that already exists.
Brian
Dewalt has a lot of catching up to do. Their line up is lacking to say the least. It’s almost like they’re not entirely committed to entering this market.
Gregg
I have to agree. Team red has the market with this kind of product. Kind of like Toyota has upper hand on mid sized trucks and Nissan/Ford seem to be lagging behind.
Brian
I like your analogy, as I drive a Tundra.
Saulac
I think the square bins, any kind of bins, are a wasted opportunity to be more flexible. This is why there are more rectangular than square containers. Quite confused by Stuart’s focus on how square requires less orientation/rotation than rectangular…Has orientation/rotation of the bins been an issue for people?
Stuart
I am just trying to understand why they would do this.
What other reason could they have for going with a square bin base size?
There would need to be some benefit for them to create what looks to be an incompatible bin size. The lids also have features to help keep bins and contents from shifting.
The half-width organizers are oriented a little differently, but surely the full-width organizer was designed at the same time to ensure compatibility.
I’m sorry – I lack the imagination to come up with any other potential benefit for the square aspect ratio, and so that was the best I could hypothesize.
I thought a logical guess would be better than shrugging.
There has to be a motive here, we just don’t know what it is yet.
Franck B.
Well, since the double size bins are rectangular, if you prefer that shape and size you can replace them all with those. Servicenet carries the old ones, so no doubt the new ones are in there too.
Stuart
I don’t intend to buy this at all – I’ve been converting all of my ToughSystem tool boxes to Milwaukee Packout.
I have not purchased a single ToughSystem product – outside of the tray inserts I use in other ways – since Packout came out.
But that doesn’t mean I cannot be disappointed at the direction Dewalt went in here.
Franck B.
Sorry, I meant the generic “you”, not you specifically. I mean someone can buy more rectangular bins if necessary.
My pre-Packout Milwaukee organizers all have square bins, so I can understand your befuddlement. I would remove bins to make rectangular areas in them, until I gave them all away.
Lyle
My full size Milwaukee pack outs all have this narrow wasted space down the middle too if I’m not mistaken. Seems like a waste to me, but if another company (Dewalt) is also doing it, then there must be some data or reasoning behind it. I kinda don’t like it but the rest of the Milwaukee system is solid. The Dewalt just seems like a new-too product for people who don’t like red.
Jeff
Funnily enough, milwaukees non packout version small parts organizer with “squared” buckets doesn’t do this.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-10-Compartment-Red-Deep-Pro-Portable-Tool-Box-with-Storage-and-Organization-Bins-for-Small-Parts-223875/205847797
I honestly think it’s mostly cause of the “squared” buckets. Square buckets are easier to throw back in without thinking about orientation. The interior dimensions for toughsystem and packout don’t lend itself well to multiples of bucket size. There might be a square bucket size that might work but might not be a good storage size. What were left with is a gap that adds a bit of structural integrity and ultimately marketed for “long tool storage” haha.
Stuart
The Milwaukee Pro organizers connect via side latches, whereas Packout has a symmetrical cleat pattern on the lid.
Jared
I wonder if it allows them to create a stiffer box. I.e. with a rib down the middle, the organizer is less likely to twist when loaded with heavy parts.
schill
Isn’t the space in the middle just so that two smaller organizer boxes line up correctly on top of the larger ones – bins above similar bins? The lids and bottoms of the boxes need to match for the system to work properly – at least for the Milwaukee cases.
What I really, really don’t like is the fact that in the Milwaukee Packout organizers you can’t put two smaller bins in the location of the larger rectangular ones – they have a single large area on the lids instead of two square ones.
James C
Exactly. I can’t tell from the pics but I wonder of this Dewalt version has the same issue with their rectangular bins.
I bought some loose Packout bins and will place them in a shallow drawer for organization in my shop. If I need to take them on the go I’ll throw them in a Packout organizer. I imagine I’ll run into issues with that rectangular bin spot in the organizers, e.g. what I want to take is in six square bins.
Frank D
On Packout, there is that variation in the lid indentation, with the rectangular double width cups, that inhibits the ultimate flexibility in mixing and matching cups ( something I can do with my Stanley organozer collection) But with 3d printing, one can can get 4, 6, 8, 10 and more slots via inserts and cups; in a packout cup for small quantity items, or tiny parts.
Franck B.
All the Dewalt TS/Ts bins I’ve seen can go in any space and be mixed and matched between boxes… for instance I have some that I’ve consolidated almost all large bins and then use smaller bins together in others (they’re all rectangular, just the smaller is half the size of the larger). The non-Packout Milwaukee organizers use this idea as well but the small ones are square.
Jeff
Been looking for something like this! I’ve recently got into woodworking and spent a small fortune on lee valley and freud. My tool chest was already full and was looking for a storage solution for bits. I think these with kaizen foam would be awesome.
Nathan
yeah my pet peeve where is the same box without all the bins and just a block a foam preferably dual layer/color but meh. because a box like this without bins (and for the rack thing yes make it that extra inch or less deeper so it can take a rack rail)
and let me outfit my own tool layout kit. and I mostly liked the older version so it’s odd to change it. Is it by chance lighter?
intrigued by the 2 drawer thing but again it needs to come without tools and as a make your own outfitting system.
Nick
With all of the large 22″ storage options im surprised DeWalt isn’t focusing on TSTAK more. They’re they only ones besides festool that offer a legitimate small format storage option. That’s an area that has a ton of options and possibilities.
Stuart
Bosch has/had? the Sortimo L-Boxx system in blue.
Roger
1.0 is clearly superior. The biggest PRO is that it can mount to the racking system. I use this type as a base to mount the powerstation and 4-port charger each. Version 1.0 stores Dewalt chargers. Both the black basic and 4A, and the yellow 8A.
2.0 doesn’t seem to be able to rack mount. It is great they are expanding the TS2.0 but it’s going a little slow and I’m still waiting for the fabled 3-drawer unit.
Lindsay
It looks like the two drawer unit will be available in the United Kingdom soon-
https://www.dewalt.co.uk/products/dwst83529-1–toughsystem-2-0-2-drawer-module.
Paul
The ToughSystem 1.0 clear lidded organizer was the mysterious box you could never buy. It was not very tough. The far better one is/was the non-clear lidded version. I think model 120 or 130. I’m not sure what the 2.0 is for. Seems like it is even worse than the old clear lidded unit.
Don’t get too excited about drawers. Unless you have very light material the drawer weight limit is terrible. Better is to use the boxes AS drawers like in the van or shop racking system or the Carrier that unfortunately isn’t being brought back or custom shelves.