Gearwrench launched a new mobile tool box, GWMP100, that seems to have been designed exclusively for their MegaMod tool sets.
Resembling a Pelican-style equipment case, the Gearwrench rolling tool box is advertised as:
the premium tool carrier system for the extreme work environments and the growing community of mobile technicians
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The case is said to be “military grade” and “TAA compliant.”
There are carry handles on the top and side, and an extending handle to be used when wheeling the case around.
The case is water and dust resistant to IP67 standards, and can be used in harsh temperatures, from -27.4°F to 194°F (-33°C to 90°C).
There are 4 trays, each measuring 20-1/4″ x 13-1/2″.
There are flexible cord handles on each side, for lifting the trays out of the tool box.
Each tray can accommodate 2 small or 1 large Gearwrench Megamod tool set in precut foam liners.
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If you don’t own Gearwrench’s foam-insert tool sets, and don’t plan to, you might be able to cut your own hard or foam inserts for use with the tray system.
Each tray has foam on the bottom. This seems necessary for protection and to prevent tools from rattling around, seeing as how the trays are stacked on top of each other inside the case.
2 of the trays have flat foam on the bottom, and 2 have convoluted (egg crate-style) foam.
Gearwrench gives the boxed weight as 30.5 lbs.
The country of manufacturing origin (COO) has not been specified.
Price: $500 to $729 (case only, tools NOT included)
Discussion
I was excited to discover the new Gearwrench rolling tool case at first, until I saw that it didn’t have drawers. Instead, it has a pull-out tray system.
This means that if you wish to access something from the bottom tray, everything’s got to come out and go somewhere.
It seems like a neat extension of Gearwrench’s new MegaMod line of foam-trayed tool sets, although I don’t see a lot of practicality for users outside of that.
If you want a more universal-type setup, there’s always the Dewalt ToughSystem, with its optional pull-out trays. While the Gearwrench case is not modular in a ToughSystem or Milwaukee Packout sense, it looks to have higher durability claims.
There are reasons to buy a tool case like this. I can’t think of any that apply to my needs or those of the average tool user, but it seems like a noteworthy expansion of Gearwrench’s tool line.
richard
No tools, no thank you. I thought packout was expensive!
TomD
If it really is “Pelican case quality” it’s not abnormally high priced for a strong case with fitted foam.
Jim Felt
I’d be curious whether their intended buyers are larger business entities or actual end users? And will that foam actually hold up? Especially after modifications to accommodate other specific tools?
Chris I
They don’t care who gives them money.
Stuart
Jim’s asking about intent and target users, which many brands do make deliberate decisions about when developing and launching new products.
ITCD
Since it’s TAA Compliant it seems like Fed is definitely one target for sales.
J WADE
I work in Field Service and have to fly with my tools. A Pelican type case like this with foam inserts to keep everything organized interests me very much.
Sammy ( ͡°- ͡°)
Only good for up to 94°?!? What about anybody that lives in the south?
Stuart
Good catch – 194°F.
Jared
That’s a pretty well-equipped set. Lift put trays are kind of a bummer. It would still be nice if you have the room to spread out where you work.
And the price isn’t THAT bad for a kit like this either.
Stuart
Sorry – I added clarity – this is just the tool case without any tools or sets.
Jared
Egg on my face. That does change the calculation…
Frank D
$620 without any tools … mmmm.
Kyle
Seriously, they’re cool, and definitely useful, but the prices are insane for what is an empty plastic bin.
Between the insane prices (which never seem to fluctuate) and the market saturation, something has to give. I imagine what will give is the less successful entrants cutting their losses and exiting the market.
fred
Acme says that the COO is Italy.
If so, maybe these guys in Bologna:
https://www.explorercases.com/en/products/
Stuart
I was thinking the same, but I couldn’t find a similar case. Acme’s COO has also been wrong before. There’s no second mention via Amazon or Gearwrench to confirm it.
mikedt
Compared to Pelican case prices it seems like you’re paying a lot just for those empty trays.
Nathan
Stahlewhile and hazet (and I think snap on) used to sell cases like this as line mx tool kits for airplanes. But a bit more specialized. Not much just a bit. Only sae sizes full ratchet sets in 1/4 drive and 3/8 drive. Some screwdrivers a bit handle some bits. Wrenches pliers safety wire pliers….
In a hard plastic rolling case like this with foam. It’s marketed more to the airline than to the mechanics more of a conforming box for tool shipment as park of an fak. Sorry fly away kit. Going to a station where you don’t have staff or share support. Here’s basic parts and a basic tool kit kept on the plane to make sure you can fly out again
Plain+grainy
So well packed with optional tool trays. Almost looks like it’s designed for air travel, rather than a working job site. Maybe it comes with TSA approved latches.
William Adams
The box looks an awful lot like an Apache 5800 which I impulse bought at Harbor Freight because, coupon, with the thought that I’d turn it into a toolbox.
Obviously what I really wanted was a Pelican 0450 w/ drawers suited to match the tools I’d like to schlep around.
Never got around to actually doing anything because an initial thought was that I wanted something better than lift-out trays — I don’t know whether to be vindicated or disappointed.
CMF
I do not know when you made your Apache purchase but today a Pelican 0450 is over $1000…ouch!
Pelican makes very nice stuff and have a great reputation for their cases, but you definitely will pay for it.
William Adams
Yeah, I couldn’t justify a Pelican 0450 (which is significantly larger than the case I bought, or this one), and there are other similar ones which I wasn’t able to justify price-wise.
At least this story has gotten me to haul the thing out and set it up and begin to consider which tools will go in it and how they will be arranged/secured…..
Stuart
The 0450 is… okay, but not great.
I accumulated gift cards and picked one up. It didn’t wow me, aside from how heavy it is even when empty.
It’s for commercial users whose tools NEVER vary. They used to have elastic-band pallets for the trays, but these days you can only buy or cut foam inserts.
Stuart
It wasn’t just a price increase, I think the 0450 Gen 2 is supposed to have better drawers.
Al
94F? That’s the inside of a parked vehicle 30 minutes into a 70F day. Hardly a ‘harsh’ environment.
That would make this gear suitable only for air-conditioned environments.
If you can run a computer up to a thermal threshold of 102F before crashing, why can’t a box of hammers keep up?
Hard pass on the face values.
Kevin
Looks like they meant 194F. It says 90C right after and that’s 194F. I thought the same thing though.
Lucas
That was a typo, it should say 194F.
Al
90C. That makes more sense. I wish we used metric. 0-100 makes sense.
Rcward
500 dollars? Laughable
Kuro
This seems to be a foray into making tools for armed forces specifications. I’m not an expert in that, but it seems like it might meet some spec that is in demand.
William Adams
Yes, but won’t that require domestic-sourcing (for U.S. DoD)?
Maybe this would be workable if NATO was viewed as a trade organization and if things made by other members would be similarly acceptable?
(but the recent Vista Outdoors kerfuffle would argue against that)