I gave away most of my remaining Dewalt ToughSystem tool boxes today, and felt that the reasoning warranted a discussion, especially since I’m likely to buy deeper into the Milwaukee Packout system.
Dewalt sent over a couple, and I bought a lot more thanks to compelling holiday season deals.
There’s nothing wrong with ToughSystem tool boxes – except for how the drawers wobble when stacked, but that’s fixable.
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The 2- and 3-drawer ToughSystem tool boxes open and close smoothly, and they’re fairly easy to move around, even when reasonably loaded. There are no internal dividers, and I actually like that.
I bought a bunch of Milwaukee Packout drawer tool boxes last year, taking advantage of buy more, save more promos (this year’s deal is even better!), and after spending a year with everything, I realized that Packout’s approach is better for my needs.
While pricey, I really like having 4-wheel setups, with a dolly or cart, 2 or 3 drawer tool boxes, and maybe a work surface on top. I can’t build the same type of Dewalt setup.
The new Dewalt ToughSystem DXL tool box system is AMAZING. Last night I tried to integrate my smaller ToughSystem tool boxes, but wasn’t really feeling good about it.
I thought about getting a separate DXL dolly for just my smaller ToughSystem products, but the larger size and side-oriented drawers won’t work well in my cramped storage spaces.
Dewalt sent over the above-pictured ToughSystem DXL 5pc work station – sans the 3-drawer tool boxes – and it’s perfect as a mobile work station.
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I break apart my Packout setups on occasion, and move them to different rooms, usually up and down stairs. Sometimes I need to load them in my car. The DXL system is not as portable.
All that is to say that I could buy a separate ToughSystem DXL stack, but I probably won’t. It serves a better purpose as a workstation with accessible tools and supplies, and Packout works better for storage and organization.
My ToughSystem drawers worked well for “storage where I need it,” but I’m reworking a lot of my storage and that’s no longer true. I am moving more of my storage onto wheels, or into something with wheels.
While I could fabricate a strong DIY solution, it’ll likely be 2030 until I find the time for more “stuff to build to get to do what I need or want to” projects.
For personal use, I’d find a way to make these work. For business use, I’ll throw money at convenience and ease of use that make better use of my limited time and space.
I was on the fence about parting with the drawer tool boxes, but I know they’re going to good use.
I’m also passing along a couple of compact ToughSystem tool boxes.
Here’s what the internal dividers look like, with one of the removable parts organizers that I never used.
I used these boxes as task-specific storage, loading them on wire shelving for grab-and-go use. The problem, I found, was that they were not any more space efficient than tote boxes, or the industrial bins and containers I had been using.
I have a couple still in use, but might part with those over time as well.
I’m not sure what to replace them with – I own a couple of Milwaukee Packout compact tool boxes as well, and they’re not perfect for my needs either.
At this point you might be aghast thinking about how much I must spend on tool storage and organizational products, and how I can give away hundreds of dollars of ToughSystem boxes.
These weren’t *my* tool boxes, they were ToolGuyd’s. Even though I pay all the bills, the mentality makes it easier.
Plus, it’s good for me to thoroughly test out different brands’ tools and products, especially modular tool box systems.
I’ve bought into nearly every major tool box system out there, and have changed focus over the years as my needs and wants changed.
Frankly, it hurts a bit to give away these Tough System boxes, as they were mostly delightful to use.
As an aside, I really like that last expression. I was talking with someone from Makita’s MakTrak product design team last week, and they mention this as one of the goals. They conveyed that, on top of easing user frustrations and pain points, tool boxes should be a “delight” to use. When I think about a lot of my positive and negative experiences over the years, the phrasing applies perfectly. However, in this case, being mostly a delight to use wasn’t enough.
As I continue on my journey towards clean and efficient workshops, every cubic foot of space has become increasingly valuable, and I don’t have enough room for less than ideal storage and organization products.
I had hoped to add more ToughBuilt Stack Tech tool boxes to my kit (a bunch of open tote crates), but their drawer tool box pricing is too high for me to justify and it doesn’t look like there will be any holiday season promos or discounts.
Milwaukee’s Packout holiday promo is even better this year, and it runs until a month into the new year. I gave my workspace a quick assessment this week, and might build out one or two more rolling Packout stacks, with a dolly, drawer tool boxes, and work top. Luckily I have 3 months to figure things out.
Julian Tracy
I’ve had Festool Systainers for years, bought into Packout a few years ago, and then switched to Tough Built for the basic 3-4 piece setup.
When it came time to outfit my Chevy express as a carpenter with one of the systems, I initially bought up a bunch more Packout, but decided they were just not suited for a finish carpenter – everything just too damn bulky. At that time, decided instead to just use the T-loc systainers I already owned for my van tool organization. When Stack tech came out, I sold off all my Packout, but only bought a simple setup as the prices went sky high shortly after I bought into the system.
With the HD Dewalt deal Glitch, that seemed like an excellent time to try out the Dewalt 2.0 drawer units and lined my van with 8-9 full 2 and three drawer setups – all fastened to the van sides, I’ve no need to fully take everything I own into a jobsite and keep the stack tech setup or tool bags for figuring out what I need to bring in for the day’s work.
Having used the Dewalt 2.0 drawers, I’ll say they are ideal for my needs. Compared to the bid 2-3 box systems, they are very compact with very little excess bulk, they open, close and latch securely and because they are fastened to the van sides, no issues with the wobble or the fact that they have no top handles. I’ve basically cleared out almost all of the Systainers I was using to store stuff and have every drawer labeled and fully utilized. The fact that I got about $1200 worth for about $500 didn’t hurt either.
Nathan
I have to ask do you have any more to part with? Meanwhile though interesting ideas and comments. I honestly don’t think I have a need for any but a part of my brain wants to make some dedicated boxes for tasks. Ie a. Sanding box with hose ends all the papers blocks etc.
Stuart
I am down to (4) compact ToughSystem tool boxes left, and 1 small ToughSystem tool box that holds some of my grandfather’s tools that nobody knew what to do with after he passed away. (One of these days I’ll sort through them again and cull the ones of least sentimental value. I think the Channellocks and Ridgid wrenches have seen the most and I’m sure have stories to tell.)
I have always been particular about tool storage and organization, but it became vital as the amount of stuff I needed to sort through increased and kept increasing.
Dmndback
I do a little of electrical work and the Craftsman boxes and parts organizers work great for me. I also have some DeWalt boxes for my DeWalt battery tools and I have the Husky small parts organizers for PEX fittings. Different brands for different types of work. It is a lot easier for me to figure out what I need for certain jobs.
Robert
Stuart, as Julian alludes to, Packout’s robustness is partly due to it being bulky. How does that work better in your “cramped storage spaces/limited space?”
And, on the third photo down, is that normal stacking? Seems high to be stable.
Stuart
Because I can access everything from the front, and remove a box from the front without having to wiggle my hands into both sides. The foot brake on the dolly makes things even easier.
Steel roller cabinets are a hassle to move around due to heavier weight and usually 2 fixed and 2 swivel casters, so they mainly stay put.
No, that’s the boxes stacked up and waiting to be picked up.
I have most of my Packout drawer boxes 3-high on a raised cart.
s
i understand changing focus, but i’m not sure i completely understand what the packout does differently for your use-case from the toughsystem.
something i’ve long struggled with is the ‘ruggedness vs. storage vs. portability’ debate. you talk briefly about that with your task-specific storage, and the size of the toughsystem vs. standard totes, and also how the milwaukee system fails similarly. none of those totes are as rugged as any of the system options, but many times that ruggedness isn’t really needed anyways.
but for popular-use task totes, the ruggedness is required, but tends to cut into usable interior volume, which can then require additional rugged containers to fit the same amount of items needed for the task.
you mention that the packout is more efficient at breaking down stacks and loading into vehicles, but really don’t seem to go into detail about the why. is it the outer dimensions of each system? the overall ‘filled’ weight per unit, that the toughsystem unit are too large and get too heavy?
and you also state that you like having a 4-wheel cart, with drawers, and a top, just like you have pictured, but then despite the picture, it doesn’t work?
i’m always more fascinated by the cases where someone honestly tries something, and it doesn’t work for them, like this, than anyone sticking with a specific system for brand loyalty or legacy reasons(like already buying into the system), and want to try to better understand what specifically didn’t work for your use with the dewalt system, that the milwaukee system does better.
Stuart
The DXL system is working great in my garage workspace, where I usually have open spaces.
Packout is half the size, if not smaller.
The standard ToughSystem line lacks a dolly, and removing boxes can be hard to do if there are several next to each other, or under a workbench pushed to the left or right side.
Think about how you open a kitchen drawer. That’s kind of how Packout boxes unlatch from each other. You toggle lock and pull the top box forward. Done. Place it on top and push it to the rear to lock in place. Done.
Packout has given me the most flexibility, and with the different drawer options I can get higher storage density.
I made a rack for my industrial bins. https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/workshop-storage-progress-my-industrial-bin-rack-is-coming-along/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
It worked okay. But what if I need one item? I had to find a place to set down a bin. What if I need the whole bin? 2 bins? What if I needed them in a different room? Outside? There were too many limitations. Right now I’m down to just 1 bank, and I hope to disassemble all of it at some point.
I keep a lot of redundant stuff in my office drawers, because there’s no better organized place to put them. Sometimes I need misc parts on a daily basis, other times they’re not touched for months. I hope to eventually move a lot of those items to Packout drawers too. That way I can grab a box for a project, place it on a dolly, and keep it there until I can put it away. If I only need a part, it’s easier to grab from a drawer.
The ability to grab an entire box has discouraged me from installing more stationary cabinets.
What I have found is that I tend to self-justify ill-fitting solutions for the sake of better value.
Consider the Dewalt organizer deal – https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/dewalt-organizer-deal-home-depot-dwst14925/%3C/a%3E .
I tend to buy a few every year. They don’t work perfectly well for my needs, but I make them work because they’re so affordable.
What I really need is something like this – https://www.allit.de/en/products/product-europlus_pro_m_44_2l_59 , because Sortimo did terrible things to their T-Boxx redesign.
I have Festool Sortainers, but they get sloppy when weighed down, and they’re very pricey. The new models don’t come with bins, and I refuse to spend a lot on them.
I might be donating all of those boxes soon, too. The only benefit is that they’re lighter than Packout, but they’re also lighter duty.
I keep robotics and electronics prototyping parts in organizers. If I need a part or two, or just a box, they work great. I’ve got all my Loc-Line parts in one or two organizers.
If I need multiple boxes of contents, it’s great to be able to grab a box. The more I have to do to access a box, remove it from a stack, or roll it around a room, the greater the risk of complications and adjacent tasks. I had some of the ToughSystem drawers on a workbench, with a tool chest to the right, and bins to the left. It was a hassle to get the boxes unlatched and moved – I had to move things around, relocate a bunch of things, and that was the sure sign these aren’t the best fit for my needs.
I have been trying to make ToughBuilt Stack Tech crates work for me, but those might go, too. I was interested in the drawers, but it took me too long to find them, and now that they’re widely available, it’s the holiday deals season and they’re all still full price.
I can juggle multiple tool box systems, but they have to work for me.
In general, more and more I’ve been seeking increased convenience.
Saulac
Please spend some more time with Stack Tech crates, for science. They have the best/unique way to lock into each other, imo. What would you think if the crates have accessible/removable sides?
S
Thanks for the clarification
Joe
I also find myself picking up the pro organizers because of the value and pair them with tiny clear boxes from harbor freight to store my smallest screws and item I don’t have in sizable volume. My only wish is that there was a rack where you can pull the pro organizers out individually from the stack as I am often needing to move 3-4 of them to get what I was looking for.
Mack
I have a Dewalt dolly from their first series and a wall system rack. Are you saying they didn’t have one?
Stuart
They launched with a 2-wheel hand cart and later launched the 2-wheel rolling tool box. Dewalt does have a 4-wheel Tstak cart/dolly, but there has not been any 4-wheel ToughSystem solution until the extra large sized DXL.
JB
Ugh. Stopped into the depot and made a DXL stack to see how I liked them. Loved the bigger set up but I’m also a travel mechanic that realized they would be wayyy to heavy had I loaded them like I imagined. Which is also the reason I can’t use Packout drawers. They do not hold up to the weight of mechanic tools and sag more than acceptable. Toughbuilt doesn’t have flat bottoms and no lock hole so I went to Ridgid and they have been holding up really well. I’m in my drawers sometimes hundreds of times a day. Only downer is I had to make a 4 wheel dolly with a 3rd party mounting plate. Also the drawer locks are way easier to operate with your hands full than the Packout pullbar thing. +1 point for ability to close them with your foot.
JZ
I put 4 toughsystem drawers on the new dxl dolly with the top and so far like it.
Rog
WHY IS THE DRAWER LABEL UPSIDE DOWN IN THAT FIRST PICTURE
Wags
This is the comment I’ve been looking for!
It has to be bothering others!
Stuart
Yes, I noticed it, no I didn’t select that one to photograph for the main image on purpose, it was just the first one I grabbed.
Unknown tool guy
I worked at a tool store and got given a Milwaukee and a DeWalt 2.0 and got to do a drop test with them in front of other staff but not customers. One of them broke so fast we had to promise not to tell anyone. So the Milwaukee rep let us keep it to show customers and the DeWalt rep took theirs back. No other reps let use have one because they knew it would break in our test.
eddiesky
How come Dewalt hasn’t been hit with a class suit on the wobble issue? If it stacks and locks, it shouldn’t rock/wobble. Its like spending $200 on a set then needing to spend $10-$30 more per module to add some oval feet things to shim it.
Who designed this joke?
How is the Milwaukee packouts on stacking?
And why hasn’t anyone made a drawer-module system that lets you take the drawer out as a storage bin? Like for parts, fasteners, etc. (I always ask this, thinking Stuart will pass on to some brand person ..”oh, that is a good idea!”.)
I was at Lowes and realize that their Craftsman red alludes to Milwaukee. I have to now go to HDepot to look for storage. For screws. So many. GRK, Spax, others. Its a career just figuring out how to organize….
Stuart
It doesn’t affect functionality, it’s just a little annoying.
When they were first launched, they were shown off being loaded into van racking. I imagine that they were also tested as part of a stack with a rolling tool box and other such popular mobile solutions.
The Packout drawer boxes are easier to stack and remove. If in doubt, Home Depot and other dealers usually have a bunch on display to play around with.
ToughBuilt StackTech boxes stack a little easier, but my excitement and interest over the system has been waning.
You want a removable drawer? Bosch L-Boxx/L-Rack – or look at Tekton’s new red version of that. They’re a bit small though, and have friction slides.
The upcoming Packout rack will allow for their organizers to be pulled out as drawers, or removed for portability.
You might also want to look at Durham drawer cabinet boxes.
Festool used to have a Systainer dock that allowed tool boxes to be be pulled out as drawers or removed.
https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/my-parts-organizers-justification/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
I have older-style Sortimo T-Boxxes on drawer slides. I believe they also fit Allit Metall boxes. I can get the drawer boxes here, but not any Allit cabinet solutions.
My original plan was to have L-boxx drawers, but I moved away from the system.
Plastic drawers – like the ones shown above and from other brands – are not ideal for bulk fastener storage. With enough weight, every plastic drawer tool box will bind.
JR Ramos
Class action? Or any lawsuit…really? I guess find a legitimate cause of action and prove your damages. Find out if there’s enough money overall for an attorney/firm to take the case and be happy with the 30%-60% cut of the award/settlement. Not happening. I mean if they advertised them as “wobble-free” and they wobbled you still need to prove that you suffered harm, and what that’s worth exactly.
There’s still a place in the world for the great metal drawer units from Durham, Klein, etc (and some lighter-duty imports now that aren’t priced that much better). They could do this with the plastic modular boxes but I’m pretty sure it would add some unacceptable (to most) bulk and resulting size creep. Many years ago I got a bunch of the Klein units in various flavors for a song. I think I paid $13 to $17 each plus the slider boxes…sure wish I could buy those now for a reasonable price, but they’re still available anyway. Not sure if they’re still made in the US or not.
chip hershberger
There is no magical system that works the best.
As a packout user…I will continue using for these reasons.
The front single latch,ease of adaptation with multiple docking points underneath to use 3d printed female tabs,currently the most options.
Today I went to Lowes and played with DXL and Toughbuilt.
If I started over today,DXL or SK would be hard to avoid with their wider offerings for larger tools.
Love the more modular part of TB,but I doubt they have the finances to continue…and the latching connection is the most proprietary and very hard to adapt.
Packout small cooler is atrocious and the drawers sag under a small load…3/16 aluminum plate in the bottom of the drawers seems to spread the load out better.
Steven cook cook
Wish DeWalt would do a single drawer or a taller DBL drawer for circ saws
Matt
Husky Build-Out looks like a great system, But is complete FAILURE BY NOT HAVING ALL THEIR ‘COMING SOON’ boxes in stock for this holiday.
What a complete lack of marketing.