There are new rumors that Makita USA is about to launch a tool box system at Home Depot.
The new Makita tool box system has been heavily-documented in patent and trademark applications, and looks to be based on a larger form factor, seemingly similar to the Milwaukee Packout tool chest, or the new Dewalt ToughSystem DXL drawered tool chests.
A week ago, a reader (thank you, Nathan!) left a comment:
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There are also new whispers of the [Makita stacking tool box] storage system being launched end-of-year
I haven’t heard anything yet, and chalked this up to being an unsubstantiated rumor.
However, another reader (thank you, Andrew!) wrote in with this comment today:
I ran into a Makita sales rep at Home Depot last month and asked if they’re planning on releasing a new modular tool storage system. She said Home Depot has seen it and is planning a release in the fall and in stores around December.
Just like that, I went from doubting this new modular tool box system would ever see the light of day, to believing it’s about to launch.
This rumor seems plausible to me.
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Here’s a Milwaukee Packout rolling tool chest with tool boxes and organizers stacked on top.
Now visualize it with the red color-swapped for Makita teal.
That could work, right?
Patent application documents show off a couple of different components and configurations.
Here’s the concept art we’ve seen so far:
- Rolling too chest
- Large tool box
- Half-width tool box
- Compact half-width tool box
- Organizer
We don’t know what the attachment system would look like, but all signs point to a cleat-based system that’s like Packout with top and bottom components reversed.
From the artwork, these are going to be large tool boxes.
If we assume that the rolling tool box has 9″ wheels, similar to the Milwaukee Packout, this would mean a roughly 32″ overall length for the large tool box, and around 15.5″ for the half-width tool boxes.
That’s assuming the artwork is to scale.
I should add that the Makita TrakLock trademark application has been abandoned, and it’s unclear if they have a new name in mind.
Questions
I have so many questions.
Is this really coming out? I was extremely doubtful a week ago, but have since changed my mind. I’m now convinced that’s it’s coming out, but nothing has been officially confirmed.
Makita USA won’t respond to our inquiries, but maybe you’ll have better luck asking sales reps – please let me know what you find out!
Where are the drawers? Hopefully there are drawer tool boxes included in the first wave of products.
Where does Home Depot have room for this? My local Home Depot stores sometime have Husky rolling tool chests and similar on display, at least seasonally. Home Depot’s regular and seasonal modular tool box displays seem maxed-out with their current offerings.
My Home Depot stocks Milwaukee Packout tool chests on occasion, and those take up a lot of space.
I guess they can fit… somewhere?
December?? A December launch would signal a lot of things to me, none of which I’ll discuss now. If I were in charge of things, I’d work towards an October or early November launch.
Will there be introductory sales? It seems to me that Makita has been pulling back on discounts and promotions. Last year, I found regularly-priced Makita tools in Home Depot’s holiday season gift center.
Would you buy it?
OldDominionDIYer
Unless you’re just a total Makita fan these are too little too late. I suspect costs will likely be very high, but we’ll see, or will we???
Andrew
Bingo. Total Makita fan boy who brings Metabo nail guns to the site and uses Craftsman tradestack because there was no Makita options.
John S
Yeah. Assuming these are even as good. I will be giving my brother my 25-35 pack out and ridgid boxes (he just started his anppr) and buying all new Makita boxes. But I’m an admitted fanboy who has a nice disposable income. I don’t know who’s buying all these new systems in general.
TomD
At least some of it is very useful as giveaways to large customers. Buy a bunch of red tools for your vans, get free red storage.
Lance
I’d much rather see 21700-based LXT batteries than a bunch of stuff nobody is asking for… like this, or “camping” color scheme tools. It’s time for Makita to start getting serious.
Joe F
100% correct
Nathan
@Stuart
Happy to help 🙂
@OldDominionDIYer
It really depends on if they can offer something that bridges the wall-storage-to-portage gap. Right now there is still a hole in the market for a system that:
– Stores well on the wall with high density and good access to the contents
– Travels well with high internal capacity, decent ruggedness and waterproofing
– Functions on the job site for arbitrary access to all stored items with internal organization and nested sub-scale storage/portage (being able to take boxes out of the overall storage, link them together to travel on the site, and then put them back in).
Packout doesn’t have great wall density (or internal density) and until the recent van system and drawer models had a hard time with access. It’s also overkill for ruggedness.
Dewalt’s DXL is promising, but very very heavy (and isn’t water proof). Also still lacks a wall system, but given the strength and size of the drawers it is somewhat acceptable to just stack them on themselves.
Systainers are a bit fragile and still don’t have a good drawer solution for on the job site, but a really good wall storage solution with the built in rails.
ToughBuilt is very promising, but doesn’t have a great wall solution. If your solution is static rack bases I do not consider you to have a good wall solution.
The new Bosch system is looking very interesting but doesn’t exist yet.
Do I think Makita will pull it off? …No comment. If this is from the US team however there might be some hope. I don’t know what the Japan headquarters is doing, but the regional offices seem to actually use some thought into their actions.
CMF
I think that the Japan office is where 90% of the development and innovation comes from. The US and other regional type offices are mainly sales and marketing.
I say, I think, because I could be totally wrong.
CMF
I knew this comment was coming…”these are too little too late” from at least 1 if not many readers.
I don’t care which brand it is, if they introduce something new, like this, “me” as in “we the consumers” are the winners. More choice, more competition, possibly helps drive down price, new ideas; all great as far as I am concerned.
I usually check Stuart’s posts daily and stuff that does not have much appeal usually have a dozen or less comments. Over 40 comments is decent interest.
I am sure there are readers (how many? maybe an interesting poll?) that do not have one of these storage systems. The day they decide to take the plunge, I am sure that more selection is a positive.
No one is being forced to buy into this or any system, or even reading about them.
Paul White
Where are the drawers???
Tom
This format would get real heavy, real fast. I use the DeWalt Tough System rolling chest and stack other Tough Sytem boxes on top when on construction sites: the vertical format handles heavy gear better, and can go up & down stairs. Still, horses for courses, this might suit some folks.
TomD
Agreed. The giant box with four wheels and a handle that rotates (think wagon) would be more useful to me.
Jason M
Too late IMO. I really want Toughbuilt but even that may never happen and it seems really innovative.
I just don’t see a place for them to compete with all the other brands in Home Depot. My guess is IF they roll something out for the holiday season it’s a 3 piece stack for the die hards.
Michael F
It’s a very crowded market and I wish Makita had gone with a more…thoughtful approach, similar to the Tajima system released in Japan. I just don’t see this working very well. I hope I’m wrong.
Stuart
The Tajima system looks very appealing to me. https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/tajima-tool-box-belt-system/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Trevor
The Tajima approach is such a good idea. Toughbuilt could come close when combined with its Cliptech stuff. Would be so much more than just a box.
Perhaps Makita will take it a set further than what Tough System and Packout have done.
I am losing hope on Toughbuilt, looks like a great product, but their marketing, distribution and fulfilment processes are going to kill the product. Top that with a website that would have been bad even in 2014.
Robert
Stuart, I had the same crucial question as you. Where will Home Depot fit these bulky items? In the HD stores around me Makita gets one end cap for power tools. These teal tool boxes will generate less sales per cubic foot of store space than the tools, so I don’t see the incentive from HD’s point of view.
Harrison
Maybe Home Depot is starting to feel the heat after becoming the ‘Milwaukee Store’.
It’s difficult to negotiate margins with your supplier when you’ve becoming completely dependent on the one brand/manufacturer.
TomD
This Christmas could be a fight to the death – four systems enter, only two or three will exit.
Could be some good clearance on the failing options.
Saulac
Makita, since you are the late comer, please try to get better than Milwaukee at keeping all the boxes similar. I like Milwaukee PO cleats system, I can’t understand why the crate looks so different from the boxes (also smaller) And the smaller boxes look different from the big boxes.
Chris S
I think that comes from being one of the first on the market with a massive system. Over the years, they just have to adapt certain newer things to fit the existing system.
Chris S
This feels like there are 3 companies that all manufacture plastic boxes and have just systematically gone to each manufacturer to convince them that there’s a lot of money to be made on plastic boxes. The cleat system and other cues really just look like they took the Milwaukee mold to Makita and said “Look, we can alter the mold for cheap and stamp your logo instead. We have a whole second production line ready to go”.
Realistically, if the rumors keep picking up, there is already a production line filling warehouses full of these things.
PW
If true, I don’t get the strategy here from an HD perspective. They already have too many of these systems – Milwaukee, Ridgid, DeWalt, Ryobi, Husky, the other Husky… there’s not enough floor space for all of them. Favorites will have be chosen. Someone has to get the boot.
The other thing is that of those options, 2/3 are house brands. Is HD going to orphan one of their captive modular toolbox systems?
Stuart
That could be why the Makita sales rep told the reader they’re planning a December launch.
Mid-to-late December, a lot of the popular deals and modular tool boxes have sold out, opening up some space. Just a thought.
After the new year, stores reset the tools promo area with home storage products with lots of tote boxes and such. Maybe that’s when and where they’ll appear?
I seriously doubt Makita would be displace any of the established brands or systems. IF the rumors are true, the Makita system will likely be shoehorned in.
Goodie
LOL. Space at Home Depot? There’s very little, based on how mine are laid out. The stores near me have the aisles so packed with merchandise that they now have stuff in front of the check out lines. Between the packed aisles and the overall disorganization, I just loathe going there.
Kyle
I completely agree. I’ve noticed over the years that my local Home Depots reduced the floor and shelf space dedicated to Makita tools. In turn, they’ve dedicated more space towards Milwaukee and Ryobi. I really don’t see how Home Depot could be incentivized into carrying yet another modular toolbox system, even if it’s from a brand they currently carry.
Frank D
I have the exact same feeling about our Home Depots. Very often a poor selection, or some empty shelves and way too much ground clutter up and down the aisles, including the main thoroughfares. It is just ridiculous how you can’t navigate the store with a shopping cart without running into traffic jams.
Stuart
I have found that Home Depot and Lowe’s store experiences can vary wildly and depend heavily on location and management.
Rog
I know is one more tool box system on the market, but I’m glad they’re releasing it. Simply for the fact that it shows Makita is willing to invest in something new. Maybe its not the places we’d like them to (18v batteries, nailers, etc) but they’re doing something new which is encouraging for their future prospects.
Andrew
I was the one that left the comment on one of your previous articles. Makita is having there Innovation Tour in my area next week, so I was planning on stopping by and asking if there are any updates on their tool storage system. I’ll keep up updated with anything I find.
LK
I don’t believe it. Has there ever been a Makita product that launched in the US BEFORE the Japanese market?
It would need to be coming out NOW in Japan for it to be seen this year in the US and even that is a stretch.
Stuart
All signs suggest this was designed in the USA, possibly by the same team that came up with Outdoor Adventure.
Eliot Truelove
I strongly feel it is not a reversed cleat system, and if I’m wrong I’ll eat my words.
Ryobi already has a reversed cleat system, and I don’t feel Makita would go with that, but I have evidence in the patent and the logo itself.
The very logo of Traklock shows that it is based on the system shown on 138 of the 165 pages in which pictures are shown in the patent.
I don’t think the abandonment of the name has to do with a switch in the design, I think it’s moreso a switch in the name itself, Traklock may have come across as vague and undefined and then been work shipped by corporate.
The cleat design you shared is only present on 2 pages of the 165 pages that show pictures in the 198 page patent.
The channel/guide traklock logo style design is present on 138 out of 165 of them and described in the majority of the patents.
Everything in the language of the patent mentions “channels” which go along the entire length of the top of the box in which a “guide” on the bottom of the next box in which the channel receives it.
After describing the first channel/guide design in detail for the majority of the patent, they have an entire section with the subheading: “Alternate Box-to-Box Connection Systems” in which they start out with saying “…Other example embodiments of box-to-box connection systems will now be described with reference to FIGS. 78A through 98B.”
They then go to show 20 or so different channel/guide rail and cleat/protuberance designs in those figures, all which look drastically different from each other.
To share one picture of one of the “alternate box to box connection systems” in which it is only in the patent on 2 pages at the end of the patent with other varying designs of rails or cleats, and deliberately only share side pictures of the boxes to make it appear as a ripoff of Milwaukee Packout, shows a deliberate obfuscation of the design in which the vast body of the patent describes in detail.
When this storage box design comes out, I hope you admit you have been completely wrong in the way you have presented the information of the patent and design of this system, regardless of how successful the modular system is.
Chris S
Your last paragraph comes off as pretentious and an a$$h*le way to speak to someone. I would he doesn’t acknowledge your comment in any form.
Stuart
He has repeatedly accused me of deliberately choosing images that he insists depicts Makita’s system as a Packout ripoff.
There’s only so many times I can say that he’s wrong. I’m not interested in being drawn into another trivial and unending debate over it.
If/when the system launches, then we can argue over granular details.
James
Stuart, is it “accused” if he is pointing out a fact? You HAVE repeatedly cherry picked these images, and when the Makita box system was first discussed several people pointed that out and you refused to really own-up to it. The last paragraph of Elliott’s post was unnecessary, but it isn’t wrong.
Stuart
Frankly, these looked like a good representation to me. I really don’t see what you’re seeing.
Which images do you like better? Do you have proof some of Makita’s artwork is more accurate than their others? If you can guarantee it, send them along.
There will be plenty of time for arguments over features if or when this actually launches.
Eliot Truelove
I honestly had no intention of coming across that way, as pretentious or a crap spewer, but side pictures do the boxes zero justice when there is a wealth of 3/4 views showing the top and the front in the patent, of which, again, 130+ pictures show that channel track and guide rail design that I WISH I could post as picture comments.
I’ve sent so many screenshots of the patent pages and different size boxes to Stu on FB every time he makes these posts about the new storage designs, and either crickets or excuses or “patents aren’t final products, so it could be really anything.”
Again, to show one attachment method out of the 20 cast off prototype designs included at the end of the patent, of which have no relevance to the vast majority of the patent, and all of which are different in look from even eachother, makes it appear deliberate and heavily biased.
Stuart
Again, none of these images look bad to me!!
In a patent application, everything could be relevant, or maybe none of it.
This post is about new unconfirmed info from a sales rep, saying that the system will launch in December.
And you’re arguing about tracks and channels vs cleats. Again. Because reverse cleats sounds like a travesty to you.
It’s absolutely a moot point until specifics are made clear, and then we can talk about pros, cons, distinctions, etc.
I like these images because they suggest bidirectional or maybe omnidirectional latching, which would be cool, and because they were cleaner representations.
Honestly, I only vaguely remember what we argued about months ago, and only after you brought it up.
Are you absolutely certain the images were “cast offs” not at all related to the patented design points?
Does the patent application specifically say “here’s some cool artwork completely irrelevant to our proposed design?”
If it’ll make you feel better, we can talk about it between now and December.
Farkleberry
If you’re right, they should obviously ditch Traklock name for Channellock. I’m still pushing for FakeOut though, but would love to eat my words.
Here are some features in a new system I’d like to see:
-Max interior space efficiency, recognizing they’re plastic. No bulky Packout corner rails, etc.
-Availability of stronger and well sealed drawers
-Some of those Tajima exterior clip features
-Interior of box and drawer and their partitions fit modular bins well and don’t allow migration on bottom for loose stuff
-Robust stacking/locking with front activated mechanism that won’t get jammed with crud and not work
-Some kind of dolly compatible with a sturdy handcart or a sturdy detachable handcart
-Maybe some mixed modular system with both 14-18″ and 24″ depth. Being able to stack both on a long tajima type cart.
-Typical 14-18″ depth for portability – pickups beds, and either side of aisle on box trailer or cargo van.
24″ depth sturdy drawer module for less portable but more space efficency.
Ken
Regarding frequent comments about saturation of the modular tool box space: how are modular tool boxes any different than the dozens of other tool categories that are reproduced across all major brands? Every major color of tool manufacturer has their own take on: driver bits, tool bags, and innumerable other tools and accessories – how are modular tool boxes any different? Is it because modular boxes are a “system”? And if so, why is the modular storage system market different from the dozens of cordless tool/battery systems?
Stuart – I think you have mentioned the breakneck pace of modular storage system introductions a few times – what are your thoughts on market saturation?
Champs
I started with Packout six years ago and do not want the financial and emotional pain of having to restart on one of the newer systems.
Anybody who wants to disagree with that can feel free to point me toward the used Packout sales.
Ken
I can empathize with that – but what does that have to do with market saturation? What percent of the market has already committed to a modular system like you have? I’m genuinely curious. I haven’t committed yet and am open to any brand if it makes sense for my use case at a price I can live with.
Chris S
For me, it’s that these “systems” take up tons of space. Since they are not inter-compatible, it is huge swaths of tool aisles that could be used for other interesting tools instead of 10 different takes on a premium priced box.
Personally, I have almost all packout. Most of it is from the very beginning and still in good condition. If you have a 3D printer, packout is easily the most modified and aftermarket supported.
They should just have a bracket setup. Each manufacturer gets one year to prove that their system can beat the leader. If not, they get relegated to online only purchasing and all in store inventory gets clearanced out for the next competitor/manufacturer (since there are so many).
I have the first gen DeWalt tough built boxes. They are nice, but DeWalt gave up on them and came out with 2.0. Can’t stand buying DeWalt because they pull this stunt all the time.
s
i feel a lot of it comes down to the ‘also-ran’ stuff. many of the branded box options don’t offer anything different, just a branded-flavor of the same thing. whereas power tools, all the different brands have a natural tendency to be ergonomically different–different grip designs, battery shapes, and even entirely different approaches to the same problem, all of which lend different brands to a different audience.
for instance, i despise dewalts hammer drill/driver when being used in hammer drill mode. the sound of it just drives me up the wall. but it works better with more impacts per revolution than any other design. i’ve also met people that use a specific brand because of the grip angle.
boxes are just boxes. the reason i’m most interested in packout and toughbuilt has a big part in their compatible accessories, and the broad options in sizes, but also the original physical size of the modular unit.
for instance– i’ve looked at dewalts tstak sytem many times, but the boxes are narrower, and the plastic is far cheaper. the toughstorage2.0 version carries similar narrow dimensions, but with a heavier duty plastic, more like the packout, but their chosen dimensions kills my usage for most power tools.
i’ve also considered klein’s modbox system, and while that offers similar size and ruggedness functionality as the packout, the systems bright ‘steal me orange’ color doesn’t do it any favors. also, they don’t offer a large open bin like either the packout or toughbuilt options offer..
and some of it just comes down to feelings/comfort. i feel that the packout or toughbuilt lines offer enough variety in important functionality for pieces and sizing, that they fit what i need and expect out of the product. where the other lines, i need to change my storage workflow to align with the product.
CMF
Agree 100%
Those that complain too little too late; should all storage box production stop? Or just make a small amount for those adding to their systems…no need to advertise as everyone is on their brand and would never change?
And if you have not bought into a system; what then? Too late, the market was saturated, so everyone decided to quit making them?
Was it PT Barnum that said “There’s a modular storage sucker born every minute”
mikedt
Thank god. I’ve been dying for another option.
s
a december release seems very odd. normally that’s when everyone has blown their wads, and with the next major holidays being new years, and valentines day, of which neither are well known for tool specials, it just feels ‘off’ somehow.
maybe their goal is to be in stores for the spring time rush?
i’m definitely curious to how they’ll attempt to differentiate themselves from the existing options.
ITCD
I still think SK did their modular system the best. Metal construction, everything designed from the start to open from the front instead of playing toolbox tetris, lockable with a key, and several drawer options available from the start. I guess that’s the upside to being late to the market, you can look at all the feedback already available regarding competitor options first.
It’s also different enough to really stand out compared to Packout rather than being considered “just another clone.” Meanwhile I feel like this Makita is gonna get the clone claim, and be eschewed by people who already know Packout as the name everyone always says unless they’re either diehard Makita and/or diehard anti-Milwaukee.
CMF
The SK system is definitely different enough to cater to a different audience. We should be thankful they did not listen to the “too little, too late” crowd.
ITCD
Yes. One of the biggest things to me with these is that once again you’re stuck buying into an ecosystem like with power tools. And SK made sure to really make theirs stand out as a contrasting option, and others can do the same and have at least to some extent but not as well IMO.
With wrenches oh your 13mm broke? It doesn’t matter the brand, go buy one, most of them will probably reasonably do the job at least. No ecosystem. Pliers? They all fit in the generic pliers rack Ernst makes just the same, no ecosystem. Even regular old tool boxes, as long as the dimensions are right you can stack a Homak on your Snap-on or whatever just fine. But with these, like power tools, it locks you in to their specific setup. Can’t put StackTech on Packout, can’t lock a Modbox onto a ToughSystem base, etc. So having something that really stands out as a different option is a great way to carve out a space for yourself even when getting in later, rather than “well you have Packout, or you have practically Packout but with these couple small changes, or this other option which is also practically Packout with these other couple small changes, or you can get that one over there which actually came out before Packout but doesn’t have as good of features wish they’d update it,” etc.