The new Milwaukee Packout single drawer rolling tool box (48-22-8420) is here! Or at least it’s nearly here – preorders are now open, which means the final countdown has begun.
This is the Milwaukee rolling drawer tool box that everyone has been waiting for and near constantly asking for updates about.
It’s basically a large rolling tool box that opens from the front, featuring a large one-hand-opening handle and stabilizing wheels on the bottom.
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It opens from the front, allowing users to access their tools and gear without having to first remove an entire stack of Packout tool boxes and organizers.
It comes with 2 large dividers, 6 small compartment dividers, and a removable tray. This should help users keep the compartment at least a little bit tidy.
Additionally, you can mount many different types of Packout rail attachments and tool holders – which are all sold separately – on the inside, as well as to the outside.
Milwaukee designed the Packout single drawer tool box with a low profile handle, allowing the box to fit in a covered pickup truck bed.
Exterior Dimensions: 24″ L x 19″ D x 19.75″ H
Interior Dimensions: 17″ L X 13″ D x 16″ H
According to press materials, the tool box has a total weight capacity of 250 pounds.
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Price: $250
ETA: May 2025
OldDominionDIYer
This is a big help. The ability to stow it in the bed of my truck, without modifying it and being able to keep my bed cover in-place is exactly what was needed. Not sure what took them so long to get to this but it is a big big help, finally.
Stuart
It takes a lot to engineer a design like this to be durable.
Rog
Not to be snarky but I genuinely don’t know: Does it? What’s the additional effort?
Stuart
I did this interview nearly 2 years ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EP1Pf26LzSQ
I was also once told that building a box like this isn’t as simple as putting an existing drawer box on wheels.
From what I can tell, there are dynamic forces exerted on parts that typically don’t experience that.
Let’s say you load the drawer with steel parts, slap heavy tool boxes on top, and then you roll the tool box down concrete stairs. The drawer is going to be jostled in ways that drawer slides aren’t typically designed to experience. How do you stop the drawer from sagging and dropping the ground? Wheels. How do you design those so they’re not scratched up every time you load the box into your truck bed?
If something’s not perfect, even a minor redesign might require more testing.
One brand’s product was recently delayed a couple of months, and it’s because a specific issue required that brand to backtrack, make a tweak, and then vet the design all over again.
Packout is a high visibility product that’s used in all kinds of work environments. I expect this to be a flagship product, even at its higher price. I imagine that Milwaukee doesn’t want anyone lamenting that they should have waited for an update.
In general, plastic drawer tool boxes are really difficult to design well. At the least, rigidity and sagging needs to be mitigated.
I think they must have also went through multiple iterations of the internal compartment with the goal of creating a customizable one size fits most setup that can potentially be expanded upon or modified.
The attachments only came out a few months ago, and were seemingly developed in parallel to this tool box.
End users will forget about how long it took for this product to come to market, but they wouldn’t forget about flaws, major issues, or shortcomings.
John Burrell
Well said I’ve been in business for 3 decades and I’ve had bags , boxes , rolling , and not . Soft and hard containers .
No one is perfect but Milwallkee has truly worked hard and but in the thought and innovation to design a tool box / storage system that works . Everyone of my crews has a pack out system or setup .
It helps us protect our tools from weather, and theft along with organizing and efficiency.
This equals money in pocket !!!!
The fact that they continually try to improve and listen to their customers needs and complaints is unheard of in this industry to say the least .
Tojen1981
They announced this almost a year ago. Was supposed to be released December/January as I recall. Still not on the shelves. I don’t know if they rushed the prototype for Pipeline but Milwaukee has definitely fumbled the ball on this model.
Personally, I would have rather seen a drawered box like the Modbox style, or at least released them together.
Stuart
They were clear at the time – “this is a prototype.”
Announcement ETAs are rarely set in stone, and delays happen. This one is coming out in Q2 rather than Q1.
Would you rather they only show off what they’ve been working on when it’s ready for preorder with imminent release?
Plain+grainy
Looks super! Has the same weight capacity as the Makita Max Trax(250#). Certainly a major upgrade from the original rolling cart. We will have to see what sale prices apply to this in the future.
Jared
It does seem exceptionally expensive. I appreciate it would be complex to engineer and the design is very useful, but it is a single box that approaches the price of the 3-piece stack.
Nevertheless, I think it’s obviously a good idea and solves the basic problem everyone has with stacking toolboxes.
Doug N
I like the extra height, almost 4” taller than the rolling box. 3500 cubic inches of interior space. But I’m happy with the modbox rolling drawers so far.
Plain+grainy
I think the Makita Max Trax has 5000 cubic inches. So I guess the Packout is higher in price capacity wise.
John Blair
I gave up on waiting and went with the Modbox rolling drawer with a 3d printed adapter plate. Turns out I love it. I also like that it is on slides instead of rolling on a wheel. Now my M18 Tracksaw has a home.
Tab
Agree. The drawer slides are much better for my use. I was hoping they would move away from that roller design. Looks like a Mod Box / Packout mashup for me.
eddiesky
Ok, so now someone make an adapter plate to attach other brands to this. Like Toughsystem to Packout. Right? Hey, I’m brand agnostic- if the tool works, its good. I’m not loyal to a colour, just to the ability it works and a good design. (yeah, I found some 3D creator on Etsy that makes exactly this).
eddiesky
That etsy solution is junk. I found that other smartstack guy… and its not 3D printed. Check this out! I may get a Dewalt plate and the Milwaukee worktop and make them as one! https://www.stacksmarter.com/
Plain+grainy
So I assume the next logical step will be, an assortment of 1-2-3 drawer carts?
Plain+grainy
Maybe even a 4 drawer model?
Ray of AZ
The original design was is a pain. I have many multiple drawer boxes now, The idea I had for a bottom box was to have a pull out crate for hoses/cords so you could see inside too. One other thing I would like is a 26 inch wide box shallow for long bits 24 inch inside it would fit center and hang over left and right, who says they have to be the same width?
Jason
I’m not sure when they were announced, but those exterior attachments are welcome addition
Saulac
The implication of more and more drawer availability is less stacking and unstacking of the boxes. The one touch latching that brands competing will be less important. The modular tool storage revolution has completed. We are back to, configurable, drawers carts. Better than before? Of course. But in the future we will look back and asking why people had accepted the constant stacking and unstacking.
Stuart
It depends on the user. Drawers are heavier, cost more, and have less usable space than comparably sized lidded tool boxes.
Saulac
All of these issue would be diminished with a more traditional chest construction. The “boxes” would become much simpler with simpler attachment mechanism. External attachment points also will become less important. External attachment never makes sense and is a workaround for poor access issue. With better access that drawers offer, there is no reason to hang stuff all over anymore.
James
Plenty of reason to hang stuff still!
Richard Miller
If I were still in the plumbing and HVAC trades, the stacking and unstacking would not be a problem. Roll the stack into the jobsite and unstack in 60 to 90 seconds and everything is readily accessible. Pack up at the end of the day and restack in 60 to 90 seconds. Roll! Beats carrying 4 toolboxes out to the truck.
Now that I am white collar my use case has drastically changed and I want drawers.
James
The issue for me is not the time or weight; the issue is the floor space when you’re fighting with other trades or walls or pipes etc for real estate…
The other issue is when you want to get into the bottom box while it’s in the van. I’ve just pre-ordered one and can’t wait to finally keep a rolling base in the van and access the contents without unclipping everything..
Plain+grainy
We might see a cabinet style door on the front. Could store socket set cases, jacks , ect.
Stuart
Probably not. Consider the ergonomics – how would you look inside? It’s more natural to look down into a box that’s close to the floor.
Plain+grainy
I guess it depends how you use it. The picture of the cart in the pickup box. The cabinet door would give you much better access. Opening the drawer in truck box, you would need a ladder to look inside the drawer..
Stuart
What about this: https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/milwaukee-packout-cabinet-48-22-8445/%3C/a%3E ?
Daniel
Now that cabinet looks pretty sweet. I may look at that next years sale!
Plain+grainy
I think you can get two cabinets on sale for close to $200. But the dimensions are a tad smaller than the cart.
Daniel
I was interested in the drawer, but I couldn’t wait anymore and I bought the base wheeled box during the buy more save more sale. They will likely have the buy more save more sale again next year, but I didn’t want to wait that long.
I only use my set up occasionally, so unstacking to get to the base won’t be a huge deal.
Plain+grainy
I see it has 250# stack capacity. And the drawer capacity is 150#. According to a Packout company video.
CMF
I agree with anyone finding the price expensive, when you add the middle and top, plus other components, it is pricey. Especially for what it is.
This is the market and what so many people are buying, so I shouldn’t complain. I just find at these prices, if you in a trade and having a very portable workshop is necessary…OK. If you are a DIYer, there are so many less expensive options.
Plain+grainy
A 5 gallon plastic bucket?
Plain+grainy
Not only DIY ers , but many of the finest tradesmen opt for plastic buckets.
Plain+grainy
Is this drawer removable? Say your stack is on the main floor, and you don’t want to move it upstairs. Can you remove the drawer and use it as a crate?
Stuart
I doubt it. Just close the drawer and grab the large handles on the side of the main box.
Big Richard
Sounds kinda difficult with a whole stack on top of it, seeing as their whole question was predicated on not wanting/needing to unstack.
Stuart
If someone is intent on being able to hand-carry ALL of the contents from this rolling single drawer tool box up or down stairs without removing any tool boxes stacked on top, they can build a removable box that fits inside this drawer.
Not every Packout product is a perfect fit for every user or preference.
Plain+grainy
I guess at a $250 price point, they did about all they could with this cart. Could always put a Packout crate on top of stack.
Plain+grainy
That handle that stuck up above the top. That was a big complaint on the original carts. These carts have evolved a lot with the new handle, drawer addition. Shows they listen to their customers!
hleb shauchuk
250 .. feel this price to high
Plain+grainy
Yes it’s higher than the original cart. One thing I don’t hear much about is the weight. I think it’s 29#. Make a box out of 3/4” plywood, add a drawer, drawer slides, handle, wheels & axle. Then add a Packout mounting plate to the top. You probably couldn’t lift it into the truck empty, it would be so heavy. Then add the price of wood & parts, plus time building it. Then the price doesn’t seem that astronomical.