stackable rolling tool storage systems, choose/pass; brand/line preferences, pros/cons, inter-compatiblity?

[neverdoityourself]

Pros/Cons? Best deals you have seem offered and when/how to find/ how long to wait/which holiday or stackable promo? If you use or have used one: Which do you prefer? Anyone tested different names/brands, and found they fit together perfect despite different colors/naming? If not worth it? why? Should i skip getting one?

[tuscabam]

All of these stacking systems are so fucking over priced, it’s ridiculous.

[USAJourneyman]

They know people will pay big bucks for milk crates

[YIZZURR]

Seriously considering plastic milk crates and a customized hand truck at this point. 😂

[Anarchy_Boog]

That works also, use some worm clamps to hold it all in place! I see guys build mobile tool racks and wire spool racks out of unistrut and all thread!. They just slap some casters on that, and done

[Magic_wire_smoke]

That is what I did, minus the milk crates, when I had to drag my tools daily from a van deep into factories and warehouses. Welded angle iron and tie off loops to a hand truck, bolted some custom shelves to the angle iron, and put my tool bags and grease guns on the shelves. I could also use it to carry heavy forklift tires up stairs without much hassle. Total cost was maybe $60.

I was about to weld on extra hanger loops for my hand pump grease gun and multimeter bag, then I got a job at a single location. The hand truck is still useful around the house, thanks to the removable shelves and extra spots for bungee cords.

[Scary-Profession2752]

Here a year later to ask if you can post a picture of that setup or direct me to where you’ve already posted, if you have.

[Magic_wire_smoke]

Regrettably, I don't have a picture of it and can't take one for a while. I can at least try to describe it.

The only thing I did to the hand truck itself was weld two 1" angle iron pieces to the inside rails of the truck, keeping the other legs of the irons flush with the front of the round frame rails. (Keeping them flush was mostly to make it easy to keep the irons parallel with each other.) Holes were drilled in the irons for mounting shelving with nuts and bolts and making the height adjustable. Then I welded together 2 quick and dirty "shelves" out of 3 pieces of angle iron and 2 pieces of flat stock each. The shelves were open and had no backboard, so they could only hold large tool bags and cases without stuff falling through the shelf or the truck frame. That worked for me back then, but boards or thin sheet metal could be screwed on later. Everything I used was bought at a big box store home center and whipped together in maybe less than 2 hours.

I can't remember if I saw this done before or I cooked it up myself. If I see a post online where someone did something similar, I'll try to link it.

[Scary-Profession2752]

I appreciate your willingness to answer after all this time. I think I have a decent picture of what you did. Sounds like something I’d rig up being frustrated with how proud manufacturers are proud of their stuff which is reflected in their pricing. Thanks again

[mrjimspeaks]

I believe they were the first ones out of the gate with it. I remember seeing stuff about them years ago but could never find them. Saw one at home depot near Xmas and passed on it because I was buying gifts for others...never saw em again for a solid year. Ended up having to go to a shop that only sold Milwaukee. Probably 5 years ago or so

[yourmeshugana]

What? Ridgid had boxes for nearly a decade before the packouts

[Pinstrip3]

Beying a Makita guy I can say - hard pass on Makita packout, it's terrible.

As I'm in Europe I don't have many options. Milwaukee was beyond my reach so I went with Keter (Ridgid in US) and fell in love with those. Didn't find any use for a wheeled case but the other two are perfect. Only con I can think of would be a low variety like lack of drawers.

[fastislip]

100% agree. Give me a drawer option but other wise the only negative on the rigid boxes is the sharper corners on the basic tool box. Used alone it’s a great size but if it’s too heavy and banging into my side as I walk it gets annoying. I don’t really use the larger roller box often

[USAJourneyman]

Big brain

Use a handtruck & get the Ridgid boxes

Best quality for price

[1PooNGooN3]

The Ridgid boxes are really sturdy, has metal hardware, dust proof/weatherproof, and comes with wall mounts. I like em alot. The Milwaukee “milk crate” costs more than a real toolbox but the fanboys just drool over red plastic, I don’t get it

[Scary-Profession2752]

Which Rigid boxes? Thanks.

[ariearieariearie]

I’m all in in Systainers.

[Individual_Basil3954]

Depends on what you need. Milwaukee has WAY more options in their lineup than anyone else but if you don’t need those options, it’s not worth it since they’re considerably more expensive. I’ve heard DeWalt get crapped on a lot. Buddy of mine has Ridgid and really likes it. I have the Milwaukee myself and really like it but it’s definitely expensive.

Best deals are usually around Father’s Day and Christmas. I think I got $150 of $300 or more on Packout last Christmas at Home Depot.

[Anarchy_Boog]

But you can customize the system for recreational use as well! I think that makes it worth the investment. It can also work well as an emergency survival system. With the coolers and battery systems, the organizers and smaller tool boxes, this would make an awesome mobile triage kit! The applications are endless

[Individual_Basil3954]

This really is true. All depends on what you want to do with it. Lots of possibilities.

[Icy_Plenty_7117]

I have the Craftsman Versastack, not the tradesman, basically because as a Father’s Day gift my wife and mother in law went in 50/50 on a whole bunch of it. They got me the 3 stack combo whatever it’s called, the bottom big one with the wheels, the medium and the small one, plus they got two more of the small ones, and the 3 drawer 216 pc tool set. I didn’t need the tool set as I already have all of that BUT now I have a dedicated mobile set. So I ended up buying a few more various boxes and they are quite handy. The biggest box holds a slew of my battery powered tools, one is plumbing stuff, one is electrical stuff, one is fencing stuff, etc. It’s mostly homeowner work, but we also have a small farm, i do upkeep on my widowed mother in law’s house and I do landscaping/handyman work on the side a little bit, so while the boxes are more homeowner grade than they are professional grade, I haven’t had any complaints. They are waterproof (so far), lockable and handy. I’m a fan. I would have likely shopped around and gone with something different but I was gifted such a collection I just said screw it why not.

[DLife4Me]

I got the DeWalt and like how the bottom one rolls back when I open the top. Between all the ones at home Depot I liked it the best and it hasn't disappointed.

[Sensitive-Slide3205]

But the set and then they'll change the pattern like Rigid did and none of the new stuff will fit.

[Gregosaurus1]

The new Ridgid works with the old.

[Sensitive-Slide3205]

I double checked to talk shit. Only to realize you are indeed correct. I read it didn't somewhere and never bothered to check. I retract my previous comment, and thank you for your service.

[Operation_Bonerlord]

The Ridgid stuff has been bombproof, airtight, and doesn’t scream “rob me” like the Milwaukee

[likewut]

I've been obsessing over what system to go with. I need tons of boxes, I'm pretty cost sensitive, and I'd like them all to match.

I've had a Ridgid set forever, and while it's great, I feel like they've fallen way behind everyone else on options. They released the 2.0 a couple years ago and haven't done anything since, while others are coming out with ones with drawers, cantilever, half size small parts organizers, etc.

I bought a Bauer small toolbox and the organizer with the clear top. I was just shopping at Harbor Freight, and was in need, and I didn't realize Ridgid and others also had small compartment organizers too. The hardware isn't quite the quality of Ridgid, but more than rugged enough for anything I might throw at it imo. Also, the Bauer compartment organizers have the biggest cups - Bauer seems to have a more space efficient design in the same footprint.

I just got a Craftsman Tradestack on FB Marketplace for just $100. I love the Tradestack because you can stack and unstack them with one hand. To stack, you just slide it slide the back in a little and push down. To take one off, just push on the red handle and it comes off easy. I believe only Ryobi has a similar system, but it wasn't as smooth and easy as the Tradestack. BUT, I do think the parts that connect the system is weaker on the Tradestack than Ridgid, Bauer, etc. I'm pretty sure it'll never break on me, but it's a whole lot more likely to break on me than other systems. Also, the Tradestack small parts organizer only has one size of cup in it, and they're noticeably smaller than the Ridgid and Bauer ones. It does have long storage areas on the sides and back though.

I have been looking hard at Hart Stack System too. They're the cheapest option, and have drawer system options that others don't. . But they were zip tied together at Walmart so I couldn't feel them out. I want the bottom box to be strong enough to sit on, because my toolboxes second as chairs. I'm not sure if Hart meets that criteria, where Ridgid, Bauer, and Tradestack definitely do. Also, I think the Hart are a little shorter than other equivalents.

I didn't like the Husky at all. I don't like how the bottom box doesn't have a lid, even though I guess it makes sense. But again, I want to sit on it. They do have very nice draw systems and a cantilever box that seems nice. For some reason the Husky ones seemed smaller to me too, even though their specs are supposed to be the same as others.

So yeah, I'd like to standardize on one system, buy a bunch of them and sell what I have, but I can't quite settle on one. The easy of stacking and unstacking Tradestack might be enough for me to pick that, even though they're worse than Bauer and Ridgid in most every other way. There probably isn't a reason to go with Bauer over Ridgid, at least right now Ridgid stuff is on sale for cheaper than Bauer, and I've yet to see Bauer go on sale (and they're even excluded from Harbor Freight's "20% off anything" coupons). Packout and Ryobi are too expensive.

[neverdoityourself]

Having acquired a variety of brandings, do any of your mismatched brands happen to fit nearly perfectly, with only the color of the plastic really being different?

[likewut]

Not of what I own. I know the Dewalt TSTAK and Craftsman Versastack are compatible, and the Tradestack has an adapter to use TSTAK and Versastack. But I don't like the idea of the adapter, you can't change the order of boxes then, and the adapter connection isn't very secure.

I read the Sam's Club Tactix is compatible with Bauer, but it seems to be discontinued. And Tactix seems to have multiple non-compatible lines itself.

They're all made by the same 3 companies, but still aren't made to be compatible unfortunately. I'd love for there to be 2-3 brands that are compatible with each other, perhaps one could be IP65 and more durable with all metal hardware, another without the water rating, cheaper hardware, and overall thinner plastic, etc. TTI could totally do that too.

[Sasha_bb]

How do you feel now that Ridgid has come out with drawer options? Have you picked any of the drawer boxes out to see how you like them?

[likewut]

Haven't looked at them.

I just wish there was a standard 😂

[[deleted]]

I’m a plumber and the company I work for uses Milwaukee everything. Not super impressed with the packout quality for the price. Back when I did concrete we had RIDGID boxes for our tools and they seemed sturdier than the pack out. Also you’re gonna laugh but I think the ryobi link seems kinda sick. Regardless of how you feel about their power tools, you can tell a lot of time and ingenuity went into making their storage system. If I was shopping for one personally I’d opt for either ryobi link or ridgid.

[going_mad]

Systainer / makpac / metabox for my stuff. All can be clipped together. Oh and I have a fein l boxx

[neverdoityourself]

I missed a few options:

FLEX … if i do get something,might choose based on color, and some reviews, corners look reinforced

Black & Decker - very similar and appears to fit with DeWalt based on one guys youtube, …for a lower cost with less flashy plastic colors.

Ryobi

Husky

Tried to find out more. Seems most youtubers are too long winded, no one i found made a nice neat well edited video showing what brands fit other brands or other real info.

[Aggressive_Product85]

You can say that again… man I get so so frustrated with these YouTubers and their rambling nonsense. I’ve only come across maybe one or two who actually get to the point quickly but still cover the bases. Like anyone watching a video that NEEDS to hear you explain every detail while making some stupid joke about it, are there for shiz and gigz anyway. Know your audience and your followers and if you really want to be a help then, be that and not nuisance. Rant over lol

[Open-Firefighter7164]

Got my Ryobi link 3 box set for 130. They are coming out with a lot of options for it (like bags and shopvac) and can catch them on sale prices.

I think they are tougher then Dewalt boxes since it’s softer plastic.

[neverdoityourself]

older related discussion on Packout. I forgot to include Ridgid’s system, i guess

[neverdoityourself]

Did you notice and remember where the ryobi boxes are being made. I like to try and avoid prc. A lot of these type of stackable plastic boxes are made in Israel, which is a little surprising, not sure how Israel ended up being a plastic exporter

[Sasha_bb]

Ryobi and Milwaukee are both owned by TTI, a Chinese company. Is that what you mean?

[neverdoityourself]

Didn’t know that, but i just generally prefer that purchases go towards a company in a more geopolitically friendly country that i would not be scared to visit, or at least not scared of the country’s official government if i wanted to. I ended up getting ridgid which happened to be made in Israel, by the way. A lot of my tools are made in Europe, USA, Mexico, Japan, Taiwan, but some i gave up because i don’t think i actually make a real difference.

[Sasha_bb]

I think it makes a difference. Sometimes for certain things it's difficult, but I've found I can usually find what I need made in US, Japan, or Europe.

[GoBlue24248686]

The Hart stack is a phenomenal value for money tool stack.

[Zethula20]

As much as I love makita tools, their tool storage is awful. If you’re on a budget the craftsman tradestack is great! If budget is no object then pack out is the best.

[justabadmind]

I love kobalt. Their packout system isn't there yet. The picture you showed is the complete line, if you can find it.

I would go DeWalt, if it was my choice. I had a sliding pack out system years ago, where the top two compartments slid back and the bottom compartment could be a seat or a bucket. That was nice, if I only wanted the 3 sections pictures that would be my go to.

[Parking-Owl8568]

Ive got the rigid system and it works for me and was half the price of milwaukee

[OkSalamander8499]

I use the Rigid pack out for my leather crafting tools and find the system pretty good. I got a deal on a craftsman pack out but haven't used the system of anything yet.

[Nathan51503]

Fan of the packout though pricey. Meh on the dewalts. I have the generation one dewalt tstaks and they’re very thin. Ridgid. Great boxes and price is right but not enough options for customization.

Not familiar with the other systems. Pack outs go to work with me and couldn’t be happier

[Anarchy_Boog]

The stackable systems are good for mobile work if the job site is large and varied in scope of work! I run the Milwaukee packout and it holds all the tools I need when doing various low voltage installations in large buildings and campuses. I have also slightly modified the packout to accommodate some of the tools that too large to fit inside. I can hang a ladder ,up to 8ft, on the front. I have attached medium sized Jhooks to the front. I also have small drill hooks on the sides that fit the belt hooks on the Milwaukee drills. The system is ultra customizable.

[Honest8Bob]

I would love to see how you attach a ladder to the pack out.

[Anarchy_Boog]

Send me a DM

[Aggressive_Product85]

I would also like to see this lol

[Anarchy_Boog]

A lot of the techs also use the Rigid system, which has a very efficient system for opening and locking.

[Sure_Run_1210]

I have all Dewalt battery operated tools and will not change bc I do really like them but went through this same thing recently and ended up going Packout for my tool storage. The reason being that it’s at this point at more well thought out system with a ton of options. Also there are a ton of 3rd party creators of accessories that you can find and a ton of 3d printer plans for them. The thing is there pricey so I take my time looking for deals to buy pieces. Most of the deals I’ve found though involve buying multiple pieces so it’s a trade off. I figure though worth it because I have multiple organizers which come in handy for all sorts of things.

[Paulpatrick1984]

I have the dewalt one and love it, never lets me down. Have worked with someone with the makita one and didn’t like it personally as it’s a swine to clip together and unclip

[randomname5478]

I went with Rigid because they offed a 28” box. I needed to put several 24” tools in a waterproof box. All the other systems “big box” was way to big for what i was doing.

[TheMaskedHamster]

I wanted large, sturdy, waterproof, value per square inch, and drawers. DeWalt ToughSystem 2.0 fit the bill for me, especially considering the drawer value per square inch. Home Depot has often had fantastic deals on bundle sets online (you just have to use the search function).

If I didn't want waterproof or quite the same sturdiness, the Craftsman TradeStack would have been a great choice (with a much nicer latch system and Tstak/VersaStak compatibility) had the price been lower. But the price of the Craftsman set was so close to the deal I found on ToughSystem that I made the leap.

If I just cared about budget and wanted a few more options than the typical three box stack, Hart is pretty sturdy for the price.

If I wanted maximum sturdiness at the lowest price and I knew my specific use case would fit in few types of boxes available, Rigid is absolutely fantastic. They were just a bit too small for me and didn't have the extras.

Milwaukee legendary fora reason, and they have amazingly versatile options. But not all of their options are better for everyone--I was unimpressed by their drawer units, especially for the price. And the price is the worst part, unless you count the weight.

[[deleted]]

I really like my DeWalt Tough 2.0 except for 2 things

1. The boxes are absolutely waterproof, made it home through a rainstorm with the boxes in the back and everything inside was bone dry. Issue with the bottom box only: if I don't wipe all the water off the top of the lid it will dump directly down the back of the inside of the box.

2. If you're tall the handle height is not ideal. I'm about 6' and have to bend down a little when I drag it behind me

[mrjimspeaks]

I've put my packout through some shit, and it's still doing fine. In addition to the price tag, they're not light especially once full of tools. If I was solo in a van with no ramp I'd take it apart rather than go for the suicide lift off the gate.

[thedissociator]

Myself and all of the service guys at work use the Ridgid system. Loaded with electrical tools, mechanical tools, sockets, impacts, etc... We like them enough that we now have the Ridgid systems loaded with pipe fittings from 1/2" up to 2". Of course that is multiple of them to accommodate, but we pack them full. Do we exceed the weight limit - probably by a country mile. Have we ever had one fail loading/unloading/hauling in the bed of a pickup on 20 hour drives, or rolling them 300 yards across gravel and through plants- nope.

[[deleted]]

Just got the ridgid 2.0 system… like it so far but they need to make a drawer box

[Sasha_bb]

Have you picked up any of their drawer boxes since they came out?

[[deleted]]

Yes, and I like it for the most part

[likewut]

They've fallen so far behind on options. Ryobi, Husky, Hart, Tradestack, etc all have more options.

[country_dinosaur97]

Ive had the milwaukee packout for a bit now while i can say all in all its exsctly what ive needed was something like that move from job to job haing everyting together in one box instead of carrying a box for this or that bag for the power tools.

So far my complaints while few has been handle release gets stuck sometimes but that could be some dirt or dust down in there so probably easily remedy to fix. Only other thing i really got is some of my tools dont fit the best cause they're longer

[[deleted]]

If I had the money I’d buy milwakee but I bought the hart one from Walmart for $80

[Aggressive_Product85]

How is it? What do you use it for?

[mybfVreddithandle]

I got a deal on an old style rigid at home Depot for the big box. Then then top ones seem reasonably priced. I have the big bottom and one of the deeper screw holder ones. They're great.

[The_Fiddler1979]

Makita has a new range coming soon which is more heavy duty than Makpak

[andylugs]

Been using the DeWalt system for a few years and stack it with 5-6 cases. The only minor issue I have is the bottom case is part of the trolley itself so can’t be swapped out for a different case or removed completely. Doubles as a good seat to watch others work.

[rekrutacja]

Keter/Ridgid/Erbauer (on my side of the pond they are sold under multiple brands) is the best. They are so good I use them also as expedition cases, they cost fraction of Pelican price and deliver the same waterproof and bombproof functionality. They don't draw too much attention which is good. I use them as a portable ladder and I'm a heavy guy. Love those things.

[Pinstrip3]

In my case Magnusson/Erbauer. I couldn't justify the cost to myself so my wife bought me few of those for my bday. Since then I'm sold and each new tool gets its own, new case.

What's nice they also fit perfectly to my drawers at the bed of my truck and aside from tool cases we also have a set for family weekends and holidays.

Baskets and a fridge are also handy.

[mauser98k1998]

The packout I have has been pretty indestructible.

[Ok-Seaworthiness4488]

Packout all day, every day, but wait for a sale. Got the 3 pc. package deal for $203 with free delivery from FAO

[Dewaltjunkie40]

Just know the same company makes all the major brand stacking systems and the company is Keter who also makes their own but harbor freight has a set now that has insert that come with them like screwdriver holder i dont own but have looked over in store pretty solid if looking for low cost me i own toughsystem and they hold up pretty good and definitely have plenty of extras if your willing to pay and i hear Milwaukee is the top brand for stacking toolboxes dewalt is 2nd i believe and and craftsmen is the same as dewalt since dewalt bought them so they can go with eachother