Tool Storage & Toting Ideas Sought

I would advise you not to move your home chest. They just are not meant for that level of moving around.

Grab a number of "task" boxes or specific tools boxes. For instance have one box JUST for sockets on rails and ratchets. One for power tools. one for bits and drivers. one for fab smashing. get a good tongue box or other locker for the trailer and load them all in there.

I've had my eye on the HF 44 bottom for over a year now, there's some things you have to do to make them a bit sturdier, there's some videos on youtube that show people re-enforcing them and putting better casters on and such. Like most things at HF it's a good 90% ready to go kind of thing. But I doubt they will deal well with being dragged around.

Think like stuff like this set up with some idiot proof inventory packing so nothing gets left behind either direction.

Hi Pat, here's a couple I found.  The first one looks like it is a 26".

My 26" Snap-On didn't cost near as much (well under $1k for both top and bottom) 30 years ago as it does today but it still works like the day I bought it.  My Waterloo died not too many years after getting it.  We use a 1/4" steel plate for transition from the shop to trailer ramp as it weighs hundreds of pounds.

The Crapsman I have bolted to the floor in our enclosed trailer has ball bearings and has worked flawlessly for over 15 years.  The drawer latches work so good, I don't even lock it when traveling.  We use this one for consumables, test equipment and larger items.

It would scare the heck out of me if I had to put a lifetime tool collection on a open trailer.

http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/tls/5457992026.html

http://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/tls/5457989415.html

We use the big, red HF tool cart. It can accommodate all the tools we typically use at home or the track, so I use it as the primary box for wrenching on the car wherever we are.

We used to use the smaller HF tool cart, which was really easy to move. However, it was just a bit too small, so I'd move tools back and forth between the big "home" box and small "track" cart. The new solution works better because I keep all the tools in the same place at home or the tack, so the team can always find them in the same spot.

To facilitate transport, we leave the base unbolted from the box and just set the box on its support rails in the base. We can then load it in the truck as two separate pieces. It still take about 3 fellas and is a bit awkward, but it's possible and happens infrequently enough that I feel OK optimizing for consistent organization over all out portability.

You can see how we have the box corners bolted together for rigidity, but we've cut the base down in front to make it easier to lift the box out:

(Yes, that can probably be cut flush and the jagged edge could be finished...)

I definitely don't expect this to last forever, but I think we've taken it to 6 or 7 races since we got it and it's been great so far.

I would only recommend the bin totes for power tools with the cords properly wrapped and kept. My current Primary Tool box is the second one pictured. It works really well the drawers are not as deep as full drawers so some full size toolbox organizer stuff won't fit, but there's still a lot of DIY organization options available. I'm now severely outgrowing it and wish I could get the HF44" bottom to put in my garage, but fully loaded it's still solid and has held up well.

I'd say yea grab another polly table for tools if you don't just have them lined up on the trailer when the car is off it.

Oh and because I was reminded of it at Summit Racing today when I was drooling over it. The Kenedy style boxes are magic, but not cheap.

Oh how I need these in my life.

These are pricey but may be what you're looking for, https://www.teamdi.com/product-category … ontainers/

And maybe this, https://www.teamdi.com/product/beta-tools-c27s-trolley/

oooooooooo that second one. the collapsing task cart!

I was looking into these top chests.  I was thinking that they would be manageable to lift with two people, and you could store them on an bench in the garage for when you are not racing. 

https://www.homak.com/HTML/ProSeriesCC.html

Ok, reporting back as promised. All in all, I'm very happy with the performance and storage capacity of this unit for a Lemons race. The drawers are sturdy and operate more nicely than I'd expect on a unit for this price, and our entire set of sockets in metric and SAE, from 1/4" drive up to 1/2" drive and all the extensions and modifiers all fit in the top section with some room to spare..

In fact, I don't think that there was a tool that we really needed which we didn't have with us. We need to modify it slightly, as it's too tall to fit under the tire rack on our trailer, but that's an easy fix, all things considered. It was much lighter (since we couldn't really overload it) which made loading & unloading easier too. Would buy it again.

Two thumbs up, one thumb 3/4 of the way up, and one more thumb up (that's for you, Dave).

This one. 30 in. 5 Drawer Glossy Red Tool Cart, Item #61427. Looks like it's $169.99 with coupon right now:

http://www.harborfreight.com/30-in-5-Dr … 0%3D%0D%0A