Milwaukee PACKOUTs (and competing systems) for modular storage?

[zuren]

I did a search and only found these mentioned within other threads. Unless there is a thread I am not finding, are people using Milwaukee Tools PACKOUT organizers for vehicle organization?

I just did a trip with my son and the grandparents to northern Ontario for rustic camping and fishing. It was a good trip, but the weaknesses in my current setup of Rubbermaid totes became very apparent. I'm considering modular storage solutions with drawers that can easily contain most of my camp kitchen/loose gear that lives on a shelf in the basement or garage, then can be easily transferred to the vehicle. I've seen the custom, relatively permanent buildouts, and while nice, that is not the stage of life I'm in. I need to be able to go from kid hauler/grocery getter to camping rig with an 1-2 hours.

There are number of Youtube videos with guys expounding on the benefits of PACKOUTs and other systems. I would be looking at the 2-3 drawer unit(s). I have enough width to go side-by-side, or enough height to stack on top of each other (blocking some view).

A small modular system also allows me to lift it out and access the in-floor storage in the SUV, and to the mechanism the lowers the spare tire.

So just curious on what guys are using, any add-ons, modifications, etc.?

Thanks!

 

[Fenderfour]

I've seen folks using packout for this in the back of SUVs and pickups. It seems like it works well. I've always had an issue with the weight and loss of volume that all of the toolboxes have, but there doesn't seem to be a better off the shelf solution if you want drawers

 

[Dave in AZ]

These are pretty cheap on sale. They have plastic lids too. I can just lift them out, take to kitchen or garage to fillbup with stuff. The front access, as well as top access, makes them better than the more expensive Milwaukee setup, IMO. I actually looked at the Milwaukee stuff, also Harbor Freights bixes, and DeWalt too. Finally came across these, liked them better.

 

[Shawn686]

I use them and am in the process of building a slide out drawer for my packouts. Defiantly not the cheapest solution, especially in Canada, but I already used them for my tools. So I didn't see a reason to switch platforms.

Shawn

 

[tirod3]

One of the finesse points with a set of stackables is if the branded open "milk" crates are compatible, and if they are solid sides not open grid. Actual dairy crates are made to drain, fit industry standard containers, and stack well. They are highly abuse resistant, too. They dont work with anything else, tho, which can be true for tool stackables. The Hart crates dont mate or lock with the tool stackers, and are wider than dairy crates, which creates an issue usung one behind the seat of some trucks - like 2005 F150s with the wing doors. Its a 4-5 inch difference in seat position and leg room.

While not a major issue it would be good to measure the place where they will ride and fit befire leaping in with $$ to discover the miss by that > < much.

Milwaukee is coming out with stackers that hold a drawer that pulls out, a notable feature to prevent unlocking the top 4 boxes just to open one you need. Other systems may already do that, it pays to shop around. If its expected you need to access a lower unit, buying a metal tool cabinet could be your answer, from a pawn or flea shop. $100 there may do you better.

Its not like there are 200# of sockets to move, light plastic cabinets and a foldup two wheeler might suit. That, two old wide dairy crates and a Keter tech case are what I have on hand already. Rubbermaid packers are still on the market with lids you can sit on. Lots of gear out there that can deliver low dollars on high organization.

 

[Cabrito]

I switched to some Packout gear in our van, and boy did I go down a rabbit hole with this gear. I'm using in in our Van.

Pros

• Modular
• Mounting options - Floor / Wall
• Ease of access
• Portability - stack them up and roll them into the house when needed

Cons

• Expensive
• Heavy

I started with my old drawers from my FJ Cruiser in the Van, but have since moved the drawers back to the FJ. My first run I pulled everything out of the drawers and tried a few configurations.


I started with two boxes but have since consolidated everything into the one larger box. The cool thing is that I can pop the lid and pull small items out without removing everything that might be stacked on top of it.


Inside the van we used it for some more galley storage and quick access using the drawers. We have our single burner stove, coffee cups, and filters in one drawer and all our silverware, and cooking utensils plus some seasonings in the other drawer. This single addition has been the biggest game changer inside the van.


The slim box as basically a "junk" drawer that holds small items that are needed quickly while camping like batteries, propane bits, water bits, ect..



It seems that there is no limit to what can be done with the Packout system

 

[plh]

Packouts are awesome. I use the Rigid brand being I started with these before the MT branded cases were available.

 

[simple]

Are you thinking of using packouts inside or outside of your vehicle or both?

We have 3 sets of camping kitchen gear. Small medium and large in different storage configurations packed and ready to go depending on the mission. Backpack kits are in packs. We have an 8 gallon rubbermaid action packer that goes boat camping / car camping and picnicking. The truck camper has has the largest set in a trail kitchens king Charles chuck box that lives in the camper full time.

 

[plh]

 

[simple]

Was at Lowes and they have a few similar systems. Toughbuilt, Klein and Craftsman. I might use one or two in my trailer build.

I like my trail kitchens chuck box because it was designed to store a 2burner camp stove. It doesn't appear that any of these modular tool boxes would hold a standard 2 burner stove.

 

[tirod3]

Many stackables are based on a lower crate with wheels as the main mobile module, and it's got to fit thru worst case entry door situations, including vehicles. Unlike a lot of chuck boxes, tho, if necessary, each of the modules can be separated and the smaller ones even carried by younger children. That offers a lot of portability. The normal chuck box is really a two person lift - which limits it's movement and often lacks wheels. However, a lot of them are built to use the stove on them, something I doubt any stackable maker would recommend. A towering $500 pile of polymer might not be the best choice to operate a propane stove. Hence the large number of metal camp kitchen tables for cooking on the market now.

A viable system of camp packouts with modularity doesn't exist, we are dealing with makeshift substitutes with competing standards from other industries even further diversified by proprietary protectionism. For a basic system, one using the "milk crate" as a common element could then incorporate a large number of unique RV/Camping accessories - like a metal top for stoves - and would be an interesting venture.

Just to mix it up, seen the Hardigg military field desk with pull out drawers? Not cheap, it's based on the older plywood model which used the front facing lid as a table surface, which held a folding stool, the box had drawers for file work. Common in some circles to use that as a chuck box. It's still a 2 person lift to move around, tho. While OSHA and the military commonly define lift loads as anywhere from 37 to 110 pounds, reality says about 45 is enough for one person and something smaller than a foot locker is the most common acceptable size. Dealing with half a dozen for a camp kitchen is enough work for someone who is supposedly on vacation. But, we already know the reality, it's not really a vacation for the primary adults, is it?

 

[zuren]

Thanks for all of the replies!

I pulled the trigger and bought a 2 drawer and 3 drawer Packout. The intent is to have them at the back lift gate of my current vehicle (a SUV), with the flexibility to pull them out at the campsite...and be able to transfer to any vehicle. In the future, I foresee a truck with a barebones slide-in camper or a pop-up topper, or another van. I could see the Packouts working in either. Maybe not the most efficient use of space, but I already went down the road of custom cabinets/storage in a van that went with the van when I sold it, so I was back to Rubbermaid totes and it kind of sucked.

Thanks again!

 

[SDDiver5]

No first hand experience but I saw a guy on Instagram who has a a piece of plywood that was cut to fit nicely in the back of his F150 (I think) with the seats up. He had the little connector/clamps screwed into the board and he had a nice layout with the packout boxes securely connected to the plywood. Weekend was a family hauler, weekday was work truck and he could do the swap in just a few minutes.

 

[simple]

Thanks for all of the replies!

I pulled the trigger and bought a 2 drawer and 3 drawer Packout. The intent is to have them at the back lift gate of my current vehicle (a SUV), with the flexibility to pull them out at the campsite...and be able to transfer to any vehicle. In the future, I foresee a truck with a barebones slide-in camper or a pop-up topper, or another van. I could see the Packouts working in either. Maybe not the most efficient use of space, but I already went down the road of custom cabinets/storage in a van that went with the van when I sold it, so I was back to Rubbermaid totes and it kind of sucked.

Thanks again!

Please report back and let us know how it goes.

 

[RealRigsRattle]

I have recently gone this route. I used products from Hart Tools' Stack line up that is available at Walmart. The material gauge is thinner and the boxes are lighter than other tool boxes but still about as thick and strong as a Plano sportsman crate, which I used previously. The price point is excellent compared to other tool box systems and they can easily be found at every Walmart. They have a great variety of sizes in their line up, and even with the medium and small boxes stacked up they still leave plenty of space under my tonneau cover


Hart Tools Stack System Camp Organization