Pelican verses Zarges

[Corey]

Currently I am using the Action Packer cases that I bought two years ago to replace some very outdated and flimsy Rubbermaid cases.

The Action Packers are OK, but they have two disadvantages.
1. Narrow at the bottom, more room at top.
It would be nicer if the interior volume was consistent all the way through.
2. They do not stack very well, and the top of the lids are slippery.

I am looking at reorganizing my gear to fit better into my rig, and to take less as in items that hardly/rarely get used.

I am familiar with Pelican and I have a nice laptop case that I am keeping my foldable solar panel in.

I first saw Zarges cases in an advertisement in Overland Journal.
I contacted them last year and a rep from my state called me and said he would send me info on the cases to my home address, and he never did.

Both cases look like they will stack well and can be strapped down as seen in many a thread here.

Looking at getting three of the Pelican 1550s without foam.
Pelican 1550 ® case model
APP-1550E Price $113.38

Usable Inside Dimensions:
at parting line of case
19.0"L x 14.50"W x 1.75" (Lid) over 5.88" (Base)
Outside Dimensions:
20.69"L x 17.18"W x 8.56"H

They have others the same size with wheels and a pull out handle, but I have no need for either of those additions.

The equivalent in a Zarges case I think is the K 475 Case line, and model 45137, third case down from the top.
http://www.zargescases.com/zarges_c...=5&caid=104&faid=543&buid=0&chid=229&lang=int

http://www.shipping-cases-now.com/proddetail.asp?prod=zar_40568

The Zarges case is considerable more money than the Pelican, the Zarges is going for $242, about double the Pelican.

Anyone have experience with the Zarges?
I am not sure if they are worth double the money over the Pelicans.

 

[Ryanmb21]

interested in this...

 

[barlowrs]

Subscribed as well............

 

[FJLED]

I do not have any experience with the Zarges, but I will comment on the Pelican cases.

If you are going to spend the money I highly recommend getting the Hardigg (now owned by Pelican) Storm Cases over the standard Pelican case. I have both and would go with the iMStorm series over Pelican any day (as long as the storm matched up size wise...which most do)

The latches on the Storm Cases are much nicer than those on the Pelican and there is little if any cost difference between them the cost is easily justifiable.


Anything from the Pelican Storm iM2400-iM2620 seems like it would match up in the same size.

 

[4xdog]

I've owned cases from both companies for many years. I like both types a lot, and use them for different purposes.

For sheer packing volume, I like Zarges. Their shape seems to suit (1) filling them up with stuff better than Pelican and (2) packing into spaces and with other cases more efficiently. The down side of Zarges cases is (1) they're harder on the surfaces they come in contact with due to the abrasivity of the aluminum, and (2) they get dented/scraped permanently if they get bonked.

I tend to use my Pelican cases more as luggage that will be carried in and out of the vehicle more often. I have an ex-Camel Trophy 1600 that I carry clothes in, and another I use for delicate things with foam lining. I tend to use my Zarges cases as big, durable boxes, and fill them up with all kinds of things. I fill the Zarges boxes to fairly heavy weights without another thought. They're great for bulk storage.

There are a lot of different Zarges boxes, some of which are lower price than others (although I'd not call any "cheap"). The company's main site shows more than most folks may be aware of: http://www.zarges.com/en/logistics-products/products/boxes.html. For example, the Eurobox series is built with plastic stacking corners compared to the aluminum corners on the top-of-the-line K470 series. The Zarges Box line doesn't have corner protectors, and seems a little lighter overall. I've bought those at Bauhaus, the German equivalent of Home Depot, for reasonable prices.

I've bought Zarges boxes during trips to Europe, and packed them as my luggage for the trip home. I've found them on eBay, too.

Don

 

[Corey]

Had to Google that.
http://www.stormcase.com/
2620:
http://www.stormcase.com/StormCaseSizes/StormiM2620.htm

I will have to look for models with no wheels/pull out handles as well around that size or so.

I can go for two side by side around 24"x27", so maybe the iM2875 might be better for me.
http://www.stormcase.com/StormCaseSizes/StormiM2875.htm

Not crazy about the wheels or pull out handle though.
I take it the wheels do not let the case sit perfectly flat?
I might even be able to go for four of them and double stack.,

Still need to fit either on top or underneath the Cabelas Kitchen and the Cabelas picnic table which both fold flat and make a good base back there.
Thinking they might ride better on top though of the cases.

Will have to check on prices too to see how it compares to the Pelicans.

Ooops, I meant 24"x27" max, so a box that big would have to double stack.

 

[Corey]

Thanks Don, checking out the Euro ones now also.
http://www.zarges.com/en/logistics-products/products/boxes/eurobox.html

Those are pretty good looking boxes as well.

 

[ryanhewitt]

Pelican

I have two Pelicans that go on the roof rack. A 1610 and a 1620. Both work great. FYI, I believe the handles can be taken off. Also even with the wheels, the cases will sit flat on those four sides.

 

[Honu]

I do not have any experience with the Zarges, but I will comment on the Pelican cases.

If you are going to spend the money I highly recommend getting the Hardigg (now owned by Pelican) Storm Cases over the standard Pelican case. I have both and would go with the iMStorm series over Pelican any day (as long as the storm matched up size wise...which most do)

The latches on the Storm Cases are much nicer than those on the Pelican and there is little if any cost difference between them the cost is easily justifiable.


Anything from the Pelican Storm iM2400-iM2620 seems like it would match up in the same size.

ditto this I have a bunch of pelicans and a few storms and as I buy new ones am only getting storms these days

 

[FJLED]

Had to Google that.
http://www.stormcase.com/
2620:
http://www.stormcase.com/StormCaseSizes/StormiM2620.htm

I will have to look for models with no wheels/pull out handles as well around that size or so.

I can go for two side by side around 24"x27", so maybe the iM2875 might be better for me.
http://www.stormcase.com/StormCaseSizes/StormiM2875.htm

Not crazy about the wheels or pull out handle though.
I take it the wheels do not let the case sit perfectly flat?
I might even be able to go for four of them and double stack.,

Still need to fit either on top or underneath the Cabelas Kitchen and the Cabelas picnic table which both fold flat and make a good base back there.
Thinking they might ride better on top though of the cases.

Will have to check on prices too to see how it compares to the Pelicans.

Ooops, I meant 24"x27" max, so a box that big would have to double stack.

Corey

The Storm Cases do lay flat. I will try and pull up a drawing of the storm case which shows that the wheels are in the same plane as the back of the case. I have a fairly large case which I either mount to the roofrack or on a carrier on my rear bumper similar to a fuel can carrier. The wheels have never been a limiting issue. If you plan on stacking cases on top of one another it should not be a problem, the only issue i forsee is if you stack them in the back of the FJ with the wheels facing one another.

 

[Corey]

Thanks FJ.

I just remeasured again, and I have 26" going width wise in the rear since the fridge is there, and to allow the curve around by the rear door, and rig length wise I have from 22" to 29", depending on if I want to loose a small cubbyhole area between my cargobox and the edge of the rear seat.

Also if I want to take advantage of using a tie-down buckle I should not extend back to the longer area.
So I might be limited to 26" wide x 22" deep.

So I could fit two 13x22 next to each other, or two 13x29.
And possibly stack identical ones on top.

Here is the area I have to work with.
Where the end of that blanket is touching the cargobox, it slopes down where that blue bag on top of the cargobox normally stuffs down into.

So I could butt all the way against it at 29" deep then, but I would have to try and secure them down another way.

PS, found a good chart for the metric impaired such as myself
http://www.metric-conversions.org/length/inches-to-millimeters.htm

Throw the inches in there and it spits out the mm if one is looking at the Euroboxes by Zarges.

 

[FJLED]

Corey,

Here is a pdf drawing of the storm case I have. It shows the wheels do not add any length in any of the planes.

http://www.apgcases.com/newstore/Storm Case Drawings/iM3075.pdf

Since I do not have experience with the Zarges cases I won't bother comparing. However, compared to a standard Pelican case I would go with the iM Storm series hands down.

 

[FJLED]

On a side note and fairly unrelated topic, how do you like your fridge in that location? I am in the process of designing my rear drawer system and have been trying to decide if I want my fridge on one of the seat backs or on the drawers.

The drop down slide looked to be the best route on top of the rear drawers, but I am still pondering. Any feedback is appreciated.

My apologies for the tangent

 

[UNI]

FJLED Posted: I would go with the iM Storm series hands down.

I agree with "FJLED", we also have (2) Pelican Storm Boxes ( iM2950 ) that we use on the Jeep rack. I highly recommend this product.

iM2950 Pelican Storm Case Specifications
(L x W x D) Interior Dimensions
29.00" x 18.00" x 10.50"
(L x W x D) Exterior Dimensions
31.30" x 20.40" x 12.20"

Click Here: Pelican Storm Case # iM2950

 

[Corey]

Thanks.
I think two of these 2620s would make a good base.
http://www.cases2go.com/productview.asp_Q_id_E_34482

That is an empty box with no foam which I do not need.

Currently using two Action Packers that are 20"x14"x12" high, and a huge one that sits next to them.
So it may take four of these 2620s to carry all the stuff, or just three and use on the of Action Packers for the dry food.

What takes up a lot of space in the rig too is the storage bins for the kitchen stuff (two stacked on each other) that slides into the Cabelas kitchen setup.
I do not think I could replace that with a Storm setup though, as the two drawers are pretty convenient to access the silverware on top, and the post/pans and more on the bottom.