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Toolbox for the RV

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TJ&LadyDi

RVF "Dinosaur"
Joined
Nov 2, 2019
Messages
4,082
Location
Washington State
I carry a pretty good selection of tools with me in the motorhome and like to have them reasonably well organized rather than having to dig through a random pile. In the past, I have used a drawer-style toolbox and it has worked well to keep tools organized.

The new coach has slide-out trays in the cargo bays and I found that the drawer-style toolbox didn't work as well. The sides of the tray prevented opening the bottom drawer. If I raised the toolbox with risers or a platform underneath, my existing toolbox became too tall to fit in the cargo bay. Raising it also wasted some precious cargo space. Turning it sideways was considered, but that required the space in front of the toolbox to be kept clear...or, I would have to move stuff every time I needed a tool. Not a good solution.

After considerable searching, I found the cantilever toolbox. It has a sloped top section that opens out to both front and rear, exposing four tool trays and a good-sized space underneath for larger items.

143




I bought a Kennedy 1022B model. Kennedy is a longtime USA maker of quality toolboxes, and I have a couple that my dad and father-in-law gave me more than 50 years ago. They are still in use in my home machine shop.

142


Kennedy boxes are a bit pricey, but they are top quality. It looks like Amazon isn't carrying the Kennedy 1022B anymore, though they can be found through other sellers. Amazon does carry a very similar (yeah...it is a "knock-off, but looks decent) Homak box.


If you are faced with a similar toolbox dilemma, you might look into a cantilevered model.

TJ
 
Very nice! I'm a recovering tool'aholic. I had a Craftsman 26 inch 3 drawer toolbox (now in the back of my toad - empty) and then added two more after solar and mods. All was fine as I had room for it in the forward bay but then came along a pellet grill, now a Dometic cooler, I needed help. I removed the three drawer and went to two low profile toolboxes. One carries tools, the other carries the plastic trays of screws, crimps, wire nuts, etc.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00P53V1GO/?tag=rvf01-20

I think the toolboxes with sliding drawers are handy to organize and I really liked mine but it is not optimal use of space.

I think another useful topic would be what we carry in our toolbox as new RV'ers are typically asking that as well.

Great share TJ!
 
I also carry compartmented plastic boxes (with secure latches on them) for a wide variety of screws, bolts, nuts, wire terminals and connectors, etc. The "secure latches" came as the result of dropping a large, compartmented plastic box filled with a wide variety of items...that scattered everywhere when the lid popped open. It took me more than an hour to pick everything up and sort it out. Never again. Sporting goods stores with fishing gear usually carry a decent assortment of those boxes.

As for what I carry in the toolbox, it would be a lonnnnnnnng list! Suffice to say, a good selection of hand tools (wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, etc. plus testing tools like a multimeter, soon-to-be-added battery tester, DEF tester. A small, battery-powered drill fits in the bottom of the toolbox. And, my most important tool is carried in my wallet; a credit card.

TJ
 
One thing I forgot to mention in my original toolbox post was the use of an anti-corrosion liner material. The storage bays in most coaches are not very environmentally friendly to tools. Rust and/or corrosion can occur in tools stored for a long period in the storage bays.

I use Zerust products at home in my shop, gun safes, etc. There are a variety of forms for these products; small vapor blocks, shelf liner, etc. I use the shelf-liner product linked below in all my toolboxes and have found it to be quite effective in preventing rust and other corrosion. And, full disclosure, I have no financial interest in Zerust.


TJ
 
I carry a three drawer tool box plus a set of impact sockets that go from 5/16" 3/8" drive shallow and deep to 1 1/4" 1/2" drive shallow and deep plus metric from 5mm to 27mm shallow and deep. They were a Christmas present and have their own case. I also carry a 4" grinder, a vibrating multi-tool, and a small impact. So far I managed to fix everything I needed to including changing the water pump on my truck in a Cracker Barrel parking lot.
 
You know, I found that by just buying a bunch of hooks for the pegboard area, it holds all of my stuff. The ladder is really the only exception. Maybe I don't have enough tools yet...
 
Ohhhhh...you most definitely don't have enough tools! And, my experience with hanging tools in the pegboard compartment mirrors what the tech told me at pickup: "This area is where you hang up your tools so that you can pick them up off the floor at the end of each trip." You may have had better luck, but I sure didn't.

TJ
 
I have 3 medium size tool box’s. I separate my tools by box, 1 is for general hands tools, wrenches, pliers, screw drivers, ratchets and sockets etc. 2 is for electric repair and diagnostic tools, clamping DVO meter, soldering iron, cable testing tools, cable end installation equipment, 110V outlet tester, 12v test light, wire stripper and crimping tools, low voltage test leads. 3 has Dremel tools, drill index, hose clamping pliers, 23 gauge pin nails, hex drive drill bits and accessories, wheel center wrench, lug-nut cover removing tool.
In addition I carry a 23 gauge pin nail air gun, heat gun, cordless drill, wood clamps, measuring tools, 150 PSI pancake compressor, 25 feet of air hose, 3 foot pry bar, digital air filler gun etc.
 
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Keep these ideas coming!

This winter I will be changing toads (from my 24' enclosed trailer to open tandem tow dolly) and will need to consolidate a ton of tools and other stuff. Right now I have one pull out basement storage tray devoted as my "tool storage" but a major reorganization will be in order.
 
Nice toolbox TJ&LadyDi! As we try to shed stuff from the S&B to get ready for FT life on the road, we've held on to all the tools. We have accumulated 30+ years of odds and ends of tools. I worked in a window factory (Pella) my first job out college and still have my utility knife with my name scratched on it!

That said, we purchased a set of tools just for the MH after our first misadventure with our slide-out failure on our first trip camping (We had zero tools on board-major fail). I went to Costco and purchased the first thing I saw--200 pieces for $100. It has every socket, screwdriver, etc. I also added a hammer, every solvent, silicone, gloves, mallet, adjustable wrenches and anything from home we hadn't used in a while including our drill. That box has come in very handy!
 
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