Working out of a pickup

[posford]

I figured this is the best place to work through some of what I'd like to do, figure out better organization/storage of tools when working out of a pickup.

New job has me doing a lot of mechanical work, not always in the shop. Technically I'm a machinist by trade, and my work toolbox reflects that, so I'm looking at getting better setup using a lot of the tools I already have in my home garage. Growing up on the farm and working out of a pickup, I've always lusted after a service body truck, but I think it's still overkill for my needs.

Our fleet mechanic quit this week, which also means I'll probably get a bit of the repair work he'd otherwise do, so the flexibility of working in the shop or on the road would be preferred.

I wrote out a list of tools, pretty standard assortment of hand tools, but with 1/2" drive impact sockets going up to 1-1/2", I usually have my Milwaukee 1/2" impact with me. I'd like to have a full set of combination wrenches up to 1-1/2" as well. We have a couple engine driven compressors when needed, as well as generators, ect.

I'm thinking that I should probably just go the tool bag route, probably separated by size (big sockets and wrenches separate from the more standard size stuff) but I'm questioning whether there's a better option between that and a service truck, I'm pretty positive that it will get plenty of use outside working hours.

 

[rockyota83]

i have a utility bed and also use tool bags to carry what i need to where im working, if i didnt have the utility bed i would put the tool bags in packout style tool boxes

fwiw putting the box end wrenches on a carabiner makes it easier to find the one you want out of the bag

 

[Steve300xcw]

A few tool bags, wrench rolls. Would toss in a cordless grinder too

 

[Twankie]

When working remotely how close to the truck will you be?

 

[posford]

If I'm working out of my truck, I can usually pull right up to whatever I'm working on. The bigger projects we roll in with box trucks loaded with knaack boxes.

Pack out boxes might be useful

 

[chaplinfj60]

i think the biggest question is how far do you have to carry tools once on site, maybe the knaack box is the ticket, something to keep the tools toward the back of the box to limit the amount of times you have to jump in and out of the truck, and maybe a small step stool plus something to lay on or even put knees down on. damit i hate getting rocks on my knee caps.....

 

[posford]

Like I said, if I'm working out of my pickup, I can get right to it. Little to no tool carrying. Mainly for the odds and ends jobs I get put on. When I say a knaack box I'm talking forklift/overhead crane sized cabinets, but that's for our actual millwright work.

This is what one of the guys I work with designed. Meant to flip up the ramps and roll into the bed of a truck, the frame is all aluminum, so it's light enough to manhandle into the truck as well. He has extras he'd sell but they're designed for a Ford Ranger size truck, not a 3/4 ton on 35s. If I extend one taller it would put the box at an awkward height when on the cart I think

 

[ThePanzerFuhrer]

In the summer we work 100% out of the trucks. I don’t know what you do but if you think you need up to 1 1/2” wrenches your gonna have a hard time being productive out of a pickup truck. Your in the realm of service bodies. You cannot afford to not have everything you could possibly need with you at all times. The chasing back and forth to get jacks porta powers pipe wrenches small fittings ect will kill you.

Once you buy yourself a service truck you’ll wish you bought one years ago.

If you insist on running out of a pickup I would suggest getting socket sets with nice cases. I have been really happy with the milwaukee stuff. Fastenal had a deal buy 300 get a set free so I bought a few.

 

[AKnate]

Very easy to fill a service body and still not have everything needed. We had an F550 with 14ft service body, truck was way overweight

 

[tracyb]

you need an econoline van. done.

 

[CarterKraft]

Having worked out of a service truck with integrated tool boxes for 15 years I can't imagine "bucket-0-tools" or bags etc.
We have machinist trucks that are equipped the same as my service truck but with the addition of a crane loadable top loading job box for the boring equipment.
I learned from a guy who had a hand made welder bed and a Span-On Heavy Duty Road chest and if I had to rig up a portable setup that is something I would emulate. Another Lead Tech I worked for had this style box with 3/16" plate steel back and sides. It had a removable cross bar that inserted through the sides that allowed it to be picked off his bottom box so he could put it in the back of a truck for road work.
I would just get started with whatever you have and work on the solution to solve your problems.

 

[u2slow]

you need an econoline van. done.

When I was contracting I had an E350 mini-bus (high roof, extended, flat sides). Otherwise I'd have had to get a Grumman parcel van for at least twice the cost.

The van itself was great, but the powerstroke gave me trouble.

 

[speed bump]

Missing a few details here as far as the work you do and what the truck is beyond probably to tall to be a useful work truck.

Do you have a fork lift to load and unload the box?

Is it a permanent install?

What kind of work are you doing? I work at a cement plant and you can do a lot with a hammer, pry bar, socket set, 1/2 inch impact and two crescents as far as tools but you probably also have 2 winches, 3 come alongs, 2 chains, 10 straps and 5 clevises that you need for most jobs.

Maybe look at a Montezuma road box for hand tools. Then a pack out system for all the random tools. I also like roughneck action packers for fluffy stuff.