New Dewalt ToughSystem 2.0 tool boxes are almost available! Acme Tools listed a selection of the new Dewalt ToughSystem 2.0 tool storage products earlier this month, and with a July 15th, 2020 shipping ETA for some items, and September 1st, 2020 for others.
Buy Now: Dewalt ToughSystem 2.0 via Acme Tools
Dewalt ToughSystem 2.0 was originally expected to launch in April 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic seems to have delayed things, but only by a little bit.
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Dewalt has not yet officially announced the ToughSystem 2.0 tool boxes, and so we don’t have a formal list of products, organizers, accessories, or what they mean by “compatible with most ToughSystem” products.
Here’s what we know so far from an influencer’s STAFDA coverage.
It appears that the major change is the click-to-lock latching mechanism, in contrast to the fold-in side latches from the original ToughSystem tool boxes.
The new tool boxes also have freshened aesthetics, with rounded edges and contours.
There’s a new rolling cart and new stacking trays in two different sizes.
Dewalt’s ToughSystem 2.0 music player was available starting late last year, but has been mired by negative reviews. The last update I received was that the negative reviews were being investigated. At this time, it appears that the music player has been pulled from the market, as it doesn’t appear to be available for sale at typical Dewalt dealers. But, the complaints seemed to have been about the music player, and not any toolbox-related features or construction.
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There are a lot of questions surrounding the new Dewalt ToughSystem 2.0 tool box system, but at least we finally have a good answer to the question “when can I buy them?”
Acme Tools is Dewalt’s Exclusive Industrial Channel Partner for the Dewalt ToughSystem 2.0 system. Preordering gets in you line for fulfillment.
Dewalt ToughSystem 2.0 Tool Box Prices
- Shallow Tool Tray (DWST08110): $15
- Deep Tool Tray (DWST08120): $16
- Small Tool Box (DWST08165): $55
- Large Tool Box (DWST08300): $65
- XL Tool Box (DWST08400): $75
- Rolling Tool Box (DWST08450): $100
- Combo Kit 1 (DWST60436): $220
- Small Tool Box
- XL Tool Box
- Rolling Tool Box
- Combo Kit 2 (DWST60436-HD): $210
- Small Tool Box
- Large Tool Box
- Rolling Tool Box
Dewalt ToughSystem 2.0 Availability
- July 15th, 2020
- Small Tool Box
- Large Tool Box
- Rolling Tool Box
- Combo Sets
- August 15th, 2020
- XL Tool Box
- September 1st, 2020
- Shallow Tool Tray
- Deep Tool Tray
(Shipping ETAs might change further.)
Discussion
I own quite a few Dewalt ToughSystem tool boxes, and the new spring-action self-toggling latches definitely looks to be an upgrade. However, it remains to be seen how well they work.
I also own or possess various Bosch, Festool, and Milwaukee modular tool box products, and tend to prefer Milwaukee’s the best now, with their front-accessible locking and unlocking action. Festool and Tanos Systainers also have a front-accessible latch, while Bosch’s L-Boxx system has side-mounted spring-action self-latching clasps.
I’m optimistic about the new Dewalt ToughSystem 2.0 tool box designs, but can’t say whether the new features hold much benefit over their original ToughSystem tool boxes and accessories.
It looks like you can mix and match certain products, but apparently there will be some incompatibilities. Most ToughSystem products do look to be compatible with the new ToughSystem 2.0 system, but we’ll have to wait for officials details from Dewalt.
Aaron
Do the new trays fit in the old boxes? I can’t quite tell from the release schedule which boxes are the half width ones and when we expect them. Did I miss a postponement on those?
ADAM
I’ve been wondering the same thing.
Stuart
Unfortunately I don’t know and don’t know enough to offer a comfortable guess. Dewalt hasn’t released any official details yet, and that usually has to happen before they’re prepared to answer specific questions about new tools or releases.
Travis
The new trays are for ToughSystem 2.0 only. The new TS 2.0 is larger and a different internal shape.
Travis
@toolsbydesign
Alex
Is it just me, or does it appear that DeWalt to cut some corners in order to arrive at a lower price point than Milwaukee? Does anyone else agree that those tool trays in the small tool box look chintzy as heck? Did you see that the yellow tool trays don’t even come with any plastic dividers? Is it too much to ask for some cheap polystyrene or polypropylene plastic dividers? Would anyone else (other than me) pay $4 more for the dividers? It’s a shame too, because the initial conceptualizations had given me hope that DeWalt was attempting to bring a more advanced mobile tool storage to market.
Stuart
Dewalt established their pricing well before Milwaukee.
The trays – I don’t know what they’re going for there, but they do say you can customize it with DIY plywood dividers. Keeps pricing down if you don’t care for dividers. They also say you can fill the trays with tool foam, and so you can create little kits you can lay out for different jobs.
Frank
Is there a DeWalt sourced document that does a side by side comparison w/the original boxes & charts the compatabilities/sizes/features (forward/backwards) between the two? Side by side pictures would be a big help too. Thanks
Aaron
I made my own decides for a couple tough system cases and it was a bit weird. They clearly intended for it to be a feature by adding a defined shoot for the decided, but it’s not a rectangle and irritating to template. I would be interested in a line of accessories including cloth inserts and deviders. I wish I could get a bucket box style insert with a driver wall.
Paul
I believe those are the Tough Organizers that have already been on the market for several years. They come in several different shapes and sizes. The ones that seem to be in the photos look like the shallow ones that come with fairly cheap dividers that are really only good for things like small electrical parts. The same line comes with deeper organizers that have removable boxes just like the existing Toughsystem cases (DS130 and 150) albeit at a smaller form factor. Good for bolt/nail/screw bins. I use them a lot. Not sure however if this is compatible. One of the photos of a shallow tray also shows some kind of Kaizen foam in it.
Personally I use a mix of the DS130/150 and Tough Organizer trays. The DS130 and 150 are pretty expensive so I use them just for “heavy” things like my bolt bin, lug bin, and accessories for drill, sockets, etc. The Tough Organizers get everything else. I have three half depth organizers stuffed with wire nuts, Stake Ons, and smaller lugs all taking up one side of a TS rolling tool cart. The other side has hammers, termination kit (tape, scissors, etc.), tie wrap kit, and a few longer tools that won’t fit anywhere else. In the deeper organizers I have my assortment of electrical fittings, plumbing fittings, relays and other small parts that stack and take up very little shelf space in the field.
taras
No go for me if they’re not backwards compatible with 1.0.
Micheal
Denied, they are backward compatible with most systems. Check video.
Fusionman
It’s a long shot but I’m hoping they’ll swap out my broken rolling box for the 2.0 version under warranty. Those side handles were a design flaw. They’d break off with far less than the spec’d 80lbs in the box.
Chris
I’m really curious to see the new rolling box. The 1.0 version has been a real let-down. I haven’t had any issue with the handles yet but have seen too many comments about it to think I’ll avoid it forever. And it does NOT seem to want to take the weight they advertise – my lid has a permanent sag in it. Honestly, it’s sitting in the garage gathering dust as I just don’t trust it.
Chris
Ordered mine from Home Depot on the July 5th, arrived today.
Yes they are compatible with the original toughsystem.
Chris
I meant to say, it doesn’t appear the trays will fit the original toughsystem.
Plaingrain
I wasn’t a big fan of Dewalt cases. Then I used the one that came with the track saw. Super nice case for the track saw.
Bob
I think the ones that come with the Track saw are T-stack. Similar but lighter duty. Mine did anyway.
With a little modding to the hard foam insert that came with the T-stack box I was able to make it fit the Tough system box. And since the Tough system boxes are larger I was able to fit in extra batteries and on the lid I store the track saw track squeeze clamps.
Now for the important part. When do the tough system gen 1 boxes go on clearance?
Just a Medic
What about drawers???? For my work, I hate splitting a stack just to access a tool from the middle box.
PETE
They do have the new drawer units coming out.
High & Mighty
The fact that Dewalt suggests making your own dividers because they were too cheap is unacceptable. I can’t believe they actually expect customers to spend their own time and their own money on fixing Dewalt’s mistake. That blows. Who in the hell do they think they are? That is an absolute disservice to anyone buying one of these. I completely agree that Dewalt cut corners. Cutting corners takes priority over anything else. They expense of quality is to be as minimal as possible. But to not make or even offer separate dividers just flat out sux on their part. I feel ripped off by Dewalt just by reading this. I guess the 1.0 wasn’t tough enough to be a worthy toolbox system. But the direction they took on this one is already heading the wrong way and they’re not even available to buy yet.
Stuart
Other brands also have totes and trays with slots for dividers you cut yourselves.
If I had to guess, dividers might be available in the future if there’s demand for it, possibly foam inserts as well.
Bob
Remember when carpenters built their own tool boxes? There’s an awesome YouTube video of a piano maker’s toolbox. Ebony and ivory inlays, mahogany case. Truly a work of art.
Now guys complain if they have to take 30 seconds to cut a divider. I get it. You paid your money, you want everything to come with it. On the other hand how long does it take to cut up a scrap of 1/4” plywood? One less piece of plastic in the landfill. Ymmv.
I like my gen one tough cases. I’ll reservev judgement untill I get to check out the gen 2 in person.
Alex
Have you ever heard of the shoe cobbler tale? The shoe cobbler’s workmanship was always top-notch, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at his shoes, because he was always too busy working on his customers shoes, that when he had time to relax, the last thing he wanted to do was work on his own shoes. That’s how I feel about portable tool boxes.
Personally, I don’t want to spend three hours making customizable wood inserts. Yes, it will take at least three hours if not more, because if I’m making it out of plywood, then I’m going to sand and stain it as well. Otherwise, after six months of use it will look like crap.
Not pushing the envelope is why Milwaukee continues to take market share away from DeWalt. If Milwaukee were to add removable trays to Packout, you’d get plastic dividers and lid too.
Eric
I have an absurd amount of tough system for a homeowner, however almost all of it was purchased on deep clearance.
I will continue to do the same if 2.0 goes on deep sale. If not, I have enough for a lifetime. I have three of the rolling boxes and four of the wall mounts but never found the dolly on sale. Hopefully I can pick up one of those in the change.
These systems are fantastic for moving anything, and I hope they continue to innovate.
This might highlight how often these get used for non-work for me, but the stack of rolling box, cooler, radio, and power station is game-changing for my family. We often bring a second rolling box with a parts box and Blackstone griddle on top.
Dale Bradford
My long lost brother. ??
PETE
I don’t like these, i don’t know anyone that really likes the new design either. They look cheaper than the original version. I got to handle these at World of Concrete in the dewalt booth. I don’t like the auto locking side handles. Unfortunately they didn’t have a drawer unit which is the one that I actually wanted to see.
I did get to see Stanley the Dirt Monkey in the booth. SUPER nice guy, took time to talk to everyone that came and said HI to him. I didn’t say HI because I didn’t have anything to say lol but observing him- I don’t know how he gets anything done at conventions LOL he’s always talking to someone
Corey Moore
Side handles don’t seem to be any different in appearance, I think that’s a big complaint with the originals that they’re gonna catch flack for not addressing, if they in fact haven’t. To be fair though, I’ve got two ds150s, the original 2 drawer, and a tote w/ handle that have been using those side handles to hang on the top level of my tough box for two years now, and have zero issues being well loaded. Other than that, I think the front latches may be an improvement, and the auto locks I’ll have to see about, I keep one handless tote snapped underneath a medium box for all my batteries and occasionally do have to reach down and around to undo them in the touchbox. If that move ends up being even less convenient, I’ll probably pass for those two. I’d really love to see what they’d do by way of a 2.0 dolly, as I still say the stacking setup with a wheeled bottom x-large is and has always been the lower grade budget option for the system and wouldn’t downgrade to for any brand. It’s amusing to poke fun at my crew every morning trying to fight for floor space to splay out all the packout, then the 15 minutes to repack, restack, and ask for a hand lifting them to move across site or into the truck.
Roger
Is there a way to suggest ideas to SBD for an adapter plate to mount TSTAK onto ToughSystem? It would be similar to that like the Vac plate.
Benefits would be:
-Allowing all the main tstak boxes,
-Greater interest in the 60V vac, and
-Tough case+ (large) to cross mount onto ToughSysytem.
If I understand it correctly, it’s the same parent company, and the same manufacturer for both lines. Doing this one thing would push $ales for both lines.
Next item; an inverter for Flexvolt 60V or 120V @500W would do great. Yes, there is the powerstation, but the bulk and heft is inconvenient at times. They could even design it to mount on Tstak (adapter plate comes in). Other companies do a 40v/60v, so I don’t see why they can’t.
Lastly, is there any information on the TS triple drawer unit?
Jo B
I bought six of the extra-large, 1.0 toolboxes, and the side handles broke off of 3 of them with 1 to 2 months at 60% weight capacity, and the rest within five months. ALL cracked in the corners in 2 months. I paid over $600 for all of these, and I was furious that they didn’t last a year let alone months.
I stopped buying DeWalt tool storage and went with 10 year old, used Pelican cases. At least I only have to buy them once, as they have an ‘unconditional life-time warranty’ to whoever possesses them. It’s worth the money to me.
Had I not bought these Pelican cases, i would have made, lockable cases from 3/8″ marine-grade plywood with dovetail corners/edges.
Vards Uzvards
ToughSystem 2.0 6-Compartment Small Parts Organizer – saw these in the local HD store today.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/313818239
What took you so long, DeWALT?!