It was almost a year ago now when I discovered Ridgid’s fabulous Pro modular tool box storage system (check out that review if you haven’t already done so!). They’re great tool boxes – strong, versatile, and inexpensive.
A reader wrote in (thanks, Dennis!) that there’s a new addition to the Ridgid Pro tool box lineup:
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Yesterday at Home Depot I came across a new member of the Ridgid Pro toolbox line. It struck me as useful, so I figured other readers might find it useful as well.
The new Ridgid Pro tool box is basically a crate-like catch-all that stacks on top of your other boxes. You can stack them together, and could also attach them beneath the top box of a taller Ridgid Pro stack so that the contents don’t spill out during bumpy or horizontal transport.
Simple, yet effective.
I’d consider it to be a catch-all, where you can dump extension cords, bulkier power tools, and whatever tools that you don’t want to Tetris-together into one of the lidded tool boxes. Well, except for small parts such as fasteners, as the crate does have holes in the side panels that smaller stuff can slip through.
Price: $15
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Right now this looks to be available in stores only, and in limited quantities. And since it’s so new, you might have to ask an associate to bring them down from a top shelf.
Nathan
15 dollars for what looks like a bigger sturdier milk crate isn’t too bad.
if you happen to have a coupon or what have you it might be even better.
fm2176
I’ll probably pick one up. I haven’t used my stack too much, but when I have it’s been great. I can fit the three boxes upright in my truck with the back seat folded down, and the extra organizer I bought doesn’t make the stack too unwieldy to use. Heck, this may be the incentive I needed to buy another bottom box; I can use this and the extra organizer to complete a second stack.
My biggest project thus far was putting together a dog kennel. With the Ridgid modular tool boxes I was able to quickly detach all of the boxes to remove them from the truck and then snap them back together. The wheels were smooth on the gravel (that kind of surprised me) and even smoother walking across the yard. The best thing was, I didn’t have to carry anything else, or make multiple runs back to the truck. The bottom box contained various pliers and my electrical bags (not needed for the kennel, of course, but the zip ties helped), the middle contained general tools like hammers, and the top organizer had my 12-volt impact and drill along with a bunch of sheet metal screws. So, in one easy to transfer package I had everything needed to not only put the kennel together, but to reinforce it much better than using the stock hardware alone would have.
Jason. W
I used the ridged set daily for work. (Which I just quit yesterday)
I could carry everything I needed.
In the base i had Ryobi circ saw, hacksaw, dust buster, radio, charger, flashlight, multi tool, and 4 batteries. Plus a versa cut and milwaukee 12v charger.
The small parts case held my 12v impact, drill, flashlight, and bit case. Plus multi tool blades, screws/nails, spade bits and other small parts.
The medium size tool box had a bunch in it. Many different kinds of pliers, hammers, flat bars, screw drivers, stapler, etc etc. It was the hardest one to keep orginized.
I’ve taken this set up and down stairs, in and out of box trucks..they have slid around and been knocked over and still work great.
Jason
Wow that’s a steal for 15 bucks! I love the Ridgid tool boxes. They are a great value.
Steve
Good for laundry.
Stuart
They’re kind of small for that.
if you need a quick and cheap laundry basket, Target’s got some basic designs for under $5. They’re a little flimsy and lack comfortable handles of more premium models, but are made in the USA and ridiculously cheap. Look in the college back to school section if you don’t see them by the laundry stuff.
Steve
Lol was teasing.
mike aka Fazzman
Cool,i want one of these for my stack.
mnoswad
The image of only a circular saw and an impact driver shows just how small and inadequate these stackable type of tool boxes are.
They are all too small. I want something near 30 inches wide so i can work out of the box rather than cram everything into a box for transport and have to dig through and unpack to get to what i need.
As for the milk crate idea……….i think its a great direction but i want to be able to stand up spray cans and tubes of caulk and paint brushes standing on end.
As far as the ridgid box system……..the bottom wheeled unit NOT having a hinged lid is the deal killer for this tool aficionado, thus i wont be buying into that system.
Bill K
On line, I’m seeing $20 not $15. Is there a coupon or sale somewhere?
Stuart
That’s weird – I’m still seeing $14.97. Maybe it’s zip code dependent?
Mike
I’m seeing the same as Bill, $20. But it’s also saying it is out of stock online, available only in stores, and no stores near me are showing them as available. Home Depot’s site does that a lot with new items not yet available everywhere or closeout items. One price shows if you can get it, another if you can’t.
fred
In stock for $19.97 at the local HD I visited this morning.
I’ve used smaller ones from the Container Store that cost $12.99 which are not as quite as sturdy as old milk crates.
Tory
It says $19.99 around these parts to, but none of the Depots around the Portland area has them in. I went to one that showed they had 5 in stock but the guy the ran the tool department said he didn’t even know they made such a thing. Maybe they are just to new.
Rob @ RHHS
I ended up finding them at the local HD for $20, not the $15 price.
One interesting note is that the people in Hardware had no idea these things existed. I asked and they said “nope, don’t got ’em”. Later in the week I was back at HD and had the HD web site up on my phone with the sku. I asked the service desk and they said yes, we have them but they’re not on the floor yet (the boxes had been in the store over a week though – according to the service desk guy). We hunted the isles and finally found the cardboard box in the overheads. Moral to this story: Just because you don’t see it on the shelf doesn’t mean its not there.
Rob @ RHHS
I love the Ridgid Pro box line. For my business I’ve got three of the rolling base boxes, three small boxes, and one of the medium boxes. I like the large rolling boxes but I find I don’t access them anywhere near as much as the small boxes, I think I could actually add a couple more of the small boxes (maybe getting rid of one of the large boxes).
That brings the problem. To roll the tool boxes you need the large box. What I’d really like is a “hand truck” that would integrate several of the small or medium boxes and have them be mobile without having to use the large box.
Will I add one of these open storage boxes? I donno. I can see a use for it so maybe, but I really want is a Pro Box system hand truck addition.
Pete
Buy a smaller folding hand truck dolly and glue and screw a medium or small box onto it. Basically thats what your asking for.
Pete
Im a modular, veritile, function over form type of guy and i think these are awesome. I havent comited into the ridgid system 100% but i maybe soon!
Bill K
Polypro construction looks tough! Just picked up one, not at $15 but $20 🙁
Seems to be a great combo with the Magna Cart I just recently purchased.
Ryan
Just bought 2 crates and one more small box. I’m using one crate latched to a small box as a catch all behind the drivers seat of my truck with the small box as an organizer for my tie down straps and bungees. I have 2 bottom rollers 2 medium and 5 small boxes that the crate will now add to. It’s already in use day one as a catch all for the loose ends from having to cover multiple work orders at different sites.
Being able to manage cantainers of a common size is fantastic for knowing how much I can cram in my truck. When I had my truck in the shop being serviced i could fit all of these in a Subaru Forrester in a neat and still accessible fashion. The system is perfect for my business. I can’t speak for anyone else’s use, but when you job hop on a daily like me, they save precious time and keep my messy butt pretty darn organized at an extremely good price.
Jim karnik
I am a video producer and have adapted these cases for my production gear. I had a hard time finding a case that would fit my camera ready to shoot (Pro video cases can cost hundreds of dollars). The large unit with wheels works perfectly. I use the smaller cases for audio, grip and lighting kits. The new crate will be great for power cables and other grip stuff. All good!
Rlgipson
I recently purchased this system to be used as a chuck box for my kitchen supplies while camping. Haven’t organized it yet but I think it will work great!
Dale
I’m considering purchasing the UK (Keter) version of this system to cart around cooking utensils, tools, knives, gadgets, blenders…. basically a mobile kitchen. Needed something I could take to a job as whole, divide up and take ‘bits of’ and any combination thus…
This crate seems like a real handy thing to add at some point… anyone know if the Ridgid and Keter are compatible? They just seemed a re-badged version of one another.
Don’t think these are available in the UK and a Keter version definitely isn’t so would have to get it shipped over… but…
Joe
Jcb ketervand rigid are identicle systems and interchangeable
M. Brillon
They should have made a lid…