Poly Tool Boxes: Everything You Need to Know

What’s the one thing all tradies have in common? They always have a high-quality toolbox with them wherever they go. For tradespeople like plumbers, electricians, and carpenters, a heavy-duty toolbox is essential for safely carrying tools, which is their livelihood. Although stainless steel or alloy tool boxes were the norm until recently, heavy-duty plastic tool boxes are becoming increasingly popular as the toolbox of choice.

Poly tool boxes have become the go-to thanks to their light weight, durability, and rust resistance. Depending on your requirements, there are quite a few toolbox options available on the Australian market. Read on to find out all you need to know about poly tool boxes.

What Are the Different Types of Tool Boxes?

Based on the Material

Plastic

Plastic or “poly” tool boxes are rapidly capturing the toolbox market in Australia. Unlike stainless steel or aluminium storage boxes, these poly tool boxes will never corrode. Furthermore, unlike wooden tool boxes, they remain more or less unaffected by different weather conditions and the passage of time.

Initially, there were doubts raised about the durability of plastic toolboxes. But with technological advancements over time, the manufacturers developed heavy-duty plastic products where durability is no longer a concern. Poly tool boxes are lightweight, affordable, and available in various shapes and sizes. In addition, cleaning them is very convenient, all you need is water and regular soap or detergent.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel tool boxes are not as common as aluminium, steel, or plastic ones. The main reason for this is the cost of stainless steel tool boxes. They offer excellent strength and durability, and are chosen by people looking for premium tool kits. They may be worth the investment if they are going to be used for many years. Unlike tool boxes made from some other materials, they will look as good as new even after years of rough usage.

Steel

Steel toolboxes are heavier than their aluminium counterparts. This makes them tougher than an aluminium toolbox of similar dimensions and able to bear much more weight and stand up to wear and tear as well. These toolboxes are made for people who require cost-efficient solutions and work in harsh environments and rugged terrain. You can further boost your steel box’s durability and rust resistance by covering it with a special powder or coating.

They are cheaper than the stainless steel toolboxes and offer better features than the aluminium ones. This made them a popular choice among truckers and garages before heavy-duty poly tool boxes became widely available.

Aluminium

Aluminium is used for tool boxes construction due to its light weight and relative strength, making them easier to carry around. Compared to toolboxes made from other materials, only a plastic toolbox may be lighter than an aluminium one. Furthermore, these tool kits don’t rust or deteriorate over a significantly long time frame, which is why they have been quite popular.

Based on Configuration and Characteristics

Hand Carry:

These are the toolboxes that you’ll see most professionals carrying around. Even the layperson usually owns a hand-carry toolkit for small repairs that may be needed at homes. Hand-carry tool boxes are compact and as the name suggests, have a handle for carrying them around. They are normally made of plastic, making them easier to carry around. You find one easily in a wide range of designs, colours, shapes, and sizes.

Stationery Drawer-Style:

Stationery drawer-style tool boxes feature drawers to neatly store all kinds of tools and other relevant equipment. Depending on their size, these tool boxes may also be moved from one place to another. The drawer-style toolkits are a boon for people who need to keep their tools well organised.

Roll-Around:

Roll-around tool boxes are typically upright in design, with multiple drawers and compartments. These toolkits are commonly found in commercial garages, where mechanics need to keep moving them when working on different vehicles.

Portable Trolley-Style:

The portable trolley-style tool boxes are a compact and versatile version of the roll-around toolkits. These toolboxes are often made using high-density plastic, making them light in weight and able to be rolled to wherever they are needed. The portable trolley-style tool is the go-to for tradies working on major projects.

Truck-Mounted:

The truck-mounted toolkits are specially designed so they can be easily fitted onto trucks and UTEs. These tool boxes are usually made of aluminium, steel, or heavy-duty plastic for durability and longevity. With the help of truck-mounted tool boxes, a tradesperson can be assured that they always have the necessary tools while travelling to remote locations. Depending on the configuration of the installation, you can choose from side-mounted, rail-top-mounted, and cross-bed tool boxes.

How Do You Attach a Tool box to a UTE Tray?

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to secure a tool box for your Ute:

1. Mark the Mounting Points: Locate the box to the spot you are happy with, then proceed to look under the tray. Find suitable mounting locations, free from the tray floor reinforcement structures. Ensure that on each end of the box line, you have points where it’s safe to drill through the floor and the tray top.
2. Drill in the Pilot Holes: Drill the pilot holes one at a time on the marked mounting points. On completion of drilling each point, insert a screw or a rivet to keep the box from moving as you drill the remaining holes.
3. Open Up the Pilot Holes: Once you have drilled all the pilot holes, remove the box completely or just keep it aside and open up the pilot holes to the final size required. After you have opened up all four holes, proceed to clean/deburr all the holes.
4. Attach the Toolbox: Align the box holes with the tray holes and attach the toolbox with washers, bolts and nuts. Feed in the bolt from under the tray and up into the box. If you want additional weather fastness, apply a sealant around the nut inside the box before the final tightening.

Things To Consider While Selecting a Tool box for UTEs and Trucks

Choosing the right tool box for your UTEs and trucks can mean the difference between a great work day or a disaster. There is a wide range of UTE toolboxes available on the market, with a long list of features for each of them. Finding the right one for your truck can be overwhelming. Here are a few things that might make it easier for you to choose the right toolbox for you:

Material:
When considering the material your tool box should be made from, the options are: stainless steel, steel, aluminium, and plastic. While steel and aluminium have been the forerunners for years, heavy-duty plastic has become a widely preferred choice thanks to its durability, resistance to rust and corrosion, and lightweight properties.

Design:
The best design for your Ute toolbox comes down to your personal preferences. There are canopy toolboxes, truck boxes, and toolboxes with rear drawers. Depending on what you prioritise, such as sleek design, multiple drawers for organisation, or quick access to tools, you can choose the design that best suits your needs.

Size:
The size of your toolbox can be determined by the size of your Ute and the weight or number of tools you wish to carry. Keep in mind that allowing in some extra storage space for expanding will save you from the cost of upgrading at a later stage.

Security:
The thought of having thousands of dollars’ worth of tools and equipment stolen is enough to give a tradie nightmares. For peace of mind, a theft-proof, high-quality toolkit is essential. Security should be at the top of your list when you are considering a toolkit for your utes and trucks.

Buy Poly Tool Boxes from FSP Oz Products

FSP Oz Products is one of the leading manufacturers and suppliers of heavy-duty plastic products across various industries. Through years of research and development, we have developed a line of industrial-grade plastic products that offer outstanding durability and longevity.

The following are some of the features of our poly toolboxes:

• Rotational-moulded Structure
• High Strength and Weight Carrying Capabilities
• Solid and Durable
• Lightweight
• Easy to transport
• Built to last
• Waterproof
• Dust-proof
• Weather Sealed (Keeps your tools safe from rust and corrosion)
• Tamper proof

Made from UV-stabilised materials, FSP Oz Products’s poly tool boxes are rust, corrosion, and weather resistant, making them well-suited for all kinds of trucks and utes. Our poly toolboxes are available in sizes ranging from 90 litres to 1000 litres. And our products are all made in Australia and are built to last for years in the harsh Australian climate.

For more information, please contact us at 1300 847 901 or sales@fspozproducts.com.au.