Dewalt Tough System: It's Just a Big Box, Right?

Posted by Katy | Toolstop on 1st Jan 2021

Tool Boxes are so important in keeping your most used power tools and accessories safe and protected. But what's so special about Dewalt Tough System? Tough System is a range of tool boxes from Dewalt which are known for the9ir strength and durability. This Toolstop guide explains all.

All About Dewalt Tough System

We’re not nuts here at Toolstop. Well, not all of us are nuts, put it that way.

We realise that you guys want to read about power tools. We fully understand that you probably don’t want too much information from us about tool boxes. After all, a toolbox is a toolbox, right? It’s a box you put tools in. It’s what’s in the box that matters, right, rather than the box itself?

But while that’s probably true most of the time, on occasion the boxes themselves get to come forward into the spotlight. For example, not that long ago on the Toolstop Facebook Page we were asked for photos of a new range of tool boxes that had arrived on the market. Yes, that’s right. Someone wanted photos. Of a toolbox. So, you have to wonder, is there something being added to Helen’s water that made her want to see more photos of a toolbox, or is she not as batty as you might first think?

Could it be that there’s something special about DeWalt’s new offering to the world of….tool boxes?

Earlier this year Toolstop were invited to spend two days at a top secret location on the Slough Trading Estate. Our objective was to shoot as much video content featuring the, at that time unreleased, brand new XR power tools that DeWalt was just about to bring onto the market. Our guide for the two days repeatedly made a big deal of the “tough outside, intelligent inside” slogan that the DeWalt marketing team had dreamed up for their new, admittedly smart and tough, cordless tools.

But it seems that the design team behind these new power tools had a little bit of creative juice left over. And from that they’ve produced a toolbox system that could, in all honesty, adopt the same tagline as the tools they’ve been made to protect; tough outside, intelligent inside.

And yes, I’m talking about a toolbox…

So, is there justification for getting all enthusiastic about a toolbox? It, of course, depends on the toolbox. In this case, DeWalt appears to have taken the logic behind the XR tools, “tough outside, intelligent inside”, and applied it to the very box that their DCK206M2T3 twin pack of tools comes in.

They told our Power Tool Spies that the ToughSystem boxes were designed after extensive research among professional power tool users like you. In other words, according to DeWalt, these ToughSystem tool boxes are exactly what you’ve been waiting for.

What's so special about Tough System?

First off, the tough outside. DeWalt has used 4mm thick outer casing that can withstand drops from over 3 feet.

The handles have been stress tested via a process whereby the box is lifted over 2000 times while filled with a 50lb load. DeWalt report no failures. Similarly, the hinges have been stress tested over 1000 times with no reported failures.

And the metal hinges and latches have been sprayed for 24 hours straight with a water/salt solution with no reported corrosion or visual change.

On top of all of that, the ToughSystem boxes are dust tight and water jet resistant, rated at IP65.

Tough indeed.

On the outside, though, DeWalt has also included a fair dose of intelligence to go along with the toughness.

For instance, the system is stackable via DeWalt’s mobile modular storage system. Simply stack the boxes on top of each other and use the yellow catch to fasten them all together. Then they can be carried in a stack, or loaded into the optional heavy duty trolley. Each tool box has eyelets for a padlock, so the system is stackable, cartable and lockable.

Let’s now consider what’s inside these ToughSystem boxes.

DeWalt has made available three different models in three sizes.

First off, the little brother of the bunch, the DS150. Measuring in at 158mm x 336mm x 550mm, it’s designed with all of the tough intelligence outlined above, but is more of an organiser box rather than a tool box, although you can strip out the supplied inserts and carry your tools in it should you wish.

Then we have the larger DS300. Again, it’s got the tough exterior, the IP65 rated casing with the rubber seal, with dimensions of 308mm x 336mm x 550mm, providing you with 35 litres of internal space. It can handle loads of up to 60kgs and comes with a removable tote tray to hold your accessories.

Finally, we have the daddy of the bunch, the DS400. This time, along with the IP65 rating, the tough but intelligent exterior, we have a tool box measuring 408mm x 366mm x 550mm, able to carry loads of 60kg in its 55 litre capacityinterior. It’sa beast and it comes with the same tote tray as the DS300, but also includes a removable vertical organiser, as seen in our Power Tool Spy video below:

So, we’ve got a new range of power tools from DeWalt that claim to be tough on the outside, intelligent on the inside. DeWalt have told us that, after extensive research among professional power tool users, they’ve created a new range of tool boxes that are also tough outside and intelligent inside. The boxes are IP65 rated against dust and water, have hinges and handles that aren’t going to break off in a hurry, are constructed of 4mm thick structural foam plastic and will stack together or can be slotted and locked into a versatile trolley.

Maybe Helen wasn’t being silly asking to see more photos after all…

What do you think? Has DeWalt come up with the goods tool box-wise to match the brand new XR cordless power tools?