What the title says. I recently got a roof rack to assist in the "daily driver goes to a track day" New Years resolution, so far I can fit 1x wheel up top which will clear trunk space for my Jack, but now I'm having trouble finding where to put my jackstands, impact, and ratchet set. I currently have a large, unlidded tote that holds all of the above, but doesn't fit anywhere once all wheels and jack is loaded, even with 1x wheel up top.
Essentially I'm looking for a small lidded tote I can strap to the roof rack or carried inside via footwell storage. Any starters?
(btw, my wheels are heavy. They're ~20 lbs without tire, so we'll do a nice round up and say ~45 with tire, 2x wheels is 90 lbs, rack is ~30, roof has a limit of 150 lbs, I'm not comfy pushing it to ~130lbs, especially because my CoG is now very high up)
Harbor Freight has many Pelican Case style boxes. What jack stands. Are you using the small aluminum units with the octagon base?
Instead of bigger box, buy smallest jackstands and smallest tools
In reply to John Welsh :
Standard design jackstands. https://www.harborfreight.com/3-ton-aluminum-jack-stands-91760.html
also, I'm not looking for bigger box, I'm looking for smaller one! I don't know if I was clear in my request. I have one of the harbor freight 3/8" drive ratchet sets that comes in the folding box, and the impact driver also comes in a nice and small case. The only thing I can reasonably downsize are the jackstands, and even then I'll still need a box. I'll look at HF's pelican style boxes.
In reply to John Welsh :
Oh, I quite like that. I quite like that a lot. Then tool roll, jackstands, and impact can live on the floorboard/footwell.
How much other stuff are you bringing? The stuff you described sounds like it all fits on the passenger seat floor easily.
mtn
MegaDork
1/18/22 6:47 p.m.
Maybe a packout box? https://www.milwaukeetool.com/Products/Storage-Solutions/PACKOUT/48-22-8426
Or a bucket: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-12-in-30-Pocket-Heavy-Duty-Bucket-Jockey-5-Gallon-In-Bucket-Storage-Tool-Bag-HD10030-TH/312387482
Or if you need the lid, consider an ice fishing bucket. Then you have a seat as well. Look up some of the custom DIY ones for ideas; obviously you'd need to adjust them, but they're pretty damn versatile.
In reply to dps214 :
The thing is I want as few unload operations as possible.
1x remove jack
4x remove wheels
1x remove tools/jackstand (this is where I need a tote)
I didn't think about the bucket, that's actually super efficient. Stacks parts vertically instead of horizontally so it can sit on the floorboard, and doubles as a seat.
j_tso
HalfDork
1/18/22 7:35 p.m.
^similar to the packout box mentioned above, a tool trolley, though I bet the bottom compartment is just undersized for jackstands. Here's a bigger one
I'm not typically the safety guy; been accused of the opposite often, but don't put stuff in the footwell that can become a projectile. Never thought about it until I saw what happened the the interior (luckily missing the driver) when a service truck that had a 1" impact on the passenger rolled over. Not a pretty picture and it punched a hole in the door when it was done bouncing around. Just no.
Damn, I didn't think about that. Ok, so it needs to go on the roof. Looks like it'll be a small pack out box, then. Most likely will strap the wheel down, put the box on top, and then strap the box down.
basically this is all the tooling I need to bring; if I can have this condensed into a single tote that'd be great. I want everything to be organized into one toolbox because I like organization.
chandler said:
I'm not typically the safety guy; been accused of the opposite often, but don't put stuff in the footwell that can become a projectile. Never thought about it until I saw what happened the the interior (luckily missing the driver) when a service truck that had a 1" impact on the passenger rolled over. Not a pretty picture and it punched a hole in the door when it was done bouncing around. Just no.
I was just about to post a similar warning. I've seen too many injuries from unsecured stuff in the passenger compartment to not feel squeamish about it.
You could however, add some tiedown points and secure stuff in the footwell.
As far as storage containers are concerned, I'm a big fan of the Rubbermaid Roughneck tubs. I've got some that carried in the bed of my trucks for a couple of decades. I don't know how they hold up under UV but they do well temperature extremes and they stack nicely. If they're on the roof you'd need to make sure that the lid is tied down but, otherwise they might be a good option.
Along the lines of the milwaukee rolling box above, RIGID/home depot has their own line and they have three sizes (well, only one with the wheels) that all latch together. Waterproof, has SOME organization in the smallest box (cant recall on the others). And not too much money.
Are the jackstands a necessity?
In reply to hybridmomentspass :
Yes, track has a "all jacked cars must use at least one jack stand" policy. I bring two just in case. Don't really need organization if I use the boxes the ratchet/impact set comes in or have a tool roll up.
hunter47 said:
In reply to hybridmomentspass :
Yes, track has a "all jacked cars must use at least one jack stand" policy. I bring two just in case. Don't really need organization if I use the boxes the ratchet/impact set comes in or have a tool roll up.
That's a good policy. I once jacked up the rear of my 95 Camaro to put drag radials on it at Milan. I used a floor jack under the diff, the problem is I was on dirt, and the jack sank and twisted. It peeled part of the diff cover off in the process. Lesson learned.
Oh wow, that's nuts
Ok, well maybe a trip to your local HD might find you a sturdy rolling box that'll fit everything for a low price.
Can you get a Yakima or Thule cargo box for the roof and just take it off once you get to the track? These show up on FB Marketplace all the time for $150-$300:
In reply to dj06482 (Forum Supporter) :
I had just bought a basket lol
In reply to dj06482 (Forum Supporter) :
I was going to propose the same... a Yakima or Thule aero cargo carrier on the roof. They're very easy to put on/off the car with two people. If you plan properly you can probably get one that fits a couple of your wheels too. I don't know how far you drive to get to the track, but the wind noise and drop in mileage that goes with big square things on the roof of the car makes me mental.
mtn
MegaDork
1/19/22 3:34 p.m.
I dunno. I think that some good risk management needs to be put to use here. You're not driving this car every day, and if you are, you're not driving it with the possible projectiles in it every day. It is only for autocross/track days. The chances of something happening are so low that little mitigation is necessary because the risk is essentially zero.
If you're really concerned about it, secure the toolbox/bucket with some paracord and one of these to the seat rail. Might have to attach an eyebolt to the bucket if you're going that route. Add the lid, and I'd think you've mitigated the risk close enough to zero.
The food old fashioned USGI approved and tested canvass tool bag.
We had these on the submarine to tire tools to the equipment being worked.
I have one in my truck right now with a full socket set, small wrench set, pliers set and a set of screwdrivers.
https://www.amazon.com/Rothco-10634-Coyote-Mechanics-Tool/dp/B000T8ERZ2/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?crid=3OPXPZQBPTKXX&keywords=canvas+tool+bag&qid=1643591867&sprefix=canvass+tool%2Caps%2C90&sr=8-4
