What Should a Van Tool Box Have if You Carry Expensive Kit?
Say you open the van doors at 6.45am and half the kit is exactly where you left it, the other half somewhere under a tarp. A van tool box should end that kind of morning. If you carry expensive kit, look for thick steel, a real lock and a lid that behaves.
The ToolSafe Security Box from Workplace Products ticks those boxes on paper, and the product pages give enough detail to judge it properly. Below is what each feature does, in plain words.
Why does steel thickness come first?
Because everything else sits on it. The ToolSafe range is made from heavy gauge steel, 1.5mm thick, and it’s UK manufactured. Thin sheet flexes, and a flexing lid won’t line up with its lock for long. Thickness gives the box a chance to stay square after a few years of being shoved around.
Some sizes, including the H500 x W1200 x D500mm and H1200 x W1200 x D650mm boxes, are listed as fully welded. That’s the kind of detail worth looking for in any box, not just this one.
What should the lock actually be?
An 8 lever safe lock, in this case, and it’s there to prevent unauthorised access. A van tool box with a weak catch is more of a hint than a barrier, so this is the one place not to cut corners. Keep a spare key off site, and don’t tape the main one inside the lid.
On the tallest model, a fixed hinge also prevents access or disassembly. Locks and hinges work as a pair. Beef up one and ignore the other, and you’ve basically built a very tough door with a loose frame.
Does the lid matter that much?
More than you’d think. Gas struts open the ToolSafe lid smoothly and close it safely, which spares your hands and wrists. Anyone who’s had a heavy lid drop while reaching for a socket set knows why. It’s the sort of feature that makes a tool storage box feel properly built.
The product sheet also describes the opening as ergonomic and safe. Not glamorous words, but good ones when you’re bending down with a heavy case in your other hand.
Which sizes suit a van?
The product pages don’t give van fit advice, so measure your own space first. The smaller widths, 850 and 900mm, are the natural place to start. H400 x W850 x D500mm starts from £212.17 ex VAT and H500 x W900 x D500mm from £267.79.
Bigger crews might look at H500 x W1200 x D500mm from £368.73 ex VAT, or H650 x W1200 x D650mm from £471.73. The W1800 box is the longest in the range, from £616.96 ex VAT.
Fork pockets or castors for moving it?
Fork pockets let a forklift lift the box, which suits yards and warehouses. Castors give you the Mobile ToolSafe Security Box, rolled by hand. On the W850 x H400 size, those options cost £255.96 and £312.13 ex VAT respectively.
Heights listed on the pages are for the standard box, so add the extra for wheels or pockets before you commit to a space.
What else is on the spec sheet?
The finish is a dark grey powder coat. The product sheet lists a Reaction to Fire Classification of EN 13501-1, and a 1 year warranty applies to the range. None of it is flashy, but it’s the paperwork a fleet manager or an insurer might ask for.
It’s also worth knowing the range is marketed as best selling, and that the boxes are made for storing and transporting tools. A van tool box that spends its life between sites needs to handle both jobs.
Where does the shelf help?
The H1200 x W1200 x D650mm model has an upper shelf, described on the page as being for storage and organisation of tools. Keep screws and small kit up there, and put the heavier items below.
From £1,029.99 ex VAT, it’s the priciest in the range, and it only makes sense if your kit fills the space. A tool storage box this big is really a small site cupboard.
What are the delivery details?
Stock is listed with delivery in 1 to 2 working days, and free UK mainland delivery applies to orders over £100. Tail lift delivery is available at £16.39 ex VAT.
Workplace Products has been going since 1972, and says it brings over 43 years of manufacturing experience to its range.
FAQs
What is a van tool box?
A locked box for carrying and storing tools. The ToolSafe range is made for storing tools on site and transporting them.
What lock does it have?
An 8 lever safe lock, designed to prevent unauthorised access.
Do all models have a shelf?
No. Only the H1200 x W1200 x D650mm model has one.
Is a tool storage box available with wheels?
Yes, the range lists a castor option.
Conclusion
A good van tool box comes down to steel, lock and lid. The ToolSafe range offers 1.5mm steel, an 8 lever safe lock and gas struts, in sizes from W850 to W1800. If you’re choosing a tool storage box for expensive kit, those three details are the ones to check first.