Vehicle Systainer Storage (aka- VehiclePort)

[FesGeek]

Starting this thread as a journal to my latest Festool inspired project....the VehiclePort

The Prelude...I want to get rid of this mess.  Tools get mangled, bruised, and out of order!

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This is the old way I was transporting my screws...how...ummm...dumb

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Where the tools must fit...I know...what are you thinking, but it's what you get when you make the choice to buy quality tools before a van.

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All the hardware is in so the drawer...excuse me...VehiclePort can be made

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Now its the most important...the pretty green stuff...the SYStainers!!!  (Thanks to FestoolJunkie.com)

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The Plan: 

1) Build two cabinets
-----1a)One to house the 60" slide for Sys3 and under systainers
-----1b) One to house the Sys5's

2) Build area for storage of guide rails

3) Allow storage for the MFT 800

4) Allow enough room to transport Delta miter saw (to be replaced with Kapex ASAP)

5) Use every nook and cranny for some sort of efficient storage!

Phew...that's enough work for the night....updates to come...stay tuned...........

 

[ericbuggeln]

Fesgeek, I am going to be doing something similar over the next few weeks in a box van I just got.  You just made me realize that I need to step up my game.  Don't even have slides yet.  Do you or anyone else know if drawer slides advertised as self closing will remained closed while driving? 

 

[Matthew Schenker]

FesGeek,
Good start!  This is a great idea for the forum -- showing a sort of live development of using Festool tools.
Keep it going.
Matthew

 

[Frank Pellow]

It's going to be fun and instructive to watch this project.  I wish you success in creating a well organized vehicle.

 

[ericbuggeln]

fesgeek, i just looked at your pics of tools and it looks eerily the same as mine.  Sometimes you just gotta pull it all out in order to organize.  This will be a new deal for me.  I used to have a dakota with trac rac, but no real organization.  Where did you get your sliders?  Are you planning on using LR - 32 Sys?  can't decide if I can trick myself into "needing it"  right now.  By the looks of all the great tutorials it seems like a good opportunity to really learn how to use the system.  Timmy c probably needs to fire up my bank card. Heading to plywood dealer tomorrow first thing and will be taking pics all weekend.  Good luck

 

[FesGeek]

I figured I would share in the fun of the creation...and maybe give some useful info in the process.  Thanks for the positive feedback, will help me keep up on the journal throughout the project.

ericbuggeIn:  I am just going to use an earth magnet, a push latch, or a hinged wood bar with a latch.  There are some slides out there that push open that can hold your slides shut while driving, but I could not use them because the lengths I needed are out of the "standard" length range.  The slides I got are Knape & Vogt slides...2 pairs of 28" and one pair of 60" (KV 8900). Yes I am going to use the System 32 jigs to put the system holes in (though the norm in my business is to outsource someone else to build the cabinet boxes).  Timmy C is an awesome Dude...hooked me up and became a member in my association, he will be in charge of my FesTool money from now on.  If you ever need assistance or have questions, just shoot them my way!

The wife is gone, the kid is down, tonight I work on building the VehiclePort in virtual world.

Wish me luck and thanks for the support!

FesGeek

 

[The Dude]

FG, lookin' like you have a good handle on things.  Can't wait to see this project evolve as well!

Timmy C

 

[Texastutt]

I'm can't wait to see what happens here either. Parts of my tools looks like your little "mess". BTW I love my Systainer #1's with the coloured boxes... My sparky just had me order two for him...

 

[ericbuggeln]

FG, this is why your mess reminded me of mine

 

[ericbuggeln]

this is preliminarily where I think each of the main items will go

 

[ericbuggeln]

I need to figure out how to post pics with descriptions.
My plan is to have all festools together in the back b/c they are lighter then saws and compressor.  The other half of this side is going to be a small work table or "skinny mft" (I'm still figuring this one out), but underneath will be shelving for all other tools with their own cases and ct 22.  I also want to have a bunch of small drawers for hand tools directly below.  The other half of this side is going to be stands, saw horses, step stool, etc.  I am getting a rousseau table saw stand w/outfeed soon and also will need room for kreg precision measuring system wings which are in the works.  This leaves me right about at the wheel wells depth on each side and able to put sheet goods in middle.  I will also use this space for tools that don't go with me everyday - tile saw, paint sprayer, pressure washer, etc.  I was able to get miter saw stand, zipwall and levels up top with bungees and will see how that rides.  As far as festools, i will obviously need room for more and by that I mean all of the ones I don't currently own.  The blue tape line is in the 37-39" range that seems like it would be a convenient  height for cabinetry.  I don't plan on doing a ton of work in there, but it would be nice to be able to and have a place for laptop, chargers, etc.
My main reasons for wanting the van and custom cabinetry are obvious- organization and so everything has a safe home.  I am thinking the festools will be in a triple sysport layout.  I was thinking shop birch ply, frameless euro cab style pocket holed directly into the floor boards for stability.  I talked to the manufacturer of the box and they said that I shouldn't attach anything to the fiberglass walls(the previous owner had put three holes in each side that hold up a metal runner that his shelving was attached to.  I wasn't able to get to plywood dealer this weekend b/c I was selling my 98 dodge piece of crap, but really want to get this done so I will be posting progress, any comments or suggestions would be appreciated, thanks eric

 

[FesGeek]

Wow man...that's going to be one heck of a mobile workshop!  If you are planning on a lot of cabinetry, there is a foam core "ply" material now. I have not worked with it yet, but I would think it would work just fine if you figure out the best methods to get the most rigid construction.  I contemplated getting a box truck or a truck/trailer combo, but they did not work to be the most efficient setup for me.  I want to be able to attach the enclosed trailer when I have a delivery, but after that, I only need my tools so hauling a trailer around just for tools would be a waste of gas and headache (b/c of worrying about the trailer). So I am going to go with a Diesel E-350 Van and an enclosed trailer once I get the funds saved.

Looks like about the same pile tools.  I wish DeWalt would allow you to order the Systainer like they have in Europe!

I am in training this week for the design software I use so I won't be able to to make any updates on the VehiclePort until next week.

 

[ericbuggeln]

Fesgeek, i need to thank you for starting a fire under my ass.  In connecticut it's still pretty cold to work in garage shop without gloves, but in a month I will be nuts til xmas.  Right now i have three guys painting the interior of a 4000 sq ft home and this is something I don't need to really manage, so I have to get it done now.  I definately don't have $ for slides and pulls right now.  Unfortunately I'm really tight on money until contract season hits (about 1 month).  I'm hopefully signing a contract on fairly large mahogany deck real soon and would change everything. 
There is a new hardwood dealer in my area that I have heard nothing but good things about and am going to enquire, about strength to weight ratios on specialty ply b/c of gas issues.  The project will definitely go down in sections on an as needed basis.  The one area will only be a "tool stand corral" that has some type of hold back.  One issue is that everything has to be tied into the floor, not the walls.  One side will have festool cabs to tie into and other will be workbench with shelving underneath.  Will this be enough support for side to side movement?  Should I put right against the fiberglass walls or leave a bit.  I was thinking kreg pocket hole screwing everything together and to the floor boards.  Weight of tools might be enough to hold em in place.
I got the van for $8800.00 out the door and sold my dodge for $2000.00.  At 87,000 miles I feel like i'm stealing.  Adrien steel wants $2500.00 for the remodelers package, so I think I can do it for less then that, customized.  Thanks for support, eric

 

[FesGeek]

Alright...it's cut time.  I finally have time to get around to get this project rolling again.  I have the cutlists and diagrams.  This is the idea: drawers for the systainers and the flat area for the power miter saw, vacuum, and air compressor.  Plus a hinged access on the right for long item storage.

Software Screenshot (don't worry, the small pullouts won't be in those locations, that is just where they live in software land)
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[Eli]

ericbuggeIn:  I am just going to use an earth magnet, a push latch, or a hinged wood bar with a latch. 

May I be the first to suggest that you incorporate a steel bar across the drawer fronts that you can padlock. If you made a upside down squared U shape of 3"steel flat bar, and had the ends at the bottom 'tongued' with smaller bar, it could fit into two slots on either side (bottom). An upright slot in the top middle can fit over a padeye or half link of chain welded in a plate. In use, it's locked. At work, it's removed entirely for the day and stowed. Any machine shop or better yet a buddy with a grinder/chop saw/mig would make short work of it. Ask me for more info if you're interested and I'll post more description. Almost every locking cart on every grip truck I've worked on or built has used some variation of this and it is way effective.

 

[Texastutt]

ericbuggeIn:  I am just going to use an earth magnet, a push latch, or a hinged wood bar with a latch. 

Ask me for more info if you're interested and I'll post more description. Almost every locking cart on every grip truck I've worked on or built has used some variation of this and it is way effective.

I'm asking... I do think I know what your talking about, but I would like to be clear. I'm watching this thread as I plan to redo my trailer latter this summer (last summer I just slapped in cheap ply to hold stuff till I knew what I wanted.

 

[Eli]

Tell me the size and config of the drawers or doors you want to lock up and I'll splain you sumthin'.

 

[Texastutt]

Right now I don't have an idea, but I think I'm going to make drawers or slots/trays which will hold Systainers in my trailer. I'm waiting on this thread to get to the van with photos of the finished VehiclePort before I decide what I'm going to do.

 

[ericbuggeln]

Texastutt, I am unfortunately doing the van in quadrants and the sysports will be the finale.  There is a leak that ends right above the sysports home and I'm still working on plugging it.  Also the staked systainers don't really slide around at all, so the only reason I'm doing the three sysports is because it will be easier for me to grab tools.  When I'm on site (all remodeling) I generally work in driveway right around van or in garage where I back van up, so I don't normally have to move tools to far, as opposed to many on this site who probably haul up to second floor or even leave tools on site.  I'm trying to make this van a small addition of my garage shop, so I can use tools by day and night/weekends with the least amount of forgetfulness.  I've also got a dream package from Timmy c coming Monday that includes a Domino and Hole drilling set, amongst others that will allow me to make these sysports really rock.  I will be in garage/van all weekend and will post pics.  My wife will be gone all next week and I plan on Dominating. 

 

[ericbuggeln]

ericbuggeIn:  I am just going to use an earth magnet, a push latch, or a hinged wood bar with a latch. 

May I be the first to suggest that you incorporate a steel bar across the drawer fronts that you can padlock. If you made a upside down squared U shape of 3"steel flat bar, and had the ends at the bottom 'tongued' with smaller bar, it could fit into two slots on either side (bottom). An upright slot in the top middle can fit over a padeye or half link of chain welded in a plate. In use, it's locked. At work, it's removed entirely for the day and stowed. Any machine shop or better yet a buddy with a grinder/chop saw/mig would make short work of it. Ask me for more info if you're interested and I'll post more description. Almost every locking cart on every grip truck I've worked on or built has used some variation of this and it is way effective.

Eli, I have come to notice that I like your style and would love any additional intel on these locks.  I briefly talked to Mirko and he seemed to think they would work well.  i am lucky enough to do work all in one town that I grew up in and have never really heard of thefts and in my career feel there is no real danger of it.  I also live a quarter of a mile from the road and people around these parts know me as a badass, so I just need drawers to keep drawers from flying around.  Look forward to your advice.