For several months, I have been using Makita’s new modular packout system, the Maktrak. I’ve brought the full seven-box configuration with me to many jobsites with various working conditions, which has been a great way to test its durability, versatility, and mobility.
The first challenge for the Maktrak was that my small, older-model Tacoma pickup truck has no tonneau or cap on the bed. That meant that whenever the containers were in the truck, they were exposed to the elements. But rain, sleet, snow, you name it, the Maktrak had me covered. No moisture ever leaked inside. The lid of each container is double lipped with a rubber gasket all the way around, forming a waterproof seal when it is latched. This seal protects against dust and debris, too, when the containers are near a working area on the jobsite or in the shop.
Another feature of the design is that cables connect the lid and base of the large boxes. Even with the bins above full of tools, they prevent the boxes from flipping over. The cables are removable if you ever want to fully remove the lid. The bins all can be locked into each other from the left or right; however, the release lever to disconnect them is on only one side of each unit.
In custom homes, you never know what challenges you’ll be facing when you are doing the finish carpentry, so sometimes you need to improvise. To that end, the Maktrak is the perfect height to double as a worktable or a stand for a piece of machinery, like a thickness planer or router table. I would be interested to see if, one day, Makita releases mounting plates for further customizing the packout with, for example, a small table saw or miter saw.
James Burgess
Makita Maktrak storage modules come in seven styles. The large bins have hinges on two sides for better access and a removable safety wire to prevent tipping.
Labels on the lids clearly warn against using the containers as a step and, while I never used them as that way, they were definitely sturdy enough to accommodate a planer and router table. The lids are a thick, molded plastic and, so far, none have cracked or warped, or appear scratched.
The system lends itself well to customization. Each bin comes with removable trays and dividers, allowing everything to fit snugly. On the rolling tool chest, the large toolbox, and the extra-large extension toolbox, the inside of the lid has slots for Velcro to loop through for organizing the contents even further. When I first received the Maktrak, I transferred every tool in my previous system (from a different manufacturer) to it, plus other tools that were floating around, and I still had room to add more—and I keep finding ways to add even more.
As you load the bins up with tools, you obviously pack on the weight. However, that never seems to be a problem. The design transfers all the weight from the handle down to the wheels so you can easily maneuver the rolling tool chest even with all the other bins stacked on top. The large 9-inch wheels make it easy to pull the whole unit up or down stairs and over extension cords or other debris common on a construction site. Note that the wheels are plastic, so they’re not great for finished floors, or even floors with only light protection.
The added weight can complicate loading it as a unit in and out of the truck. To help with that, the Maktrak’s rolling tool chest handlebar has rubber gecko grip stoppers that are meant to hook onto the end of a tailgate and provide a pivot point when you grab the tool chest from the back end, lift it up, and slide it into the bed. This design reduces the lift strain and makes sliding in all seven boxes, even fully loaded, a breeze.
James Burgess
Using the handle on the rolling tool chest, the author levers the fully loaded stack into the truck as a unit.
Not every construction site is graced with stairs, or easy access, in which case you may need to break the Maktrak down. All the containers have convenient grip points and large handles, making them easy to carry even while you’re wearing gloves.
A concern on the jobsite is security. All the bins that open in two directions have four lockable points, while the containers that open in only one direction have two lockable points. They also have a slot inside meant to store an air tag or similar tracking device so you can keep an eye on your tools.
Overall, the Maktrak is robust and well-designed. While late to the market, Makita has reimagined its storage system with a lot of customization potential. It has already proven itself on the jobsite for me. The cost for all seven pieces shown is $850 at makitatools.com.
James Burgess is a carpenter and cabinetmaker in Ottawa. Follow him at @jbcwoodwork.
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