Lund Duraloader Arched Aluminum Folding Loading Ramps

Lund Duraloader Arched Aluminum Folding Loading Ramps

5/5

Manufacturer: Lund by Realtruck
Model number: Duraloader Arched (Model 602013)
Weight: 28 lbs

Specifications & Features | Lund Duraloader Loading Ramps

Specifications

• Size: ‎71″L x 13″W x 6″H
• Load Capacity: 750 lbs (each ramp)
• Weight: 28 lbs
• Material: Aluminum (6061)
• Producing Country: USA
• Warranty: Limited Lifetime

Features

• Folds in half with integrated carrying handle for easy loading/storing
• Raised edge help prevent wheels from sliding off,
• Extruded “cleated hole” surface provides traction
• Rubberized tailgate protector protects vehicles finish

Folding Arched Design

The largest factor in decreasing the overall effort of loading and unloading a truck bed is the load angle. Vertical lifting of really heavy items (like an ATV or refrigerator) can be near impossible. So, a ramp (and hand truck as required) is an essential tool to help you complete heavy loading. The Lund Duraloader Arched Folding Ramps are an industry best at 10 ft! This means they offer the best load angle which is further pronounced with their arched design. The advantages of an arched design may not seem obvious at first, but they allow for a near horizontal load angle at the edge of the truck tailgate. This decreases any risk of catching a mower deck on the edge of the tailgate or bouncing an ATV if you accidentally give a bit too much gas when transitioning from ramp to bed.

But a 10 ft long ramp can be awkward to move and store, which is why these ramps conveniently fold in half. When folded, the overall length is 71 in. This easily fit into a short bed truck bed (at an angle) as pictured above. The handles were decently placed along the folded ramp’s center of gravity, so they didn’t twist or pull too awkwardly when carrying them.

In addition, these ramps have a stable and padded ramp tongue to make sure that they don’t scratch your tailgate or slide while loading. These were both greatly appreciated features. The only suggestion we had after testing them out though was for Lund to consider beveling or grinding down the edge. It was pretty sharp and naturally protrudes forward when setting up or carrying the ramps around.

Design & Construction Features

Besides a stable and long ramp, we also looked for key safety features. And the Lund Duraloaders again had what we were looking for. First, they had a very effective extruded “cleat grip” design. All this really means is they had upward-punched holes so the hole edges provided grip. It also has the added design feature of making sure liquids flow down and away from the grip surface which is especially important with ice in the winter. Secondly, these ramps have ridged edges to help guide/keep wheels from rolling off the side of the ramp when loading. They are especially effective for smaller wheels (like a hand truck) vs larger wheels like an ATV.

Lund’s Duraloader ramps also have a securing chain to add an extra layer of protection from the ramps unexpectedly pulling away from (and falling off) the truck tailgate. We didn’t use them much when we tested out these ramps though because the foam padding on the bottom of the tailgate tongue worked well for us. Plus, most of our testing was on gravel at a jobsite so the risk of ramp slippage was decreased. But it’s a nice feature to highlight and, in some cases, can play an important role.

Overall Takeaways

Lund Duraloader Loading Ramps make an awesome work truck accessory. They are heavy duty ramps that feel stable and secure even under heavy loads. the cleated traction combined with the extended length make for a secure footing and low load angle that protect both you and your truck from slippage and bottoming out. This is further supported with the raised edges to help keep caster and dolly wheels from rolling off the sides of the ramp. The 6061 extruded aluminum will surely withstand even the harshest elements. And the folding design with the built in carrying handle made it pretty easy to move these around the jobsite and into/out of our work truck. Other than a few sharp aluminum edges to be cautious with we really only had positive takeaways from these Lund Duraloader folding aluminum ramps. They are an overall great investment!

Lund Duraloader Loading Ramps Review is a post from Tool Box Buzz

 Extang Solid Fold ALX Tonneau Cover, 3-Panel, Black

EXTANG SOLID FOLD ALX TONNEAU COVER

4/5

Manufacturer: Extang
Model number: Solid Fold ALX
Weight: 67 lbs.

Features & Specifications | Extang ALX Tonneau Cover

Features

• Solid Aluminum Frame
• Dent/Scratch Resistant EnduraShield Panels
• Textured Matte Black Finish
• Installs Using integrated Jaw Grip Clamps
• One-Handed Rotary Release System

Specifications

• Cover Thickness: 1 in.
• Total Panels: 3
• Bed Access (Stowed): 2/3 Area
• Secured Open: Nylon Straps w/ Clips
• Max Load: 600 lbs (even distribution)
• Weight: 67 lbs.
• Warranty: 5-year limited

Jaw-Grip Attachment Clips

The first advertised feature that caught our eye with the Extang ALX Tonneau Cover was the tool free bed attachment and removal via the Jaw-Grip Attachment clips. Simply explained, they are integrated, threaded clamping clips that are used to secure the first (closest to cab) panel to the inside of the truck bed rails. The Jaw-Grip clamps slide/adjust inside a channel in the cross-brace bar and use a screw action to clamp via a wedge-shaped jaw grip.

They work well and indeed require no tools to secure. Be aware, they are a bit of a forearm workout though. The upside to this design is that short notice removal of the Tonneau Cover can also be done tool free. And there is minimal risk of losing the attachment hardware. This is a big positive compared to other Tonneau Covers that require a wrench or socket to loosen a hex head bolt (which can also be lost).

Rotary Latch System

Let’s start with the rotary latch system. The Extang ALX Tonneau Cover has a one-handed rotary knob located on the driver’s side under the cover. It’s a straightforward yet innovative solution to opening your Tonneau cover. It is attached via steel cables to clips on either side of the cover. This means that a single twist of the rotary knob easily releases both clips. And while the Extang ALX Tonneau Cover only features a single rotary knob, it does have the option of being mounted on either the driver’s or passenger’s side. It was well placed for easy reach. Once we initially adjusted it we found that there was little free play and the operations was smooth and solid. It came as advertised and was a nice upgrade over other styles that use a pull rope design.

While we were very excited about the tool-free installation via the Jaw Grip clamps, we quickly realized the entire installation was not tool free. Specifically, the striker brackets that secure the rotary knob-based latch assemblies must be adjusted and bolted in place. When the cover is removed (via the Jaw Grip clamps) the striker brackets stay attached to the inside rails of the truck bed. This is a minor note, but if you need to remove them as well you will need the supplied Allen wrenches.

Weather Protection Performance

Luckily for the sake of testing, coastal Massachusetts has varied weather patterns. This means that spring storms offer a good test bed for the overall weather protection offered by the Extang ALX Tonneau Cover. The key takeaway is that is works well. It is on par with other aluminum tri-panel tonneau covers we’re tested. It works because of a well-designed combination of hard polymer rubber corners, hinge caps, and snap-on perimeter seals. Of note there is an outer flap style seal and an inner fluted tube style seal. We appreciate this 2-part design because it is likely to hold up better over time.

Don’t expect a waterproof seal and perfectly dry bed though, especially with no clips holding the middle down tight at the seams. After an overnight coastal storm with 20-25 mph winds there was minimal drippage and dampness on the sides of the bed (see pic below). But not enough that we were worried about our tools being damaged during transit or storage.

Security and Durability

This is a critical section for evaluating any high-end Tonneau cover. After all, the security a hard-panel Tonneau cover offers is a main reason for buying one. If you are looking for weather protection or fuel efficiency alone, then a soft Tonneau Cover is a more economical buy. But the solid panels on a hard Tonneau cover slow and deter (not prevent) a would be vandal from breaking into your truck bed.

A keen eye can spot the middle panel sticking up higher than the other 2 panels since it has no securing clips. That being said, it will surely still take significant effort (and draw obvious attention) to pry the middle panel loose as the attachment design for the other 2 panels seems very secure and well made.

In addition, the panels themselves seem rugged and durable. Extang doesn’t disclose the exact composition of the panels. But they are aluminum framed with what seems to be a polycarbonate or fiberglass, coated shell with stiff polystyrene or foam filling (we didn’t cut it up). This creates a rigid yet lightweight panel that is capable of holding 600 lbs evenly disbursed. This Tonneau cover holds up well to the day to day rigors of jobsite work. We set materials and tools on the tonneau cover frequently as we load and unload at the jobsite. This cover, based on our initial few weeks of testing, seems to be up to the durability challenges of jobsite work.

Fit and Accessory Compatibility

The fit was good not great. As mentioned before, the middle panel sits slightly higher that the front and rear panel. That said, it was not overly noticeable. The rigidity provided by 1 in. thick, filled panels also means that this is not a low-profile tonneau cover. Again, this is not a knock on the Extang ALX Tonneau Cover. It is well designed and made but is something users should consider. Lastly, the clips to secure the cover in the open position are solid and simple.

We have no reservations about this cover coming loose, flipping closed, or coming unattached from the rails. The mid-panel security retaining straps offer additional protection against this risk. They are also a tool-free design to again make quick removal of the Tonneau cover a snap.

We were not able to install this cover with ladder rack rails still mounted on our truck. It was about 3/4 in. too wide to accommodate the rails for our Adarac ladder rack rails. But worked great with our SwingCase Truck Storage Boxes though. It may work with a headache rack depending on the rack style and width as it does give some access to the forward stake pockets. It will not work full width truck tool boxes but will work with a slide out style bed storage system such as the Decked System. Again, aside from the ladder rack interoperability challenges, these are fairly consistent compatibility notes for any hard 3-panel Tonneau cover.

Overall Takeaways |  Extang ALX Tonneau Cover

The Extang ALX Tonneau Cover is well-made and easy to operate. It features a smooth and user-friendly rotary knob system to open and close the cover and tool-free Jaw-Grip clamps to attach it. Removing the cover, even unexpectedly on a job site, is simple. We liked the lightweight yet rugged panels; they seem designed to hold up well even if having to occasionally load materials or tools on them. The overall fit of the Extang ALX Tonneau Cover was decent. And it did offer good overall weather protection. If we were only putting a tonneau cover on our work truck or using a slide out bed system, then we would have no reservations about paying $1000 for this cover. And as with any hard Tonneau Cover it is an investment, but the Extang ALX Tonneau cover is by most measures a good one!

Extang ALX Tonneau Cover Review is a post from Tool Box Buzz

GiRAFFE TOOLS Extension Cord & Air Hose Reel Review

50' Retractable Extension Cord Reel & 50' Self-Winding Air Hose

4/5

Manufacturer: GiRAFFE TOOLS
Model number: DE15-14AWG & AWA15
Price: $96.99 & $97.99
Power source: 120V / 300PSI
Motor size: N/A

GiRAFFE TOOLS Extension Cord Reel (14AWG)

Retractable Extension Cord Reel Specifications

• Model: DE15-14AWG
• Size: 12.79″ x 10.94″ x 5.74″
• Watt Limit: 120W
• Voltage / Amps:  125V/10A
• Leader Cord: 5′

Automatic Reel and Swiveling Mounting Plate

The GiRAFFE TOOLS, Retractable Extension Cord Reel has a built-in automatic reel which is very handy for the garage or shop. The reel feels very smooth and so far has worked properly. The mounting plate allows the Reel to swivel so the extension cord can be easily used in whichever direction is needed.

Additional Features

The GiRAFFE TOOLS, Retractable Extension Cord Reel includes a lighted Triple Tap Outlet showing that the plugs are powered. The cord stopper can be adjusted to your desired length. As a result, if mounting on the ceiling, this adjustable stopper will help you position the cord just right. In addition, there is a built-in, resettable circuit breaker for overload protection.

Self-Winding 50′ Air Hose Reel

Self-Winding 50′ Air Hose Reel Specifications

• Model: AWA15
• Size: 14.8″ x 12.52″ x 7.44″
• Max Pressure: 300 PSI
• Voltage / Amps:  125V/10A
• Leader Cord: 3.5′

Automatic Reel and Swiveling Mounting Plate

The Giraffe Tools Self-Winding 50′ Air Hose Reel definitely has its role in keeping things easily accessible and neatly organized. As with the extension reel, simply pull the hose to the desired length for up to 50′ of lightweight hose. A slight tug will allow the reel to self-wind. The reel also is very smooth and self-winds nicely.

Additional Features

Below you will find close-up photographs. Pictured are the adjustable stopper and the self-layering guiding system which allows the hose to reel without binding. The hose is rated for up to 300 PSI and is a lightweight hose that I consider light-duty. The mounting system swivels 180 degrees, allowing the hose to extend to wherever you are working.

Final Thoughts / Buy it now

In conclusion, an auto reel system is excellent for quickly getting power or air where you need it, and quickly reeling it away when done.  The GiRAFFE TOOLS, Retractable Extension Cord, and Self-Winding Air Hose both work smoothly and seem to be of good quality. Each, including 50′ of retractable length, I think that they are a great addition to any garage or shop. The extension reel is priced at $96.99 and the self-winding Air Hose is priced at $97.99. Both reels can be purchased directly from the GiRAFFE TOOLS website by clicking below. In addition, they are also available on Amazon.com.

GiRAFFE TOOLS Extension Cord & Air Hose Reel Review is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Weather Guard Saddle Box Model 127-6-03 Truck Toolbox Review

This tool review features the newly redesigned saddle box truck toolboxes from Weather Guard. The model shown is the Model 127-6-03 aluminum saddle box in a gunmetal gray finish.  This is not the same diamond-plate box you are accustomed to seeing. Weather Guard has brought incredible style, features, and high-tech options to the saddle box line.

Cross-bed style toolboxes are an almost mandatory accessory for anyone in the skilled trades or construction industry, who drives a pickup truck. Since 1968, the Weather Guard name has been synonymous with storage options for pros and consumers. The new saddle box line builds on that Weather Guard legacy started by Mr. Howard Knaack over sixty years ago.

Weather Guard Saddle Box Specs

• Box Dimensions: 72″L x 20.5″W x 18.5″T
• Weight: 90 Lbs.
• Material: Aluminum
• Construction: 5 Piece Welded
• Warranty: Limited Lifetime

Standard Saddle Box Features

In addition to a streamlined and tapered look, the Weather Guard saddle boxes all include two exterior folding tie-down points. The 127-6-03 features a gunmetal grey ARMOR Tuf powder coat finish. This finish is durable and designed to resist fading and wear. In addition to aluminum boxes, the saddle box line is available in steel all steel construction. There are also non-diamond plate options as well as black, white, and polished aluminum finishes. Weather Guard offers an option for whatever your style preferences may be.

In addition to style options, there are additional depth offerings as well. The 127-6-03 is 18.5″ tall and provides approximately 10.5″ of clearance between the bottom of the box and the bed of a newer Chevy 2500 pickup truck. This gap is crucial for allowing the carrying of sheet goods with a short-bed pickup. As pictured above, full sheets of 3/4″ plywood still easily fit in the bed at an angle.

Weather Guard 1KEY ULTRALOCK

Even in the locked position, the cylinder on the Weather Guard saddle box stays in the protruded position. This is different from prior generations of boxes that lock in the inward position.

With 1KEY ULTRALOCK, any Weather Guard toolbox can be coded to the same manual key. The lock systems arrive blank and need to be coded by the individual user. This is done by inserting the key into the blank lockset and rotating it. Once this is done, the lock is now coded to that key. This feature makes setting a single truck with multiple boxes to one key, a breeze. Additionally, fleet managers can key multiple truck boxes to the same master pattern key.

Weather Guard PowerSync Options

PowerSync Interior Truck Box Lights

Working in the dark sucks. Scrambling in the dark, digging through a toolbox, while using your cellphone to search for something really sucks. Thankfully, Weatherguards PowerSync PS8100 interior light kit eliminates this potential suckfest. The LED kit features a strip of bright white lights that completely illuminate the interior of the box.

The lights are activated by this magnetic switch. Once the box lid is fully open, the magnet is positioned to activate the lights. When closing the lid, the lights automatically turn off once the magnet is moved.

PowerSync Remote Keyless Entry

PowerSync brings the luxury of push-button remote keyless entry to the world of truck toolboxes. The Model PS8004 kit includes a key-fob style remote that electronically releases the top lid of the box and actuates it open. Additionally, the keyless entry system works while the box is locked. Now instead of fumbling with manual keys, users can press a button to gain access to the contents of the toolbox.

Sometimes, aesthetics are equally as important as function. Weather Guard seems to get this because every component of the PowerSync accessories are coated in the same beautiful red finish to match the other interior components of the saddle box line. The boxes look cool and also perform very well. A single remote is also compatible with up to three toolboxes on any vehicle.

Installation

Installing the saddle box is straightforward and simple. The included mounting brackets are straightforward and easy to access. However, the installation gets more complicated when including the PowerSync options. The LED light kit and remote entry options both require power. Weather Guard provides users with a couple of different ways of achieving this.

The first option is the PS8003 kit, which ties directly into the trailer hitch wiring harness on a vehicle. This option is extremely quick and easy to access. However, the vehicle that I installed the saddle box on had a fifth-wheel setup where the wiring harnesses are located inside of the truck bed. This made accessing them difficult and not an option. Instead, I used the PS8004 kit and tied the wiring harness into the truck’s fuse box in the front end. While this is a longer route to run wiring, it was still very straightforward and easy to do.

The wiring harnesses were easily secured to the existing vehicle wiring.

All of the included hardware from Weather Guard is of exceptional quality. The provided wire loom as well as all of the other wiring harnesses feature marine-grade connectors. Everything was easy to plug together once routed properly.

Room For Improvement

Overall I found the design of the saddle box to be excellent. The additional light kits and remote opener also add a serious wow factor in addition to enhanced convenience and field performance. The only of concern for me was the lack of shielding for the main electronic control unit.

Pictured above is the computer module that controls the LED lights as well as the remote opener. It must sit inside the box in order to receive the signals from the remote. Weather Guard includes adhesive tape to secure the module inside of the box. The instructions also tell the user to secure it wherever they can find space for it. We ended up putting it in the side pocket of the driver’s side due to a lack of slack in the wiring harnesses.

While this seems like a well-protected position, it also takes up some critical fast-reach space for a truck box. That area is often where I keep gloves, measuring tapes, and other frequently grabbed items. I am also concerned about potentially damaging this module when putting items back. A dedicated space for the control module with some sort of metal shielding for protection would eliminate this issue in the future.

Overall Impression of the Weather Guard Saddle Box

Overall the Weather Guard Model 127-6-03 is an excellent truck box. It features clean modern styling with well-thought-out features. I really love the metal sliding organizer tray inside of the box as well as the two D-ring tie-down hooks on the front of it. Additionally, the ability to add PowerSync options like the LED light kit and remote keyless access make this a truly modern solution for truck storage. An added bonus of the saddle box is that Milwaukee PACKOUT users can store some of their organizers inside of the box without modification. I found that many of my organizers fit perfectly inside the Weather Guard box and the reds and blacks look very good together. As I mentioned before, sometimes aesthetics are equally as important as function.

Price and Availability

Currently, the model 127-6-03 is available for $966.00 at ACME Tools. While a substantial investment, this is an exceptionally well-built, innovative, and American-made toolbox with great features. The PowerSync options are not included but can be added anytime. The keyless entry kit is available for $241.99 and the LED light kit is currently priced at $101.99. Overall these add-ons offer excellent value. Follow the Buy Now link below to purchase a Weather Guard saddle box or any other accessories from our friends at ACME Tools.

Weather Guard Saddle Box PowerSync Toolbox Review is a post from Tool Box Buzz

SwingCase Undercover Swinging Truck Bed Toolbox

SwingCase Undercover Swinging Truck Bed Toolbox

Manufacturer: SwingCase
Price: $398

Features and Specifications | SwingCase Truck Storage Box

Features:

• Locking Latch and Hinge pin
• Easy reach pull out handle
• Maximizes otherwise often wasted space
• Bed elevated to allow for full width panels/sheets
• Easy to remove and reinstall when extra bed space is needed
• One-year warranty

Specifications:

• Material: Poly Plastic
• Outer dimensions: upper case 29” long, lower case 15” long, 8” wide
• Inner dimensions: 15” max depth, 8” min depth
• Recommended Weight Capacity: 75 lbs.
• Price: $398/set (driver and passenger side boxes)

Installation

Installation of our SwingCase Truck Storage Box was very straightforward and easy. It took about 10-15 minutes per side. And all it really required was a socket set and a torx head bit + driver. We removed the taillights first to get access to the through holes pre-drilled where the back hinge plate mounted.

Then we unbolted the pre-installed tie down plates and used the existing torx head bolts to fasten the latching plate right over the top of the tie down plate. This allows you to still use the tie down point if, for instance, you decided to temporarily remove the SwingCase Tool Box.

Overall Performance

The SwingCase rotated out about 130 degrees from the locked position. This made it easy to reach the tray and items on top but we still had to do some leaning to reach items on the bottom of the case. This wasn’t a big deal as it was still a significant improvement from having items slide to the front of the bed and needing to climb in to grab them. This also may not be an issue for tall folks. Overall the swing and locking actions consistently worked great. The SwingCase fit well and was very well sized. If the case was any bigger it might get overloaded easily. If it was any smaller than it wouldn’t fir enough tools/gear to be very practical. So it fit the Goldilocks mantra of being “just right.”

We were pleasantly surprised at just how much stuff we could fit in the SwingCase. The non-standard shape means that not all tools may fit in the case, but overall we got every tool we wanted into the case. We dedicated the drivers side case to hand tools and PPE. The passengers side case was dedicated to straps and ropes.

Key Design Features

Security Features

Let’s start with the locking latch. It functions as both a lock and a latch to open and close the case. We appreciated that the lock and turning latch bezel are both made of metal. We also liked the metal hinges cover flap. This will come in handy in the winter when it prevents snow from getting on the keyhole of an exposed SwingCase Truck Storage Box. Nothing worse than a frozen lock preventing you from getting into your toolbox when its freezing out!

The inside of the lock catch is also made of metal and held in place with a serrated-head locking screw. We had to tighten the screw during installation but it has remained secure since.

Next we want to highlight the smart design of the hinge locking pin. The same key that unlocks the latch on the top also opens and secure the hinge pin. The pin fits in a machined gap in the metal SwingCase hinge assembly after the Storage box hinge female receivers have been lowered over the male hinge plate ears. The whole pin then locks into a groove machined into the face of the hinge plate to keep it secure. Its a simple but effective design. It could be better if this piece was fabricated out of metal. It wouldn’t be difficult to break this pin and remove the storage box with a little effort. A metal locking pin might make this more difficult!

We also appreciate that there is a spot for an optional (and much more secure) padlock. This creates a metal on metal attachment point that is very secure. This was a nice feature SwingCase included for those times when you have higher priced tools or gear loaded up.

Functionality & Ease of Use

First we love the hinged swing design. It was a simple but effective design. All you do is pull the yellow lever and the case swings out. The lever is easy to reach when standing behind the tailgate. It arcs out approx. 130 degrees until the SwingCase body makes contact with the tailgate support cables or the lid makes contact with the tonneau cover (second pic in this section).

One limitation we found was that on the passenger side, a closed Tonneau cover obstructed the SwingCase from fully opening. We were still able to get to our tools without flipping the 3rd section of our Tri-fold Tonneau cover back but had to hold the case open to do so. This wasn’t a critical issue as we normally have the Tonneau cover folded up once we get to the job site but it’s worth pointing out.

Weather Protection

Good news here; the SwingCase Truck Storage Box has a foam seal strip around the entire edge of the lid. Bad news; the locking latch doesn’t pull down tight enough to compress the foam and from a water resistant seal. But the downward protruding lip hangs down almost an inch so any water falling onto the top of the case will naturally run off the case keeping your tools dry. There is no IP rating for the SwingCase though. So while anecdotally it worked well in adverse weather conditions (yes we kept the Tonneau open during a few heavy rain storms to put it through it’s paces), we can’t give you an official “rating.”

Recommendations

There are 2 recommendations for improvement on the SwingCase Truck Storage Box. First, the hinges need to be made of stronger materials like stamped steel or aluminum. We have concerns about the longevity of the plastic hinges as an obvious design weak point. The cost of using better materials here would be minimal and, we think, be well worth the investment. It would also offer increased security as breaking into this tool box would be more difficult with better made hinges. Although we recognize that if someone wants to get into any toolbox they are sure to find a way.

We also recommend a stronger and more secure design for the latch catch. It seems like manufacturing cost, not durability or security were key factors here. The SwingCase is designed as an ambidextrous unit, meaning that its the same box mold for the drivers and passengers side. the Metal latch catch slides into the molded rails and catches on a plastic tab in a cut out space on the metal latch. So even though the lock, latch, and latch catch are all made of metal, the total integrity of the locking system relies on a small molded plastic tab. Not an ideal design for a case that might have some expensive tools in it!

Final Thoughts | SwingCase Truck Storage Box

This is one of the times I regret not buying a tool or accessory sooner. But that comes with a caveat… That’s because I already had a secure Tonneau cover (Check out the TBB LOMAX Stance Review) on my truck. This toolbox is something that will be a quick initial purchase whenever the time comes to upgrade my work truck in the future. It retains critical bedspace by efficiently using otherwise wasted space, stores securely in place, has a ingenious swinging access design, and offers decent weather protection. It is a bit pricey for the overall material quality and design though; The plastic could be heavier duty, with sturdier hinges and a higher quality locking mechanism. We recommend that SwingCase spends the extra couple dollars on these upgrades or drops the price point a bit to compensate. Otherwise this is a well thought out and awesome truck box!

SwingCase Truck Storage Box Review is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Milwaukee USB Stick Light Review – 2128-22

Milwaukee USB Stick Light with Magnet & Charging Dock

5/5

Manufacturer: Milwaukee
Model number: 2128-22
Price: $159.00
Power source: RED LITHIUM
Weight: 1.2LBs

Milwaukee which is known for its cordless tools also has a lineup of LED lighting solutions. The new USB Stick Light provides superior lighting options for equipment and automotive mechanics. It also touches on remodeling contractors like TBB editor Rob Robillard who loves lumen! We all agree with him, more lumen for those of us who venture into the dark spaces.

Milwaukee USB Stick Light Docking Station

The charging dock has a keyhole and magnetic installation options from hanging. When longer run-time is required, users can keep a spare REDLITHIUM USB Battery in the second bay and switch it out.

Here the charging station is hung with the magnetic feature. This is the perfect storage solution in the tool chest or shelving unit in your work van or trailer.

Shown here is the keyhole installation. This is where I store my light in my garage shop. It is next to my charging station and I just run the USB over to one of my chargers and I have power!

Four Output Modes

Featuring four output modes: front, back, dual, and inspection, the light provides users with ultimate control over their beam light. The Stick Light delivers 550 lumens and has a two-hour run time on. The light is designed with 220 degrees of vertical light head rotation.

Milwaukee USB Stick Light on the Job

We recently were working on a 4-family remodel where the electrical had not been finished. On bright sunny days, there was not a light issue, but on these cold and rainy October days here in New England it was tough to see. Here I am trimming out the baseboards in the basement stairways. You can see how dark it is outside of the area being worked in.

The Milwaukee Stick light comes equipped with a magnet on the bottom of the light. This magnet is strong. Working in the same unit,  the inside of the front closets. The magnet on the bottom of the light worked great on the metal corner bead. The adjustable head on the light is great for pointing down or upward to illuminate the area you are working in.

The Milwaukee USB Stick Light also comes with a metal hook at the bottom of the light. This hook folds in flush with the bottom of the handle for storage when not using.

IP45 Rating

What does IP Rating mean? The IP rating or IP code classifies the degree of protection provided by an enclosure, for electrical equipment with a rated voltage. The rating consists of the letters IP followed by two digits, the higher the number the better the protection.  Sometimes a number is replaced by X, which indicates that the enclosure is not rated for that specification. This Milwaukee USB Stick Light is IP54 rated for protection from most chemicals found in the shop or on-site, and impact resistant for drops up to six feet.

First Number
5 – Protected against dust-limited ingress, no harmful deposits.

Second Number
4 – Protected against water splashing from all directions, limited ingress permitted.

Conclusion

Because it is user-focused and invests in game-changing technology, Milwaukee continues to study and create lighting solutions that can adapt to, perform well in, and withstand the demands of professional use.  The Milwaukee Stick Light w/ Magnet is ideal for lighting in tight spaces.  Paired with a slim light blade design and inspection light, this flashlight is perfect for work in tight, poorly illuminated areas. This USB Stick Light with a charging station is going to run you about $160.00 and is Tool Box Buzz Recommended!

Milwaukee USB Stick Light with Magnet & Charging Dock is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Adarac Aluminum Pro-Series Ladder Rack

Adarac Pro-Series Aluminum Ladder Rack

4.5/5

Manufacturer: Agricover
Model number: Adarac Pro Series
Weight: 55 lbs

Features and Specifications | Adarac Aluminum Ladder Rack

Features:

• All-aluminum construction
• Powder coat finish (black or silver)
• Quick install clamp rail system
• Fully adjustable or removable vertical uprights
• Tri-fold Tonneau cover compatible (some models)
• Horizontal cross bar Anti-slip, Anti-vibration rubber strips

Specifications:

• Max weight: 500 lbs
• Cross bar dimensions: 72 in. L x 1-1/2 in. W x 1-1/2 in. H. (66 in. L, mid-size trucks)
• Height: 26 in. (For full-size, above box rail) + 3 in. (optional load dividers)
• Anchorage: Aluminum stake pocket inserts (no drill w/ existing pockets)
• MSRP: $580 (see buy it now link)

Key Design Options & Construction

Materials & Finish

The Adarac Aluminum Ladder Rack (pro-series) features 100% aluminum components. This includes not only the rails, uprights, and horizontal cross bars, but also features aluminum stake pocket brackets and spacers. There was only a single component that wasn’t aluminum, the attachment bolts, and they were stainless steel. On top of this, the rails, uprights and cross bars feature a high-quality powder coat finish. Why is this a big deal? Because these materials and finishes add up to high-quality weather protection for a ladder rack that is continuously exposed to nature’s harshest elements here in New England.

Install & Design

The rail system was easy to install and very secure. I had the locate and cut out the front pocket stakes on my 2021 Ford F150 which was the most tedious part of the install process. Once the spacers and bolt plate are stacked a string is run through offset holes to let you pull it securely into place while bolting it. The bolt spacers slide easily into the rails and inset grooves in the horizontal cross bars. I included the optional tie down and load separator accessory kits on my install and am glad I did.

I also appreciate that the end caps include integrated tie down points as a basic feature. 95% of the time these are all I use to secure a load mounted on the ladder rack. They are made of heavy-duty polymer which I hope will hold up well over time. So far there have been no indications that the plastic will become brittle when exposed to severe weather but that always remains a risk. They are held in by pressure applied via a bolt that applies pressure from an inside-the-rail sliding bracket. There is a minimal risk of this loosening over time and the end caps falling off but again this hasn’t been an issue yet. So far so good!

Optional Accessories

The optional tie down allowed me to add 2x tie down locations on both the left and the right rails. This allows me to easily throw ratchet straps up and over and loads on the rack and apply ample downward pressure to make sure they are tightly secured. The load separators, which feature nice rubber-dipped protective sleeves for marring protection and decreasing load vibration, include 2x separators per horizontal cross bar. They bolt on securely from the bottom and have remained firmly in place even when my ratchet straps have applied decent side load pressure. They also offer an additional tie down point!

Overall Performance

First things first, I have been thoroughly impressed with the Adarac Aluminum Ladder Rack (pro-series). It is extremely secure and had no obvious give or buckling even with over 350 lbs of lumber and steel loaded and strapped down. The rubber anti-vibration insert strips have kept loads from sliding around. The toothed-flange bolts have remained securely in place on the side rails with zero noticeable loosening of the vertical uprights over the past couple months of steady use.

One recommendation I have is to keep a spare rachet and socket in your vehicle in case the need arises to remove the uprights while driving. I learned this lesson the hard way when I was caught without a way to quickly remove the rack and it rubbed on an entryway to a parking garage in Boston. User error!

Tonneau Cover Compatibility

The Agricover website, the manufacturer of the Adarac aluminum ladder rack states that it:

Works with LOMAX Folding Hard Covers, ACCESS^® Roll-Up Covers and most inside the rail tonneau covers.

While this is technically true it is also a bit misleading. The first LOMAX Tonneau I tested (see the TBB video review here) was the LOMAX Stance model, which has the great feature of storing vertically to retain almost complete open bedspace. The LOMAX stance is NOT compatible with the Adarac Aluminum ladder rack (pro-series) since the upright closest to the truck cab impedes the vertical clearance of the LOMAX stance to store upright. Realtruck.com customer service, our LOMAX and Adarac rack supplier, was great to work with and quickly implemented this feedback to update their website description to clarify this point in the Adarac rack description. Agricover has not made any updates yet, hence why the quote above is misleading.

All this being said, I also tested the Adarac aluminum ladder rack with a standard LOMAX aluminum tri-fold tonneau cover installed and, while the clearance is tight (3/16 in.), it works great. It can also be used with the LOMAX stance version as long as you are willing to sacrifice the vertical storage feature.

Overall Impression | Adarac Aluminum Ladder Rack

Overall, I am quite pleased with the Adarac Aluminum Laddeer Rack (pro-series). It feels extremely solid, has a great, weather resistant finish, offers quality (albeit optional) accessories, and even comes in a silver or black finish. At $580 it’s not a cheap truck add on, but for anyone frequently hauling bulky construction or fabricating materials, it’s a pretty essential upgrade. It doesn’t offer the cab overhang design, but that wasn’t something I wanted. It is a no frills, reliable option for an easily adjustable 2-bar style ladder rack. And one that seems destined to hold up well over time. Check out Realtruck.com at the link below for more details!

Adarac Aluminum Ladder Rack Review is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Magnum Rear Rack System Review

Magnum Rear Rack System

Manufacturer: The Shyft Group - Magnum
Model number: Rear Rack System
Price: $449.00

Anyone who utilizes their truck to move longer products will benefit from a rack system. Back rack systems are incredibly versatile and are becoming increasingly popular among contractors who need ladders and other equipment, as well as outdoorsmen lugging their canoes, kayaks, and other gear.

Installing on My Ford F150

Installation on the Rear Rack System took just a few minutes and a 1/2″ socket and socket wrench. The rear rack kit comes with 4 black powder-coated installation clips which secure the vertical legs to your bed rail. Tightening them down with socket now you can move to install the rear rack tub with the same size bolts. Once these were secured you can add the quick-adjust cargo stops in and boom installation is complete.

Matching the Rear Rack System Up to Your Headache Rack

If you decide to add this system to your truck there will be some information you are going to need. You will need to know what size height you are going to need. The rear racks come in 4 sizes; 11″, 14″, 17″ and 20″. You need to make sure that the rack is slightly lower than the headache rack you are pairing it up with. This will ensure that your long goods will not hit the roof of your truck if or when it bounces. For my install, I needed to use the 17″ vertical legs.

Glide Track System

The rear rack system comes with Magnum’s Glide Track system. This system allows for quickly securing loads like ladders, piping, or long pieces of lumber. The quick-adjust cargo stops slide into the Glide Track System and are easily maneuvered to cater to the side load you are carrying.

Safe and Secure

It is your obligation to ensure the safety of your shipment. There’s no denying that the Magnum RRS keeps your stuff safe. These racks are made of robust aluminum and will carry the weight you need! While we haven’t put a huge or heavy load on our system, we have utilized it to transfer ladders and materials for framing.

Magnum Rear Rack System Review is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Cordless Mid-Torque Impact Wrench Head-2-Head

In standard fashion, the Tool Box Buzz crew got together to plan out our Head-2-Head tests based on new tool releases and your feedback. And Cordless Mid-Torque Impact Wrenches were near the top of our list. The impact wrench is an incredibly versatile tool that provides unparalleled torque and power for working with large fasteners and bolts. We use them on the jobsite early and often! This Head-2-Head in particular provides an in-depth look at the power, performance, ergonomics, features, and more for the current range of leading manufacturer cordless mid-torque impact wrenches.

An impact wrench is indispensable to many other skilled trades workers, amateurs, and tinkerers, and is a mainstay of the mechanic’s toolbox. Furthermore, cordless technology adds simplicity and portability to a tool that was previously bound by an air-hose leash.

Our Professional contractor-based ToolBoxBuzz crew decided to evaluate the current cordless mid-torque impact wrenches to determine just how capable they really are. We put a total of nine different makes and models through a series of tough and baseline tests. This wide testing field covers everything from well-known professional brands to some surprising homeowner and value brands.

In order to get real-world and professional user feedback, we took our tools on-site; to the Dalling Construction company. Dalling specializes in large site work projects as well as utility construction and paving jobs. The Dalling family was kind enough to allow us to use their yard as well as test our cordless mid-torque impact wrenches on some of their industrial equipment. We also recruited some heavy equipment service mechanics to assist with evaluating the tools. They were pretty excited to join our crew for the Day!

Defining Mid-Torque

The range of cordless impact wrenches available right now is huge. These tools ultimately fall into one of three classes – low, medium (or mid), and high torque. A mid-torque offering is capable of handling the majority of common fasteners found on job sites, shops, and industrial settings.

When deciding on our sample criteria for this Head-2-Head, the crew realized that we needed to limit the tools tested to those within a defined range. We chose fastening torque as our limiting factor and set the acceptable range from 300-550 Ft/Lbf. This range best represented what we consider “mid-torque” while being compact and portable enough for a variety of applications. This torque range will also easily handle most common fastener applications while still being able to punch up to the occasional heavy application.

The Head-2-Head Lineup

Craftsman V20* 1/2″ 20V

• Model: CMCF900B
• Fastening Torque: 350 Ft/Lbf
• Busting Torque: Unpublished
• RPM: 1700
• IPM: 2500
• Bare Tool Weight: 4.66 Lbs.
• Battery Tested: V20 4.0 Ah
• Anvil Type: Friction Ring
• Motor Type: Brushed

DEWALT 20V MAX* XR 1/2″ Mid Range

• Model: DCF896B
• Fastening Torque: 330 Ft/Lbf
• Busting Torque: Unpublished
• RPM: 2000
• IPM: 3100
• Bare Tool Weight: 3.48 Lbs.
• Battery Tested: 20V MAX 5.0 Ah
• Anvil Type: Friction Ring or Detent Pin
• Motor Type: Brushless
• Warranty: 3 Year Limited

DEWALT Atomic 20V Max*  1/2″

• Model: DCF921B
• Fastening Torque: 300 Ft/Lbf
• Busting Torque: 450 Ft/Lbf
• RPM: 2500
• IPM: 3550
• Bare Tool Weight: 2.4 Lbs.
• Battery Tested: 20V MAX XR 4.0 Ah
• Anvil Type: Friction Ring or Detent Pin
• Motor Type: Brushless
• Warranty: 3 Year Limited

Makita 18V LXT 1/2″ Mid-Torque

• Model: XWT18XVZ
• Fastening Torque: 520 Ft/Lbf
• Busting Torque: 740 Ft/Lbf
• RPM: 2200
• IPM: 2700
• Bare Tool Weight: 5.31 Lbs.
• Battery Tested: 18V LXT 5.0 Ah
• Anvil Type: Friction Ring or Detent Pin
• Motor Type: Brushless
• Warranty: 3 Year Limited

Metabo SSW 18 LTX 600

• Model: US602198550
• Fastening Torque: 450 Ft/Lbf
• Busting Torque: 665 Ft/Lbf
• RPM: 1600
• IPM: 2200
• Bare Tool Weight: 5.5 Lbs.
• Battery Tested: CAS 18V LiHD 5.5 Ah
• Anvil Type: Friction Ring
• Motor Type: Brushed
• Warranty: 3 Year Limited

Milwaukee M18 FUEL 1/2″ Mid Torque

• Model: 2962-20
• Fastening Torque: 550 Ft/Lbf
• Busting Torque: 650 Ft/Lbf
• RPM: 2575
• IPM: 3100
• Bare Tool Weight: 3.5 Lbs.
• Battery Tested: M18 REDLITHIUM XC 5.0 Ah
• Anvil Type: Friction Ring or Detent Pin
• Motor Type: Brushless
• Warranty: 5 Years

Porter-Cable 20V MAX* 1/2″

• Model: PCC740B
• Fastening Torque: 330 Ft/Lbf
• Busting Torque: Unpublished
• RPM: 1700
• IPM: 2500
• Bare Tool Weight: 4.6 Lbs.
• Battery Tested: 20V MAX* 4.0 Ah
• Anvil Type: Friction Ring
• Motor Type: Brushed
• Warranty: 3 Year Limited

Ridgid 18V OCTANE 1/2″

• Model: R86011B
• Fastening Torque: 485 Ft/Lbf
• Busting Torque: 620 Ft/Lbf
• RPM: 2600
• IPM: 3500
• Bare Tool Weight: 3.75 Lbs.
• Battery Tested: 18V MAX Output 4.0 Ah
• Anvil Type: Friction Ring
• Motor Type: Brushless
• Warranty: 3 Year Limited

Ryobi ONE+ HP 1/2″

• Model: P262
• Fastening Torque: 450 Ft/Lbf
• Busting Torque: 600 Ft/Lbf
• RPM: 2800
• IPM: 3200
• Bare Tool Weight: 3.75 Lbs.
• Battery Tested: 18V One+ 4.0 Ah
• Anvil Type: Friction Ring
• Motor Type: Brushless
• Warranty: 3 Years

Selecting the Proper Accessories

We realized that adequate automotive-grade impact-rated sockets were essential for extracting the absolute peak performance from this equipment. When it comes to getting professional-grade results on a project, choosing the right blade or drill bit is crucial, and the same goes for sockets. Impact wrenches apply a tremendous amount of force and punishment to the sockets to which they’re attached. To fully utilize the tool’s power, the torsional force, as well as the impact of the anvil, must be adequately delivered to the bolt or fastener.

A non-impact rated standard socket will round off, deform, or possibly shatter and explode when exposed to this amount of force. Impact-rated sockets are forged from high-grade steel, with thicker walls, and improved geometry. This protects the fastener and the tool from being damaged while also ensuring the safety of the user.

The crew selected the Milwaukee SHOCKWAVE Impact Duty 1/2″ 6-Point sockets to be our testing sockets for all of the tools. These sockets are optimized for performance in Heavy-Duty applications. Each tool was outfitted with a matching Milwaukee socket during testing to ensure consistency in performance. Overall these sockets are of excellent quality with large easy to read ink-filled markings. The dual-hole design also made it easier to switch out sockets on our tools with detent pin anvils.

Cordless Mid-Torque Impact Wrench Scoring Criteria

1. Power – Measured breaking torque capability under high demand.
2. Speed – Timed breaking torque performance application.
3. Torture Test – High demand performance fastening torque application.
4. Ergonomics
5. Features
6. Decibel Output
7. Price

Breaking Torque

The bread and butter of impact wrenches is their ability to break a stuck or corroded fastener loose. This keeps an individual’s knuckles from getting busted using a wrench or having to put lengths of pipe on a breaker bar for extra leverage. The convenience and portability of cordless make this an even easier task to accomplish. In order to put this power to the test, we created some special test jigs.

To give us a solid, repeatable, work surface, we made a portable jig that could be secured in a vise on-site. This jig is made from a large slab of steel with cutouts for bolts to pass through as well as a chamfer on the backside to lock the nuts in place. We paired this testing jig with a set of heavy-duty Grade 8 steel bolts, nuts, and washers. The bolts are 1 1/4″ in diameter by 3 1/2″ long with a 1 7/8″ hex head. A bolt this large is capable of withstanding 1,875 Ft/Lbf of force. We chose such a large bolt in order to withstand the repeated application of torque during testing, while still fitting our test rig.

In order to torque these bolts to the desired spec, we used a B-RAD Select BL cordless torque system. This digitally controlled tool is capable of applying the desired amount of tightening torque to a bolt effortlessly. The digital torque gauge allows the user to dial in the torque spec in ten-pound increments. By using a 1″ drive impact socket, the RAD tool then applies the torque with the assistance of a steel counterbalance lever. The RAD then automatically stops once the torque spec is achieved. It was a really cool experience using this tool!

During the test, a bolt was assigned to each tool and placed in the jig. The bolt was then torqued to the published breaking torque spec for each tool. Unfortunately, Craftsman, DEWALT, and Porter-Cable do not publish this value so it took some trial and error. Once the bolt was torqued, our impact wrenches were fitted with a 1 7/8″ impact socket and switched to their highest setting. We then applied breaking torque to the bolts with the impact wrench for ten seconds to see if the tool could break it loose. If it was unsuccessful, the bolt was loosened and the torque value lowered ten pounds, and reapplied with the RAD.

We chose to limit each run to ten seconds after discussing the test with several heavy service mechanics. They all agreed that if the tool couldn’t perform the task in ten seconds, then they would stop and switch to a larger or traditional pneumatic tool.

Our top-performing tool in this category is Makita. While the Makita has a published breaking-force torque of 740 Ft/Lbf, we were able to successfully break loose the bolt at 700 Ft/Lbf. This variation in the numbers is consistent with the extra-large hardware and accompanying impact socket. Despite that, the Makita powered through our test! Not only was the Makita our strongest performer, but it also broke the 700 Ft/Lbf bolt loose in well under ten seconds. This was remarkable to our entire test crew.

Metabo took second place breaking loose 660 Ft/Lbf which was within five pounds of its published spec. The Metabo is definitely large and in charge. While larger and heavier than every other tool tested, it hits with authority. After performing the test, the Metabo became our admin tool to reset the jig every time due to its smooth and powerful performance.

Milwaukee took third place breaking loose 610 Ft/Lbf, which was forty pounds less than its published spec. The Milwaukee was a consistent performer and a crew favorite throughout the testing process.

Craftsman, DEWALT, DEWALT Atomic, and Porter-Cable all finished towards the bottom of our test pool. Ridgid and Ryobi threw up some impressive numbers, but they were far less than the published spec. Additionally, the Ridgid overheated during the testing process severely. It shut down completely and was set aside for almost an hour before it was able to function again and finish the test.

The Ryobi tool died unexpectedly. While performing the test, the tool shut off after impacting for approximately six seconds. All of the lights flashed and the tool wouldn’t work again. We switched batteries, allowed the tool to cool, and still experienced the same issue. The tool then randomly started working again later on. Ryobi replaced this unit for us, but we experienced the same malfunction a second time. The tool was still able to complete the test and break loose 510 Ft/Lbf, but unfortunately, the Ryobi does not appear to be able to withstand demanding heavy use with a socket this large.

Performance Breaking Torque

When you are in a construction yard with a lot of big iron laying around, lug nuts are in great supply. That’s why we chose a timed removal of heavy truck lug nuts as our test for breaking torque performance. With heavy equipment, the forces placed on bolts, particularly lug nuts, are so extreme that they will often seize in place or be over-torqued in the field using a large air tool. Fortunately for us, a large MACK tractor cab was available with lug nuts capable of withstanding 500-600 Ft/Lbf of torque.

The front wheel of the truck had a total of ten lugs. We choose to do a timed removal of eight in order to keep the wheel in place and act as a makeshift test rig. Each lug was removed, oiled to prevent seizing, and then reapplied with the RAD Tool to exactly 500 Ft/Lbf. This process was repeated eight times to test each tool. Unfortunately, the DEWALT Atomic was not available in time to perform this test. Therefore it will not be included in the scoring. The Atomic is also not marketed as a true mid-torque tool and this task is better suited for the larger DEWALT DCF896B, which was tested.

Ryobi completely smoked this test with a time of 22.44 seconds. After completing the run, the whole crew did a double-take and then started laughing. Ryobi has made great strides to produce better and more powerful tools and this performance was a great example of that new mindset.

Ridgid came in a close second at 23.6 seconds. Again, these two “value” brands are continuing to push the envelope of performance. Milwaukee took third place at 25.5 seconds and Makita in fourth at 26.1. These were the top performers amongst our traditional Pro brands.

DEWALT was a big surprise to us as our slowest tool finishing the test in over a minute and a half. One of our test crew members, Trevor, is a road mechanic servicing a fleet of trucks and earthwork equipment. Trevor shared with us that removing truck lug nuts is a job that he always defaults to air tools for the sake of time and productivity. However, after getting hands-on experience with our cordless mid-torque impact wrenches he was extremely impressed with their ability to break loose all eight bolts and to do it quickly.

Performance Fastening Torque

While impact wrenches are most commonly associated with the mechanical trades, they are invaluable at times in the carpentry world as well. With the current popularity of timber frame construction as well as the increasing presence of laminate-type materials, large lag-type fasteners are a job site standard. A cordless mid-torque impact wrench is the most efficient tool for these larger fasteners due to its ability to apply massive amounts of torque compared to a quarter-inch impact driver.

We decided to truly stress our tools by performing a timed lag bolt drive into a wooden beam. The bolts selected were 1/2″ diameter x 8″ long hex head galvanized lag screws. Driving one of these lags is a good representation of the power of each tool. However, we decided to drive five with each tool. It gets better. The beam that we drove the lags into was constructed using five layers of 2X10X10 Doug Fir framing lumber with a layer of 1.75″ LVL sandwiched in the middle. We pre-drilled through the first two layers of material and partially into the LVL in order to set the lags, however, we left all the other layers undrilled to test the tools even further.

This was an extremely demanding test. In fact, a job such as this is likely outside the scope of what a mid-torque tool is designed to perform. But with all the technology advances present in the majority of our tested tools, we as a crew really wanted to bring that performance to the ragged edge of failure and see how they held up. We were pleasantly surprised to find that all nine tools successfully completed the test. All five lags were driven until the surface of the wood began to deform. Upon completion, a temperature reading was taken of the tool body housing, the battery, the exterior of the socket, as well as the surface of the anvil. The battery was also checked to see power consumed during the test.

In first place was the Ryobi! The Ryobi completely dominated the test, finishing a full 25 seconds ahead of our second-place finisher. Upon completion of the test, the operator summed it up perfectly, “This thing is an Ox!”.

Ridgid took second place beating out Milwaukee (3rd Place) by just eight seconds. In 4th place, the Metabo is heavy but has very little felt vibration. Porter-Cable also surprised our crew with its performance in this test. It was described by the operator as being balanced in the hand and easy to control.

Makita came in 6th place, which was a bit of a surprise. The Makita seemed to slow down and self-adjust more than any tool, even while in the highest power setting. The Makita’s computer system optimizes battery efficiency and protects the motor and battery packs. This became a bit of a hindrance during this test because it caused the Makita to lose time.  DEWALT finished 7th overall with Craftsman in 8th place.

Overall we found interesting data trends during this test. Most of the tools used half of a battery charge to complete all five lags. The Metabo, with its brushed motor, consumed 75%.

The temperature range was also very spread out. Five of the test tools had a socket surface temperature of almost 200° F. While the battery temperatures measured were only surface temperature readings, three tools were over 100° F, including our 1st and 2nd place finishers. In real-world conditions, a rest period for the tool after performing a task like this would be strongly advised to preserve your battery cells and internal electronics.

Ergonomics

How a tool interfaces with the user and the level of comfort that it provides is a huge consideration for most users. The repetitive nature of the daily tasks associated with a lifetime in the construction industry can lead to long-term fatigue and even injury with an uncomfortable or unbalanced tool. However, ergonomics are often very subjective.

In order to rank our tools, we chose a total of twelve categories. The tools were given a point value for each category, from one to five. One being the best and five being the worst. If a tool completely lacked that feature, it was given a six for the category. These points were then added up to give us our rank structure with the lowest score winning.

Makita took first place in this category. The Makita’s contoured grip, high-quality switches, and controls, as well as minimal felt vibration made it a crew favorite. While not the lightest tool we tested, the Makita packs a ton of power and performance into a sleek package.

The DEWALT Atomic with a 1 7/8″ impact socket attached. AKA the Noisy Cricket.

The DEWALT Atomic came in second. This mighty little powerhouse is extremely comfortable and compact in the hand. Unfortunately, the small size and light-weight translate into more felt vibration for the user during demanding tasks.

The full-size DEWALT came in third with an extremely comfortable design and very minimal felt vibration. Ryobi finishes fourth with a grip that is well suited to larger hands. Ridgid came in fifth with generous overmolding and texturing.

A trend we noticed amongst all of the tools was a preference from our crew for the compact tools with brushless motors. Both DEWALT models, Makita, Milwaukee, Ridgid, and Ryobi all feature compact tool head designs that are balanced and proportionate with the overall footprint with a battery inserted. The larger and more bulky tools were more unpleasant to use because they felt unbalanced and cumbersome.

Cordless Mid-Torque Impact Wrench Features

Our sample body of tools offered a broad range of feature options. From barebones bolt busters to tools with so many different modes you need an engineering degree to understand them. Consequently, the entire crew worked together to sort out what features are great and desirable and which were poorly executed or unnecessary. The features we examined were modes, special settings, ability to dial in torque, and quality of the LED work light.

The Makita featured the most special settings of any of the tools. With three forward and three reverse auto stop modes, the XWT18XVZ is capable of dialing in the torque value for any fastener. Additionally, there are four different selectable IPM and RPM modes as well as a full-speed mode. All of these modes are easily selected by the push-button controls, but they were a little confusing at first to the test crew.  However, we quickly warmed up to them and appreciated the level of adjustability available. You can read more about the Makita features in one of our recent ToolBoxBuzz reviews.

Makita also included a vibration-resistant coupling at the base of the tool. This protects the battery pack from absorbing excessive felt vibration, which saves the contacts and prolongs the life of the battery. For all of these reasons, the Makita was our overall winner in the features category.

Second place went to the DEWALT Atomic. This mini powerhouse features an excellent triple LED light system in the face of the tool. The controls are also easy to use with large push-button controls for the two-speed settings as well as the dedicated lag screw mode, LED light control, and auto spin-out mode which slows the tool once a faster has come loose to prevent it from flying across the room. The push button and easy-to-identify pictures were all appreciated by us knuckle-draggers on the crew.

In third place, we have a three-way tie between Milwaukee, Ridgid, and Ryobi. All three of these tools feature a triple LED light system on the face of the tool, as well as three forward and three reverse speeds and an additional Auto mode.

The Milwaukee and Ryobi use digital push button switches at the base of the tool while the Rigid uses a manual switch located on the top. The auto mode stops the tool during fastening as soon as it begins impacting in order to prevent over-tightening. In reverse, they will slow to prevent throwing a loose fastener. The Auto mode of these tools was extremely helpful to our test crew when we snug up fasteners in our testing jigs before performing the tests.

The fourth place was DEWALT with the best non-halo style work light located at the base of the tool. The DEWALT also features an easy-to-reach, positive, manual mode selector switch. Metabo finished fifth with an excellent variable speed trigger, but lacked any special modes and has a pretty terrible work light. Craftsman and Porter-Cable tied for the sixth place spot due to lacking any special modes or features and very average work lights and variable-speed triggers.

Overall, our crew found an overwhelming preference for the tools with triple “halo” style LED work light systems located on the face of the tool. The DEWALT Atomic, Milwaukee, Ridgid, and Ryobi all featured this style of light. We found it superior to any other style due to the fact that it illuminates more of the work area clear and directs the beam at the socket or fastener. The Milwaukee was the best of all of these tools, with the brightest and widest spill of any of the tools. Some of the tools, like the Ridgid, feature a dedicated light switch to activate the light without pulling the trigger. This felt unnecessary to our crew and we chose to omit it from consideration when determining our rankings.

Decibel Rating

The sound of a pneumatic impact wrench is unmistakable. Our cordless impact wrenches sounded less like their pneumatic counterparts and more like impact drivers on steroids. During the lag bolt drive, we measured the at-ear decibel levels for each tool under load. The under-load level was most important to us to truly gauge the potential for hearing damage in the field.

Our decibels readings showed almost the completely opposite results of our speed and performance tests. The quietest tool was the Craftsman (73.4Db) followed by DEWALT in second (74.6) and Porter-Cable in third (75.8).

Our faster and more powerful tools produced more noise during use, which directly correlates to their high RPM, IPM, and torque specifications. Ryobi, Ridgid, and DWALT Atomic were our loudest tools. With Makita and Milwaukee in the middle of the pack.

While all nine of our tools were under the OSHA mandated hearing protection level of 85 decibels, this test was conducted outside in an open space. We strongly recommend hearing protection while using any of these tools. Especially when working indoors or in confined spaces.

Cordless Mid-Torque Impact Wrench Pricing

Pricing is often one of our most difficult categories to consider. With the multitude of online retailers currently, a massive scatter-plot chart has to be made for each tool to figure out pricing. Kit vs. bare tool pricing also rears its ugly head when sifting through this data as well. Because of all this, we choose to rank our tools based on bare tool pricing, however, pricing is not considered when determining our overall winner.

As of the time of publishing this article, Porter-Cable is our lowest price tool at $120.00 as a bare tool. Craftsman is the next cheapest and Ryobi comes in third. Metabo is our second most expensive tool at $249.00 and Makita breaks the bank as our most expensive tool at $289.00. The high price tag of the Makita is no surprise given the multitude of technology and features it comes with.

Below are Buy Now links where you purchase many of the tools featured in this Head-2-Head from some of our favorite retailers.

Overall Value

The overall value category is one of our crew favorites. This category is where we directly compare out-of-pocket expense to raw performance. Users currently invested in a cordless battery platform may not value this award, but it caters to the first-time buyer.

Our pick for the best overall value is the Ryobi. The Ryobi took first place in both our performance fastening test (lag bolts) and performance breaking torque (lug nuts) tests, by a considerable margin. Additionally, it tied for third place in features and took fourth place in ergonomics. All of this while being our third most affordable tool. The Ryobi built up an impressive pedigree during our testing and greatly impressed the crew overall. The Ryobi One+ HP impact wrench is a great example of the future of Ryobi tools. While we did experience some issues with our testing samples, the performance was undeniable.

Best Cordless Mid-Torque Impact Wrench

At the end of the day, our goal is to determine which cordless mid-torque impact wrench is best overall. This is a decision not based on conjecture but on real-world quantified data and testing. After completing all of our testing and analyzing the results, we found that we have a tie for first place between Makita and Ryobi.

Makita was first in breaking torque as well as ergonomics and features. Overall the crew felt that the Makita is a hi-tech, sleek, and outstandingly well-built tool. It was powerful during all of our testing, although the built-in safety and preservation features hurt it slightly during the lug nuts and lag bolts tests. We all expected a show stopper with the Makita, and it delivered.

The Ryobi really threw us for a loop. The power and speed of this tool dropped a lot of jaws on testing day. Landslide victories go to Ryobi in both of our performance tests, while maintaining a top-five finish in all but one category, and being named best value! We were expecting a lot out of this tool, but it blew all of our expectations out of the water. The Ryobi earned a first-place rank in our Head-2-Head based on performance, but we did experience some durability issues. The One+ HP impact wrench is incredibly powerful, but the thermal overload protection built into it stopped it dead on two occasions during our use. When considering this, the Ryobi may not be best suited for daily professional-grade use, such as with a service mechanic.

Tie Breaker

With a tie in the first place, we omit second place to rank all nine participating tools. Therefore, Milwaukee drops into the third-place slot. The Milwaukee mid-torque impact wrench was a consistent performer. Finishing top-five in every single category.

Ridgid finished in fourth place. ToolBoxBuzz has always referred to Ridgid as one of the absolute best values in tools. The Ridgid Octane’s performance lived up to its reputation. Metabo finished fifth and was a hard worker. While it lacks some of the bells and whistles that other brands provide, it simply works.

The new DEWALT Atomic was a late entry to the competition and had impressive features, which brought it to sixth place. The original legacy DEWALT mid-torque was also extremely comfortable to use and finished seventh. Rounding out the bottom end of our lineup was Porter-Cable in eighth and Craftsman in ninth.

With this Head-2-Head, our goal was to develop testing protocols that blended specifically calibrated vacuum scenarios, as well as real-world applications. During the process, we made all of our data as transparent as possible. This way readers, consumers, and professionals can select a tool that best meets their needs. While we crowned what we consider to be the best cordless mid-torque impact wrench, we encourage you to use our findings to help make the decision that best meets your individual needs.

Best Cordless Mid-Torque Impact Wrench Head-2-Head is a post from Tool Box Buzz

LOMAX Stance Tonneau Cover Tri-Panel, Diamond Mist Finish by Agri Cover

LOMAX Stance Tonneau Cover

5/5

Manufacturer: Agri Cover
Model number: LOMAX Stance
Weight: 60 lbs

Specifications & Features

Specifications:

• Panel Material: Aluminum
• Total Panels: 3
• Installation: clamps (no drilling required)
• Weight: Approx: 60 lbs
• Support Capacity: up to 400 lbs (even weight distribution)
• 2x urethane finishes available

Features:

• Full bed access with vertical panel storage
• Rigid Link locking system
• Automatic 10-point locking/dual unlocking system
• Tight Bite clamp system
• Weathertight seal

LOMAX Stance Installation

The install was very straightforward on the LOMAX Stance.  I used a 1/4″ impact driver with a socket bit adapter to secure the extruded aluminum rails to my truck rails via the Tight Bite clamps.  The Tight Bite clamps were very simple to place and secure. They use a cantilevering action to secure ribbed jaws on both sides of the rails. And with 4 sets per side evenly spaced, they provide excellent support to the aluminum panels on top. All in all the total install took about 45 minutes. And if you have any questions Agri Cover has a great install video to walk you through the process.

The most challenging part of the install process was attaching the front edge locking tabs.  This requires you to loosen 2x hex head bolts that secure them in place.  I had to break out my hammer drill driver but if you don’t have one then a breaker bar will work just fine. But the video and instructions are very good and it was a relatively easy one man operation.

All-Weather Protection

The weather protection is excellent on the LOMAX Stance Tonneau cover. This starts with the rugged and durable feeling finishes. According to Agri Cover’s website, there are “two finishes available,” but that isn’t an accurate statement. There is a single finish coating applied to one of two type of aluminum panel – Black Urethane (Flat) or Black Diamond Mist (Diamond Plate). The diamond plate is inherently a bit stronger because of the tempering process used during the production of the diamond plate (has a higher tensile strength). From a weather protection perspective, I was more interested in the urethane coating and I was impressed. The adherence is top quality and the coating thickness seems extremely rugged. I opted for the Diamond Mist Finish and its awesome.

I was also impressed by the design of the linkages. This is critical because with the repetitive hinging action of a tri-fold Tonneau cover, the linkage folding points have failed on my Tonneau covers in the past. This is especially risky because it allows water leaks in the middle of the bed which usually expand quickly. Not good!  The linkage folding points on the LOMAZ stance and well protected, made of powder coated steel, and sealed with heavy duty rubber gaskets (see below). So even if/when (eventually) the rubber gaskets get small cracks, the powder-coated steel will act as a weather resistant and durable barrier. It’s a very well thought out design.

So if you’re keeping score, the LOMAX Stance is made almost completely of rust proof aluminum and a small amount of powder-coated steel and heavy duty rubber gaskets. And most importantly of all, the locking design (more on that in a minute) and adjustability of the Tight Bite clamping system allow you to quickly ensure the edge gasket has a strong seal too. Bottom line, its weather proof!

After Tropical Storm Photo – Cape Cod, MA 

Vertical Storage Design

The ability to store the panels vertically when not is use and retain access to the full truck bed is what sets the LOMAX Stance apart from most tri-fold Tonneau Covers. It’s a brilliant design. And it starts with the Rigid link locking system. The Rigid link locking system consists of 1) permanently roof-mounted, magnetic locking clips 2) Swing out locking bars and 3) Slide-adjustable locking bolt clips. Once attached, they firmly hold the vertically-stored LOMAX Stance approx. 1 inch from the back window on the truck cab. This gives you full-bed access while ensuring the panels don’t hit, crack, or scratch any glass on your truck.

And to ensure that the bottom of the panels stays in place, Agri Cover designed molded brackets for the bottom of the panels to recess into. This was something i immediately focused on when initially using the LOMAX Stance. The clips appeared to be glued to the top of the panel and peeling off. But with further inspection I found that they were actually screwed through the bottom of the panel. I also found that what I initially thought was the “peeling off” of the brackets was actually a beneficial flexibility of the brackets. It allows the brackets to flex with the shift in panel weight from bumps in the road and should prevent brittle cracking of the brackets over time.

Materials & Design Features

So one of the other nice features of the LOMAX Stance are the dual-side pull cables. Simply put, each hinge point is worked by pulling a single cord. One pull releases the clips on both sides of the bed. So you can easily fold up the cover from one side of the truck without having to climb into the best of the truck or walk around to both sides. It took a bit of getting used to as it was easier to pull on the side further away first and then rotate my hand to apply pull pressure on the close side clip. But once I had a feel for it, it was a much appreciated time and hassle saver.

And when the panels are down, there are a total of 10 locking clips engaged. Now if someone wants to get into the bed with a prybar then they absolutely can. One recommended improvement to the LOMAX Stance would be to design the locking clips out of aluminum and then coat with a no-friction material (similar to a table saw rip fence) to allow them to easily slide along the rail when engaging. That said, the locking clip design still feels quite sturdy and the 1/2″ of contact area is adequate.

Cost Savings &

I’ve never been overly focused on the fuel savings offered by Tonneau covers. Is it a real thing? Yes. But it’s only 1-2 MPG at best and that was never a big factor in my decision making process.  I ran the numbers anyways though using Agri Covers gas savings calculator and it came to about $140/year based on my average gas mileage (21 MPG) and average monthly mileage (1,000 mi). So at an MSRP of $1213 it will have paid for itself in 8.66 years. So while I appreciate any and all money saved, it was a consideration but not a major factor.

The real value to me is in preventing damage to or theft of my tools. I have at least $1200 worth of tools and equipment in my truck weekly, if not daily. So avoiding the cost of having to replace them is essential to me. It’s hard to calculate risks avoided though. But I’d like to think that it wouldn’t take 8.66 years of driving around with tools in my truck, uncovered, for them to get wrecked or stolen. So a hard cover Tonneau, while not always obvious, is an invaluable insurance policy and security measure.

Accessory Compatibility

The last point to mention is the impact on other jobsite accessories. The two most common truck bed accessories I’ve used (besides a Tonneau cover) are a ladder rack and headache rack. The good news is that there is still a possibility of using a ladder rack concurrently with the LOMAX Stance. The bas news is that you will have limited options. The ladder rack needs to be outer half rail-mounted, have vertical bars, and be at least XX inches high. Another option would be to get a rail-adjustable rack and slide the forward rack backwards a few inches when folding the LOMAX Stance panels vertical (to allow for adequate clearance). The Worst news is that it will not work with a traditional headache rack. If that is an essential accessory for your truck then the LOMAX Stance probably isn’t a good fit.

Final Thoughts | LOMAX Stance Tonneau Cover

I am extremely impressed by the overall design and quality of the LOMAX Stance tri-fold aluminum Tonneau cover. It is rugged and secure. It also looks sleek and stylish with its impressively low profile. The weather protection it provides is first rate. The LOMAX Stance installs easily and still allows for a ladder rack, something I will likely add and review in a future article. And the ability to maximize bed space with vertically stored panels that securely lock without hitting your back window is by far the best feature of the LOMAX Stance. At $1200 it is a significant investment but one that I feel is well worth it.

Agri Cover LOMAX Stance Tonneau Cover

RealTruck

Buy Now

LOMAX Stance Full video review

LOMAX Stance Tonneau Cover Review is a post from Tool Box Buzz