Pelican box/case

[bigjbear]

@Csm Davis asked to see the the inside of my road trip box. It’s Pelican 1510 with wheels and a handle. I bought this to replace my smaller Kennedy doghouse. I liked that one but it was a pain to pack with current FAA regulations. I needed something that would securely hold My tools and be under 50 pounds loaded.

I’ve had it for about two years and the foam is starting to break down. I have enough to redo it, but I’m thinking of adding some plastic dividers first. I may spend the money for custom inserts, but probably won’t any time soon. My job changes enough that I don’t want to lock myself into one layout.

A few of it loaded.

 

[bigjbear]

What it holds. There are 3 things missing; an 11” ford wrench, a Fluke 87 DMM, and a sharp pair of dikes. They all ended up in my suitcase this time. But this gives a good representation.

 

[bigjbear]

Once it’s all loaded, my tool belt goes on top.

 

[skunked]

Slick.

I use a pelican case for a road box too but mine is a mobile office with a printer, scanner, monitor, cables, forms and misc office supplies. Less interesting tools you could say....

 

[bigjbear]

What I like/what I don’t like.
I’ll start with the bad. The TSA opens it about 80% of the time. I guess they think it’s a gun case. The latches SUCK for air travel. At least one of them is usually popped partially open when I get to baggage claim. I used to put zip-ties in the lock holes, but you can’t rely on the TSA to put new ones in after they cut them. Even when you put a note inside asking them to, and provide them with new ones. I started using bolt and wing nut in the lock hole and that’s been working. I may drill the plastic around the latch and add a keeper. (In all fairness, I had problems with the TSA and the latch on my small doghouse, too. I had to add two of the style that are on my big doghouse. Short story, the TSA and baggage handlers don’t care about your stuff.) This is petty, but stickers don’t like to stick. My address label that was below my name fell off and the airplane sticker is loose.
Now the good. More room than my small doghouse, almost as organized as my big doghouse, and the wheels are attached so I don’t need to worry about them going missing. Does a much better job of keeping things in place. So overall I’d say it’s an upgrade. I also like the lid organizer, but it would have been better with stronger zippers.
Picture of the latch.

 

[skunked]

TSA inspects mine every time too. I’ve came to the conclusion that it’s simply because of the size of the case

 

[bigjbear]

So I rearranged some of the stuff and added a ayer of foam. This was the absolute best my tools showed up in so far. Very happy.