I've been using Dewalt tools for years, and I used to swear by them when I was in construction. They were fantastic! But lately, I've switched over to the teal brand because their tools seemed to have superior fit and finish. Now that they've released their 40V line, it feels like the 18V line has been neglected. I ended up selling my teal tools and returning to Dewalt, and overall I'm satisfied, but I have a couple of concerns. For one, team red is really excelling in the 12V category, especially for automotive tools, and even Hercules has a stronger presence there. Secondly, I've noticed a decline in Dewalt's mobile tool storage solutions since the DXL line came out. I used to have the ToughSystem but switched to the orange brand because of their more practical rolling drawers. The ToughSystem carrier was just too cumbersome for my needs. Does anyone else think Dewalt is missing opportunities in these areas?
5 Answers
The ToughSystem works great for me. I have several boxes and even a hand truck that fits four of them. They’re priced decently, too! I find Packout way overpriced and think DXL is more for storage than mobility—too bulky!
Lol, I’m not sure why Milwaukee is so popular with some folks! Their circular saws are a joke, the impacts have reliability issues, and they seem to mess with their best products without a warning. I’d rather stick with the 20V/18V Dewalt line that has a solid range of automotive tools instead of going 12V just for size.
From what I've heard, Dewalt is working on more compact 20V tools since the 12V line is being phased out. If they could make a 20V tool close in size to Milwaukee's 12V lineup, that'd be awesome! I love the 12V tools I have mainly for their compactness; it's just a thought, not a dealbreaker.
Definitely! If they could shrink down the size like Milwaukee has, they’d really have a winning product. I do like their PowerStack batteries though; they help a lot with size.
Totally agree that the 12V line doesn’t get enough love! There’s been chatter about a ToughSystem 3.0 possibly launching, so who knows where that might lead?
I see your point about the ToughSystem vs. DXL. I don’t think DXL is meant to replace ToughSystem; it’s more for semi-permanent setups, which isn't practical for most people moving between job sites. Plus, I’ve seen tons of ToughSystem boxes available in stores! As for the 12V tools, honestly, they seem pretty pointless anymore—why go smaller if you sacrifice power? Seems smarter to focus on a single lineup.
Honestly, it’s all about preferences. I like bags for their flexibility if I’m hauling a lot of stuff around, but I get that stacking cases is easier for organization. Each has its pros and cons!