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Oh boy, I'm a container, box, and case nerd from way back. So since you asked, I'm gonna fill up this post with info for you
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I've used all sorts of things over the years for storage of general gear, from homemade plywood pull-out drawers, solid-sided square bins from Target, to
Plano and
Sterilite totes, and
Pelican for more sensitive gear or when I want carry-on or to ship things.
Top o' the line is my
Zarges aluminum cases, of which I have three K470s, all certified by the
IGBC to be Grizzly Bear resistant. Handy when you camp in places that will fine you for leaving bins and coolers out that are not bear-resistant.
Zarges K470s are the original heavy duty aluminum expedition case. They're expensive, though worth it in my opinion for their rugged weatherproof durability and dependability. They're the kind of gear my grandkid will be able to give to his offspring and say "Your Great-Grandfather Road used these all over the continent back in the days when they still had diesel engines. He used to tell me that every one of these dents and dings tell a story. Are those claw marks?"
Zarges makes great non-certified cases too, that are very appealing and less expensive. Their
K440 series.
View attachment 197426
The black Sterilite totes in this image are my favorite for storage at home for household, garden, and seasonal travel gear. Gear cases that travel regularly are on the top shelf.
My storage system for adventure gear has evolved to using mostly durable, smaller, same-sized containers that stack well, have single-wall thickness, straight sides and flat tops, and that can serve more than one purpose like seating or work surface support in camp.
Here's why:
1.
Less wasted space than with thick double-walled cases like Action Packers or tapered bins like Rubbermaid and Sterilite. Look at the amount of space between the black totes in the home storage image above.
2.
Smaller cases means more organized. I just pull out the case I need instead of dragging out a larger tote and rummaging through it to find what I need and having to repack it. It usually ends up disorganized and messy.
3.
I can move things freely between van and trailer or about camp without major shifting of other gear.
4.
Easier to pack up top on trailer rack or van roof and easier/lighter to retrieve just what I want.
The image in my earlier post has two FRO Flat Packs and two Cub Packs:
In 2017 I purchased four each of Front Runner Outfitter's
Wolf Packs and
Cub Packs, as well as two of their
Flat Packs (fits inside Wolf Packs, though can be used on their own) which fold flat when not using, which is really handy. I like the way FRO packs work so much I bought two more of the soft packs, a couple
High Lids for the Wolf Packs, and recently got four more Cub Packs for more efficient slide out van organization.
I also use the Cub Packs and Wolf Packs elsewhere, like these two Wolf Packs in the cargo bay of my trailer. The corners are beefed up, have holes for tying down (that do not go through to the interior), and indents in the tops that both strengthen the top and provide cross notching for further tie-downs. I've used these Wolf Packs hard over the years, throwing 'em around full of firewood, standing on them, etc and never cracked or broken one.
View attachment 197425
The Cub Packs and Wolf Packs are actually South African ammo case designs. They are available private-labeled from a couple diff vendors, of which FRO is the most well-known and available in the US. FRO alsos make rugged rooftop weather-proof bags with their Wolf and Cub Packs in mind, like the
Typhoon Bag. It used to be called the Monsoon Bag. I have one, love it, and depend on it. They also make a
six-box drawer platform systems that will handle both size packs.
Like anything, especially these days of increased interest in outdoor recreation, higher prices and items being out of stock, it pays to shop around. Sometimes one outfit (I linked to three different ones above for the Wolf and Cub Packs) will have free shipping over a certain amount, or reduced prices for a period of time.
Exploration Outfitters in Oklahoma, where I bought all my original Wolf Packs and Cub Packs four years ago, and who sell a ton of Front Runner, Goose Gear, and other top notch storage and recovery products, as well as the Australian Patriot Campers, is an
excellent place to find what you're after. As of this writing,
ExploreOutdoor Overland Outfitters has the best overall deal on FRO storage because they have free shipping on orders over $100.00.
#noaffiliation with either outfit - I just like the way they both do business.
I could go on at length about case and containers and what I like to use. . .
View attachment 197429
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Also, Jeff - in looking up links for this post, I ran across Front Runner Outfitters' labels, too, you might be interested in:
Organizing Labels
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