Which Rolling Tool Box Actually Fits a Framing Nailer? Four Boxes Compared

Introduction

If you carry a framing nailer with an extended magazine, tool box capacity matters more than you might think. These long nailers are awkward, and not every rolling box handles them well, especially once you try to fit two at once and keep the top tray in place.

To find out which boxes cope, we loaded a Milwaukee framing nailer with extended magazine into four popular rolling tool boxes, then added a second framing nailer to see where each one gave up.

The Test: One Framing Nailer, Then Two

The method was simple. First, we placed one framing nailer with extended magazine in each box and tried to close the lid with the top tray installed where the box has one. Then we added a second framing nailer with a standard magazine and repeated the test.

The results were surprisingly different from box to box, and the differences came down to internal shape and whether the box includes a top tray at all.

DeWalt 2.0 Toolbox

The DeWalt 2.0 toolbox was the most convincing of the group. A single framing nailer with extended magazine fits with the top tray in place, no problem. When we added a second framing nailer, closed the lid with the top tray in place, and latched it shut, everything sealed without a fight.

If you want to carry two framing nailers and keep your top tray organized, this is the box that handled it cleanly.

Milwaukee Packout Rolling Tool Box

The Milwaukee Packout rolling tool box took one framing nailer with extended magazine and the top tray in place, latching shut fine. The trouble came with the second nailer. The fit was extremely tight, so tight that getting the top tray in became a struggle.

We tried reversing the second nailer and even with that adjustment the top tray still would not fit. We were able to latch the lid closed with both nailers inside, but the tray had to stay behind.

Ridgid Rolling Tool Box

Ridgid’s rolling tool box took the extended-magazine framing nailer, closed the lid, and latched down without issue. Adding a second framing nailer with a standard magazine worked too, with both placed side by side and both latches closing easily.

Keep in mind there is no top tray in this rolling box, so the tray question simply does not come up. That makes it a straightforward pick if you care about fitting two nailers and do not need a tray.

Ridgid 28 in Mobile Tool Box

The 28 in Ridgid mobile tool box, the box that started this comparison, handled a single framing nailer with extended magazine well, including with the top tray in place and the lid latched down.

With two framing nailers inside, we could close the lid and latch it down, but the top tray would not fit anymore. So yes, you can fit a single framing nailer with magazine in this rolling tool box along with its top tray. If you want to carry two framing nailers, you will have to leave the top tray out to roll on to the job.

Buying Advice

If carrying two framing nailers while keeping a top tray is your priority, the DeWalt 2.0 toolbox is the clear standout. If you do not need a tray, the Ridgid rolling tool box handles two nailers comfortably. The Milwaukee Packout and the Ridgid 28 in mobile tool box both manage two nailers, but the tray has to come out.

Conclusion

All four boxes can hold a framing nailer with an extended magazine. The real difference appears with a second nailer: only the DeWalt 2.0 kept its top tray, the tray-free Ridgid rolling box made it easy by design, and the other two forced a choice between capacity and organization.