7 min read
Bottom line
The PACKOUT XL Crate is the open-top box the system was missing. It holds 75 lb, stacks and hangs like every other PACKOUT piece, and takes either a divider or a wire pulling insert. Electricians pulling 12-gauge THHN should start with the wire pulling version. All four pieces carry a limited lifetime warranty.
What the PACKOUT XL Crate is
PACKOUT built its name on closed boxes: latching toolboxes, drawer units, lidded organizers. The XL Crate goes the other direction. It's an open-top polypropylene tub measuring 19 by 15.88 by 15.69 inches, rated to 75 lb, with mounting locations that let it stack, hang, or carry a compact PACKOUT box on top. Nothing latches shut, and that's the whole idea. You reach in and grab.
The wide front opening matters more than it reads on a spec sheet. Stack two crates and the bottom one stays usable: you pull fittings, straps, or a coil of rope out the front instead of unstacking the tower. The body is impact resistant, and the crate carries a limited lifetime warranty.
The anchor SKU. One tub, 75 lb of capacity, and PACKOUT mounting geometry on the outside of it. Buy this one first, then decide whether it becomes a wire cart or a parts bin. Currently listed as available for backorder.
See DetailsHow the four XL Crate pieces compare
Four SKUs, one crate body. The plain crate and the wire pulling crate share identical outside dimensions, so they stack together and eat the same shelf space. The two accessories, the insert pair and the divider, change what happens inside.
| SKU | Dimensions (L x W x H) | Rated for | What it's for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48-22-8439 PACKOUT XL Crate | 19 x 15.88 x 15.69 in | 75 lb | The base open-top crate: stacks, hangs, holds loose tools and material |
| 48-22-8043 Wire Pulling XL Crate | 19 x 15.88 x 15.69 in | 75 lb, up to 6 spools | The crate with a wire pulling insert already in the box |
| 48-22-8044 Wire Pulling Inserts (2-pack) | 2 x 15.25 x 18 in | Up to 6 spools, 1/2 in EMT | Converts an XL Crate you already own into a payout station |
| 48-22-8039 XL Crate Divider | 4 x 15.25 x 19 in | Fits the XL Crate | Splits one crate into two compartments |
The Wire Pulling XL Crate turns storage into a payout station
This is the SKU that changes a day. The Wire Pulling XL Crate pulls and stores up to six spools of 500 ft 12-gauge THHN, with 1/2 in EMT conduit running through the inserts as the axle. Wire retention slots keep the tails from tangling once you cut.
Conduit and wire aren't included. You cut your own EMT to length, drop it through the insert pair, and load spools onto it. What you get back is a payout station that stacks with the rest of your tower and rides in the van without a separate wire caddy owning the floor.
The 48-22-8044 inserts also sell on their own as a two-pack, so a crate you already own converts without buying a second tub. Same six-spool capability, same 1/2 in EMT conduit, and they're listed specifically for the 48-22-8439 crate.
The divider: two zones in one crate
The 48-22-8039 divider splits the XL Crate down the middle. That turns one deep tub into two compartments, which is what stops a crate of loose tools from becoming a single pile by the third stop of the day. It carries the same toolbox attachment-ready mounting locations as the crate.
- Divides the XL Crate storage space in half
- Toolbox attachment-ready mounting locations on the divider itself
- Supports stacking compact PACKOUT components on top of the crate
- Molded polypropylene with an impact-resistant body
- Measures 4 x 15.25 x 19 in and adds about a pound to the load
Where the XL Crate fits the rest of PACKOUT
Crates don't replace boxes, they fill the gap boxes were bad at. Anything long, dirty, or awkward, extension cords, conduit couplings, a bundle of straps, lives better in an open tub than behind a latch. If you're new to the platform, our PACKOUT overview covers how the mounting system locks a stack together, and the PACKOUT dimensions guide lists footprints so you can plan a tower before you buy.
This corner of the system is low-ticket and high-attach. The crate lands under $70, the wire pulling version under $120, and the divider under $30, so most crews buy two or three pieces at once rather than agonizing over one. Once the stack is set, the PACKOUT accessory guide walks through the mounts and organizers that hang off it.
Milwaukee 48-22-8439 PACKOUT XL Crate Modular Tool Storage with 75 lb Capacity
Milwaukee 48-22-8043 PACKOUT Wire Pulling XL Crate 19 x 15.88 x 15.69" with Insert
Which setup fits your trade
- Best for Electrician on wire runs: PACKOUT Wire Pulling XL Crate (48-22-8043) Pulls and stores up to six 500 ft spools of 12-gauge THHN, with the insert already in the box.
- Best for Adding payout to crates you already own: PACKOUT XL Crate Wire Pulling Inserts (48-22-8044) Two-pack takes 1/2 in EMT and converts a plain XL Crate to six-spool duty.
- Best for Service tech hauling loose tools: PACKOUT XL Crate (48-22-8439) A 75 lb open-top tub with a wide front opening, so the bottom of a stack stays reachable.
- Best for Shop and van organization: PACKOUT XL Crate Divider (48-22-8039) Splits one crate into two zones and still lets compact PACKOUT boxes stack on top.
Key Takeaways
- The XL Crate is PACKOUT's open-top format: 19 x 15.88 x 15.69 in, 75 lb capacity, molded polypropylene.
- The Wire Pulling XL Crate ships with an insert and handles up to six spools of 500 ft 12-gauge THHN.
- The 48-22-8044 insert two-pack fits 1/2 in EMT and converts a plain XL Crate you already own.
- The 48-22-8039 divider halves the crate and keeps compact PACKOUT boxes stackable on top.
- All four SKUs carry a limited lifetime warranty and are listed as available for backorder.
How much weight does the PACKOUT XL Crate hold?
Milwaukee rates the XL Crate at 75 lb. That covers the plain crate (48-22-8439) and the Wire Pulling XL Crate (48-22-8043), which uses the same body. Both are molded polypropylene with an impact-resistant body, and both measure 19 by 15.88 by 15.69 inches on the outside.
Does the XL Crate stack with the rest of my PACKOUT boxes?
Yes. The crate stacks or hangs, and its mounting locations are toolbox attachment ready. The divider carries the same mounting locations, so a divided crate still supports compact PACKOUT components stacked on top of it.
What wire fits the Wire Pulling XL Crate?
Milwaukee lists it for up to six spools of 500 ft 12-gauge THHN, pulled and stored right in the crate. Conduit and wire aren't included. The wire pulling inserts take 1/2 in EMT conduit, which is what the spools ride on, so cut your EMT before the first pull.
Do I need the wire pulling crate, or can I convert a crate I already have?
Either works. The 48-22-8043 ships as a crate with a wire pulling insert included. The 48-22-8044 inserts sell separately as a two-pack listed for the XL Crate (48-22-8439). If you already run crates, the inserts are the cheaper route to the same six-spool setup.
What does the 48-22-8039 divider actually do?
It splits the XL Crate's interior in half, so loose hardware sits in two zones instead of one pile. The divider measures 4 by 15.25 by 19 inches and has toolbox attachment-ready mounting locations, which keeps compact PACKOUT boxes stackable on top of a divided crate.
Will a divider and a wire pulling insert work in the same crate?
Both accessories are listed for the XL Crate (48-22-8439), and the Wire Pulling XL Crate uses that same body. In practice a crate loaded with six spools has nothing left to divide. The usual answer on a van is one crate for wire and a second, divided crate for fittings and devices.
What is the warranty on the XL Crate and its accessories?
All four SKUs carry a limited lifetime warranty: the XL Crate (48-22-8439), the Wire Pulling XL Crate (48-22-8043), the wire pulling insert two-pack (48-22-8044), and the divider (48-22-8039). Each one is molded polypropylene with an impact-resistant body.
Are the XL Crates in stock?
All four are listed as available for backorder. You can order now and the pieces ship when the next allocation reaches us. If you're building out a full setup, ordering the crate and its accessories together keeps everything on one shipment instead of three.
Is the XL Crate worth it over a hardware-store tote?
A tote is cheaper. What a tote doesn't do is lock into a PACKOUT stack, hang on a rack, take a divider, or convert to a six-spool wire payout. The XL Crate lands under $70, and a fair chunk of that is the mounting system rather than the tub.