Packing your trunk for shows

[DJ1]

So I joined the legions of frugal dressage riders that were in Houston recently. I got the Stanley tool trunk that is big enough to hold a small child, which is good because you don’t have to sell one to afford it. I am having a problem figuring out how to best organize it so that I am not just digging through it to find what I need.

So, suggestions to you all about what you put in it, and how you stash it in there would be most welcome. Has anyone tried putting a padded cover on one yet? What about the lid? Have any of you tried attaching anything to the inside of the lid for quick access to that item?

Thanks a bunch!

[STF]

So I joined the legions of frugal dressage riders that were in Houston recently

hehehhheehhehheee! :lol:

[NoDQhere]

Those trunks are wonderful. We actually have two, a Stanley and another one like the Stanley that I got from Amazon. I think it is a JTT. We also have the little Stanley that I keep all the brushes, fly spray and that stuff in. We get to the shows, unload the beasties and roll our stuff in. So much easier than lugging those huge wood things around :yes:.

I put the pads, in plastic bags, in the bottom, then the bridle and boot bags and the small stuff in the tray. There really isn’t anyway to pack it so you never have to dig for stuff, at least not that I have figured out :lol:.

I am “crafty” so made tops for our trunks. I took a thin sheet of masonite, painted our farm crest on it and bolted it to the trunk lid. It looks pretty decent if I do say so myself! ;).

[TBDQ0328]

I love these trunks! I bought one when I was in CT (Because everyone there had one!) and when I moved to ST. Louis everyone there had one too! Our tack room could be an ad for stanley! I’m seriously considering buying another just for shows so that I don’t have to rearrange and take out what I don’t need.
I keep my wraps, boots, polos, cooler, grooming bad, extra girth, and misc bottles of stuff (shampoo, betadine, etc) and smaller stuff (spurs, boot pulls) in the tray. I have yet to figure out how to organize so you don’t dig, but I just put what I need most on the top and what I use least on the bottom - i.e. my grooming bag sits on top of my standing wraps.
For shows I take out what I don’t need and the put pads in a bag on the bottom, then bridle and boot bags, girths, and my grooming bag. Its SO easy to just unload everyone’s trunks and be able to just wheel them in!

[DJ1]

yeah I really like it that I can fit my saddle in there if I had to. Now what we need to do is convince a tool maker that making one vertically is a super idea. LOL

Thanks for the suggestions. It does help when planning and makes sense to put the stuff I use the least on the bottom. Do you all put like things together, and do you find a ziplock bag or a box is better?

[Equibrit]

Why do y’all need trunks ?

[Icecapade]

[QUOTE=Equibrit;3910792]
Why do y’all need trunks ?[/QUOTE]

lol I thought thats what my trailer/truck/duffle bag was for! But I’m new too so I have no clue!

[joiedevie99]

[QUOTE=Icecapade;3910910]
lol I thought thats what my trailer/truck/duffle bag was for! But I’m new too so I have no clue! ;)[/QUOTE]

When you are staying over multiple days, often truck and trailer parking is far far away. The trunk is an easy to to make sure everything is near the horse at tack up time, preventing last minute sprints to the parking lot.

[txladybug]

Where did you get the uber big Stanley trunk? Our local lowes only seems to have the 24 gallon model. I want the big one!

[dressagedevon]

Can someone please post the link for those trucks? I know it was on here before but I didn’t need one then, but could use one now. Thanks

[joiedevie99]

This is the 50 gallon one on the Stanley site… http://www.stanleytools.com/default.asp?CATEGORY=ZAG+ROLLING+WORK&TYPE=PRODUCT&PARTNUMBER=037025R&SDesc=Stanley%26%23174%3B+Mobile+Tool+Chest

[txladybug]

The 50 gallon ones listed above for $60 are what I am coveting. I just need to find them locally. Where did you all find them?

[Equibrit]

@Icecapade;3910910

lol I thought thats what my trailer/truck/duffle bag was for! But I’m new too so I have no clue!

I’ve been Hunting/Showing (in the USA) etc for 25 years and still don’t get it!

[TBDQ0328]

I don’t have a truck/trailer and when I travel to shows and someone else hauls they usually appreciate it when I keep everything that I bring organized and not all over their space. Everything that I don’t use everyday stays in rubbermaid tubs in my basement. I kep one at the barn so that I can store everything that I need for my horse on a daily basis out there.
I picked mine up a Lowe’s, but I had to go to a couple stores before I found one that had them there

[flshgordon]

@txladybug;3910975

The 50 gallon ones listed above for $60 are what I am coveting. I just need to find them locally. Where did you all find them?

I believe I got it at Home Depot. If it wasn’t Home Depot, it was Lowes so you might try both.

[NoDQhere]

[QUOTE=txladybug;3910975]
The 50 gallon ones listed above for $60 are what I am coveting. I just need to find them locally. Where did you all find them?[/QUOTE]

I ordered mine through Amazon.com. There are other types as well. I think if you type in “job box” “mobile tool chest” and the like, you will get a list of what they have.

[Icecapade]

[QUOTE=TBDQ0328;3911097]
I don’t have a truck/trailer and when I travel to shows and someone else hauls they usually appreciate it when I keep everything that I bring organized and not all over their space. Everything that I don’t use everyday stays in rubbermaid tubs in my basement. I kep one at the barn so that I can store everything that I need for my horse on a daily basis out there.
I picked mine up a Lowe’s, but I had to go to a couple stores before I found one that had them there[/QUOTE]

Ah THAT makes sense…

< Equibrit- I’m glad I’m not the only one with the trunk:confused: face!!>

[DJ1]

heck I didn’t realize how handy it would be until I went to my first two day show and my stuff was spilling all over the aisleway and my helper was keeping busy just keeping me contained. LOL At that point the person stabled beside me had a Stanley Job Box (yeah, Home Depot) that was doing a lot for her. So I got one too. Much better deal than the 3-600$ deal. :yes::yes:

[Xanthoria]

@Equibrit;3911075

I’ve been Hunting/Showing etc for 25 years and still don’t get it!

Unlike the UK, in the US it’s common for people to go to away shows and stay for days/weeks. They don’t have horse lorries, and don’t show out of their trailers, (in the US this is not viewed as resourceful and thrifty, but rather sometimes looked down on by certain elements as a bit pathetic, the hor$e $cene here being what it i$…) so they are always carting their gear around - in trunks!

It’s also common for boarding barns to put storage trunks outside a horse’s stable with his stuff in it, often very expensive trunks done up in the yard’s colors.

So, it’s a fashion that’s carried over and now lots of people carry stuff around in some seriously heavy wooden trunks.

And of course not everyone wants to spend $800 on a trunks so here we are at Stanley job boxes! :yes:

[cyriz_s_mom]

to the person who wanted a verticle box

Stanley makes one!!!

It’s called a FatMax. Costs $99 at Home Depot.

It’s very cool. Three separate “boxes”. The top is like a tool box with lift out tray and area underneath. The middle is an organizer with removable dividers. And the bottom is just a storage area. It has wheels and opens diagonally, so you have access to all three boxes and closes into a “tower”.

My DH has one for tools and I have one that’s my vet box (lots o’ stuff for foaling and owies).

Stanley also has one that has two boxes, the tool box part and the storage area. It’s only like $20-30. Doesn’t open diagonally, does have wheels.

either are a great way to separate wraps/pads (textile items) from liquids.