Site Box or Van Vault: Will It Stop Thieves and Keep Tools Dry?

Tools gone from the van overnight, or a site box damp inside by morning? A secure box needs strong seams, a protected lock and a solid fixing, and it must keep the contents dry.

PartsForMachines lists 48 storage products from Sealey, Draper and Sykes Pickavant in its storage boxes range, from Sealey site boxes and Draper van vaults to plastic containers and grit bins.

Can a Steel Site Box Be Prised Open, or Is It Really Secure?

A good box is built to make prising slow and hard work, and security ratings measure how long a product holds out against attack with set tools. Sold Secure, an independent test house, grades security products against set tool lists, from resisting the opportunist to holding off the more determined thief.

Look hardest at the lid edge and the hinges. The STB06 truck box is welded steel with folded lips for rigidity and anti-jemmy seams inside and out. Draper’s BUNKER T1 boxes add a reinforced lid, steel cross bracing and internal hinges.

Padlock or Built-In Lock: Which Is the Weak Point?

It depends on the padlock you fit. Police crime-prevention advice is to secure tool storage with good-quality padlocks, and one police guide specifies a sturdy closed-shackle type, so choose the padlock as carefully as the box.

The SSB02E truck box tucks the padlock (not included) into a front recess, which the maker calls a tamperproof locking system. Draper’s Black Box units have two front cut-outs for padlocks instead, so budget for good ones. Most of the welded site and truck boxes, such as the STB07, come with two built-in keyed-alike locks, so there is no padlock to attack.

Tools in a Van: Is a Bolted-Down Box Worth It, and Is It Safe in a Crash?

Yes, if tools must stay in the van, and a bolted-down box is also safer in a crash. Police advice is to take tools out overnight where you can; if they must stay, fit an internal locked box or cage that is fixed to the vehicle.

The 07136 sliding van storage box is designed to bolt to the van floor, both to resist theft and to stop it moving in transit, and comes with the vehicle fixings. Road-safety guidance warns that loose items in the load area can move in a collision and injure the driver.

Why Does Water Get Inside My Site or Truck Box, and How Do I Stop It?

It may well be condensation rather than a leak: when warm, moist air meets a cold surface such as steel, the moisture settles as water. Ventilation helps by carrying moist air away, so avoid shutting damp kit in a box with no airflow.

If water still appears, check the lid seal and any holes drilled for fixing, and keep the base clear of standing water. For a wet yard, the SBSC01 outdoor storage box is polypropylene, fully weatherproof and maintenance-free, with closed ventilation that keeps air moving inside.

What Should I Check Before I Buy a Site Box or Van Box?

• the space it must fit, measured against the overall size (the STB06 is 935 x 470 x 450mm)
• how it locks: built-in keyed-alike locks, a concealed padlock recess or open padlock cut-outs
• how it fixes down: bolt holes in the feet, or vehicle fixings supplied
• its weight, and how you will lift or move it on site
• where it will live: welded steel for security, polypropylene for a wet yard

Browse the storage boxes range, or contact the PartsForMachines team by WhatsApp, telephone or email with your space and what you store, and we will help you choose.

Product options, delivery options and returns terms are shown on each product page. A 30-day return policy applies to eligible items.

Frequently Asked Questions

How heavy is a steel site box, and how do I move it?

More than you might think: the STB06 truck box weighs 37kg and the SSB06 site box 78kg. The SSB06’s welded feet take a forklift or pallet truck, or an optional STVWK castor kit, and Sealey asks for extra help at delivery.

What does “keyed alike” mean on a site box?

Both locks on the box open with the same key. Welded boxes such as the STB06, STB07 and SSB06 come with two keyed-alike locks and six keys, so several people on a crew can share access. Keep one key off site as a spare.

What does a Sold Secure Silver rating tell me?

It has passed Sold Secure’s independent attack tests at Silver. The grades run Bronze, Silver, Gold and Diamond: Bronze is aimed at the opportunist, while Silver gives more resistance to the determined thief. Draper states that its BUNKER S1 and T1 van boxes carry it.

The lid won’t stay up on my site box. Do I need a new box?

Not necessarily: check the gas struts first. The SSB07 lid is held open by two gas struts, and a strut is a separate part from the box. Match the markings on the old strut when you order a replacement.

It’s a deep box. How do I get at tools in the bottom?

Use lift-out crates. The APB27 composite stackable storage box holds 27 litres at 600 x 400 x 185mm, and its snap-lock handles keep the lid shut in transport. In a van, a sliding-drawer box does the same job.

Is a flat-pack steel chest as secure as a welded site box?

Not in the same way. The SB565, SB765 and SB1200 chests are heavy-gauge steel, flat-packed, with nuts and bolts hidden once built and a cylindrical lock. Welded site boxes add anti-jemmy seams and two keyed-alike locks. Weigh those features against the risk on your site.

What should I keep grit and salt in over winter?

A polyethylene grit box with an angled lid that sheds rain. The GB02 holds 130 litres and the GB03 200 litres, and both can be moved with most pallet trucks. The smaller GB01 has a lid you can lock with your own padlock.

Can I add lockable cupboards above or below my workbench?

Yes, with modular units. The APMRT1 top cupboard has a lockable door with two keys and hangs left or right. Drawer units such as the APMB2 stack with matching units through pre-drilled holes, and each drawer carries up to 30kg.

Do collapsible plastic bins suit van or site use?

For carrying and sorting, yes; for security, no, as they have no lock. The CB30L snaps together, holds 30 litres and folds flat to 65mm high, so empty bins take up little room in the van.

Should I mark my tools as well as locking them away?

Yes. Police crime-prevention advice is to mark all your tools, for example with a property marking kit, an ultraviolet pen or an engraver. Do it as well as using a locked box, not instead of one.