PACKOUT boxes click onto a mounting plate, and the plate is what ties the whole stack to your truck, van or wall. Pick the wrong plate, or mount it the wrong way, and the boxes rattle loose on the first rough road. This guide covers where to mount, which plate size and thickness to choose, and when a steel plate is worth it over Milwaukee's plastic one.
Step 1: Pick the plate width
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Full width fits PACKOUT full-width (dual-width) boxes and organizers, matching the Milwaukee 48-22-8485 footprint. Size: 18.875" × 16.875" × 0.5".
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Half width fits PACKOUT half-width (single) boxes, comparable to Milwaukee 48-22-8496. Size: 16.875" × 8.875" × 0.5" for the standard top and bottom pattern, or 13.75" × 11" × 0.5" for the side mount pattern.
Not sure which you need? A single box takes the half-width plate. A dual-width box or two boxes side by side takes the full-width plate.
Step 2: Match the plate to where it mounts
Truck bed or trailer
Bolt the plate to a bed wall, a toolbox side or a frame crossmember. Vibration is the enemy here, so use a stiff plate and bolt through the metal, not into thin trim. Our 10-gauge steel plate is stiffer than thinner plates and stands up to foot traffic and equipment rolled in and out. If you prefer to weld, the weld-on full-width mount and weld-on half-width mount go on racks, roll cages and trailers without drilling.
Cargo van
Van walls are thin sheet metal over ribs, so mount into the ribs or use backing plates. At only 0.5" tall, our plates leave room for drawers and shelving to clear. Need to hide the fasteners on a floor or under a shelf? Use the undermount plate with hidden fasteners.
Garage or shop wall
Full-width plates are pre-drilled at 16" on center to land on standard wall studs. Find the studs, mark them and drive 1/4" lag screws straight in.
Step 3: Choose the steel thickness and finish
| Plate |
Wall load |
Floor load |
| Full width, 10-gauge steel |
150 lb |
300 lb (tested) |
| Half width, 10-gauge steel |
75 lb |
150 lb |
| Full width, 14-gauge steel |
75 lb |
150 lb |
| Half width, 14-gauge steel |
50 lb |
75 lb |
Load ratings assume appropriate hardware installed into a suitable structure.
Choose 10-gauge for work trucks, trailers, off-road rigs and anything heavy or bouncing. Choose 14-gauge for shelving, shop walls and lighter stacks. Raw steel will oxidize, so pick powder coat or paint it right away for outdoor or damp use. Weight matters too, so we also make aluminum and 304 stainless plates.
Steel vs. plastic: which should you buy?
Milwaukee's own plate is polymer. It is cheap, available everywhere and fine for a light stack on a wall. Where it falls short is heat, impact and heavy loads: plastic flexes, cracks and gets scuffed when you drag gear over it. Steel is the better fit when:
- the boxes live in a truck bed, trailer, van or ATV and take vibration every day;
- you stack several boxes or carry heavy tools;
- you want a plate that can be welded, drilled or powder coated to your build.
Check Milwaukee's current spec for the plastic plate's ratings and compare them to the table above before you decide.
Step 4: Install it
- Hold the plate in position and mark the holes. Use a stud finder on walls.
- Drill pilot holes sized for your fasteners. Check behind the surface for wiring and lines first.
- Fasten with 1/4" lag screws or structural bolts suited to the surface. Hardware is not included, because mounting surfaces vary.
- Slide the PACKOUT box onto the plate until it clicks.
Frequently asked questions
How much weight can a PACKOUT plate hold on a wall?
It depends on the plate. Our full-width 10-gauge plate is rated for 150 lb on a wall and 300 lb on a floor. See the table above for the others.
Can I mount a plate to a truck bed without drilling?
Yes. Use a weld-on plate if you can weld to the frame or rack.
Do you make custom sizes or hole patterns?
Yes. Contact us with your requirements.
Can I cut my own?
Yes. We sell the DXF files for plasma, laser and waterjet machines in our DXF file collection.
Shop PACKOUT mounting plates
Browse all Milwaukee PACKOUT mounting plates, or read our PACKOUT installation guide and the undermount plate size guide.
Made in the USA — BOCO Custom LLC. Milwaukee® and PACKOUT™ are trademarks of their respective owners. BOCO Custom LLC is not affiliated with or endorsed by them; brand names are used only to describe compatibility.
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