A van full of loose tools is a van full of wasted time. Drawers that won’t stay shut on a corner, kit sliding around the load floor, ten minutes lost every job hunting for the one thing you need — it adds up. Purpose-built tool storage and drawer systems turn the back of a work van into something you can actually work out of: everything in its place, secure on the move, and quick to reach. At WeConvert we design and fit tool storage and drawer systems for trades across Blackburn, Darwen and the wider Lancashire area, built to your van and the way you work at our private Blackburn workshop.
Tool storage usually goes hand in hand with commercial van racking — drawers and shelving planned as one system rather than bolted in separately — but we’re happy to fit drawer units on their own if that’s all you need.
What we build
Drawer units
Heavy-duty drawers on proper runners that take the weight of real tools and stay closed when you’re driving. We size them to what you carry — shallow drawers for hand tools and fixings, deeper ones for power tools and larger kit — and set them at a working height so you’re not bending double at the back of the van. Lockable where you want them, so valuable tools aren’t on show.
False floors and slide-out trays
A false floor creates a hidden storage layer underneath the load area — ideal for long items, spares or kit you don’t reach for every day — with a usable, load-bearing floor on top. Slide-out trays and pull-out decks bring heavy equipment to you rather than making you climb into the van after it, which saves your back and speeds up loading.
Tool cases, bins and small-parts storage
The small stuff is what goes missing. Fixed housings for stackable tool cases so they don’t tip over, open bins and louvre panels for fixings and consumables, and dedicated spots for the things you use constantly. The aim is simple: a place for everything, so a glance tells you what you’re low on before you’re stood on a job without it.
Secure and lockable storage
Tool theft from vans is a real and expensive problem. We can build in lockable drawers and secure compartments so your most valuable kit isn’t sitting behind a single van door lock. It’s not a substitute for not leaving tools in overnight, but it’s a genuine deterrent and it keeps things out of sight.
Combined racking and drawer systems
Most trade vans work best with a mix — shelving down one side, drawers down the other, a false floor underneath, a workbench area if there’s room. Planning it as one system rather than adding bits over time means it actually fits together, uses every inch, and leaves you room to work rather than just room to store.
Built for your van and your trade
An electrician, a plumber and a joiner all need different things from the back of a van, and a short-wheelbase Transit is a different problem to a long-wheelbase Sprinter. That’s the point of building it rather than buying a generic kit off the shelf: the drawers are the right depth for your tools, the layout suits how you load and unload, and nothing is wasted on space you don’t use. We measure against your exact vehicle and design around what you actually carry.
Weight matters too. Tools are heavy, and it’s easy to build a storage system that eats into your payload or throws the loading off. We build in materials that are strong without being needlessly heavy, and keep the weight sensible and distributed — so you stay legal and the van still drives properly loaded up.
If you’d like power in the load area too — charging points for cordless tools, work lighting over the drawers — we can plan that in alongside as part of our van electrical accessories work, so the sockets and lights end up where the storage actually is.
Who we work with
We build tool storage and drawer systems for electricians, plumbers, gas engineers, joiners, builders, mobile mechanics, locksmiths, engineers and any trade that runs a van as a mobile workshop. Whether it’s a single bank of drawers or a full fit-out with racking, false floor and secure storage, we design it around your tools, your van and how you work. Based in Darwen, we serve Blackburn, Accrington, Burnley, Bolton, Preston and across the North West, by appointment at our workshop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have drawers without full racking?
Yes. Plenty of vans just need a good bank of drawers and a bit of secure storage rather than a full wall of shelving. We’re happy to fit drawer units on their own, and you can always add racking later if your needs change.
Will the drawers stay shut while I’m driving?
They will. We use drawers with proper catches and heavy-duty runners rated for the loads they carry, so nothing rolls open on a roundabout or empties itself onto the load floor. That reliability is the difference between a system that works and one you end up fighting.
Can you make the storage secure against tool theft?
We can build in lockable drawers and secure compartments to keep valuable tools out of sight and harder to reach. It’s a strong deterrent, though the best protection is still not leaving tools in the van overnight where you can avoid it. We’ll talk through sensible options for how you work.
Will a storage system affect my payload?
Any fit-out adds some weight, but a well-designed one keeps it sensible and distributes it properly. We build strong without going needlessly heavy, and we’re mindful of your payload so you stay legal and the van still handles well fully loaded. If weight is tight, we’ll design with that in mind.
Do you fit storage and racking at the same time?
Yes, and it’s usually the best way to do it. Planning drawers, shelving and false floors together means everything fits as one system and uses the space properly, rather than adding bits piecemeal and finding they don’t quite work together. If you already have racking, we’ll design the storage to suit what’s there.