Big-Time Boxes: Dave Swyers, Milwaukee Tool

In the world of mobile automotive repair, efficiency is a necessity if you want your business to succeed. For Dave Swyers, owner and operator of Indigo Hail Repair, that principle is reflected in every drawer, caster, and tray of his customized toolbox. After more than two decades in the industry and five full-time seasons running his own business, Swyers has built a mobile setup that combines careful organization and clever upgrading to create the ultimate mobile toolbox.  

A technician’s journey

Swyers’ career began in 2000 after graduating from Nashville Auto Diesel College. Though he started as a painter, health issues from chemical exposure led him to explore Paintless Dent Repair, a skill he had begun teaching himself during school. A chance encounter with a Dent Wizard truck opened the door to a new career path, eventually leading him to international hail teams and training roles.  

In 2019, inspired by independent contractors they worked with in Australia, Swyers and his wife launched Indigo Hail Repair full-time. Despite the challenges of COVID, a massive hailstorm allowed them to work right away from their garage with zero overhead.  

“That first season gave us a solid foundation,” he says. “We’ve been traveling the country full-time ever since.”  

Building an evolving toolbox

Swyers began his journey with the Milwaukee Packout Rolling Modular Storage System, a stackable configuration with wheels and a trolley handle. While convenient in theory, the system proved cumbersome in practice.  

“Every time I needed something from the bottom box, I had to unstack everything on top,” he explains.  

That inefficiency led him to swap to a drawer-based PACKOUT setup that functions like a traditional toolbox but remains portable enough for life on the road.  

“The drawers solved the biggest issue I had — access,” Swyers says. “It’s like having a full-size toolbox from my garage that I can take with me wherever I go.”  

Solving the bumpy ride

One of the standout features of Swyers’ setup is a wheel upgrade that addresses a common pain point for mobile techs. The original dolly casters, made of hard plastic, struggled under load and on uneven surfaces. Before the update, he’d even had his box tip over completely.  

His solution was simple. After a quick trip to his local Home Depot, he picked up Everbilt 4” Polyurethane Top Plate Casters. All that was left was to simply strip the wheels from the caster mounts, strip the wheels from the dolly, and then swap in the Everbilt wheels.  

“Now it rolls smoother, handles weight better, and is much more stable in real-world working environments,” Swyers says.  

An inventory that works

Tool organization is another area where Swyers excels. He uses a Willie Quick top tray system that locks into the Milwaukee PACKOUT cleats, offering dedicated spaces for his most-used tools. “When I’m done with a job, I can glance at the tray and instantly tell if something’s missing,” he says. This visual inventory system helps prevent lost tools and streamlines his workflow.  

When asked about his favorite part of the toolbox, the answer was easy: “The drawers, without a doubt.” They eliminate the need to unstack boxes and make the system feel like a true toolbox.  

As for his favorite tool, Swyers highlights the Milwaukee 1/4” Cordless Hex Impact. “It’s compact, lightweight, and has replaced most of the bulkier tools I used to carry,” he says.   

Buying advice for mobile techs

Swyers offers practical advice for technicians looking to build or upgrade their own mobile toolbox. First and foremost: make sure it fits in your vehicle.  

“My first PACKOUT system had a suitcase-style handle that prevented it from fitting under my Roll-N-Lock truck bed cover unless I laid it on its side,” he recalls.  

Expandability is another crucial factor.  

“Milwaukee continues to release new add-ons and accessories, which makes it easy to evolve your setup,” Swyers notes.  

Going with a less established brand may save money initially, but it can cost a technician flexibility in the future. It all depends on what exactly you need from your workspace.  

Life on the road  

Swyers’ efficient ways aren’t just limited to his toolbox. The Swyers family was able to invest in a fifth-wheel RV, a 2019 Jayco Pinnacle, to make all of the traveling they do a little bit easier. It soon turned into another opportunity to simplify their day-to-day life.  

After a devastating basement flood destroyed most of their belongings, the couple embraced minimalism, sold their house, and committed fully to RV living.  

“It’s been a game-changer,” Swyers says. “We’re seasonal workers, usually on the road from March through November, so having our own space with our dogs, our bed, our kitchen, and our tools has made the job much more comfortable and efficient.”  

Today, they continue to work hail seasons across the U.S. while building a future in farming on a small property in Bayfield, Wisconsin, that will no doubt have the most well-organized tool collection in the area.