DeWalt 85 pc. 3/8 in. and 1/2 in. Mechanic Tool Set with TOUGHSYSTEM 2.0 Tray and Lid

I dropped this DeWalt set into my ToughSystem stack and put it straight to work on a weekend round of brake service, a lawn mower tune-up, and a couple of odds and ends under the hood. It’s a compact 85-piece kit, but it doesn’t feel compromised. The mix of 3/8 in. and 1/2 in. drive tools hits most of the common tasks I run into in the garage, while the storage solution makes real sense if you already live in the ToughSystem 2.0 ecosystem.

Build quality and ergonomics

Both ratchets have a reassuring heft and a smooth, full‑polish chrome finish that wipes clean easily. The 72‑tooth mechanism gives you roughly a 5° arc swing, which is fine for general automotive and equipment work and small enough to be usable around tight brackets and accessory drives. The lever action for direction changes is positive and easy to flick with a gloved thumb.

Sockets are 6‑point and hard‑stamped, not laser‑etched. That’s a small but meaningful detail—those deep, stamped markings stay readable after grime and repeated cleaning. The chrome plating presents no rough spots or flaking out of the box, and the fit on fasteners has been snug with no slop that would make me worry about rounding.

The included bit driver has an anti‑slip handle with enough texture to control even when my hands were oily. It’s not a full screwdriver set replacement, but paired with the 22 specialty bits it covered hose clamps, interior panels, and a handful of Torx and hex duties.

Coverage and what’s in the box

The set leans sensibly toward the sizes you actually use. You get:

• 3/8 in. and 1/2 in. drive ratchets
• A spread of metric and SAE sockets, plus deeps
• 3/8 in. extensions (3 in. and 6 in.), a short 1/2 in. extension, and a 1/2 in. to 3/8 in. adapter
• A 3/8 in. drive 5/8 in. spark plug socket
• Bit driver with 22 specialty bits

The metric range hits the common 8–19 mm sizes on 3/8 in. drive and steps up to larger sizes on 1/2 in. for higher-torque fasteners. SAE coverage is similar with sensible jumps up to larger nuts and bolts. If your work regularly needs uncommon sizes (a 20 mm, for example, shows up on some vehicles), plan to supplement—hardly unusual for an 85‑piece kit.

The included 5/8 in. spark plug socket handled small engines and many modern automotive plugs. If you maintain older engines that use 13/16 in. plugs, you’ll still want that size on hand.

Ratchets in use

The ratchets were comfortable through a full day. I appreciate how the heads aren’t overly bulky; they tuck nicely into tight spots around calipers and under intake piping. Engagement is crisp with no gritty feel, and the pawl takes up slack predictably under load. I didn’t run into any balky backdrag that would fight me when I needed to index the handle in cramped spaces.

On stubborn fasteners, the 1/2 in. drive flexed less than I expected from a set this size, and the chrome finish provided enough grip to reposition without feeling slippery. The 3/8 in. ratchet, paired with the 6 in. extension, handled most under-hood tasks without needing to reach for a breaker bar.

Sockets, bits, and fitment

Socket fit has been excellent. The six‑point geometry bites well and inspires confidence on older hardware that’s seen a few winters. I used several sizes with a torque wrench via the included adapter without any seating issues. The deep sockets are genuinely useful lengths rather than token add-ons; they cleared studs on suspension links and backed off nuts without reaching for pass‑through tools.

The bit assortment is a convenience play—and a good one. Torx, hex, Phillips, and slotted options mean you can flip between mechanical and light trim or accessory work without changing kits. The bits aren’t a replacement for premium impact-rated drivers, but for hand use they’ve held up cleanly so far.

Storage and organization

Storage is a standout here. The two ToughSystem 2.0 shallow trays drop straight into a ToughSystem 2.0 box and lock in like they were made for it—because they were. The molded inserts keep everything from rattling around, and the included lids matter more than you might think: you can carry a single tray to the job without raining sockets when you set it down or tilt it. Labels are easy to see at a glance, and returning pieces to their homes is intuitive.

If you don’t already use ToughSystem 2.0, the trays still function as compact, lidded organizers on a bench or shelf. That said, the setup really shines when it’s part of a stacked kit you roll from the truck to the work area.

Day-to-day performance

• Brake job: The 3/8 in. ratchet, 6 in. extension, and a common 14–18 mm set of sockets handled caliper bolts and bracket hardware. The deep sockets were handy on slide pins with exposed threads.
• Mower tune-up: The 5/8 in. spark plug socket and bit driver made quick work of plugs and airbox fasteners. The anti‑slip handle kept control despite oily hands.
• Engine bay odds and ends: The 5° arc swing showed its value threading around coolant reservoirs and radiator supports. Hard‑stamped sizes saved time—no twisting sockets in the light to read them.

Nothing in those tasks felt out of place or forced. The kit moves smoothly from light duty to moderate torque jobs in the way a mechanic’s set should.

Durability and maintenance

The full‑polish chrome resists corrosion and cleans up with a wipe. After a couple weeks of use in a damp garage, there’s no sign of rust creeping around the knurls or the ratchet heads. The lids and trays feel sturdy; hinges and latches close securely without being fussy. DeWalt backs the set with a lifetime limited warranty, which is table stakes at this price point but still welcome.

What I’d change

• Finer ratchet option: A 90‑tooth mechanism would be even nicer in truly cramped quarters. The 72‑tooth is solid, but some competitors offer finer gearing.
• Add a second spark plug size: Including a 13/16 in. socket would cover more small engines and older vehicles.
• A longer 1/2 in. extension: The included short extension is useful, but a 5–6 in. option would reduce trips back to the toolbox.

None of these are deal‑breakers; they’re quality-of-life tweaks that would elevate an already capable set.

Who it’s for

• DIYers and serious hobbyists invested in ToughSystem 2.0 who want a compact, well‑organized core mechanics kit.
• Mobile techs who value tray-based organization with lidded protection during transport.
• Pros needing a dependable auxiliary set to keep in a service truck or as a satellite kit away from the main box.

If you don’t use ToughSystem 2.0 at all and prefer traditional blow‑molded cases, the trays may feel less compelling, though they still work fine on their own.

Recommendation

I recommend this DeWalt set. It combines thoughtful storage with trustworthy mechanics tools: 72‑tooth ratchets that feel good in the hand, six‑point sockets with durable, easy‑to‑read markings, and a selection that covers the bulk of day-to-day automotive and equipment work. The ToughSystem 2.0 trays and lids are more than packaging—they’re a practical part of the experience, whether you’re rolling a stack onto a job or carrying a single tray to the driveway. While I’d welcome finer‑tooth ratchets and a couple of added pieces, the fundamentals are right, the finish holds up, and the organization saves time. For anyone building around ToughSystem 2.0 or looking for a tidy, capable mechanics kit, this is a smart buy.