{"id":25142,"date":"2026-06-06T00:55:19","date_gmt":"2026-06-06T00:55:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nationalgunowner.org\/index.php\/2026\/06\/06\/pelican-crate-45l-review-truck-gear-armor\/"},"modified":"2026-06-06T00:55:23","modified_gmt":"2026-06-06T00:55:23","slug":"pelican-crate-45l-review-truck-gear-armor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nationalgunowner.org\/index.php\/2026\/06\/06\/pelican-crate-45l-review-truck-gear-armor\/","title":{"rendered":"Pelican CRATE 45L Review: Truck Gear Armor"},"content":{"rendered":"
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<\/svg><\/span>Estimated reading time: <\/span>10<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/p>\n

The Pelican CRATE 45L is not just another tough-looking box for the truck bed. It is a waterproof, dustproof, configurable gear vault that earned its place hauling optics, thermals, night vision, and the expensive kit I do not want turned into paperweights.<\/p>\n

<\/picture>
A rainy day at Hat Creek and the CRATE keeps expensive gear in the back of the truck dry. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I\u2019ve owned a lot of gear over the years, and most \u201crugged\u201d storage falls into one of two camps: cheap totes that crack on the first cold morning, or expensive cases that look the part but never quite fit how I actually pack. Pelican\u2019s new CRATE 45L in Desert Tan has earned a real spot in my truck. It isn\u2019t for everyone, but for what I do, it works.<\/p>\n

Pelican CRATE 45L Review: What This Waterproof Gear Box Actually Is<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The CRATE is Pelican\u2019s configurable cargo case, built on the same protection philosophy behind their cases for the last 50 years. Mine is the 45L in tan, set up with two divider panels, one MOLLE panel, and a pair of ModRail Bar Loops. It\u2019s rated IP67, so waterproof, dustproof, and crushproof, molded from Pelican\u2019s HPXC material and tested to MIL-SPEC and ATA standards. It\u2019s made in the USA and backed by a limited lifetime warranty. The 45L runs $224.95, with a 90L at $299.95 if you need more volume.<\/p>\n

\"Pelican<\/picture>
Pelican Modrail Bar Loops installed. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pelican CRATE 45L Specs: The Numbers Behind the Gear Armor<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Capacity<\/th>\n45 liters<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weight (empty)<\/th>\n10.5 lbs<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Exterior dimensions<\/th>\n20.1 x 16.3 x 12.1 in (51.05 x 41.4 x 30.73 cm)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Material<\/th>\nPelican HPXC polymer (UV-resistant, color-fast)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Protection<\/th>\nIP67 rated, waterproof to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes, dustproof, crushproof<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Standards<\/th>\nTested to MIL-SPEC and ATA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Closure<\/th>\nPadlockable hasps with an automatic pressure equalization valve<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lid<\/th>\nMulti-position, dual-access, fully removable<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Exterior<\/th>\nIntegrated ModRail t-slot rail, rated to 100 lbs of accessories<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Stacking<\/th>\nInterlocks with 45L and 90L cases<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Origin<\/th>\nMade in the USA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Warranty<\/th>\nLimited lifetime<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Price<\/th>\n$224.95 (90L is $299.95)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Colors<\/th>\nBlack, Desert Tan<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n

That\u2019s the spec sheet. The real question is what it means when you\u2019re standing at the tailgate with rain falling, dust blowing, and expensive glass in the bed.<\/p>\n

Protecting $10,000 in Optics, Thermals, Night Vision, and Range Gear<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The gear I care about most is exactly the gear that hates dust and moisture: rangefinders, a Kestrel, binos, thermals, night vision, weapon lights, a med kit, or other expensive equipment. On a typical outing, I\u2019m running over $10,000 worth of equipment out of this case. Moisture and dust are how expensive things turn into paperweights, so sealing all of that out matters to me. The IP67 rating stopped being a marketing number the first time I left the case in an open truck bed through dust and weather, and everything inside came out clean and dry.<\/p>\n

\"Pelican<\/picture><\/figure>\n

That changes how I operate. I used to keep sensitive optics in soft cases up in the cab, out of the elements, then shuffle everything around at the truck. Now the CRATE just lives in the bed. It takes padlocks, too, so when I leave the truck, the gear is protected and secured. Carrying that much value around, the peace of mind is a real part of what I\u2019m paying for.<\/p>\n

\"Pelican<\/picture>
Multiple padlock points.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Configurable Interior: Why This Pelican Cargo Case Beats a Basic Tote<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Pelican<\/picture>
The divider panels can be moved around inside the box for custom configuration. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A tough box is only useful if your gear isn\u2019t sliding around inside it. This is also where the CRATE is a different animal from a classic Pelican case. The traditional cases are built around foam cut for one fixed loadout, which is great if you carry the same thing every time. The CRATE is built for the opposite: changing loadouts. The two divider panels let me wall off sections so optics aren\u2019t banging into a toolkit, and the MOLLE panel turned out to be more useful than I expected. It pops on and off easily, and lashing pouches and smaller items directly to it means I\u2019m not digging to the bottom for a battery or a multitool.<\/p>\n

\"Pelican<\/picture>
The molle panel comes off easily to configure, and you could get several and trade them out depending on your loadout.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The real benefit is that I pack by loadout instead of by \u201ceverything I own.\u201d Depending on what I\u2019m doing, the inside looks completely different:<\/p>\n