Harley VL Tool Roll | Factory Toolbox Fit & Military Canvas Kit | Riding Vintage

Harley VL Tool Roll That Fits the Factory Toolbox

Nowadays it seems like anyone who can sew together waxed cotton or leather is making a motorcycle tool roll. Don’t get me wrong, there are some real works of art being produced to keep your oily tools secured, but on the whole, they are all a bit too large for my application.

Like all the VL models, my ’33 came from the factory with a locking metal toolbox. It measures in at just under 8 inches, so finding a tool roll that could fit comfortably inside it was a bit of a challenge. For more shop-tested solutions for these early flatheads, visit the VL Tech archive.

Compact canvas tool roll fitted inside the 1933 Harley VL factory toolbox.

Finding a Compact Tool Roll

After about an hour of searching the internet for a “miniature” motorcycle tool roll, I stumbled across an upcycled US Military M13 spare parts roll on Etsy.

Upcycled US Military M13 spare parts roll used as a compact motorcycle tool roll.

Being a guy that rides a motorcycle that constantly drips oil on the ground — by design, mind you — you can probably guess that upcycling is not at the top of my priority list, but maybe this will buy me some carbon credits.

I purchased the tool roll from a company called New Leaf Fabrications, which specializes in upcycling military surplus. For this particular piece, the internal pouches have been restitched to allow for longer tools to be inserted, and the canvas has been rewaxed with their “home brew” canvas wax.

Open tool roll showing the stubby wrenches, midget wrenches, keys, and small repair items carried inside.

Tools Carried in the VL Tool Roll

Looking at the picture above, you can see that it holds quite a few tools. I pulled them out so you can see them better.

Here’s a list of the contents:

• feeler gauge
• misc. screwdriver bits
• complete set of stubby wrenches
• complete set of midget wrenches
• spare ignition keys
• master link
• contact file

New Leaf Fabrications also added a piece of paracord, which turned out to make a great pull cord for removing it from the tool box.

Paracord pull cord added to make the tool roll easier to remove from the VL toolbox.

Fitment Inside the VL Toolbox

When rolled up, the shape is not perfectly round, but actually closer to the pear shape of the tool box. This makes for a snug fit, but not so tight that you have trouble removing it.

Rolled canvas tool kit shaped closely enough to fit the pear-shaped Harley VL toolbox.

Real-World Use and Durability

Over the course of my cross-country ride, that tool roll was pulled in and out of my tool box dozens of times. It contained our only complete set of wrenches, so when either motorcycle needed an adjustment, out came the tool roll.

Besides a little blue Rustoleum and a grease stain or two, the tool roll looks just as good as the day I got it. The snug fit not only kept the tools from rattling for 3,600 miles, but also kept the canvas from wearing or fraying.

Remember, this is a military surplus tool roll, so the quality is exactly what you would expect from military field-grade equipment.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve got a VL out in your garage, you need this tool roll. Supplies are limited, so check out New Leaf Fabrications while they still have some available.

Military canvas tool roll after cross-country use as compact Harley VL tool storage.