Milwaukee’s M18 FUEL 4-Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum (0971-20) is up for preorder at $299. It is the first mid-size M18 vac with PACKOUT compatibility top, bottom, and back, plus VACLINK wireless dust control, and the sliding tank pulls off the stack without unstacking anything above it. Distributors list an estimated ship date of mid-October.
The 2.5-gallon PACKOUT vac (0970-20) has been out since 2023 and sells for $199. This one doubles the tank, adds 70 CFM airflow with 60 inches of suction, and keeps the whole rig usable while it sits in a PACKOUT stack. Tool only, batteries sold separately, as with most Milwaukee pro gear.
Key Details
- Model: 0971-20 (M18 FUEL 4 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum w/ PACKOUT compatibility and VACLINK)
- Price: $299, tool only
- Airflow: 70 CFM, 60 in. suction
- Two modes: Max Power and Max Runtime
- Runtime: up to 32 min (Max Power) or 47 min (Max Runtime) with an M18 FORGE HD12.0 battery
- Filter: HEPA filter included, quarter-turn removal; optional fleece dust bags (49-90-1939, $24.99 for 3)
- Hose: 1-7/8 in. expandable, 37 in. collapsed to 9 ft extended
- Warranty: 3 years
Why the Sliding Tank Matters
Every stacked wet/dry vac before this one had the same problem: when the tank fills, you break down the stack or haul the whole tower to the dumpster. The 0971’s tank slides out on its own rails, so a two-minute empty does not become a ten-minute reorganization. Controls, hose, and filter all stay accessible from outside the unit for the same reason.
VACLINK carries over from the SDS Max rotary hammer and NEXUS dust extraction line: a compatible tool wirelessly fires the vac when the trigger pulls, or you can start it from the remote on the hose end. Anyone running dust extraction with an SDS hammer already knows the pattern.
How It Compares
FLEX’s STACK PACK 2.5-gallon vac ($229) and the 0970-20 ($199) are the closest modular-stack rivals, and both are smaller. Ridgid and DeWalt’s stacked-shop-vac attempts are corded or non-modular. At $299 with a 4-gallon tank and HEPA filtration standard, the 0971 is the largest genuinely modular cordless vac on the market right now. Our best cordless shop vac rankings will get an update once the ship date lands.
Where and When to Buy
Preorders are open now at $299 with an estimated Oct. 15 ship date at Tool Nut. Ohio Power Tool expects stock around Oct. 1. Milwaukee is a Home Depot exclusive, so expect an HD listing once inventory actually moves; there is none yet. Buy Now links for the smaller M18 FUEL 2.5-gallon PACKOUT vac are live for anyone who does not need the bigger tank.
If you run dust extraction on a drill or grinder instead, the best cordless dust extractors list covers the smaller HEPA units that pair with VACLINK tools.
Sources: Milwaukee Tool press release, Ohio Power Tool News, Tool Nut (preorder listing)