diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 4661f63..b405344 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
   ]
   dependencies = [
     "astropy",
+    "dataclasstools @ git+https://github.com/GalacticDynamics/dataclasstools.git",
     "equinox",
     "immutable_map_jax @ git+https://github.com/GalacticDynamics/immutable_map_jax.git",
     "jax",
@@ -193,7 +194,7 @@
     [tool.ruff.lint.isort]
       combine-as-imports = true
       extra-standard-library = ["typing_extensions"]
-      known-first-party = ["quaxed", "unxt"]
+      known-first-party = ["dataclasstools", "quaxed", "unxt"]
       known-local-folder = ["coordinax"]
 
 
diff --git a/src/coordinax/_base.py b/src/coordinax/_base.py
index c7ef524..e80fee4 100644
--- a/src/coordinax/_base.py
+++ b/src/coordinax/_base.py
@@ -23,9 +23,10 @@
 from plum import dispatch
 
 import quaxed.array_api as xp
+from dataclasstools import field_items, field_values, replace
 from unxt import Quantity, unitsystem
 
-from ._utils import classproperty, field_items, field_values, full_shaped, replace
+from ._utils import classproperty, full_shaped
 from coordinax._typing import Unit
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
diff --git a/src/coordinax/_base_acc.py b/src/coordinax/_base_acc.py
index 486a778..ec25611 100644
--- a/src/coordinax/_base_acc.py
+++ b/src/coordinax/_base_acc.py
@@ -11,12 +11,13 @@
 import jax
 from plum import dispatch
 
+from dataclasstools import field_items
 from unxt import Quantity
 
 from ._base import AbstractVector
 from ._base_pos import AbstractPosition
 from ._base_vel import AbstractVelocity
-from ._utils import classproperty, field_items
+from ._utils import classproperty
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from typing_extensions import Self
diff --git a/src/coordinax/_base_pos.py b/src/coordinax/_base_pos.py
index 5ab8a55..96ffeb5 100644
--- a/src/coordinax/_base_pos.py
+++ b/src/coordinax/_base_pos.py
@@ -13,10 +13,11 @@
 import jax
 from jaxtyping import ArrayLike
 
+from dataclasstools import field_items
 from unxt import Quantity
 
 from ._base import AbstractVector
-from ._utils import classproperty, field_items
+from ._utils import classproperty
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from typing_extensions import Self
diff --git a/src/coordinax/_base_vel.py b/src/coordinax/_base_vel.py
index 6561f73..ef53069 100644
--- a/src/coordinax/_base_vel.py
+++ b/src/coordinax/_base_vel.py
@@ -10,11 +10,12 @@
 
 import jax
 
+from dataclasstools import field_items
 from unxt import Quantity
 
 from ._base import AbstractVector
 from ._base_pos import AbstractPosition
-from ._utils import classproperty, field_items
+from ._utils import classproperty
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from typing_extensions import Self
diff --git a/src/coordinax/_d1/compat.py b/src/coordinax/_d1/compat.py
index 58cee46..5b211e5 100644
--- a/src/coordinax/_d1/compat.py
+++ b/src/coordinax/_d1/compat.py
@@ -7,11 +7,12 @@
 from plum import conversion_method
 
 import quaxed.array_api as xp
+from dataclasstools import field_values
 from unxt import Quantity
 
 from .base import AbstractPosition1D
 from .cartesian import CartesianAcceleration1D, CartesianPosition1D, CartesianVelocity1D
-from coordinax._utils import field_values, full_shaped
+from coordinax._utils import full_shaped
 
 
 @conversion_method(type_from=AbstractPosition1D, type_to=Quantity)  # type: ignore[misc]
diff --git a/src/coordinax/_d2/compat.py b/src/coordinax/_d2/compat.py
index 9f6229e..7460b0d 100644
--- a/src/coordinax/_d2/compat.py
+++ b/src/coordinax/_d2/compat.py
@@ -7,11 +7,12 @@
 from plum import conversion_method
 
 import quaxed.array_api as xp
+from dataclasstools import field_values
 from unxt import Quantity
 
 from .base import AbstractPosition2D
 from .cartesian import CartesianPosition2D, CartesianVelocity2D
-from coordinax._utils import field_values, full_shaped
+from coordinax._utils import full_shaped
 
 #####################################################################
 # Quantity
diff --git a/src/coordinax/_d3/compat.py b/src/coordinax/_d3/compat.py
index 8b82dc6..a70fcd6 100644
--- a/src/coordinax/_d3/compat.py
+++ b/src/coordinax/_d3/compat.py
@@ -7,11 +7,12 @@
 from plum import conversion_method
 
 import quaxed.array_api as xp
+from dataclasstools import field_values
 from unxt import Quantity
 
 from .base import AbstractPosition3D
 from .cartesian import CartesianAcceleration3D, CartesianPosition3D, CartesianVelocity3D
-from coordinax._utils import field_values, full_shaped
+from coordinax._utils import full_shaped
 
 #####################################################################
 # Quantity
diff --git a/src/coordinax/_transform/accelerations.py b/src/coordinax/_transform/accelerations.py
index f57f9c2..1e4bd5b 100644
--- a/src/coordinax/_transform/accelerations.py
+++ b/src/coordinax/_transform/accelerations.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 from plum import dispatch
 
 import quaxed.array_api as xp
+from dataclasstools import field_items
 from unxt import AbstractDistance, Quantity
 
 from coordinax._base_acc import AbstractAcceleration
@@ -18,7 +19,6 @@
 from coordinax._d1.base import AbstractAcceleration1D
 from coordinax._d2.base import AbstractAcceleration2D
 from coordinax._d3.base import AbstractAcceleration3D
-from coordinax._utils import field_items
 
 
 # TODO: implement for cross-representations
diff --git a/src/coordinax/_transform/differentials.py b/src/coordinax/_transform/differentials.py
index 7c68c53..50a2654 100644
--- a/src/coordinax/_transform/differentials.py
+++ b/src/coordinax/_transform/differentials.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 from plum import dispatch
 
 import quaxed.array_api as xp
+from dataclasstools import field_items
 from unxt import AbstractDistance, Quantity
 
 from coordinax._base_pos import AbstractPosition
@@ -17,7 +18,6 @@
 from coordinax._d1.base import AbstractVelocity1D
 from coordinax._d2.base import AbstractVelocity2D
 from coordinax._d3.base import AbstractVelocity3D
-from coordinax._utils import field_items
 
 
 # TODO: implement for cross-representations
diff --git a/src/coordinax/_utils.py b/src/coordinax/_utils.py
index 05f63ae..1e436d9 100644
--- a/src/coordinax/_utils.py
+++ b/src/coordinax/_utils.py
@@ -2,61 +2,17 @@
 
 __all__: list[str] = []
 
-from collections.abc import Callable, Iterator
-from dataclasses import dataclass, fields, replace as _dataclass_replace
-from typing import (
-    TYPE_CHECKING,
-    Any,
-    ClassVar,
-    Generic,
-    Protocol,
-    TypeVar,
-    runtime_checkable,
-)
-
-from plum import dispatch
+from collections.abc import Callable
+from dataclasses import dataclass, replace as _dataclass_replace
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Generic, TypeVar
 
 import quaxed.array_api as xp
+from dataclasstools import field_values
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from coordinax._base import AbstractVector
 
 
-################################################################################
-
-
-@runtime_checkable
-class DataclassInstance(Protocol):
-    """Protocol for dataclass instances."""
-
-    __dataclass_fields__: ClassVar[dict[str, Any]]
-
-    # B/c of https://github.com/python/mypy/issues/3939 just having
-    # `__dataclass_fields__` is insufficient for `issubclass` checks.
-    @classmethod
-    def __subclasshook__(cls: type, c: type) -> bool:
-        """Customize the subclass check."""
-        return hasattr(c, "__dataclass_fields__")
-
-
-@dispatch  # type: ignore[misc]
-def replace(obj: DataclassInstance, /, **kwargs: Any) -> DataclassInstance:
-    """Replace the fields of a dataclass instance."""
-    return _dataclass_replace(obj, **kwargs)
-
-
-@dispatch  # type: ignore[misc]
-def field_values(obj: DataclassInstance) -> Iterator[Any]:
-    """Return the values of a dataclass instance."""
-    yield from (getattr(obj, f.name) for f in fields(obj))
-
-
-@dispatch  # type: ignore[misc]
-def field_items(obj: DataclassInstance) -> Iterator[tuple[str, Any]]:
-    """Return the field names and values of a dataclass instance."""
-    yield from ((f.name, getattr(obj, f.name)) for f in fields(obj))
-
-
 def full_shaped(obj: "AbstractVector", /) -> "AbstractVector":
     """Return the vector, fully broadcasting all components."""
     arrays = xp.broadcast_arrays(*field_values(obj))
diff --git a/src/coordinax/operators/_base.py b/src/coordinax/operators/_base.py
index 55b326d..e57914d 100644
--- a/src/coordinax/operators/_base.py
+++ b/src/coordinax/operators/_base.py
@@ -9,10 +9,10 @@
 import equinox as eqx
 from plum import dispatch
 
+from dataclasstools import field_items
 from unxt import Quantity
 
 from coordinax._base_pos import AbstractPosition
-from coordinax._utils import field_items
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from ._sequential import OperatorSequence
diff --git a/src/coordinax/operators/_composite.py b/src/coordinax/operators/_composite.py
index de32ca5..58fb1fb 100644
--- a/src/coordinax/operators/_composite.py
+++ b/src/coordinax/operators/_composite.py
@@ -6,18 +6,18 @@
 from dataclasses import replace
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Protocol, overload, runtime_checkable
 
+from dataclasstools import DataclassInstance
 from unxt import Quantity
 
 from ._base import AbstractOperator, op_call_dispatch
 from coordinax._base_pos import AbstractPosition
-from coordinax._utils import DataclassInstance
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from typing_extensions import Self
 
 
 @runtime_checkable
-class HasOperatorsAttr(DataclassInstance, Protocol):
+class HasOperatorsAttr(DataclassInstance, Protocol):  # type: ignore[misc]
     """Protocol for classes with an `operators` attribute."""
 
     operators: tuple[AbstractOperator, ...]
diff --git a/tests/test_base.py b/tests/test_base.py
index d3841c7..66628a7 100644
--- a/tests/test_base.py
+++ b/tests/test_base.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 
 import quaxed.array_api as xp
 import quaxed.numpy as qnp
+from dataclasstools import field_items
 from unxt import AbstractQuantity
 
 from coordinax import (
@@ -38,7 +39,6 @@
     SphericalPosition,
     SphericalVelocity,
 )
-from coordinax._utils import field_items
 
 BUILTIN_VECTORS = [
     # 1D
diff --git a/tests/test_jax_ops.py b/tests/test_jax_ops.py
index 2d2f5a1..ab1fb08 100644
--- a/tests/test_jax_ops.py
+++ b/tests/test_jax_ops.py
@@ -6,11 +6,11 @@
 import jax
 import pytest
 
+from dataclasstools import field_items
 from unxt import AbstractQuantity, Quantity
 
 import coordinax as cx
 from coordinax._base_pos import VECTOR_CLASSES
-from coordinax._utils import field_items
 
 VECTOR_CLASSES_3D = [c for c in VECTOR_CLASSES if issubclass(c, cx.AbstractPosition3D)]