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A Weird Snap On Box

Posted by 141drew Posted onMay 4, 2016 at 5:23 PM and filed under Reviews & Features
Updated onUpdated on Jun 3, 2021 at 6:37 PM

The other day I was at an old machine shop in Austin and saw the strangest Snap On box. Essentially some form of storage was on three of the four sides – making what was essentially a mobile tool island. You gotta question the functionality of it, but the old fart that was using it said it was the best box he had ever had.

These images are terrible  –  I stole them off an eBay auction – but they illustrate a point well enough.

Anyone know the story on these? I feel like I’ve seen on on the forum before, but couldn’t find it.

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Richard Cranium

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Yes, a taco cart, there is several threads on here about them and their restoration. They used to have a tow handle, so that they could be hauled out to the air crafts.
 
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JUNK-MAN

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It's an old taco box, I could see it useful in a large shop but in a tiny space like mine it wouldn't work out. Nice boxes but not for me.
 
Z

zkling

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It's a 1970's to early 80's snap on kr-562. Search this forum for "Taco box".
 
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VC455

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Can somebody explain the reference to Taco and aircraft, the connection?
Thanks
 
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jakemac

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The box is called a Taco Cart (or Box) because if you were to put an umbrella on it, it would resemble a taco cart found out on the city street.

The aircraft reference is because aircraft machanics liked to use them because of the extra storage and because you could attach a tow bar to it and haul it behind a donkey to service a plane out on the Tarmac.

They are nice boxes, but because you need access to three sides they can be impractical for most shops.
 
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rsanter

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VC455 said:
Can somebody explain the reference to Taco and aircraft, the connection?
Thanks
Click to expand...

Back in the day they were referred to as an " aircraft service cart"
I used to want one when they were new. I remember they were $1855 new back then. Didn't have the money so I didn't get one.

Bob
 
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R

Ryan

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Taco cart! That's it... and no, I'm not trolling.

I actually have a vintage Snap On box that was my grand father's, but past that - I've never been all that into vintage boxes surprisingly. I just really value space and nice drawer sliders...

But I could totally get into a taco box.
 
D

DelayedZ

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One of the guys at my dealership has one in mint condition, and he got it from an aircraft mechanic, it's pretty neat but you definitely need extra space for it to really utilize it.
 
L

Lookin4'67Galaxieconv

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Ryan said:
Taco cart! That's it... and no, I'm not trolling.

I actually have a vintage Snap On box that was my grand father's, but past that - I've never been all that into vintage boxes surprisingly. I just really value space and nice drawer sliders...

But I could totally get into a taco box.
Click to expand...

Some pics and a thread

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=237857&showall=1

I recognize the pics you got from eBay. That one was in a fire and they wanted something like $1,300 for it.
 

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PureLeaf

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Does Garagejournal Ryan sell vises on craigslist? Theres someone in Austin with masses of bench vises and other random tools who advertises them all the time on craigslist, also goes by the name Ryan.

He also lists ads that he's buying bench vises too.
 
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Strouty

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Ryan said:
Taco cart! That's it... and no, I'm not trolling.

I actually have a vintage Snap On box that was my grand father's, but past that - I've never been all that into vintage boxes surprisingly. I just really value space and nice drawer sliders...

But I could totally get into a taco box.
Click to expand...

I knew you weren't but they are a hit around these parts, we do love us some tacos. They are really nice as a mobile workstation. I have been looking for one myself, but they are either too far away or way too expensive. :sad:
 
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twertsy

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I'll post a pic later but I have mine set up end to end just outside my lift, facing opposite directions. So I have access to 2 sides of drawers on 1, then the outside drawers and the lube/oil storage on the other one. It works out pretty slick.
 
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Ryan

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PureLeaf said:
Does Garagejournal Ryan sell vises on craigslist? Theres someone in Austin with masses of bench vises and other random tools who advertises them all the time on craigslist, also goes by the name Ryan.

He also lists ads that he's buying bench vises too.
Click to expand...

Nope... I've noticed that guy too...

Strouty said:
I knew you weren't but they are a hit around these parts, we do love us some tacos. They are really nice as a mobile workstation. I have been looking for one myself, but they are either too far away or way too expensive. :sad:
Click to expand...

They do seem spendy - cool as hell though.
 
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Strouty

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They are definitely cool and people have been asking more than what they were when new. I think a restored one painted extreme green would be awesome..............

Commence lynching.
 
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VC455

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Thank you Jakemac.

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk
 
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drivesitfar

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Ryan: too funny you post up maybe the Snap on toolbox that might have lived part of it's life in a fire. not sure it's worth saving, but I do like the design. unfortunately unless you have big shop and have room for a big box in the middle of it using all three sides of a tool box can be hard to do.

i'm sure there are a few restored or almost new ones over on the main toolbox thread and I've tried to stay off that thread only because my budget can't handle seeing all those AMAZING BOXES and especially the TOOLS that are in them.

cheers and thanks again for doing all you do to keep GJ maybe the #1 tool forum on the internet. :beer:
 
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Zeke

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Ryan said:
The other day I was at an old machine shop in Austin and saw the strangest Snap On box. Essentially some form of storage was on three of the four sides – making what was essentially a mobile tool island. You gotta question the functionality of it, but the old fart that was using it said it was the best box he had ever had.
Click to expand...
Hey now.... ;):D
 
C

CapnKay

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California
jakemac said:
The box is called a Taco Cart (or Box) because if you were to put an umbrella on it, it would resemble a taco cart found out on the city street.

The aircraft reference is because aircraft machanics liked to use them because of the extra storage and because you could attach a tow bar to it and haul it behind a donkey to service a plane out on the Tarmac.

They are nice boxes, but because you need access to three sides they can be impractical for most shops.
Click to expand...

The title is interchangeable for many smaller work horse carts like this. In video production a "taco cart" hauls stands, lights, clamps, etc... It's more about the size and shape reference than being for a specific with airplanes or video equipment.
 
B

bentwrench54

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worked 5 and a half years with a coworker who had a taco cart. he turned down at least 5 offers a year from the tool trucks who wanted to buy it.
 
B

Benzmaster0

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The taco wagons are awesome with the independent suspension. You can run over metal chips and uneven floors and your tools don't jump about inside of the drawers. I have one and my father does too. By far my favorite tool box.
 
N

Nick Danger

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Interesting. My toolbox is a homebrew version of that. I bought it from a retired aircraft assembly mechanic. I just assumed that he invented it himself.
 
6

67gto

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Connecticut
This was my first big Snap-On box. They were marketed in this area as a "bodyman's box". Mechanic's tools went in the front drawers, body tools in the side drawers, and you would keep your spray guns & DA's in the rear cabinet. The problem with these boxes is you couldn't put them against a wall, because you were always moving it out to open the rear cabinet doors. I got mine used for around $800.00. After I had it for about a year, the new KR-1000's came out. All the drawers had full roller bearing slides. So I cleaned mine up, put the extruded aluminum drawer pulls on it, and the new style chrome Snap-On nameplate & traded it in for a repossessed KR-1000. That was back in the 80's. I still have the KR-1000 in my garage at home. after 30yrs in the body business, now I'm an insurance appraiser. When I go into shops these days, I am amazed at the monster boxes that I see today. And the $$$ that they cost!!
 
O

Outlawmws

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Ryan, every so often, one will pop up at usuck prices , It just take patience while watching, and then of course it is a "middle of the shop" box so having the space.

SWMBO and my eldest daughter have a new hobby; looking for a "retirement home", and know I won't even think about one without a shop or large outbuilding.

They found one last night with a 20 X 45 "detached garage" (clearly added on to, but done well)

a Taco Wagon (or two) would be perfect a car length and a half or so inside, so its between the parked rigs and the "workshop area"
 
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don long

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67gto said:
This was my first big Snap-On box. They were marketed in this area as a "bodyman's box". Mechanic's tools went in the front drawers, body tools in the side drawers, and you would keep your spray guns & DA's in the rear cabinet. I still have the KR-1000 in my garage at home. after 30yrs in the body business, now I'm an insurance appraiser. When I go into shops these days, I am amazed at the monster boxes that I see today. And the $$$ that they cost!!
Click to expand...



Funny that you mention that about the size and $$ s spent by bodymen.
I am an old bodyman / shop owner and in the old days we would show off our ego by the size of our toolboxes.

Before I sold my bodyshops I restricted the size of tool box that I allowed into my shop because the boxes were getting so big a guy could move into one on the weekends. I started to specialize my work areas rather than having one space where the entire repair took place, I moved the car from teardown, to metal, to welding, to bondo, to paint then back for reassembly and put the required tools in each space. No more need for the toolbox fortresses

I still have my Taco box from when I pounded tin
 
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D

don long

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67gto said:
This was my first big Snap-On box. They were marketed in this area as a "bodyman's box". Mechanic's tools went in the front drawers, body tools in the side drawers, and you would keep your spray guns & DA's in the rear cabinet. I still have the KR-1000 in my garage at home. after 30yrs in the body business, now I'm an insurance appraiser. When I go into shops these days, I am amazed at the monster boxes that I see today. And the $$$ that they cost!!
Click to expand...



Funny that you mention that about the size and $$ s spent by bodymen.
I am an old bodyman / shop owner and in the old days we would show off our ego by the size of our toolboxes.

Before I sold my bodyshops I restricted the size of tool box that I allowed into my shop because the boxes were getting so big a guy could move into one on the weekends. I started to specialize my work areas rather than having one space where the entire repair took place, I moved the car from teardown to metal to welding to bondo to paint then back for reassembly and put the required tools in each space. I hired people to work in each area. No more need for the toolbox fortresses

I still have my Taco box from when I pounded tin
 
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