Why not as many top chests?

[mrjaw14]

Currently I've got a 40" top and bottom chest and I'm looking to upgrade. It seems like, at least from pictures of people's setups, that once you get to 56" and certainly to 72" that the number of tool chests with top boxes declines.

I'm curious to hear a discussion on having a longer box with no top box vs a shorter box with a top chest. Do people buy longer boxes with the intent of getting a top box, but can't because it's cost prohibitive to buy them at once, then end up not needing it and never get it?

I thought about going the 56" route, but have an opportunity to get a 72" box and started thinking about all of this. If you could get a 56" KRL or equivalent vs a 72" KRA for the same cost, which would you chose?

 

[seber]

The KRL is a great product, but If you are thinking KRA, I would just go to HF instead and save a pile of cash.

 

[APEowner]

The advantage of a larger bottom with no top is that you get more workspace which, in a dealership setting can be at a premium.

 

[RedneckWelder]

From the professional tech point of view workspace is very important. Some guys use the top for disassembly/assembly of components, layout of parts, tools in use, etc, especially in shops where worktable space is scarce. We have worktables between bays in my shop so no need for working on top of the toolbox. Another factor is the need for desk space. I have a laptop that is my way to access manuals, have to have clean space for completing paperwork without getting it greasy and oily, some people have monitors and printers, space to have paper manuals and schematics spread out, etc.

 

[twertsy]

Flat Surface, Flat Surface, Flat Surface!! Premium in my shop, and virtually non-existent. I have a tear-down table and a KRL-1001 triple bank, that's about the extent of my flat surface. Hence, the FSS moniker.


Todd - Severely afflicted with FSS

 

[Packard V8]

Flat Surface, Flat Surface, Flat Surface!! Premium in my shop, and virtually non-existent. I have a tear-down table and a KRL-1001 triple bank, that's about the extent of my flat surface. Hence, the FSS moniker. Todd - Severely afflicted with FSS

OTOH, the smartest engine builder/car constructor I ever knew, Alphus Lendell "Roundman" Amick (I had to search for his given names because no one ever called him anything but "Round") built his shop without workbenches. "Impossible to keep them from collecting ****." My workshop is a living example of that. It has thirty feet of workbench, none immediately usable. Round had a rolling cart to work beside the car and another custom rolling cart to hold all the engine parts to work beside the engine stand. At the end of the day, everything had to be back where it belonged. I've always wished for his talent, discipline and focus.

jack vines

 

[Fedwrench]

When you start adding a top box to 60 or 72 inch wide bottom, you've created a wall that can be hard to fit in a smaller shop.

I agree that flat space can be a premium and at same time, cluttered with ****. However, i think wall space to park these monster setups against, is at a higher premium.

 

[Garett]

OTOH, the smartest engine builder/car constructor I ever knew, Alphus Lendell "Roundman" Amick (I had to search for his given names because no one ever called him anything but "Round") built his shop without workbenches. "Impossible to keep them from collecting ****." My workshop is a living example of that. It has thirty feet of workbench, none immediately usable. Round had a rolling cart to work beside the car and another custom rolling cart to hold all the engine parts to work beside the engine stand. At the end of the day, everything had to be back where it belonged. I've always wished for his talent, discipline and focus.

jack vines

I know what you mean, my workbenches and roll cab are currently stacked with parts and clutter.

Workbenches, kinda like my neighbour built a 4000 sq ft shop with no shelving, he said once on the shelf it'll live there forever. When I look at my racking it's full of good engines and transmissions and other parts I may never use again, I'm due for a dump run purge.

 

[Richard Cranium]

I have flat surface syndrome. If it is flat or semi-flat, it will collect stuff.

 

[firebox40dash5]

Like most, I'd rather have a wide toolbox with a top that functions as a workbench, rather than a "wall" of drawers in a narrower & taller box, and space next to it for an inadequate workbench.

My 1st "real" box was a 44" combo, and the top sat over on a welding table full of ****. Only used it as a "road box" for demolition derby day. When I outgrew the lower, I upgraded... couldn't afford to lose my workspace by tossing the top chest on.

 

[pi_guy]

When I worked in regular car repair in 70's I worked out of a taco box with a mounted vise. The only thing that lived on it was a hot plate and tea kettle.
The work space made life better, and at the end of the project or day you clean off the top. Where most at that time had a box on top of a roller.
Just found it was a better way to work and my current pile of boxes all have surface space two of them have small boxes on top. My KRL's have SS tops and one is fairly clear with current work on top the other has machines and arbor press which slide nicely on SS top allowing me to move the needed one into position.

 

[Wamsutta]

If you could get a 56" KRL or equivalent vs a 72" KRA for the same cost, which would you chose?

The KRL

 

[atomicpunk]

Not all of us are tall people. i don't want a box with a top chest that's taller than me and I need a small step ladder to access the top drawers. lol

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

Once you get into larger roller boxes, the top chests end up with the top lid area and upper drawer or 2 being essentially inaccessible without a step stool. This is why I opted to get a drawer-only top chest to go on the top of my latest roller box, especially since I added it next to the existing box which has a hutch / work surface. I know the top of that chest will get used for long term / bulk storage space since it doesn't lift and its hard to reach.

I also agree that some will definitely need the flat surface area for laptops / desk kinda use, but it also does collect a lot of extraneous junk if you don't keep after the cleaning / organizing / prioritizing what needs to be on that surface.

 

[speed bump]

I'm in the camp of I like top box but I'm over 6 ft, don't like bending over for common tools, have a small workspace, and benches close by.

In a mechanics shop environment a tool box makes a convenient semi-portable workbench/desk which is probably why you have see so many roll cabs.

 

[alexb2000]

I had a Snap-on cart that I sold off at a loss, just because I had to lift up the top to access the main storage area. What a pain, every little item had to be moved off to open the cart lid and yet the flat lid naturally attracted every item that you touched.

It's ALL about counter top height surfaces, that's why I have a KRL.

If I worked at a dealer I would have a KRL with a hutch and side locker for security, but never a top box.

 

[Professional Tool User]

No one ever said you have to have a top box. You can have a bottom box with a working surface or a hutch.

 

[Mr_B]

From the professional tech point of view workspace is very important. Some guys use the top for disassembly/assembly of components, layout of parts, tools in use, etc, especially in shops where worktable space is scarce. We have worktables between bays in my shop so no need for working on top of the toolbox. Another factor is the need for desk space. I have a laptop that is my way to access manuals, have to have clean space for completing paperwork without getting it greasy and oily, some people have monitors and printers, space to have paper manuals and schematics spread out, etc.

+1 to this, worktop/countertop is useful, I went 2 matching 56" boxes over 1 72", easy find used 56" as craze is 72".
2x56" way easier transport to shop, move in shop and has more layout footprint options plus extra 40" and 8 wheels taking the load .

I would take krl, kra not worth it unless a steal used buy .

 

[930dreamer]

Because I have at least 10 top boxes.

 

[Al Borland]

Depends what you are doing, Flat top is a blessing and a curse. If you have a workbench already and space is tight, a smaller tower can be a better choice.