Toolbox Questions

[seanb02]

Hey folks, I am in the market for a quality toolbox, preferably a bottom cabinet with a work surface in the 55" range and ideally 24" depth. US General, Husky, Craftsman and the like just aren't going to cut it for me unfortunately. Been through a bunch of threads already reading information and just can't seem to come to a conclusion on what would be the best option for my particular application.

Most of the time it will be stationary, but would get moved around from time to time in the shop. I work on farm equipment, so I have quite a range of different tools, but my needs are something heavy duty so I'm not overloading drawers. Ideally I think a KRL would fit my needs quite nicely, however the price is something I'm not entirely sure I'm ready to stomach.

So I have been considering perhaps an Extreme Toolbox, or a KRA series. Does anybody have any suggestions for other comparable options that they could point me in the direction of? Or talk me into one of the ones I have mentioned! Thanks!

 

[JVB]

Homak rs series seem to be hot right now. 56” even 72” combo available.

 

[Ign]

I'm sorry I gotta be the first to say it but used KRL

I know this is so obvious....so I'm assuming there's just nothing in your market right now or even the used prices are greater than you can stomach?

 

[seanb02]

Homak rs series seem to be hot right now. 56” even 72” combo available.

I did a quick look at those, they seem to be a bit lighter weight than the Extreme box, so I'm not entirely convinced one would hold up long term. Would be interesting to hear input from someone who owns one regarding the build quality.

 

[seanb02]

I'm sorry I gotta be the first to say it but used KRL

I know this is so obvious....so I'm assuming there's just nothing in your market right now or even the used prices are greater than you can stomach?

That's a reasonable statement. Any suggestions on where to look for a used one? Craigslist in my area and even out a couple hundred mile range doesn't turn up anything. I haven't had an opportunity to talk to my local SnapOn guy yet to see if he has a line on anything.

 

[plinker]

KRA's arent bad boxes at all in general, the depth is going to be similar to HF/Husky/Masterforce/ete. boxes (22-24" or so). In a way you wont gain much other then support/parts availabilty with a KRA. Depends on which box layout as well.

IME, the Masterforce boxes are quite nice, and I'd actually take one of those over a KRA, price dependent (I'd pick the KRA if the cost was the same or a little more).

A KRL (or Matco 5S or 6S) @ 29" deep would be a step up, but price will vary due to location and market. A 4S Matco box is a little more box then a KRA, but not quite a KRL equivalent. If you can find a Snap-on KR1000, buy it.

 

[Mr_B]

KRA waste of time really, KRL or don't bother when it come to snapon
As said above masterforce nicer cheaper boxes.
If you want stomachable price on top brand you going have go used, I would not overlook older matco as they made proper and tend be bargain prices used if got time hunt around .
For proper decent chinese extreme box it be same money as a pricey used snapon krl and you know for sure which the wiser buy .
You might be best buying a cheaper 56" as temporary step and hunt down ideal krl or matco .

 

[seanb02]

KRA's arent bad boxes at all in general, the depth is going to be similar to HF/Husky/Masterforce/ete. boxes (22-24" or so). In a way you wont gain much other then support/parts availabilty with a KRA. Depends on which box layout as well.

IME, the Masterforce boxes are quite nice, and I'd actually take one of those over a KRA, price dependent (I'd pick the KRA if the cost was the same or a little more).

A KRL (or Matco 5S or 6S) @ 29" deep would be a step up, but price will vary due to location and market. A 4S Matco box is a little more box then a KRA, but not quite a KRL equivalent. If you can find a Snap-on KR1000, buy it.

I don't have a Menards anywhere near my location (Southern Oregon) cost of shipping a Masterforce box is a bit cost prohibitive in this case. ~$500 for shipping after looking at them on their website.

How about the Extreme Toolboxes then? Would they be a step up from a KRA at a slightly lower price point?

 

[seanb02]

KRA waste of time really, KRL or don't bother when it come to snapon
As said above masterforce nicer cheaper boxes.
If you want stomachable price on top brand you going have go used, I would not overlook older matco as they made proper and tend be bargain prices used if got time hunt around .
For proper decent chinese extreme box it be same money as a pricey used snapon krl and you know for sure which the wiser buy .
You might be best buying a cheaper 56" as temporary step and hunt down ideal krl or matco .

I didn't realize that the Extreme boxes were a Chinese company. Have heard that Matco boxes are good, but I'm not impressed with our local Matco guy so I haven't really researched them much. But I'll keep an eye out for them on Craigslist as well!

 

[seanb02]

Just did a search on Matco boxes, there is one listed locally for $2000. I was going to say I'm not picky about colors and whatnot with a used box for a good price... but this one is diamond plate - not sure I could deal with that.

 

[plinker]

I don't have a Menards anywhere near my location (Southern Oregon) cost of shipping a Masterforce box is a bit cost prohibitive in this case. ~$500 for shipping after looking at them on their website.

How about the Extreme Toolboxes then? Would they be a step up from a KRA at a slightly lower price point?

No experience with the extreme's myself, have not seen one other the the interwebz. There has been discussion on them here, so a search may be in order.

Proto has too boxes thinking about it, they looked pretty nice and fairly reasonable. May be worth looking into. I think Zoro had them, may be an ok deal with a 20% coupon.

Some Williams boxes are KRA's and some are International OEM. The prices I remember seeing were a bit better then Snap-on's for the same box. Shipping on any of these may be the deal breaker.

 

[JVB]

I did a quick look at those, they seem to be a bit lighter weight than the Extreme box, so I'm not entirely convinced one would hold up long term. Would be interesting to hear input from someone who owns one regarding the build quality.

Few reviews on YouTube. Seems like a good value.


This is all in your perspective in the end. Are you after the name or a good budget friendly box? Snap on is arguably the top name in tools but does that mean they are the only option to offer a great tool or box? Not at all. I think the extreme , tool vault homak and so on provide a great quality box at a fair price. I personally would opt for the snap on or matco used as the prices are more in line with the new budget brands. Between dealing with Craigslist and certain sellers sometimes it is easier to purchase new and you get the color choice. But at the end of the day it is your call as to what will keep you happy and fit your needs. Any of the above choices should hold up to daily use just fine. I have a industrial repair man at work with a us general cart rolled around and used m-f and it has held up quite well 3-4 years now.

 

[bobcatdan]

Check out proto boxes. They are basically the same as mac. If you check around online, you can find pretty good deals on them and even free shipping from a few sights.

 

[WittHay]

One of my favorite boxes is a Proto 450 box owned by a Washington guy Ruger 556

The Proto box is the same as a Mac Macsimizer. Those along with the Snap-on KRL are common in the heavy duty shops around here. Matco is the other choice if you have a dealer or if available used

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

KRL 722, 54" long, 24" deep. Check Craigslist, Offer Up, Facebook Marketplace.

 

[Yarpo]

Really Impressed with my Homak box, been used 50 hours a week for the last 7 weeks or so, no issues! Plus it was cheap. I'd love a used Snap on box, but people in MN are very attached to everything they own and prices always seem to be higher here than elsewhere so I had to pass on the used market. Certinaly worth looking into if you've got a good used market, otherwise Homak, Masterforce and USgeneral are all good options.

 

[chrisnazzy]

Do you have an idea of how much you'd be willing to spend on a used but in good shape KRL?

Also keep in mind when looking at KRL's, some are 24" deep and others are 29" deep. There are also height variants. The biggest double banks are 54" wide, 29" deep and just over 45" tall.

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[Mr Ratchet]

Don"t over look asking the tool truck guys if the have any used boxes. I bought my older Matco box off the SO truck. It's a 54X24 and built like a tank. It's a better box than I thought I would have ever owned.

 

[Zewnten]

When I was tool box shopping a there was a box from extreme on Craigslist, checked it out seemed to be the same quality as a HF unit. I'd you are ok to spend extreme toolbox money why not get a hold of American Workspace and see what they could do for you?

 

[seanb02]

Few reviews on YouTube. Seems like a good value.


This is all in your perspective in the end. Are you after the name or a good budget friendly box? Snap on is arguably the top name in tools but does that mean they are the only option to offer a great tool or box? Not at all. I think the extreme , tool vault homak and so on provide a great quality box at a fair price. I personally would opt for the snap on or matco used as the prices are more in line with the new budget brands. Between dealing with Craigslist and certain sellers sometimes it is easier to purchase new and you get the color choice. But at the end of the day it is your call as to what will keep you happy and fit your needs. Any of the above choices should hold up to daily use just fine. I have a industrial repair man at work with a us general cart rolled around and used m-f and it has held up quite well 3-4 years now.

I'm not after the name. However the warranty and ability to get replacement parts for it say 20 years down the line does weigh in favor of Snap On. I'm still very tempted to go for the Extreme box as I haven't come across a single review yet that didn't have good things to say about it.

 

[seanb02]

When I was tool box shopping a there was a box from extreme on Craigslist, checked it out seemed to be the same quality as a HF unit. I'd you are ok to spend extreme toolbox money why not get a hold of American Workspace and see what they could do for you?

Great to finally hear something from somebody that has had their hands on one! Out of curiosity what made it feel the same as an HF unit? They appear to have much heavier gauge material construction. Never heard of American Workspace, will check into that.

 

[seanb02]

Do you have an idea of how much you'd be willing to spend on a used but in good shape KRL?

Also keep in mind when looking at KRL's, some are 24" deep and others are 29" deep. There are also height variants. The biggest double banks are 54" wide, 29" deep and just over 45" tall.

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Don"t over look asking the tool truck guys if the have any used boxes. I bought my older Matco box off the SO truck. It's a 54X24 and built like a tank. It's a better box than I thought I would have ever owned.

I need to talk to my local Snap On guy about this and see if he has a line on any used boxes or trade ins that could be on the table. For a used box off Craigslist in 55" range I would say probably $3000 tops. Through the Snap On guy I would probably go a bit higher but not much over $4000 which should be in the territory of a used KRL but I haven't actually done any pricing on them yet.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

https://roseburg.craigslist.org/tls/d/sutherlin-snap-on-lower-box-roll-way/6796711536.html

 

[chrisnazzy]

https://roseburg.craigslist.org/tls/d/sutherlin-snap-on-lower-box-roll-way/6796711536.html

First off this KRL761 is a nice box and IMO certainly worth the $1700.

It's a great example of the size difference I was referring to though. This KRL761 is 24" deep and only 40" tall.My KRL1001 has 2 extra drawers and is 29" deep and 45" tall. The current comparably sized KRL is a KRL1022 which has 2 full width drawers. Simply put, the extra storage provided by 5" deeper drawers and 2 more drawers is a lot!

Op, just saying keep that in mind when looking in the used market. Get the most for your money.



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[tool_scrounge]

Have you checked out used Vidmar or Lista industrial mobile tool cabinets? I have seen used 6 drawer Vidmar 60x28 cabinets with butcher block tops and 400 lb load capacity per drawer. They are about 36 tall with top, so nice standing height work bench. Below is a picture one like it, but with different drawer heights. In general Vidmar and Lista are built like a tank. But they have really nice casters so they move easily.

 

[WittHay]

In the farm shops I have seen either the shop is really large and you roll the box to your work and your box is a work bench within reason. Thats where the Mac/Proto or KRL shines.

Or the shop is smaller, Tool carts and workbenches are used. The box never moves and is usually stacked. Bottom roller and top chest. Middle range boxes are fine. Homak, KRA, Extreme even HF(maybe). Tools are split up between service trucks, outside pad work and inside shop use.

There is nothing wrong with a Snap-on KRA box, people buy tool carts all the time and a KRA is constructed equal or better than a cart. The white boxes arent mine, I like blue.

 

[Aquamoose]

Some years back, there was a heavy discussion about toolboxes when one retired engineer decided to take matters in his hands and did a very detailed & thorough report on each of the boxes, even measuring the thickness of the steel. What floored me was his report that the Harbor Freight General toolboxes were the best bang for the buck, sometimes beating out the pricier boxes in terms of construction of the frame that makes a difference. His only advice was to swap out the casters with better ones if frequent mobility was important.

I did go back to look at the General boxes and found that his assessment was spot on. Very interesting read, especially from an unbiased, scientific way of evaluating.


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[jay70]

If you are looking at kra boxes make sure you check coo, some are made in China now

 

[Dookie2122]

Great deals to be found on Facebook Marketplace.

 

[Mr_B]

krl matco proto mac in 2 bay range and 24-25" depth should be easy get between 1.5K to 3K if you got bit of time and some travel range flexibility .
Tool vault or extreme be about 2.5 to 3.5K, not biggest fan as you got pay heavy for better wheels and top making them bit pricey for what it really is in terms box spec/warranty, the cheaper ones with 3 sets wheels not that different from better end box store offerings and masterforce made by same company (quality craft) :-/

 

[yellow wagon]

KRL722 or nothing. Look on FB Marketplace for a good buy on a used one. I had to drive 2.5hrs to go get mine but so worth it. Add the stainless steel top if you plan to "use" the top of the box

 

[Ign]

I've got a 54" KRL 761/791 I'll sell for $2500 but ya gotta get to Colo

 

[Mr_B]

KRL722 or nothing. Look on FB Marketplace for a good buy on a used one. I had to drive 2.5hrs to go get mine but so worth it. Add the stainless steel top if you plan to "use" the top of the box

While a nice layout of a box you be pretty narrow minded to not look at best of matco and mac at same time.
Snapon tends even be overpriced used and beat up, best buys no hassle I had been Matco, best buy snapon was pretty beat up needing lot of slides and full refinishing and even in a state it took some effort negotiate realistic price .
You got be pretty quick and have good friend network get the good buys .

 

[PartsGuy]

Gotta add some love for the Matco boxes. They're made in my neighborhood (literally two blocks from my house), and they are seriously well-built. The name doesn't always have the cache that Snap-on does on the resale market so they can sometimes be priced well under a lesser box from SO. (Not that Snap-on makes shite boxes, by any means.... but you might find "more" Matco box for what a smaller/older/uglier SO goes for.) Even techs around here who don't care for Matco's tools know the boxes are excellent quality... Lots of techs around here with Matco boxes full of SO/Mac tools!

 

[Ilikeike]

I have a PROTO chest at work 43" H X 57" W X 25-1/4" D,

It's decent, we've been beating on it for 12 years, they're around $3,500 new

I have almost identical size/depth International (made in Canada) at home, lighter duty for sure,but also $2k less than the Proto.

 

[seanb02]

Thanks for all the input folks! Chased the SnapOn guy down this afternoon, he didn't have any used ones, but he did have a new KRL722 in red with a stainless work top on the truck that he was able to give me a good price on, so I pulled the trigger. He will drop it off at the shop tomorrow morning!

 

[Ign]

Awesome! Congrats!!

 

[LB-1911]

Thanks for all the input folks! Chased the SnapOn guy down this afternoon, he didn't have any used ones, but he did have a new KRL722 in red with a stainless work top on the truck that he was able to give me a good price on, so I pulled the trigger. He will drop it off at the shop tomorrow morning!

Have fun "Moving in"

 

[seanb02]

Awesome! Congrats!!

Have fun "Moving in"

Thanks guys, the moving in process shouldn't be too horrible. I've been primarily working out of my service truck for the last couple years. But with all the rainy weather lately my tools are coated in condensation constantly, and I can't deal with it anymore as much money as I have invested in them, even the chrome stuff is starting to show very slight rust spots. I'll move the higher end tools into the box in the shop and then slowly rebuild the tools for the truck with much cheaper varieties.

 

[jeepinerdeep]

Edit- Dang. I didn't read and it bit me.

Congrats on the box.