Tool box expansion advice

[Volvotechdude]

Hey boys, wanted to ask some advice. Bought a snap on KCP2422 awhile back and filled it up faster than I thought. Still got some room but was considering adding the side cabinet and hutch. Should I proceed or step up to a larger box? Adding some context I will probably stay a dealership tech for a long while so I don't foresee needed much in the way of new tools.

 

[homebuilt burner]

One good side of your question is if you go with common side cab and hutch, Snap-On will hold the value. So, you can use as trade in later. In the old days that is how everyone did it. I bought a bottom box, then a top, then a side, then trade up to bigger.

 

[chrismenke]

I would say to expand with accessory boxes, unless you see the right deal.

I kept expanding my KRA set up, up over, and out, until I found a triple bank KRL1023 for 4k when they were going for $5500.

You can wait out the good deal if you have space in accessory boxes and take your time
buying for value, not need.

Now, if you're buying off the truck I would just wait for the right opportunity with your driver...it will come along.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I would avoid investing in a platform outside Masters or Epiq. Add ons are smaller (but cheaper) with less variety. Classic series stuff usually has good trade in as they are easy to re-sell, as they are smaller with a lower initial sticker price. They can also be resold on the private market easier.

KRL (10 prefix) or Epiq would give you another set of 4 inch drawers, and 6 inches of depth on all drawers. What's your specific issue? Organization and layout? Bulk space? Larger/deeper drawers? Specialty tools? Do you buy your own scanners/scopes/specialty tools?



It's all about money though. I talked with SO Saturday and got a locker for my KRL1033, and decided not to trade my other KRL stack in either. It was that or trade in everything I have on 2 Epiq 84 inch boxes. The offer for the 2 epiqs I thought was fair, but looking at a cubic inch perspective, and overall organization, the bulk storage of a locker was superior. I would have liked the double 84s (bigger than a Mr. Big ), but the dollars/space didn't work for me.



As a point of reference - A classic locker is 3k, a KRL is 3800. KRL has an extra sliding drawer, 6 inches and width and depth, a total of 11,000 cubic inches more. $800 gets you from 17k in^3 to 28 in^3.

 

[Volvotechdude]

I would avoid investing in a platform outside Masters or Epiq. Add ons are smaller (but cheaper) with less variety. Classic series stuff usually has good trade in as they are easy to re-sell, as they are smaller with a lower initial sticker price. They can also be resold on the private market easier.

KRL (10 prefix) or Epiq would give you another set of 4 inch drawers, and 6 inches of depth on all drawers. What's your specific issue? Organization and layout? Bulk space? Larger/deeper drawers? Specialty tools? Do you buy your own scanners/scopes/specialty tools?



It's all about money though. I talked with SO Saturday and got a locker for my KRL1033, and decided not to trade my other KRL stack in either. It was that or trade in everything I have on 2 Epiq 84 inch boxes. The offer for the 2 epiqs I thought was fair, but looking at a cubic inch perspective, and overall organization, the bulk storage of a locker was superior. I would have liked the double 84s (bigger than a Mr. Big ), but the dollars/space didn't work for me.



As a point of reference - A classic locker is 3k, a KRL is 3800. KRL has an extra sliding drawer, 6 inches and width and depth, a total of 11,000 cubic inches more. $800 gets you from 17k in^3 to 28 in^3.

Not so much an issue as more for future planning. I was thinking a locker to store my larger test equipment as it takes up drawer space. Hutch is just because haha. I'm fine with the classic, I don't want to get into the bigger is better mantra. I like being efficient with my tool box, small foot print in a shop.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Understood. I am generally anti hutch as I cant swallow the price for a bent piece of steel. It does lock up your chargers and what not. From the research I did, lockers seem to be the best value per cubic inch. I made a thread similar to yours a month or so ago.

As I said, the only downside with the classic platform is the maximum space limitations. Krl has the same issue, 2 lockers and a top and you're done. As long as you feel you will stay within the max space for the platform or be okay getting an additional box someday, no problem sticking with classic.

I work on everything, so I have different tooling and space needs than the dealer guys.

 

[Volvotechdude]

Understood. I am generally anti hutch as I cant swallow the price for a bent piece of steel. It does lock up your chargers and what not. From the research I did, lockers seem to be the best value per cubic inch. I made a thread similar to yours a month or so ago.

As I said, the only downside with the classic platform is the maximum space limitations. Krl has the same issue, 2 lockers and a top and you're done. As long as you feel you will stay within the max space for the platform or be okay getting an additional box someday, no problem sticking with classic.

I work on everything, so I have different tooling and space needs than the dealer guys.

Yea I'm not sold on the hutch quite yet. I made my own butcher block top and may just make my own hutch.

 

[rsanter]

A couple alternatives....
Buy a second toolbox.
This could be small to medium in size.
27” to 34”
You can use it as a working cart and have your sockets, ratchets, wrenches, and screwdrivers in it making room for other stuff in the main box.

Or, you can use it as overflow to hold the not often used stuff and then only unlock it when needed.