Cart or Traditional box?

[CoryDH]

I have a traditional tool box I guess you'd call it. It is on casters but is kinda tall and awkward sometimes. Been looking at carts harbor freight on up to high dollar. Anybody that has one care to comment on how much use you get out of it? Im not really hurting for space in my current box but I know where everything is. Then my 'ole faithful box would just get regulated to every once in a while tools I guess. I pull my current box around depending whats goin on in the garage that day. My thought is it would be nice just to park it and have high use stuff in the cart. Any regrets on anybody gettin a cart?

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[crewchief888]

i havent moved my boxes (to work on anything) in the garage in years...
nearly every dealership ive been at over the past 30+ years, i never moved my boxes, except at the end of the day to lock everything down for the night
10 years at the last dealership i worked for, by boxes didnt move for 8 years, altho i did have a basic 2 shelf cart with my everyday tools on it.

i have HF black cart at work i rarely use, and a single shelf roll around tray in the garage i pile tools on..

 

[RedneckWelder]

The cart will hold a ton of tools that you use daily I have all my sockets, ratchets, combo wrenches and air tools in it along with common pliers, screwdrivers and hammers. Only have to go to my box when I need something special. Even the 5 drawer cart from HF holds a ton. Add a plastic utility cart to hold all the spray cans and shop supplies and to throw dirty tools on and it's a good mobile combination

 

[Crazyjake8493]

I have both a 4-drawer and 5-drawer cart from HF and both are great quality for the money. I had the 4 drawer at work and the 5 drawer at home, as well as an old 26" Craftsman tool cabinet. Now that all three are at home, and my garage is fairly small, I'm looking to sell them all and get one big box that will stay put.

But any of the Harbor Freight carts are a great value if you need something inexpensive to wheel around.

 

[speed bump]

I keep going back and forth on either paring most of my hand tools down to two carts (metric and SAE) and then have a 36-41" box for big tools and fabrication stuff or finding a deal on a nice double bank SO and compressing all of my tools down to one box.

If acquire a ton more garage space I will likely go the cart route, as the portability is nice. If I don't, the single box is nice to put everything in one place.

 

[Mikeske]

I used a traditional tool box for my entire 40 plus years as a vehicle mechanic for 10 years and 30 plus years as a aircraft mechanic, All my tools were shadowed in my box and I would roll out the traditional tool box to the aircraft/vehicle and go to work. At the end of the day clean the tools and put them back in there shadow location in the box. I never used a cart and the most I used was a canvas bag to carry a few tools to more remote areas.

I retired last year and finally bought a new toolbox set and also a tool cart I use in my garage. Most basic tools I just use the cart but my larger tools are actually a few steps away and I can easily get to them. The tool cart for me was a killer deal so I bought it but it is redundant. That being said I have almost all of my Craftsman tools in this box as I got them as a gift from my father and older brother when I was 15 years old and I still had these at home when I worked on stuff at home before I retired.

 

[Mr_B]

I'm not big fan of cart, would prefer smaller tool cabinet with top as workbench/countertop to roll around and keep tools and parts in use on the top work surface .
I used a 2 shelf trolley for years for holding tools in use and odd parts/bolts consumables etc .
Ideally I would like a trolley about 38" x 22" with 3 drawers under top, 2 shallow and 1 deep enough for power tools . add holder one side for consumables and hanger other side for air tools in use and couple prybars .
With a tool cart you either got chuck in use stuff all in top or on tiny side shelf which no benefit over standard cabinet really .

 

[KWtech90]

It sounds like you're looking for a snap on krsc46. It has the capacity and quality of a high end tool chest with the portability of a roll cart.

 

[pelletman]

I love my HF cart with the tools I use most on it. Saves a bunch of time if your big toolbox isn't right there. For me I would guess it would be more about shop layout If my toolbox wasn't near whatever I was working on due to the layout of the workspace, I'd want a cart

 

[ThatSickRip]

I have a 4 drawer HF cart thats set up just for the 4Runner. Then I have my main Husky box for everything else (SAE, extra metric, wood tools, electrical, etc). The cost of the cart was definitely worth it for the extra functionality

 

[CoryDH]

It sounds like you're looking for a snap on krsc46. It has the capacity and quality of a high end tool chest with the portability of a roll cart.

Yea, After looking at them I may go that route. I like the work bench tops. Pretty similar in price to the Listas.

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[225]

Yea, After looking at them I may go that route. I like the work bench tops. Pretty similar in price to the Listas.

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This is where I'm ending up.

 

[sweet victory]

Here's a video I watched that really convinced me to go for a cart before purchasing a large tool box. In summary, you don't want to have to spend time going between your engine bay and tool box. I'm not a tech; just a guy wrenching in his garage. I still like to be efficient as possible though.

 

[78C-10]

It sounds like you're looking for a snap on krsc46. It has the capacity and quality of a high end tool chest with the portability of a roll cart.

This....if it's in your budget. I have one and love it. You'll be surprised how much it holds.

 

[Mr_B]

I never see point of a krsc46 or similar.
You might as well buy a 7 drawer roller cabinet, add a work surface and side rack for prybars etc.
To me a cart with flip up lid is useless as I need worktop space or trolley shelf space next to lift to layout tools and parts for job I on.
Really no point in it holding loads of tools as that what I got 2 mb7525s for, just want a bit of drawer space for odds and counter top area chuck what i'm using mostly through the day
Currently I been using a 3 shelf trolley but want something with drawers and to have hooks on one end for quick air tool rests and prybar slots other end
either going do something with a 36"<>42" cabinet or make a trolley and use a top box with top area/lid cut off to build my own trolley/cart off it.

 

[amishman]

I enjoy having a small cart next to me as my lift is a small MaxJax so only lifts 4'. Means I sit on a stool to wrench. Which I like anyway. Having tools are eye level where I can reach for, put tools right back on top instead of on the ground in front of me... and that way I don't lose tools. Then when done the tools on the top level get wiped down and put back in there spots.

Then the larger toolboxes I get my **** out of the seat to get as needed.

Here is what my work situation looks home... Just an average Joe home shop.

I use a small Hazet knock-off collapsible tool trolley.

TJ

 

[Alpine4x4]

The HF 5 drawer is a nice cart, but I've quickly filled it and am now looking to buy into a roll cab. To supplement a box and use it as an actual cart for common use items and convenience it would be great, as a stand alone box its lacking in storage.

 

[kctyphoon]

Getting a cart style with a full drawer set up is an option.. or you wouldn't be the first person to hang one of those U.S. General add on drawer units onto his 5 drawer cart..

 

[225]

I'm getting the KRSC430. I'm not a pro, and want to be able to roll the cart around to wherever I'm working, and not have to put stuff in a separate cart.

 

[Evan(CA)]

I'm getting the KRSC430. I'm not a pro, and want to be able to roll the cart around to wherever I'm working, and not have to put stuff in a separate cart.

Mine arrives next week!

 

[Zewnten]

I had a snap on Kr555 roller cab that I would move around. Had seven drawers and held so much that when I considered up grading to a Krl722 (or 7022, can't remember but it was the thinner one) all of my tools basically filled it up with no room for expansion. Now I have a SO 1022 for my main storage and the 4 drawer HF cart with all of my daily use tools in it. I took the lid off to make a work space, added a hanger on the side for long stuff.

 

[Mr_B]

^
That just it, you got take lid off for work space, I would have same requirement so better getting a 36" 7 or 5 drawer cabinet, adding a worktop and side slot rack for long tools .
I was keen on a blue 5 drawer HF cart but thinking of how I work a cart useless unless I chop the top and a small bench cabinet with few side addons would be perfect to my needs.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

Lots of times, I'm working well up off the floor on top of machines anyway, so I tend to carry stuff in a kit bag for a given task and I'm not really a fan of the stocked with tools sorta "cart". I have my main boxes that I keep everything in and then a couple of different carts I can park near the job and pile tools / parts on while working, when that applies to the job. I have one basic 2 shelf, roughly 16" x 30", cart and then I have one of the KRSC100 carts with a heavier top work surface. It does have 2 drawers, but I only use those for shop supplies / wire ties / misc stuff.

 

[Mr_B]

^
Yeh I'm similar with everything in my main boxes and currently use a 3 shelf trolley by my job and tools in hand and parts get stacked on it.
I want switch to a 36" to 44" max cabinet and add a plywood countertop with back and sides lipped about an inch, add a side rack for odd prybar etc and slot holder for hanging air tools other end and keep top 2 drawers for odds/parts/fixings don't want loose and remaining drawers for consumables/some common parts. bolts, clips etc and duplicate tools that floating about .
I don't see point in putting tools from a already rolling tool cabinet into a cart and splitting tool storage.
May work for some but I prefer tools in use laid out on worktop so easy grab and see, I also like countertop space right next to job for old and new parts and light assembly work and cart can't do that, it just holds tools much same as 3 matco cabinets I got already .

 

[pullen0]

I'm planning on buying a Snap On KRSC46 pretty soon. I currently have the US General 5 drawer cart. I like the idea of the sliding tops to be able to leave stuff on top while accessing the stuff under the lid but my biggest annoyance with this is not being able to open the drawers without the lid being at least part way up. With the Snap On box, I can unlock the drawers and not have to tip the lid up. I have a side shelf for mine now and will be getting the shelf for the Snap On too. I don't plan on putting tools that I use much in the top. Laptop, batteries, chargers, cables, etc. All hand tools that I use on the job will go in drawers.

I can't do the sliding top cart because I have to park my cart in a row of other boxes. I won't have room to slide the tops open. Also, I need to park the cart in confined areas where I may not be able to slide the tops open.