I've outgrown my KRSC46 as my starting box and currently looking to trade in for something newer. I got the cart with my student discount about 5 months ago, so due to the age, my mac dealer sad he'd give me around 1k for it, and my So dealer said he would give me full price. I've had a chance to mess with both boxes before so heres what I've realized. The 78 is made from flimsy metal that I can get to flex with my finger (same with the cart). Lock and roll annoys me sometimes, and the classic looks like a dated design. What I liked about the tech series were its thicker gauge metal and the chrome drawer pulls make the box look more modern. I want to know what everyone elses experiences are with these two boxes, both long and short term. My two other co workers had tech series boxes before there current ones ans said they only broke down on them after 10 years because they overloaded them.
Classic 78 or Tech series?
- Thread starter Aklass
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TheFarmer
Well-known member
You must have some strong fingers.
wannab20hatch
Well-known member
I got a classic 78 and the drawers had some side movement when empty but now that they have weight in them their buttery smooth. I wasnt a fan of the lock and roll when I ordered my box but after about a day or two its second nature.
classic 78 gets my vote. Not to mention most guys Ive seen trade in their SO boxes get back what they paid for them.
classic 78 gets my vote. Not to mention most guys Ive seen trade in their SO boxes get back what they paid for them.
Chadro
Well-known member
I'd say the Tech series. I've seen both and the tech series just seems more solid. Check both out yourself because most on here are going to blindly say the 78 is better.
Thats how I feel as well, When the mac guy told me about the flex, I didn't believe him, but the other techs said they do flex because a tech they knew got himself a 78 and it flexed and didn't feel as well made. However I wanna see who can get me a better price right now on trade in vs me using my student discount again
crewchief888
Well-known member
see what the bottom line is after your trade in.
if you have a good relationship with either dealer , it's a toss up.
ive never had a good relationship with a mac dealer during the 26+ years ive been wrenching.
your results may differ.
if you have a good relationship with either dealer , it's a toss up.
ive never had a good relationship with a mac dealer during the 26+ years ive been wrenching.
your results may differ.
Octarine
Well-known member
I mentioned it elsewhere but if you are in the market for a classic 78, look for a KRL722. Same size, one extra full width drawer, beefier construction and SO has been running ongoing promos at $2995 for at least the past year and a half so you or your dealer should have no problem finding one.
retail on those things are like 5k though... I thought for a price that low, he would have to special order one during a franchise conference. Since thats what he told me. plus I'm trying to keep the monthly payments down, I'm only 18 and trying to build my credit wisely
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SubaruGreg
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I see used krl722's going for 1800-2200 all the time on cl. I would sell yours on there and get a used krl. The krl's are light years ahead of the classics IMO.
Seanbev24
Well-known member
Totally agree. For build quality only, I'd pick a Mac Tech series over a Classic 78. The problem is my experiences with 3 different Mac dealers will keep me from buying a Mac tool ever again. There was also a long post on here about a guy's nightmare trying to get a Mac box warrantied when the welds started to split.
IMO, a nice used KRL722 is the perfect choice for a pro who outgrew his first box. Also, keep the cart if at all possible. It's so nice keeping specialty and less-used tools in a stationary box, while your go-to tools can be in the cart next to every car you work on.
wannab20hatch
Well-known member
Either way if you finance a box your gonna get raped on the interest rate. Expect high teens possibly low twenties if you have no credit/slow credit. My box was a little over 4k after financing and its less than 40 bucks a week. Plus its simple interest and no penalty for early payoff so if I have a killer week (anything over 120 flag hours) I double up on payments.
Heres a pic of mine. Its a KRA2422PJJ
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punkenduro
Well-known member
the krsc46 is not a cart as most think of it, its more of a really cheap roll cab with a flip top. i have a real cart (linky) which like you said hold my most used tools and the krsc46 is the "box" (linky again). personally, i would go with the classic (or even better that new ss *drools over green pic*), cus good luck finding a mac dealer when that thing brakes a slide. snap on is basicly everywhere.
TheFarmer
Well-known member
punkenduro
Well-known member
.I dont know why everyone here says I can't get a MAC dealer, my dealer come by every week, before we had our new snap-on dealer, all we had was mac, and he never missed a week, where as the old SO dealer would shop up once a year. And the shop I work in is small, so I don't find a need to keep the cart, when I do need one, I'm probably gonna go to HF =). Plus since I'm a full time student and only work at a shop 2 days a week, I'm trying to see which one is the most for my money at an affordable price, I need to build credit which is why I want to finance the box for $100-150 a month or so
I cant even seem to find those on SO's site, ill ask my dealer, if he can beat Mac's 2k price. I like having 2 full width drawers
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wannab20hatch
Well-known member
I have a KRA2422 also. LOVE IT
What color?
Its not on their website yet. It was just released a couple months ago. I bought mine sight unseen. No pictures or anything.
blown94conv
Well-known member
I am very pleased with my Classic 78. And the top drawer is fully loaded, no flex at all.
NJHandyGuy
Well-known member
i had a double bank tech1000 about 8 years ago and had to have it warranteed through mac after 4 welds broke and i bent a caster was never the same after that
(not my fault i left for vacation thursday came back and nobody knew how it happened (gee i wonder) it was a solid box but after that it never regained it's fit and finish and the top drawer would stick on cold mornings i know nothing of the classic 78 but have used and seen quite a few kra's i' like
(not my fault i left for vacation thursday came back and nobody knew how it happened (gee i wonder) it was a solid box but after that it never regained it's fit and finish and the top drawer would stick on cold mornings i know nothing of the classic 78 but have used and seen quite a few kra's i' like
LawnDart79
Well-known member
In my opinion, it's a toss-up. I'm not personally a fan of either box, but for a guy starting out they're both pretty good. I'm guessing the Snap-On will have a higher resale value down the road, but who knows.
I'd say get whatever you like and whatever is the best deal.
I'd say get whatever you like and whatever is the best deal.
csargents1546
Well-known member
One of the other techs at work has a Tech 1000, nice box except that the chrome drawer pulls keep delamianting. Still a nice box. I also really like the classic 78. Pretty much a toss up.
crewchief888
Well-known member
if you have a reliable mac (or any other) dealer then it's not a probem.
in the past i've had the big 3 tool trucks that stopped by every week, but it didnt mean i liked them, or got excellent service from them.
all dealers are different.
right now we dont have any dealer that stops by, one of my coworkers pissed off all 3 of them by wasting their time, BS'n them into thinking he was gonna buy something, and never did.
i wont chase any of them down to get my business, i'll find what i need elsewhere.
just my $0.02, i wouldnt trade a cart in on a box, you'll probably need a cart again, and the price you'll pay will be even more than you already paid.
JASTECH
Well-known member
Are there any places out there to look at Lista boxs'?
Im pretty sure ill need a cart in the future, just not a 40" wide 6 drawer cart with lidif you have a reliable mac (or any other) dealer then it's not a probem.
in the past i've had the big 3 tool trucks that stopped by every week, but it didnt mean i liked them, or got excellent service from them.
all dealers are different.
right now we dont have any dealer that stops by, one of my coworkers pissed off all 3 of them by wasting their time, BS'n them into thinking he was gonna buy something, and never did.
i wont chase any of them down to get my business, i'll find what i need elsewhere.
just my $0.02, i wouldnt trade a cart in on a box, you'll probably need a cart again, and the price you'll pay will be even more than you already paid.
Seanbev24
Well-known member
After 3 years as a tech, my KRL722 and 5 drawer HF are both completely full. When money allows, I'll be buying your same cart before I add on to my box. I found that there are more tools than a normal size cart will fit that I want right next to every car I work on. I do work in a pretty big shop, though, so I try to limit my trips to the main box as much as possible.
I work in a small gas station shop, and the most I'll do its work in the parking lot, so a hf cart should be fine
Reality Sucks
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Krl1022/thread to be correct..picked mine up for 4900, from dealer..i would honestly tell you to buy a bigger box now, because in 3-4 years youll be doing this again. I roll my box all over the shop when i work.. rolls nice and smooth and holds all my tools.. A coworker had a tech series and traded it in for a matco 6s. not bad box seems pretty solid but has some wasted space. And is very very very expensive 9k..If your going to buy one get a krl they hold there value if you ever decide to sell or trade again..
That's alot of debt and box for someone who's 18.. delaer offered me one of those for 4800 after trade in, for 50 bucks a week, thats2 years to payoff and half my paycheck every month
punkenduro
Well-known member
heres a though (cus ive thought about this a lot, im in the same spot as you):
thought of an end cab. if your organized like me that might hold you over for a year or more. yea its not a long term solution, but it works for now and adds to the resale value.
Reality Sucks
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just a suggestion, but you have to realize that you are asking guys who do this every day for a living, like my self for the last 10 years.So we are just giving you an honest opionion. You seem to know what you dont want, and we cant decide for you what you do, just give our opinions on what you ask.But if this is something you plan on doing for a lving after school is out. You should think long term, and if you honestly cant afford a bigger box. i wouldnt buy any right now, like i said in 3-4 years youll be buying another..but from your orig question if your going to get a box of this size even though im not a mac guy, the mac is the better box, but anything other, the krl is my choice. goodluck.
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Thanks, however I view my situation like a house for my tools lol, we start with an apartment first then take a step up rather than just going all out and buying the most expensive one. I just want experience with both to see which one seems better, I really don't plan on a krl right now
wannab20hatch
Well-known member
If I had to pick between a krl for 50 a week and a classic 78 for 30-40 a week Id jump on the krl. The only reason I got my classic was my dealer at the time didnt have any good deals on a krl box and my credit limit wasnt high enough to get the 68" epiq he had on the truck. Either way a box payment is gonna run you about 30 bucks a week minimum
That extra money goes to the tools, no point of having a krl that's half empty
bobcatdan
Well-known member
I have a classic 60 and have zero complaints, seems just as well built as my krl 1022. The SO will have higher resale value down the road and I bet warranty on any problems would be a lot easier with SO then Mac. I am not knocking the Tech series, never own one, but look and seem to be nice boxes. These have been made for close to 15 years, there are tons of use ones, just look on ebay. One other opion, if you have access to Proto, Proto and Mac boxes are basically the same. Proto has versions of tech and macimizer boxes that from what I have seen farting around online seem to be a generally lower price then Mac. One last thing, keep your cart, you will regret getting rid of it. If you arn't using it after you get a new box, take it home. I bet you won't retire from where you work now and you never know what the future holds. I guess with the taste of SO quailty, a hf cart will not please you for long. My two cents.
The krsc46 has really flimsy metal, plus I have a 41" hf at home. Really have no use for such a large cart, even at the shop it sat in one location as a box.
03silvergt
Well-known member
Im also a student and had a classic 78. A friend of mine from school bought a triple bay Mac Tech series. The tech series feels a lot more solid than the 78. I sold my 78 and I will be getting a triple bay tech series next semester. If you can get a discount like we can its a no brainer. 2100 for a 78 or 2500 for a triple bay tech series. The tech series gets my vote. I thought the 78 was the better box until he got his and I checked it out. Side by side the tech series is the better box. Plus with all the add ons of the tech series you'll never have to buy another base box.