Gearwrench toolboxes

[freedomweasel]

I looked around a bit and didn't find much of anything on Gearwrench toolboxes. Who makes them, are they any good, that sort of thing.

I'm looking for a small portable box that I can keep at home, or stick in my trunk to bring to track days. I was set on a Craftsman, but it looks like the Gearwrench is a little cheaper and has bearing slides on the drawers.

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-4-drawer-metal-portable-chest-black-wrinkle/p-00965398000P
http://www.toolsource.com/drawer-tool-p-111434.html

Anyone have experience with either of these?

First post, be nice!

 

[jjjrmx5]

I have two of the Craftsman 3 drawer lift-lid portable boxes in my basement and use them as "bench" boxes. One bought way back in the 80's and a second bought 5 or so years ago.

Work great for portable boxes, but I have found tho that anything over 3 drawers gets pretty damn heavy if lugging around in and out of vehicles if full of tools. If just doing a toss what you need and go, I personally prefer a toolbag or 5 gallon bucket with pocketed canvas liner type set-up.

Bearing slides just add weight for a box that is pretty tiny to begin with. Really, anything will work in that size, but make sure teh handle/lid design is set-up to handle heavy loads when using the handle. I'm personally not a fan of plastic boxes due to cracking in the cold and latches and lid pivots breaking if used regularly. ( I do like teh plano compartment boxes for storing fasteners in though)

Next step up is a small metal "top box" with handles on the sides, as those normally come in 4 drawers and up and have full locking bars and mechanisms.

Lots of good used stuff in teh small box sizes, you just need to haggle with the seller and get them back to reality with their pricing. I see it everyday.

 

[DEMAYO]

I have the Craftsman rallye box, but it is a benchtop box, and I'd be fascinated to see how others organize theirs, since I'm always trying to fill it with just the essentials for general (modern) automotive repair.
But, as to portability, forget it, I second the toolbag. I just don't see how one moves these around loaded with tools. The Husky ones from Home Depot come in alot of configurations.

 

[jim_rush51]

I really like my dewalt tool bag. its big enough to carry what i need from work to home, and more importantly its small enough that i can only take what i need.

 

[5lima30]

I really like my dewalt tool bag. its big enough to carry what i need from work to home, and more importantly its small enough that i can only take what i need.

+1 on a tool bag they are much easier to carry and seem to take up less space! I have had good luck with the Craftsman bags which can be had on sale cheap. BTW I use one of the tool bags as a range shooting bag.

 

[gnx547]

Are the Gear Wrench tool boxes made in USA or China?

 

[DEMAYO]

I'd be willing to bet not in the USA. Mexica, Taiwan, China, maybe.

If I remember right the rallye box is Mexican.

 

[billymade]

They all look like Waterloo oem to me; craftsman/waterloo seems to be from usa, mexico and now china...

 

[wornoutoldman]

I'm a fan of the Snap on hand carry boxes. I think like a KR25 or KR250. They hold way more than you'd ever imagine and they are tough as nails. Look for them used on ebay they turn up all the time and can be purchased for under a hundred bucks.

 

[sprint7]

The Gearwrench 3 drawer Tool Box P/N 83151 is made in Taiwan.

Several of the Gearwrench Boxes are made in the USA. They are the only Gearwrench products that I found made in the USA.