customh
Well-known member
I have an opportunity to get a decent size KRA with a side locker for ~1500. Wondering if I should get it or wait for a KRL to pop up around here. I have searched but it's hard to with such short terms.
Get a KRA or wait for a KRL
- Thread starter customh
- Start date
redwrench60
Well-known member
Wait for a KRL. However I do use a KRA for a service cart and it kicks *** for that.
Todd.Brock
Well-known member
If you can swing a KRL go for it. There is a difference. I have a 40" KRA roll cab setup I paid 350 for bottom, 200 for middle and 400 for top. So, for me at home, KRA works well. I would love a KRL but am not able to dedicate a significant investment a KRL requires for a top and bottom 
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KRL flimsy??? That's a new one!!
KRL's are nicer but the odds of finding one at KRA prices are slim to none.
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I have one, a KRL1056. I consider it flimsy compared to the older KR660 and KR1000.
evildky
Well-known member
HF and craftsman boxes are equal to or better than the kra's
redwrench60
Well-known member
uhhhhhhh, no...
Bryanthegreat
Well-known member
I think the HF is not too far from a KRA. I used to own one they are nothing special. I would pass on a craftsman. I would potentially tide myself over with a HF until you can find the KRL that you want. You can almost sell the HF boxes for what you pay for them.
Biggest difference between a KRA and KRL is the drawer slides. They use the same drawer construction. Essentially a KRL is just a larger KRA with more bling (better casters, drawer slides, more color/layout options). In terms of how they're made (folded/welded), its pretty much identical.
Its not this night and day difference that people make it out to be. Personally i'd hold out for a KRL IF more depth matters to you. If you're just looking for a Snap-On box then go for it and pocket the savings. From what I've seen used KRLs start at 2 grand for the smaller boxes and go up to about 3k so that's $500-$1500 in your pocket to use on tools to fill your KRA
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Its not this night and day difference that people make it out to be. Personally i'd hold out for a KRL IF more depth matters to you. If you're just looking for a Snap-On box then go for it and pocket the savings. From what I've seen used KRLs start at 2 grand for the smaller boxes and go up to about 3k so that's $500-$1500 in your pocket to use on tools to fill your KRA
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toddacimer
Well-known member
This coming from someone that can't afford one?
Murphy4570
Well-known member
I disagree! KRA boxes are pretty damn stout. I know, i have a kra2411. It is overloaded with tons of tools, and doesn't skip a beat. I have used krl boxes before too, and their main difference is in size. Construction is very similar to the kra boxes.
Your smoking crack dude.
OP, what size kra box? If it is one of the larger heritage boxes or a classic 78 or 96, its worth that price for sure. Side lockers alone go for $400-1,000 depending on size. Roll cabs in the 53-54" go for $1,500-2,000 or more.
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davesnothere
Well-known member
Krl.
Yes go get it. A KRA will be a huge improvement over CM or HF.
Techs are using these things day in day out and they hold up just fine.
A KRL will be better if you go wide drawers, load it to the max., use it daily, move it around all the time.
j.c.whitney
Well-known member
^What he said^Biggest difference between a KRA and KRL is the drawer slides. They use the same drawer construction. Essentially a KRL is just a larger KRA with more bling (better casters, drawer slides, more color/layout options). In terms of how they're made (folded/welded), its pretty much identical.
Its not this night and day difference that people make it out to be. Personally i'd hold out for a KRL IF more depth matters to you. If you're just looking for a Snap-On box then go for it and pocket the savings. From what I've seen used KRLs start at 2 grand for the smaller boxes and go up to about 3k so that's $500-$1500 in your pocket to use on tools to fill your KRA
Check out the "Lets see your Toolbox" thread and observe the typical weight loading on the drawers in the pictures. In most cases the drawers are not loaded anywhere near their rated weight capacity. KRL slides are rated at 250lbs, KRA slides are rated at 125lbs. On the bigger drawers of a KRA there is a provision for adding a second slide, effectively increasing the load capacity.
Whatever line best fits your needs is the one to get but either way on a used toolbox, if you snooze you lose. I bought a lightly used a 40" KRA Heritage Combo that holds my modest tool assortment (with room to grow) in my single car garage without issue.
MattPersman
Well-known member
KRAs are nice no problem with them. They are smaller boxes most of them with out the big depth of an EPIC or KRL. They're much nicer than HF or craftsman boxes.
I'm interested for my dad more than anything, he's currently got an old KR380A and a craftsman top box and things are getting pretty packed. I'm repainting and maintaining the 380A along with my KR 537 and 557 which will hopefully make both worth a decent amount. Not sure what I'm keeping at the moment but I'd like dad to have a newer bigger box with ball bearing drawers. Just makes working on stuff that much more enjoyable when tools are easily accessible and more spread out so one doesn't have to dig for stuff.
ianguilly
Well-known member
Get an old school KR1000, now that is some steel.
ianguilly
Well-known member
Some kr are bb my 660 is. I think after about 88 they were all bb slides.
pault28
Well-known member
I have a KR1001 which has ball bearing slides and is a KRL1001 minus the "L"ock and roll.
toddacimer
Well-known member
My KR1201 is the same way. No lock and roll but still has ball bearings
Toolman12
Well-known member
Now i have heard it all. I have owned a kra2411 for 4 years i have every drawer filled to the top and have never had a problem my buddy had a 44" HF box that folded on him after putting about 600 pounds of tools in it drawers would not pull out easy or go back in right the roller bearings slides failed on the top drawer and the whole drawer came crashing down smashing his foot he went out and bought a snap on kra model box and never looked back. so comparing a craftsman or HF box to a Snap on kra is like comparing a rolls royce to a chevette.
I wish mine was like that.
boosteddsm92
Well-known member
Sounds about right, my '89 KR1000 is bb. They also came w/Accuride slides which are badass. Unfortunately I had to warranty a pair of bent slides and the new replacements I got from SO aren't even close to the quality of the older Accurides. I second the suggestion of looking for a KR1000, they are out there. Keep looking, got my KR1000 for $900 and then found a KR1100 top chest for less than $400. Together they are a TON of storage. The KR1000's are beasts, 675 pounds empty.
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Murphy4570
Well-known member
So is this worth 1500? Has lock issues but drawers are decent. Needs cleaned up. Locker is in pretty good shape. All KRA. I need to go back and get all the model numbers... Don't know why I didn't at first.
Looks like heritage series stuff. I bought that exact type of locker for $500 last month.
Probably a 40" box. New that box and locker is about $4,000.
Bikes&Bowties
Well-known member
I would say worth more like $1000 tips. But I don't need a box...
ianguilly
Well-known member
X2 for $1000. It's a bottom line kra.
Don 18
Well-known member
Looks to me that its a KRA4114 top and a KRA4107 bottom.
If you are spending $1500 I'd see if this KRL722 could be had for that:
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/tls/3898141356.html
I upgraded from the HF 44" to a 30" deep KRL1001. The deep drawers really make a huge difference in the amount of storage. I just do hobby stuff in the garage, so I was able to wait for the right deal to come along.
If you are spending $1500 I'd see if this KRL722 could be had for that:
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/tls/3898141356.html
I upgraded from the HF 44" to a 30" deep KRL1001. The deep drawers really make a huge difference in the amount of storage. I just do hobby stuff in the garage, so I was able to wait for the right deal to come along.
So is this worth 1500? Has lock issues but drawers are decent. Needs cleaned up. Locker is in pretty good shape. All KRA. I need to go back and get all the model numbers... Don't know why I didn't at first.
That box looks like it's been rode hard and put away wet.
If you take $1500 and times it by 1/3, that's what I'd say it's worth.
And that's only if the lock works.
Todd.Brock
Well-known member
Good choice on waiting out. I would like to have that Side locker though!! That KRL is a nice choice. If you wait it out, you will find one close to 1500 on that KRL 722 It is cool, b/c it has 2 full length drawers. The KRL 722 is on 24" deep though so if you see a 1022, know that is the difference. A 1022 has 30 inch drawers.
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Delray
Well-known member
If you don't need one right now I would look for a nice KRL. You may have to compromise on color but if you pay 20% to 30% of retail ( a $10k box for say $2 to $3K ) all the depreciation is out of it and you can recover most of your money later. You may have to drive a little to find one.
Don 18
Well-known member
They are out there, you just need to know what you are looking at and be ready to pull the trigger when you find it.
I started with viewing the show your tool box thread and seeing what boxes I liked, what would fit in my space and learned the differences in the models / years / width / height / drawer configs. It was to the point where I could look at a picture and either know the model or be able to figure it out pretty quick. Get to know the market pricing, and ask questions on this forum.
When I found mine, the add read "blue snpon tool box with stainless steel top and locking hood" and had a couple fuzzy pictures.
Here is the thread when I picked it up:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=106604
I am thrilled I bought it. The box will outlast me, and if I wanted to sell it I wouldn't loose any money.
I started with viewing the show your tool box thread and seeing what boxes I liked, what would fit in my space and learned the differences in the models / years / width / height / drawer configs. It was to the point where I could look at a picture and either know the model or be able to figure it out pretty quick. Get to know the market pricing, and ask questions on this forum.
When I found mine, the add read "blue snpon tool box with stainless steel top and locking hood" and had a couple fuzzy pictures.
Here is the thread when I picked it up:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=106604
I am thrilled I bought it. The box will outlast me, and if I wanted to sell it I wouldn't loose any money.