KRL vs. Epiq

[L.Cheapo]

I tried the search and couldn't come up with much useful information.

My rep had the Rock & Roll Cab express with him last week and there were some good deals to be had. I've been looking for a KRL-1023 for a while, but had never seen an Epiq in person. Now that I have had a chance to play with the Epiq, I'm torn. I've always wanted a 1023, but the 68" Epiq is similar (slightly smaller capacity) and less than $300 difference in price.

My dilemma is I really don't like the lock n roll on the KRLs, and really do like the grip-latch type system on the Epiq. But I much prefer the many smaller drawers of the 1023, which I feel would better suit my personal tool collection.

Now that the Epiqs have been out for a few years, there must be some here that have traded their KRLs in on them. I'd love to know your thoughts, good and bad, pros and cons, and if you really prefer one over the other and why. I am just an enthusiast, working on my own fleet of junk, and occasionally helping a friend. I prefer hand tools, use almost nothing cordless, and only rarely air tools.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Mastermind]

I love my epic. I'm not a fan of the lock and roll latches on the krl either. Had to fine tune the detents on the top drawer, it wanted to stick closed, other than that no issues. And the epic lockers are so much nicer and bigger.

 

[tjmonsen5]

Depending on the rock n roll promotion, certain boxes can have custom drawer configuration. Solves your problem right there.
Better casters, deeper box, better lockers, bigger hutch, power outlets built in, epiq all the way!

 

[Anthonyca]

It cracks me up that a guy with that screen name is buying a Snap On box. Is this like when the call the fat guy Slim, or the huge guy Tiny?

 

[rodsnratfinks]

I prefer the KRL, and the 1023 is my favorite model. It sounds like what you want in a tool box is similar to what I want/need. In my opinion, the Epiq doesn't give you this. My buddy just got a 68 Epiq and I find it pretty nice, but I don't really feel that it would work for my needs.

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[Wamsutta]

Snap-on boxes were really nice before the lock n roll came out.

 

[rodsnratfinks]

Snap-on boxes were really nice before the lock n roll came out.

What about them makes them less desirable now?


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[countryroad82]

After 5 minutes of use, I was used to the pulls on my KRSC46 which has the lock 'n roll handles. After getting my KRL7022,I've never had an issue of the drawer pulls. But that's me personally. I like the Epics, I like the height of them, the pulls however, not really a fan but I could learn to like it lol!

 

[2ndGearRubber]

1033 KRL master race checking in.....


I dislike epiq because:


The drawer handles seemed gimicky and clunky to me personally.
They sit too high (and I'm 6'3).
All the chrome is kinda gaudy (it becomes the focal point).
Dollar for dollar, KRLs are USUALLY cheaper (rock and roll prices excluded).
I find the name "Epic" to be dumb.



The KRL seems like the natural evolution of what I'd always considered a "tool box" to look like. I can't comment on "better casters" claim, but I would likely die if my day included regularly pushing my box around. Maybe some guys do, but at nearly 1000lbs unloaded, my box stays parked in its' home, as I would guess most boxes do. "Lock and roll" takes 5 min to become muscle memory. Perhaps lefties would find it unnatural? I know I can simply swipe my hand and open the heaviest drawers.


Obviously, it's all personal preference.

 

[Wamsutta]

What about them makes them less desirable now?

The drawer pulls had a very nice feel to them before the lock n roll feature came about. I could really sink my fingers into the drawer pulls and the weight of the drawers would feel good when pulling on them. Now with the lock n roll, all that plastic is in the way of my fingers. I miss the good old days of KR boxes with the soft black detents.

 

[thejudges69]

I looked at a mr big that a guy had and I wasn't to enthused. The Epiq just seemed to me like a cheaper box. I didn't like the latches on the Epiq to keep the drawers shut, they to me just seem like a problem 5 years down the road. Where I've seen the lock and roll last for years on end. I'm sure the Epiq is a good box it just felt cheap and light in my hands. I personally love my KRL, both of the ones I've had have been great.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

The beauty of the problem here is that either way, KRL or EPIQ, your getting mechanically essentially the same box. Same Slides, Same Sheetmetal. What IS different is the trim & frills & options.

REALLY Boils down to whether you like the Lock n Roll or the Impulse style. I have a KRL box, used an EPIQ Drawer on my work table...cant say I prefer any one style over the other.

IMHO I think there's too much chrome on the EPIQ...chrome handled version anyways...the non-chrome pull/trimmed EPIQS look much better IMHO.

For all the Lock N Roll haters..why not just pull them out & off? Take about 30 seconds to completely pull all of them off any box?

 

[warmpancakes]

I wanted a Krl1033 was working the deal when a smoking deal on a epiq came up, Like mentioned above the lock and roll tabs would have been removed


Both boxes are great tool boxes, epiq is the new line so alot of the new add ons will be coming for it before the KRL, except the add on power cab for some reason snap on isnt releasing one for the epiq

 

[WhiffySpark]

I looked at a mr big that a guy had and I wasn't to enthused. The Epiq just seemed to me like a cheaper box. I didn't like the latches on the Epiq to keep the drawers shut, they to me just seem like a problem 5 years down the road. Where I've seen the lock and roll last for years on end. I'm sure the Epiq is a good box it just felt cheap and light in my hands. I personally love my KRL, both of the ones I've had have been great.

Ive seen the lock and roll literally break and fall into pieces before.

kind of hard to have issues with the impulse drawers

 

[WhiffySpark]

I wanted a Krl1033 was working the deal when a smoking deal on a epiq came up, Like mentioned above the lock and roll tabs would have been removed


Both boxes are great tool boxes, epiq is the new line so alot of the new add ons will be coming for it before the KRL, except the add on power cab for some reason snap on isnt releasing one for the epiq

They want you to upgrade to a power cab. But if i want a 3 bank all drawers plus a power cab i'm out of luck

 

[86k10]

Ive seen the lock and roll literally break and fall into pieces before.

kind of hard to have issues with the impulse drawers

I have had my KRL761 for 12 years and never broke a lock n roll latch. They become a non issue quick.

 

[warmpancakes]

They want you to upgrade to a power cab. But if i want a 3 bank all drawers plus a power cab i'm out of luck

yep, im in the same boat, according to snap on it wont pass UL testing, how does one version pass, but change the trim and now the box wont pass

 

[Strouty]

I tried the search and couldn't come up with much useful information.

My rep had the Rock & Roll Cab express with him last week

I much prefer the many smaller drawers of the 1023, which I feel would better suit my personal tool collection.

If your driver had the Rock & Roll truck, you should have been able to pick any drawer configuration you would like, for free. I ordered an 84" epiq with 26 drawers in the color I wanted for no extra money.

 

[lugnut71]

I have had krl boxes for 20 years and love them, however I bought a used epiq and started using it, didn't care for the latches, and the drawers gliding shut, but after using it for two years and then working out of a krl again. I now prefer the epiq. Love no detents, drawers don't want to keep rolling out. I also liked all the drawers on my 1023, but now love the drawers on my 68" epiq. now prefer to have less drawers, easier and faster to get to tools. 13 drawers compared to 22.

 

[L.Cheapo]

If your driver had the Rock & Roll truck, you should have been able to pick any drawer configuration you would like, for free. I ordered an 84" epiq with 26 drawers in the color I wanted for no extra money.

The deals on that were....ok. The best deals, by far, were on certain colors in standard configurations. I'm guessing they have a glut of them, and need to move them.

Thank you everyone for your insight to this point. Always open to thoughts, comments and suggestions. Still undecided.

 

[efb16acrx]

as someone waiting on his epiq to get here, it comes down to drawer layout and style preference. I liked the bigger drawers, powercab, and shiny things so I went with it. Only thing the epiq is objectively going to offer you over the krl you've chosen is locker size, if you ever plan on getting one. Rock and roll truck will let you custom drawers for free, but you still aren't going to have the number of drawers you could get in a 1023, unless you step up to the 84 for a bunch more money, or you are an idiot and get nothing but 2 inch drawers in the entire box. Sounds to me like the krl would be your best bet honestly.

 

[Trey T]

For the amount of money you spend on SO boxes, I think it's more beneficial to ask about its ability to organize your tools. Operation and look are important but those are short term benefits and you'll be going back to do more shopping in couple of years.

I notice that people own Lista and Vidmar have a different approach with their tool box; they tend to want to organize their box like ppl with OCD (labels and individual bins). I believe this is one of the reason why Lista and Vidmar will carve a good chunk out of SO and other truck brand boxes.

just my 2.5cents

 

[Nik_95Cobra]

Every time I use to open the p.o.s. slide-lock drawers on my old boxes I wanted to roll them off a cliff. Not a problem with my new epiq.

 

[Hayzuse]

I work out of a KRL everyday and I don't notice the lock and roll anymore it's just muscle memory now I thought the epiqs felt like old craftsman when they first came out but now I kinda like the epiqs but don't think it's worth it for me to trade my 1033 and hutch for a 84 and hutch to much $$$ difference for me I think unless snappy has a smoking deal one day. I would love to just put epiq lockers on my KRL but I don't think they would fit


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[rtole]

I am hoping to get a new big box one day. I had a classic 96. It was my first lock and roll box. I loved it! I had to sell it. I have replaced it with a strictly toolboxes combo, and a krsc 46. The 46 has lock and roll, and I love it still. If I get a new big box it will be a krl. I do like the fact the epiq drawers go in further and don't collect dust. That's not enough to sway me though.

 

[Ironhorse]

Epiq.....one of the best boxes snapon finally came out with....drawer locks are great, the power tops are a really nice feature....and yes I have owned about every box they have made...I got my first epiq the day they came out in LV....now I have been just making it larger at the home garage...I have two large ones at the shop...just a great box...

 

[Wamsutta]

For all the Lock N Roll haters..why not just pull them out & off? Take about 30 seconds to completely pull all of them off any box?

Then you don't have anything to keep the drawers from rolling open.

 

[slc97sr5]

Some ramblings...

If I were choosing a KRL series box, it would be the 1033. I love the 2 full length drawers.

In our Hangar there are over 100 tool boxes, many of them (40+) KRL's and KRA's.

There are about 8 Epiq boxes. I ordered a new Epiq 68" to replace my 60".

I chose an Epiq over the 1033 because it feels and is documented by Snap-On to be much more solid. The 10XX's are robust boxes for sure but the Epiq's have the edge.

The lock&roll never bothered me, even when retrieving tools from a co-workers box after working out of mine, but the impulse latch is more intuitive. There are no extra motions, you pull the latch and the drawer slides towards you. I really like the slight cant that drifts the drawer closed with a very slight push.

I do hate the amount of light scratches incurred from grazing the drawer front to access the latch.

The sound of a loaded Epiq drawer latching closed makes me smile. It just sounds good.

The height may be a deal killer for you if you work on components atop your box. I like the height but the 1023 is more similar to a regular work bench height.

The extra inch of depth is actually noticeable, 30" vs 29".

Agreed, "Epiq" is a stupid name.

I think the chrome is tasteful and looks clean...definitely a love/hate sticking point.

The Epiq's are easier to wipe down and keep the drawer fronts clean.

The finish seems the best out of all of SO's line. It appears to be more durable, glossier and have more depth. I have no actual data to back this up but when comparing the same color, Epiq vs KRL, the Epiq seems richer.

I prefer the lip surrounding the Epiq SS top as well as the availability of the PowerTop. I thought it was a total gimmick and did not order it with my current box but I have since seen the benefit to me and ordered it with my next box.

In the end, get what you want. Not only the box model itself, but the color, top, drawer configuration and a cover. Now is a great time to negotiate all the little extras.

 

[slc97sr5]

Something else to consider, if it is individual drawers you are after...the 1023 is the way to go. I have a bunch of air and cordless tools that necessitate the deeper drawers.

If I was working out of my garage and had shelves or cabinets to keep my consumables in, I would probably go with the 1023/1033 for the amount of separate drawers.

 

[L.Cheapo]

Some ramblings...

If I were choosing a KRL series box, it would be the 1033. I love the 2 full length drawers.

In our Hangar there are over 100 tool boxes, many of them (40+) KRL's and KRA's.

There are about 8 Epiq boxes. I ordered a new Epiq 68" to replace my 60".

I chose an Epiq over the 1033 because it feels and is documented by Snap-On to be much more solid. The 10XX's are robust boxes for sure but the Epiq's have the edge.

The lock&roll never bothered me, even when retrieving tools from a co-workers box after working out of mine, but the impulse latch is more intuitive. There are no extra motions, you pull the latch and the drawer slides towards you. I really like the slight cant that drifts the drawer closed with a very slight push.

I do hate the amount of light scratches incurred from grazing the drawer front to access the latch.

The sound of a loaded Epiq drawer latching closed makes me smile. It just sounds good.

The height may be a deal killer for you if you work on components atop your box. I like the height but the 1023 is more similar to a regular work bench height.

The extra inch of depth is actually noticeable, 30" vs 29".

Agreed, "Epiq" is a stupid name.

I think the chrome is tasteful and looks clean...definitely a love/hate sticking point.

The Epiq's are easier to wipe down and keep the drawer fronts clean.

The finish seems the best out of all of SO's line. It appears to be more durable, glossier and have more depth. I have no actual data to back this up but when comparing the same color, Epiq vs KRL, the Epiq seems richer.

I prefer the lip surrounding the Epiq SS top as well as the availability of the PowerTop. I thought it was a total gimmick and did not order it with my current box but I have since seen the benefit to me and ordered it with my next box.

In the end, get what you want. Not only the box model itself, but the color, top, drawer configuration and a cover. Now is a great time to negotiate all the little extras.

Thank you for your excellent post. I know I'm in a huge minority when I say I hate full length drawers. Again, I'm not a flat rate guy, so a few seconds here and there means nothing to me. I don't understand the need to move 200lbs of sockets to get to one of them. I currently have 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, and larger separated in different drawers. Wrenches make a bit more sense, I guess, but again, rarely do I need metric AND standard on the same trip to the box. Maybe I'm just weird.

I currently have 2 26" Cman rollaways and three Cman top boxes, all overflowing. I seem to spend more time moving tools to get to other tools than I do working on things. I hate having things on the counter not locked up. Very frustrating.

This box will be rolled into the garage and sit there for years. Height is not a problem as I'm 6'3", and generally wont be working on top of the box. Stainless top is a must, IMO. My rep already agreed to throw in a cover for whichever I decide to buy. I have until the end of the month to make a decision. Thanks again.

 

[Farmall450]

1033 KRL master race checking in.....


I dislike epiq because:


The drawer handles seemed gimicky and clunky to me personally.
They sit too high (and I'm 6'3).
All the chrome is kinda gaudy (it becomes the focal point).
Dollar for dollar, KRLs are USUALLY cheaper (rock and roll prices excluded).
I find the name "Epic" to be dumb.



The KRL seems like the natural evolution of what I'd always considered a "tool box" to look like. I can't comment on "better casters" claim, but I would likely die if my day included regularly pushing my box around. Maybe some guys do, but at nearly 1000lbs unloaded, my box stays parked in its' home, as I would guess most boxes do. "Lock and roll" takes 5 min to become muscle memory. Perhaps lefties would find it unnatural? I know I can simply swipe my hand and open the heaviest drawers.


Obviously, it's all personal preference.

Zombie thread

But good point about lefties...I do have to use my right hand/think twice with my left on my KRL (yup, I'm a lefty)

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Zombie thread

But good point about lefties...I do have to use my right hand/think twice with my left on my KRL (yup, I'm a lefty)

I think the issue is more that you are taking your hand away from your body with the swiping action, when using your left hand. Whereas the right hand moves inwards and stays in line with the chest.

If I have a heavily loaded right hand, I well turn my left shoulder towards the box as I approach and reach for the drawer. This makes the loss of mechanical advantage less of an issue, because now your arm is more inline with your shoulder, and you have a proper pulling angle. It's irrelevant on the screwdriver and pick drawer. It's very relevant on the drawer full of ball joint press and pullers.

You'd think they could make left-handed lock and roll, just move the bending tab to the other side. Not sure if the square cutout for the detent is present on the left side though.

 

[Farmall450]

I think the issue is more that you are taking your hand away from your body with the swiping action, when using your left hand. Whereas the right hand moves inwards and stays in line with the chest.

If I have a heavily loaded right hand, I well turn my left shoulder towards the box as I approach and reach for the drawer. This makes the loss of mechanical advantage less of an issue, because now your arm is more inline with your shoulder, and you have a proper pulling angle. It's irrelevant on the screwdriver and pick drawer. It's very relevant on the drawer full of ball joint press and pullers.

You'd think they could make left-handed lock and roll, just move the bending tab to the other side. Not sure if the square cutout for the detent is present on the left side though.

Yeah, exactly, it's the top drawer loaded down with sockets that's killer. What are you lubing your slides with? I'm assuming a light oil will be fine.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

A little PB blaster usually, but you're right - light oil. IME actual motor oil is better for really gummed up ones.

Both of my long wrench drawers, on the 1033 and 1032, have needed replacement slides, due to excessive extension on one of the slides. I believe this is a fault of them being on the trucks and getting yanked irregularly with no load in them. Both were like this from day one, and I have had zero issues after replacement. The BIG thing, is exercising them to full extension. I see lots of boxes of all brands with memory spots in the drawers where they don't want to open to full extension. I really don't need to do much maintenance, they all get opened pretty regularly.

 

[plinker]

Thank you for your excellent post. I know I'm in a huge minority when I say I hate full length drawers. Again, I'm not a flat rate guy, so a few seconds here and there means nothing to me. I don't understand the need to move 200lbs of sockets to get to one of them. I currently have 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, and larger separated in different drawers. Wrenches make a bit more sense, I guess, but again, rarely do I need metric AND standard on the same trip to the box. Maybe I'm just weird.

I currently have 2 26" Cman rollaways and three Cman top boxes, all overflowing. I seem to spend more time moving tools to get to other tools than I do working on things. I hate having things on the counter not locked up. Very frustrating.

This box will be rolled into the garage and sit there for years. Height is not a problem as I'm 6'3", and generally wont be working on top of the box. Stainless top is a must, IMO. My rep already agreed to throw in a cover for whichever I decide to buy. I have until the end of the month to make a decision. Thanks again.

I do the same with sockets so you're not alone there.


I prefer the lock n roll on my KRL1032 as detents would wear out too fast on the KR1000 I had. Having drawers slide open on any slight incline/uneven floor gets old very fast. Matco has an adjustable detent set up which works ok, but I still prefer some kind of positive latch on the drawer. I've not broken a lock n roll latch either, must be because I bought some spares.


I will say the Masterforce drawer latch is nicer and less noticeable in operation as you just open the drawer normal and it unhooks, but they dont have the depth of the Snap-on, probably wont last as long either, but they're still good boxes for the money.