montezuma tool chest

[sk farmer]

pics of box as promised. i'm having trouble with this site so i won't post much info right now. this is my third try. this is a cpl junior box . i have one other like it and a larger one. pics show tools in and out of box. also lid locked open by sliding left. this is an older box but very much like newer boxes except for the locking system. almost all peices have a designated pin, rail, hole or compartment they fit in and are locked in place by lid. large wrenches, bars, hammer and parts box lay in bottom. compartment under socket rack holds other peices. newer boxes are very much alike except for latching system on the lid. senior pics are on post number 12. www.montezumamfg.com

 

[Stuey]

Nice. I want one! Montezumas are a bit over my budget, though.

 

[tatra]

westward makes a copy but that too is overpriced inmy opinion.........nice design tho.......

 

[paramudduck]

Those are very nice boxes. Most people are amazed at how much they will hold.

 

[fatfillup]

Sk, looks good. That definitely holds a lot of tools. Did you take the time to rearrange or clean out old tools while you had everything out?

 

[Brad54]

What's the advantage of having the angled front cover?

-Brad

 

[sk farmer]

the cover locks most tools in place. the handles are located close to the lid along with much of the weight making them easy to carry. i can easily move it by myself. a loaded top chest with a similar amount of tools is almost impossible to move with one person. other chests also end up being top heavy or tippy. these are very stable with a low center of gravity. i did blow the dust out and wiped some tools off but most peices have a place and just go right back in. sight inventory is one of there big advantages. not much in there i don't need. this one doesn't have as much metric as my other boxes.

 

[fatfillup]

May be easy to carry but I wouldn't want to go very far, that's a lot of tools.

 

[sk farmer]

yes, it is heavy, but the point is i can carry it. it is easier to carry it than a smaller box with less tools and a handle on top. if i need to leave an implement somewhere unprotected it is very easy to take my tools with me with rather than leave them unprotected.

 

[skeletonizer]

Thanks for posting the pics.

As I said before one of my concerns with the newer Montezumas is the use of the gas cylinders to hold the lid and socket tray. I wish they still used the same system that yours has to hold it open. Nothing to fail.

 

[CAT_serviceman927]

Very cool. Thanks for posting.

 

[sk farmer]

new pics of senior box, sorry pics did not follow

 

[sk farmer]

new senior pics

 

[sk farmer]

Thanks for posting the pics.

As I said before one of my concerns with the newer Montezumas is the use of the gas cylinders to hold the lid and socket tray. I wish they still used the same system that yours has to hold it open. Nothing to fail.

i was curious about that so i put in a call to the company. the lady i talked to seemed to know her stuff and said the boxes no longer locked upright and where held just by the gas cylinders. she also said the socket tray on the crossover box was the same type. i asked if that wasn't to much weight to hold. she told me that both the lid and tray had plenty of testing and was confident the were heavy enough to hold them up. i also think some sort of lock should have been left on them. all three of my boxes have a lock on the tray that is much smaller than that on the crossover. i also asked on price of the crossover, and i was told 761 for the top and 1726 for the combo with them available in about 2 weeks. i found an old price list and it showed a junior at 170.50 and a senior at 220 in the mid 80s. i tipped her off to this thread and where to find it. thought i saw someone from montezuma on this sight once, maybe they will reply to this.

 

[38 Special]

I have the small Montezuma box. I have not had it long, but really like it. It is great for others to work out of because you can see all the tools. I rock crawl Jeeps for a hobby, so others normally help with whatever is being worked on. I do ask that no one puts up tools, but just set them beside the box. My only gripe, it the spacing for the sockets is not proper for Craftsman sockets. Some have large gaps, others will not hardly fit. But, overall, would purchase again.

 

[Defender Chassis]

http://www.montezumamfg.com/26-crossover.php

Made in.......?

 

[sk farmer]

i visited with vince today and it is my understanding that all of the angle front boxes are made in usa. it states that if you click on portable toolboxes. i beleive the conventional boxes are built to their specs some where overseas. as far as i know my boxes were 100 percent us made and are heavily built. i would assume their other boxes are of similar quality.

 

[Stuey]

Oh how I would like to get my hands on one for review. *hint hint*

 

[Garage_Mahal]

It's seems like your view of the combo wrench size markings would be blocked.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

I would love to see one of these things in person. Problem is I only see them in pictures or the Sears catalog. Anyone in the KC Metro area that carrys these things?

Thanks

 

[skeletonizer]

I was in Menards yesterday and looked at thier MasterForce cabinets. These appear to be made by Montezuma or at least by whoever manufactures their cabinets.

They seem very solid. I especially like the aluminum drawer pulls, very thick solid peice. The detents that hold the drawers shut seem nice and firm without being a pain in the a$$.

The 36" had a caster that was all bent to he// but I don't think it is an indication of weakness but an indication of marginal employee selection at that particular store.

The only drawback to the MasterForce is the color . It is like a mold color. Ick.

If I get a "new" box I am still leaning to the Montezuma Crossover.

 

[sk farmer]

this is out on a limb, i think vince knows who imports those menards boxes. that would lead me to beleive they come from the same place only to differant specs. i will make no claims to quality of them. one would have to ask him and i think he is out of country for another wek or so.

 

[overkill 19]

I have been thinking about one of those for my sled trailer. Just have a tool bag right now....does not work. Looks great, un-real how much stuff you can pack in there!

[/IMG]

 

[Uncle Buck]

I would love to see one of these things in person. Problem is I only see them in pictures or the Sears catalog. Anyone in the KC Metro area that carrys these things?

Thanks

Why not check with Clark tools? Or better still, Montezuma themselves.

 

[sk farmer]

nice trailer overkill. all that organization in your trailer and you use a bag. shame on you. i think you are a prime candidate for one, you just need to figure out wich one.

 

[bchee]

I have been thinking about one of those for my sled trailer. Just have a tool bag right now....does not work. Looks great, un-real how much stuff you can pack in there!

[/IMG]

nice trailer overkill. all that organization in your trailer and you use a bag. shame on you. i think you are a prime candidate for one, you just need to figure out wich one.

Looks like you could use more than one in that space. dang

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

Why not check with Clark tools? Or better still, Montezuma themselves.

The local one doesn't have them. As for Monetzuma, I wouldn't exactly call a drive to the southeastern part of KS local.

 

[Uncle Buck]

The local one doesn't have them. As for Monetzuma, I wouldn't exactly call a drive to the southeastern part of KS local.

Silly goose, I meant give them a call and ask them direct.

 

[overkill 19]

nice trailer overkill. all that organization in your trailer and you use a bag. shame on you. i think you are a prime candidate for one, you just need to figure out wich one.

Thanks, I dont need a very big one, as most of the sled/dirt bike is farly small stuff. A good set of 3/8 is all ya really need. Except for the clutch bolts.

I was thinking of one of these boxes for a while. But I would like to see one up close. as if I mount it on the wall the lid may be need to be modified. But I think it woulsd look cool if I blast it and powder coat it the same as the benches.

 

[overkill 19]

Looks like you could use more than one in that space. dang

It looks big MT but you get two 163 track sleds in there with gear and beer and she gets full quick. I could have had a box built in but did not care for the one they had as it was made for a 8.5 wide trailer and stuck out like a sore thumb. I will see if I have a pic loaded!

 

[ephotrod]

Cool box looks like an awesome junkyard tool box. If anyone knows where to look at one in el paso please let me know.
Josh

 

[sk farmer]

overkill , an sm 200 may be your ticket. it says they are for sae sizes and that is what i predominantly load. depending on your brand of sled you could load whatever you want. my 3/8 metric are on a socket rail between the peg rails. they are built quite sturdy and will survive a sand blasting. i have blasted and welded on them. if you mix and match what you put in there you could keep your weight down so it could be mounted on a shelf or bracket yet easily moved. fully loaded mine can still be easily moved. unless it is on the ground. the lid does not need much room to open. no more than a regular box or chest.

 

[overkill 19]

overkill , an sm 200 may be your ticket. it says they are for sae sizes and that is what i predominantly load. depending on your brand of sled you could load whatever you want. my 3/8 metric are on a socket rail between the peg rails. they are built quite sturdy and will survive a sand blasting. i have blasted and welded on them. if you mix and match what you put in there you could keep your weight down so it could be mounted on a shelf or bracket yet easily moved. fully loaded mine can still be easily moved. unless it is on the ground. the lid does not need much room to open. no more than a regular box or chest.

Thanks, I think I would have to re-do the lid, but thats no big deal. Here's a pic loaded.

[/IMG]

[/IMG]

 

[sk farmer]

overkill, just my opinion from using them i would hate to see you take a smoke wrench and grinder to one . you have those nice shelves it could sit on. i know how handy they are to move and the lid locks everything in place. unless you mount it up high it will interfere with loading and movement in the trailer. also they are handy at waist level or lower, mounted much higher and it is much harder to see and replace tools and sight inventory is one of their best features. trust me if you get one you won;t want to leave it in the trailer in the off season. take no offense if you think i am nuts, or feel free to ask me anything you want.

 

[overkill 19]

overkill, just my opinion from using them i would hate to see you take a smoke wrench and grinder to one . you have those nice shelves it could sit on. i know how handy they are to move and the lid locks everything in place. unless you mount it up high it will interfere with loading and movement in the trailer. also they are handy at waist level or lower, mounted much higher and it is much harder to see and replace tools and sight inventory is one of their best features. trust me if you get one you won;t want to leave it in the trailer in the off season. take no offense if you think i am nuts, or feel free to ask me anything you want.

All good stuff, thanks. If ya new what the trailer place wanted for their tool box you would not buy one ether. It was basically the same price as a big Snap-on box. So I just thought to myself I could cut up 4 of those boxes and still be way ahead of the game.

The trailer does not really have a "off" season. It sled's in the winter and dirt bike/quad in the summer. We have alot of speacialty tools for the clutches on the sleds that we want to keep just in the trailer as that where we wrench on the sleds the most. Changing clutching at night for the next days ride. Or repairing logging damage after smoking a tree on the way over a cliff!

 

[sk farmer]

i kind of suspected.. but to me cutting up a montezuma without using it first is like shooting a good dog before you find out wether it can hunt. again if you have any questions, ask. ps. after you go over the cliff you could take an intact box out to the scene of the crime.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

Depending on how you want to modify it, (no lid?) I would say contact Montezuma themselves, and see if they have any factory seconds, or partials you could get.

 

[overkill 19]

Depending on how you want to modify it, (no lid?) I would say contact Montezuma themselves, and see if they have any factory seconds, or partials you could get.

Great idea Thanks!

 

[sk farmer]

bumped up for a thread on modular storage. some of the newer guys most likely may not have seen these. by the way i also really like my crossover chest. it is holding up very well.

 

[Mickey O]

A little late, but: