Moving a Snap-On Box

[cayenne]

I've got an upcoming move from CO to MN and need to move a KRL1023 - I know mechanics move them short distances on roll back tow trucks all the time, do you think there would be any issue leaving it loaded with tools on this road trip?

I'd say it's probably 2/3 full with a couple wrench and socket heavy drawers that I could probably move around to distribute the weight.

 

[3baygarage]

Never done it but what about stuffing the drawers with newspaper or other packing material. I imagine tools tossing around no matter what. Easy to damage or at least scratch stuff up.

The obvious, heavy shrink wrap. I think I first saw that on OCC.

 

[cayenne]

I was kind of thinking the same thing. Was thinking I'd lay down some bubble wrap and blankets to secure things from bumping around. Most of it is carriers or foam. More concerned about the box integrity and arriving safely.

 

[WWheeler]

You don't have to overthink it. Just git'r dun

 

[cvairwerks]

Empty the heaviest drawers and then use bubble wrap or old t shirts or the like to fill the other drawers and prevent stuff from hopping over the sides or back. Take a roll of stretch wrap and wrap around the box end for end, from bottom to top so that drawers can't open and top can't slide off. Wrap with a couple of moving blankets and either tape around the box, or more shrink wrap. Load on the truck or trailer and strap to the sidewall and fill the rest of the vehicle. IF you get something with a lift gate, the gate will not support the box with tools in it. Most gates are rated at less than 1000 lbs and the box is a bit over 800 empty.

 

[tool_scrounge]

I would remove the tools for shipment. When looking at the load ratings for caster wheels and drawer slides, forces generated from hitting potholes on the interstate at 70mph is probably not a use case that was considered in the design.

 

[Sumboodie]

Moving 5 toolboxes soon. Just going to forklift on the truck and roll out.

 

[65ranchero]

I just had the moving company move mine when we moved 350 miles.
Took all the drawers out moved the bottom box from the basement and then the top and middle were moved full.
These movers were strong, but I still had to help man handle the sections.
Did not pack the drawers full of bubble/old T shirts.

 

[Badger 13]

When we moved from NM to ID, I just had the moving company move my KRL1023, "loaded". I packed some of the drawers with bubble wrap, and some with old towels. Everything came out fine.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I would move the weight around to minimize damage from bouncing over road imperfections.

Moving full boxes, obviously lock them, and then either secure the drawers again with a 2x4 and strap, or orient the box so the drawers could not open even if there was a lock mechanism or slide failure.

 

[65ranchero]

Moving vans/trucks have air bag suspension so road shock is at a minimum.

 

[consti2tion]

Also if you are going to leave tools in when you move it, put the weight down in the lower drawers to keep it from being top heavy.

 

[cayenne]

After reading several other threads I think I'll unload some of the heavy drawers and leave the rest alone. May crib up the casters slightly.

 

[Snapped-off]

Strap it down and block 2 of the wheels. I lock mine and wrap plastic wrap around it. I've moved mine twice this way with no issues, getting ready for a third move.

 

[kbeefy]

I moved all mine 400 miles locked and strapped down inside a car hauler. No issues. Roads were decent and I kept it around 65.

 

[mrjaw14]

I rented a motorcycle trailer from UHAUL and it was perfect for my KTL1022, which is 54". I had two of us push it up the ramp, I put moving blankets around it, and strapped it down. Your KRL1023 is 72". UHAUL also had a small trailer with ramp. I'd measure it and make sure it'd work, but those low trailers with ramps are the ticket.

 

[Davefr]

I rented a motorcycle trailer from UHAUL and it was perfect for my KTL1022, which is 54". I had two of us push it up the ramp, I put moving blankets around it, and strapped it down. Your KRL1023 is 72". UHAUL also had a small trailer with ramp. I'd measure it and make sure it'd work, but those low trailers with ramps are the ticket.

^^^What he said. I would unload it though. (at least the heavy items). Lash it down close to the corners and keep most of the weight
closest to the tongue.

 

[PelicanPines]

Call me paranoid.

I emptied my heavy drawers. Left screwdrivers, pliers and doo dads for the most part, right where they were. I did stuff rags in the drawers. Socket rails, wrenches, hammers, power tools all got wrapped in a few wooden crates with moving blankets. I moved everything with a u-haul lift gate truck.

I packed some light stuff in the empty drawers... consumables. Key word... light stuff.

 

[BarrelRoll]

Most of the boxes at work have taken a 3,000 mile trip on several trucks and a barge to get there. The majority of issues come from forklift drivers or building crappy crates not weight. If you have some really heavy tools such as a 3/4" drive set it would be worth pulling it out and shipping in a tote. Otherwise I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[bcschief]

Unstack the boxes, I saw a coworker dump his toolbox on a busy street because he left them stacked.

 

[Lassen Forge]

I like the tote idea myself. You can wrap or keep your tools more secure, and you don't kill the inside of your box... plus, if the box goes over in transit, well, ouch, but it's not ouch and pick up your tools from all over the road...

I responded to an accident years ago where a younger, less experienced flatbed operator hauled a toolbox, left them stacked (freaking mistake #1), didn't have the boxes well secured (mistake #2), took a corner too fast and not only were the boxes pretty much ruined, the highway was carpeted with this guy's 40K worth of tools (well, the ones that hadn't embedded themselves in passing traffic...

Last time I moved a big box, I rented a U-haul, unloaded the drawers into totes, winched the box up the ramp into said uHaul, put the totes next to it, strapped everything down, and went merrily on my way. Cheap? only so-so. Took a weeks worth of time to do the move. But ya know, everything arrived in one piece.

 

[619DioFan]

I have worked in the moving and storage industry for 30 years. In that time I have loaded and moved hundreds of boxes of every brand out there. Never had a customer want their box emptied. I shinkwrap then pad wrap them shrink again. Some ask for a layer of cardboard as well. I have never paid out a claim for damage on any box. I follow the same steps when moving my own. Good luck with your move.

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

put some blanket over the tools and rant u-hual with the built in ramp or lift gate.

 

[PelicanPines]

Unstack the boxes, I saw a coworker dump his toolbox on a busy street because he left them stacked.

And if you do move stacked boxes... or for that matter ... move them without LOCKING THE DRAWERS SHUT. Please have at least two cameras filming. All the toolbox crash videos on Youtube are getting old.

 

[seber]

I put a blanket over them then strapped a two by six in front of each set of drawers. That's all I did. Moved them 1000 miles with no problems. I don't have uppers but I would have unstacked them.

 

[89MustangGX]

I moved my KRA top and bottom box in a POD. Left it fully loaded, just locked it up. I estimate it 1200 pounds, maybe more. I wrapped it in moving blankets and secured it best I could to the back and side of the POD. Was moving other stuff also so was able to pack other stuff around it and keep it more secure as well. If I was going to do it again, I'd invest in shrink wrap and even more blankets than I did, just to feel better and be extra safe. No damage or other issues.

Actually thought it might be a problem for the POD truck, but it lifted it right up like it was nothing. I'm assuming it was stacked in a warehouse for some time as well. All worked out really well.

 

[tool_scrounge]

^^^What he said. I would unload it though. (at least the heavy items). Lash it down close to the corners and keep most of the weight
closest to the tongue.

U-Haul trailers are nice when buying tool boxes. For lighter tool boxes (<900 lbs or so) I like renting the motorcycle trailers as they have long ramps and are low to the ground. When strapping them down, I usually support the bottom of the tool box with long wood spacers with carpet on the top so there is no load on the casters and the weight of the tool box is distributed. Otherwise the force of the ratchet straps (which can be considerable) is on the caster wheel bearings. Combining this with the dynamic forces from the trailer bouncing on rough roads can damage the caster wheel bearings. If the tool box is full, the additional weight of tools also adds to the possibility of bearing damage. Fortunately, most folks are not pushing their tool around every day and may never have an issue even if the bearings are damaged.

 

[m6z]

I'd completely unload the box and pack your tools separately in boxes or totes.

Shrink wrap and moving blankets is a good idea as well.

Loading an empty toolbox is hard enough, no way I'd try to move one loaded up.

 

[anavrinIV]

I rented a motorcycle trailer from UHAUL and it was perfect for my KTL1022, which is 54". I had two of us push it up the ramp, I put moving blankets around it, and strapped it down. Your KRL1023 is 72". UHAUL also had a small trailer with ramp. I'd measure it and make sure it'd work, but those low trailers with ramps are the ticket.

This is how I got my KRL722 home, granted it was empty. I moved my US General box loaded by getting it into a uhaul truck but it was hard to get that weight up the ramp, and I don't know that I could with the SO given the weight of the box alone.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Moved my 722 in the back of my pickup. No issues.

And yes, make sure all the drawers are locked!

 

[TJMtl]

I have a KRL1023 and it's my 3rd baby. I'd unload it. Not a big deal, gives you a chance to clean the inside of the drawers (which has probably never been done! haha)