Quality carts for under a grand?

[Two dollar steak]

I've been working out of a little Sunex cart for a while and while its nice and mobile its just too small for doing what I need to do. I don't want to go over a thousand bucks, preferably less, about 800 seems to be the starting point for a quality cart from the trucks, and no I do not trust harbor freight, its a hour drive, busy, ghetto and never stocked. Two trips for a warranty issue, plus the initial drive to get it and I'd be at the same cost in time, energy and gas as a truck brand, and the truck guy will drop it off where I want it.

I've looked at the brands online, but have only ever seen the Matco MSC4 in person and it feels solid, and the guys that have them love them. Cornwell has the CTBMM100 that looks the same? but is cheaper in their flyer this month. Blue point has the krbc10tp that looks the same again and the KRBC30TA that looks pretty sweet indeed, and I like that it has drawers all the way down.

What are the quality of the Cornwell and Bluepoint offerings compared to the Matco as far as durability and sturdiness?

 

[ihateminimumwage]

All those carts are the same. It's a generally available re-branded cart. They are also sold under Arcan (at Costco no less), as seen in this thread:
ASC0401BK - Deluxe Service Cart
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3871520&postcount=14220

The Harbor Freight 4 Drawer Carts ($99) are also sold with a crazy markup as Blue Point ($712) and Arcan ($270). I bought the HF and added a Sunex pry bar holder and shelf, and a Blue Point Handle, lock, etc. Easy to build the Blue Point 4 drawer for under $200.

 

[countryroad82]

The HF is about the best deal out there. Very well built, especially for a hundred bucks, rolls around nice,ball bearing drawers,cheap, need I say cheap? As minimumwage said it is basically like the Blue Point cart, I have looked at it on the truck, and I was glad I bought the HF cart. But if you don't want to go that route, look into sunnex again, but be warned, it probably came out of the same factory as HF for triple the cost!

 

[kblazer87]

Found all these on your local craigslist. I have owned one of the blue point 4 drawers. One of the 3 drawer Snap on and one of the 2 drawer Blue Point carts. Of the 3 I owned the 3 drawer Snap on was the best one. Have worked out a friends Matco like the yellow 4 drawer and liked it as well as my Snap on. I am looking for one of the 6 or 7 drawer carts roght now myself. I would own any of these listed, except maybe for the 2 drawer Blue Point. Don't think that would be large enough.


http://batonrouge.craigslist.org/tls/4375622564.html
http://batonrouge.craigslist.org/tls/4356127609.html
http://batonrouge.craigslist.org/tls/4354028329.html
http://texarkana.craigslist.org/tls/4377289433.html
http://shreveport.craigslist.org/pts/4389638908.html
http://easttexas.craigslist.org/tls/4398657377.html
http://easttexas.craigslist.org/tls/4369447459.html

 

[Two dollar steak]

http://store.snapon.com/KRBC30T-Series-Roll-Carts-Blue-Point-174--Roll-Cart-Locking-Flp-Top-4-Locking-Drawers-Royal-Blue-P743172.aspx



Is there another source for these, I'm guessing they are rebranded? I'm researching the Arcan now but am having problems finding the same ones as the matco, just chrome leg ones and the one like HF sells.

 

[jjjrmx5]

Is there another source for these, I'm guessing they are rebranded? I'm researching the Arcan now but am having problems finding the same ones as the matco, just chrome leg ones and the one like HF sells.

NAPA did a short run during the summer of 2012 IIRC with the full set of top to bottom dwrs lift lid roll carts for a very reasonable price.

They since have gone AWOL.

Full dwr top yo bottom lift lid carts are still the domain of the tool trucks but are slowly finding their way into the mainstream. But its been slow thus why they command the used prices they do.

I had a Blue Point open bottom tray minty 4 dwr cart that I picked up for $175 used. A couple in my area now are asking $300 used but it's OBO.
HF and other retailers bring the o/a used market down in price for the tradition carts.

Traditional open bottom carts gets sold and passed around alot as folks move up to roll cabs, but since the full dwr carts are essentially roll cabs with a lid, they are slow to be sold or traded if at all.
Thus why so rare.

 

[Skyline]

Check out the MAC Tools MB197UC @ $899.99

http://www.mactools.com/shoponline/product/tabid/120/p-330387-mb197uc-bk.aspx

It is a fairly large and VERY solidly built cart. It has a unique feature that makes is (IMO) superior to all other carts, and that is the way the top opens. The two piece top splits open and the two halves slide to each side, leaving you two stainless steel work surfaces to place parts or other items while you are working, You don't need to put dirty parts on top of your tools. With most other carts, since they have tilting tops, you either have to put parts on top of your tools, or leave the entire top section empty of tools, (if you want a place to put that alternator you just pulled). With the MAC, you can pack the top section with tools, and still have the same surface area to put stuff on when it's open. You can also add additional drawers down below as an added cost option. It also includes lockable storage for long screwdrivers and pry bars.

I don't use a cart, but I've had a number of different carts in my garage for our tool resale business and that MAC is by far the nicest. Used they will sell for $350-400 without the extra drawers, if you can be patient enough to find one.

 

[Hpozzuoli]

I kinda like the matco and cornwell carts. I don't use a cart, but my friends have the 2 I mentioned. If I had to choose between the 2 of those I would go with matco. The one pictured is same one my friend has. Same color too.

 

[JDSV]

I'm not sure on the quality, but NAPA has their 4 drawer Homak carts on sale for $299 in their Real Deals this quarter. I hope the link below works, the cart is on page 32.

http://realdeals.napaecatalog.com/WebProject.asp?CodeId=7.5.5.23&BookCode=rd214flx#

If not, you can search NAPA's website. Also the cart from Homak's website can be found here:

http://www.homakmfg.com/Homak Site/Service Cart_Standard Page.html

It's the 35" in model.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

I'm not sure on the quality, but NAPA has their 4 drawer Homak carts on sale for $299 in their Real Deals this quarter. I hope the link below works, the cart is on page 32.

http://realdeals.napaecatalog.com/WebProject.asp?CodeId=7.5.5.23&BookCode=rd214flx#

If not, you can search NAPA's website. Also the cart from Homak's website can be found here:

http://www.homakmfg.com/Homak Site/Service Cart_Standard Page.html

It's the 35" in model.

The Homak Pro carts & boxes are really good quality. After messing with my buddy's cart, I highly recommend them.

 

[nickjj]

Arcan cart from Costco, £100 plus tax, seems to be a clone of the Matco cart, big too.

Spend the the £900 you've saved on tools to fill it...

 

[BlksnshN]

Arcan cart from Costco, £100 plus tax, seems to be a clone of the Matco cart, big too.

Spend the the £900 you've saved on tools to fill it...

I can't seem to find one of those available in the US.

 

[PT Doc]

If you can find the napa cart with the flip top lid and drawers all the way Dow, I would get it. I think is one of the best deals on carts out there.

 

[kngelv]

Check out the MAC Tools MB197UC @ $899.99

http://www.mactools.com/shoponline/product/tabid/120/p-330387-mb197uc-bk.aspx

It is a fairly large and VERY solidly built cart. It has a unique feature that makes is (IMO) superior to all other carts, and that is the way the top opens. The two piece top splits open and the two halves slide to each side, leaving you two stainless steel work surfaces to place parts or other items while you are working, You don't need to put dirty parts on top of your tools. With most other carts, since they have tilting tops, you either have to put parts on top of your tools, or leave the entire top section empty of tools, (if you want a place to put that alternator you just pulled). With the MAC, you can pack the top section with tools, and still have the same surface area to put stuff on when it's open. You can also add additional drawers down below as an added cost option. It also includes lockable storage for long screwdrivers and pry bars.

I don't use a cart, but I've had a number of different carts in my garage for our tool resale business and that MAC is by far the nicest. Used they will sell for $350-400 without the extra drawers, if you can be patient enough to find one.

Agreed. I have this cart. Picked it up for $300.00 on CL. Worth every penny. Extra support and crash guards on the legs. Very solid.

Janes

 

[bigfunwmu]

OP, do you like your current Sunex cart? They have a larger full-drawer cart available.

http://sunextools.com/index.cfm?s=detail&subcat=128&item=3280

Looks like it goes for as low as $564.99 shipped online for red or black, also orange for around $600.