some toolbox advice and questions

[battlegraduate09]

Ok, i know this might sound weird, but i have always had single bay boxes and recently have been thinking of gettin a double bay box.

Im a diesel mechanic, and tool collection is constantly growing.
I upgraded from my 2 craftsman boxes to my top and bottom mac toolboxes not long ago. When it was sitting in my garage i said "surely all my work tools will fit good in these boxes"

well here i am about 2 months later, and my box is almost full. I have one droor that doesnt have anything in it.

Im not made of money and have bills to pay so going out and buying a big ol box is pretty much out of the question. I have seen the HF 72" box and that is to big. Basically what im looking for is a kr660 but im not sure how wide the "wide" drawers are. Iv never had a snap on box, but a couple people at work have them and they love them, every body tries to sell me a mac box but im not really picky. The only problem is our snap on man has been MIA for at least 6 months.

I just MIGHT get lucky, and find somebody downsizing, and willing to trade a snap on double bay thats not way to big for my boxes plus cash. (i bet that happens alot ) Anyways if anybody semi-local reads that and has one they would sell or wanted to trade, that would be awesome.

sorry for the short novel but im tired of hunting craigslist and classifieds, i just want a box i can keep for a while, the people at work are gonna think im crazy if i keep switching boxes like this.

btw, this is my setup im using now.

thanks for reading,
Josh

 

[wreckercologist]

Mac still makes sidecabs that will fit your box. The Waterloo made Craftsman side cabs will fit it too.

Got any tool dealers stopping by work? I know you said Snap-on is MIA, but ask the dealers that stop by what they could do for you on trade. Just an option.

 

[battlegraduate09]

I know about the sidecabs, but my main problem is that my ratchets, breaker bars, and pry bars are longer than my drawers in my current box, should have specified that.

My matco guy is coming Wednesday and i may talk to him about it, but in that scenario im still gonna have a big bill to pay. Which i would like to avoid.

 

[pipsters]

Have you looked at either the 42" or 56" Harbor Freight boxes?

The 42" is only 18" deep but has a full length top drawer, and you can put the top box on it as well as side locker.

The 56" is 22" deep.

 

[wornoutoldman]

how bout a prybar locking cabinet that hangs on the side of the box? the matco version is like sixty bucks.

 

[Mr Ratchet]

Patience is a virtue! I don't turn a wrench for a living, but am a serious DIY. I had a CM setup fairly similar to what you have now. I was going to get one of the HF setup ups when the company mechanic told me the SO guy had a used Matco box he was trying to unload in his truck. I ended up getting the Matco for $600.00 or $650.00 and I sold my CM for $250.00.

This Matco is an older one that is quite heavy duty. It does have some rust where the shops floor cleaner ate the paint of the bottom of the box. I plan to repaint the box one of these days. The slides and casters all worked fine and the drawers are all in good shape. I'm pretty sure this box came from a diesel shop. The box was filthy and the slides were full of gunk. I cleaned and re-lubed the slides and they now glide like new. The Box is 53" wide by 24" deep. The small bank of drawers has the same foot print size as my CM roll cab. It is nice to have all of my mechanic type tools all in one box. I like having the extra work surface this box allows. It's a much better box than I thought I would ever own.

Many of the tool truck guys have used boxes that you can get good deals on. Anyways, take your time and find a box you are happy with and fits in your budget. I would error on getting a box that's a little too big than another one you will outgrow soon and need to repeat the process.

Here's mine.

 

[battlegraduate09]

all good advice. I think i will look into the pry bar rack for now, and talk to my matco and mac guy and see what they have right now. I also thought about just getting a service cart with the racks for the long extensions, pry bars and screwdrivers on the side as well as the deep top and a number of drawers.

If i bought a service cart i would just keep my setup anyways.

MrRatchet- that setup is pretty close to what i would be looking for.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Josh,as a home mechanic, my Cman works fine for me. The HF seem to have a decent reputation around here, even though they are china made. I'd consider taking your current box home and use it there and step up to a bigger box at work. Maybe a stop by HF would be worth your while to check out the boxes and check out the threads about them here. You'd only be out some time for looking.

 

[crewchief888]

FWIW,
i never went any bigger than a kr550/555.

altho, i did add on over the years.

 

[bobcatdan]

If you want something with wider drawers for big tools, look for a krl 761 bottom. It's the older verison of a 722 and I have seen a few go under $1500 lately. Another good box is a mac mb 1700.

 

[HarleyR]

I will deliver my KRL 7023 to you from Charlotte ...... 3800....

 

[battlegraduate09]

Thanks for the advice above. I will check into a couple of those options

I will deliver my KRL 7023 to you from Charlotte ...... 3800....

Thats a generous offer, but i have this problem wanting to help others more than myself, and my funds are kind of *******, Id probably end up doing it for somebody else, but i cant drop that much money on myself at this moment.
Thanks again though.
Josh

 

[battlegraduate09]

well a few months later, I actually took some of your guys advice..

matco guy had this in stock shortly after this thread had those suggestions to get a rack, so i bought it.

But I thought i would update this thread and have a brand new KRL722 ordered in extreme green. Thanks for all the good advice, i spend countless hours researching all makes and models, depths, heights, drawer configurations, i feel that this is a box i will be able to proudly display in any shop, it will fit all my tools NEATLY, I get a little OCD over my tools, and i wont outgrow it. When i fill it up completely, ill get a top chest for it, when/if thats full, a service cart will be ordered, as by that time i will not want to push that big thing around all over 18 bays at work, or anywhere for that matter.

I hope i will be as impressed with the quality of this box as everybody else seems to be, and hope it serves me well for a long time.

 

[OEXL16B]

The question I have in my mind is whether that brand new KRL722 is gonna cost you less money than the KRL7023 that HarleyR offered you for $3800. I don't see how you could get a brand new out of the wrapper KRL722 for less than that.

 

[Link-Belt]

The question I have in my mind is whether that brand new KRL722 is gonna cost you less money than the KRL7023 that HarleyR offered you for $3800. I don't see how you could get a brand new out of the wrapper KRL722 for less than that.

Snappy man has a fast tongue.

 

[V70R]

The question I have in my mind is whether that brand new KRL722 is gonna cost you less money than the KRL7023 that HarleyR offered you for $3800. I don't see how you could get a brand new out of the wrapper KRL722 for less than that.

All depends on the time of the year, and what promotions your dealer signed up for. I bought my KRL722 new for less than that a just a few months back. Congrats on the purchase, look forward to pictures!

 

[Skyline]

You are a pro mechanic, you need to spring for a good pro box. If you can't afford it now, save up. As a diesel tech, you need to have 3/4" and 1" drive stuff that takes up a lot of room and is very heavy. Not to mention other big size tools. If your shop will allow you the room for a 72"W by 29" deep box, that is what you should have. Preferably with a stainless steel top. If you don't have any use for the extra bench space, a double bank with a top box is a good alternative. Either way, $3,500-4,500 used will get you into the box you really know you need. I don't want to sound like a snob, but if you are a pro you do know I'm right. You will end up in a huge pro box eventually.

If you buy a good used Snap-on KRL or Macsimizer box, you can always get your money back when it's time to scale up again. Any new box you buy, you will take a huge beating on if you sell it, especially if you finance it off the truck.

If you decide to get just a bottom double bay box that you can add to later, that will only add marginally to your space now, and finding a matching top box will be hard, (especially if it's a flashy color). You'll always get the best deal on the larger boxes; but you must be willing to travel two states away when the really hot deal shows up on CL. I've bought full size KRL triple banks for as little as $2500 in pristine shape....there are some good deals out there.

The solution is to resist the temptation to put yourself deep in debt with the tool truck. Save your money and shop CL with cash in hand. Don't be afraid to offer someone 25% of new price. They may laugh you out the door, but when the same box is unsold a month or two later, and they have to move, they may take your offer. Sometimes you find ads from folks who are still in the dreamland phase of selling a box, others are ready to face reality to get it down the road.

 

[battlegraduate09]

The question I have in my mind is whether that brand new KRL722 is gonna cost you less money than the KRL7023 that HarleyR offered you for $3800. I don't see how you could get a brand new out of the wrapper KRL722 for less than that.

Both the 722 and 1022 are on promo. Right Now with trade in my price for a KRL 722 is a good bit less than 3800. $2900 actually.
Thanks for the inquiry though.

 

[ford guy]

Congrats on the new box! Of course, We will be demanding pictures!

Bob

 

[warmpancakes]

sign up for a class at a local community college and take advantage of the student discount on matco boxes

 

[DRhodes]

Im anxious to see pics as well. Thats a nice box and will serve you well.

 

[battlegraduate09]

Thanks guys

sign up for a class at a local community college and take advantage of the student discount on matco boxes

Iv already been through that , thanks for the input though