Tool box vs tool cart

[Blue924.9]

Hey new guy here, going to John deere tech school in October, contemplating between a tool cart or tool box from one of the big 4 (so, matco, mac, Cornwell) right now I have a 41 inch husky but it's filling up fast, (I graduated high school in December and work at my local dealer full time working on mowers and doing shop maintenence, so I have been buying tools a few at a fine as I go) the only reason I ask is because I am considering buying a 72 inch tool box right before I'm done with college because you get a 50 percent discount on 1 toolbox in college. They don't consider a tool cart a tool box and therefore you don't use your discount. My huskys biggest disadvantage is it is way to short, even tool carts are about a foot and a half taller.

College limits toolboxes to 56 inches wide

 

[DemoFly]

Buy the box. I got along just fine with a TV cart I got for free. Roll carts work just fine, too.

You'll eventually need both if you want to match everyone else's productivity.

 

[Blue924.9]

Should specify that I'm talking about a tool cart with drawers all the way down, and a top that slides to each side but can be closed for a work area

 

[JJThrasher]

If you're a student So will give you 50% off both a box and a cart. That's how I bought my SO box and cart. I have a Cornwell toolbox, I don't recommend them. They are relatively cheap, but you get what you pay for.

 

[hudd1256]

Congrats on getting into to the Deere Program. I am also attending my second year at Deere school in Calmar, IA. I would recommend a tool cart and a small tool chest for school. In my program we rarely work on something that requires a lot of tools, but we have to move our boxes all over the shop.

 

[Blue924.9]

Congrats on getting into to the Deere Program. I am also attending my second year at Deere school in Calmar, IA. I would recommend a tool cart and a small tool chest for school. In my program we rarely work on something that requires a lot of tools, but we have to move our boxes all over the shop.

Interesting, I am going to the school in Lincoln Nebraska

 

[kctyphoon]

The red HF tool cart is pretty great if you still want a cart. But if you must buy a ridiculously priced tool box I suppose it best with a discount. You can always buy the cart later and the HF model will seem like pennies after the big names are done ****** you using the discount as a lure... Fish on...

 

[MattPersman]

The big snap on carts are great prices in the student program. The boxes are not as good, pretty normal deal, and they have been limited to KRA boxes, which is the lower line box. Not a bad box but don't confuse it with a master (KRL) or EPIQ series. A Matco 6 series if included is nice too, some say nicer than snap on...I don't know I had a 4 series that I traded in when I got my EPIQ so I can't compare, I do have two Matco JSC carts though and they are pretty good

Keep in mind once you get in the field and have a snap on guy if he is worth much as a driver he will be able to get you a KRL around show time for half off anyways and sometimes better with rebates etc.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

I don't like carts with lids as I always end up needing something stored under the lid when there's a ton of stuff on top. I'd buy a good toolbox and a cheap cart to start off....Oh, and ignore the truck-tool haters and buy what works for you...

 

[bobcatdan]

If Deere school is still how I remember it, you are at school 3 months, work 3 months, back and forth. You really don't need a lot of tools at school, a lot of shop tools provided. Every semester talior you set to what you are coving. You don't need a sledge hammer for electrical class. Get something smaller that is easy enough to load in your truck every three months. At least the programs I dealt with didn't want you leaving your tools at school when at work.

 

[drewvdw]

Get the toolbox, with Snap-On, you can trade it in on a new box within the first year and get full list value from it. Ask the rep about the voucher or whatever it's called.

 

[Roddyo]

Not a professional mechanic but I work on my own stuff. Pickups, farm equipment and heavy equipment. I love the tool cart concept and would buy the best cart I could afford. I started out with a 40 inch kra then got a 53 inch KRA and used the 40 as a cart.

By working out of a cart your other box will last a long time and by the time you get them both full you will have a lot of tools. That's what I would do.

 

[crewchief888]

You don't need a sledge hammer for electrical class.

for class?
nope.

sledge hammer electrical work comes later....

 

[Blue924.9]

If Deere school is still how I remember it, you are at school 3 months, work 3 months, back and forth. You really don't need a lot of tools at school, a lot of shop tools provided. Every semester talior you set to what you are coving. You don't need a sledge hammer for electrical class. Get something smaller that is easy enough to load in your truck every three months. At least the programs I dealt with didn't want you leaving your tools at school when at work.

not quite, 6 months at school 3 at work, first three months you work out of one of those little 3 drawer hand held toolboxes, after that its full scale tools, hand tools of all kinds ( a full set of tools really) are required to pass the class and power tools are optional.

 

[bobcatdan]

As a former Deere tech, unless they don't supply larger tools, you should be able to get by with what fits in a 40" bottom at school. When I toured the shops at MATC Deere program, looked like everything outside of basic tools was provided.

 

[hudd1256]

Interesting, I am going to the school in Lincoln Nebraska

If I may ask were are you from. I am from Lytton, IA and I work at Calhoun County Imp. in Manson. I wanted to go to Milford, but my Service Manager didn't advise it.

 

[Blue924.9]

I'm from rock rapids iowa, right on the iowa south Dakota border. I'm going to milford strictly because word on the street said you got more hands on training than Calmar. I work at icon ag and turf in doon iowa.

Curious why your manager didn't advise milford? It's supposed to be the top ranked JD tech school of the five locations in the us.

 

[hudd1256]

I don't know why he advised against it, perhaps it is the fact that he was once on the advisory bord for the JD tech progam there.

By the way there are more than just five JD Tech schools in the US. There's 16 Ag schools and 8 construction schools