Tool boxes

[Maximus5758]

Hello garage community
IM new to this community thank you for inviting me. On another note was looking for some advice on tool boxes. I work as diesel mechanic and have to roll my tool box around to multiple bays every day. I currently have the harbor frieght us general 56 inch box. I use to work at a dealer that supplied boxes but now IVe been rolling this around fully loaded for 2 years and now it’s breaking down, cracked welds , drawers not closing, rubber coming off the wheels. Was looking at the us general 72inch because I need more room and also has spring casters which would maybe be better for moving daily. Didnt know if anyone had experience with this box in moving it daily or if I should **** it up and get a Mac or snapon box any experience would be appreciated thank you.

 

[seanb02]

Diesel mechanic typically means heavy tools, and more likely than not an overloaded box. As you found with your first US General box, they aren't designed for this use on a daily basis even if they are marketed as such. In this case you have to ask yourself, are you willing to pay the premium for a box that will hold up to the rigors of your job environment for long term? Or would you rather pay less in the short term and replace every few years?

Then also factor in the off chance that you get out of the field a few years down the line and get into something else. Which box is going to retain resale value?

 

[Wamsutta]

You might want to look into the Lista Technician Series or some of the Extreme boxes.

 

[Wamsutta]

GearWrench has their name on some Extreme boxes too.

 

[kctyphoon]

If you have that much heavy stuff, and you need to CONSTANTLY roll it around, what about getting two SMALLER boxes instead? Would.make moving them easier and put less stress on the box, maybe affording you to go with a cheaper brand..

If you are not aware - harbor freight just released new designs for the 44" box, and the 5 drawer took carts. They are both deeper now. The 44" is now just as deep as the 56". The accessory drawer unit and side lockers are both deeper now as well..

The 44" boxes are the best bang for the buck, going with 2 of those might be an option for you , or maybe one and a tool cart instead.

That said - only.you will be the best judge for what you need - and it's your money to spend. You might be one of the few guys that actually have a real reason to buy something like a snap on box. Used would be a good option probably.

If you have a long distance to cover, and alot of bad concrete or edges to roll over - maybe something like an Extreme Pit Box would be worth looking at. Again- only you will know best.

 

[Mr_B]

Im a fan of 2 56" size range boxes over a big 72".
easy transport,easier move in shop and fit in space as can L layout etc.
Other plus is load spread over 8 wheels and 2 frames .
Best option is truck brand used, snapon nice and do hold up well when moved daily as more welds and steel but prices high even used generally .
Older Matco's like 7525 and 7535 worth looking for and better used prices.
I run out of 2 used 7525's and a addon drawer cabinet .
You also find more 56" boxes on used market as people going bigger .

For new lower cost have a look at Homak RS Pro 72" from Napa (Page 14 Real Deals catalogue), good price and better made box than the US Generals, the Generals do okay stationary but moved a lot soon fatigues the minimal welds and lower quality steel .

We use to use US General 56" on a large site, as soon as someone got one it was modded with a rectangular box section base frame with forklift guide rails added & bolted at wheel points and other points and better set of larger wheels added .
They would last quite well like that as reduced box flex/fatigue massively .

 

[Bockscar]

Hello garage community
IM new to this community thank you for inviting me. On another note was looking for some advice on tool boxes. I work as diesel mechanic and have to roll my tool box around to multiple bays every day. I currently have the harbor frieght us general 56 inch box. I use to work at a dealer that supplied boxes but now IVe been rolling this around fully loaded for 2 years and now it’s breaking down, cracked welds , drawers not closing, rubber coming off the wheels. Was looking at the us general 72inch because I need more room and also has spring casters which would maybe be better for moving daily. Didnt know if anyone had experience with this box in moving it daily or if I should **** it up and get a Mac or snapon box any experience would be appreciated thank you.

You can always weld up a frame and put heavy duty casters on and be into it a lot cheaper.....I have a old Kennedy 297 that I bought new in the mid nineties with a top and mid drawer from JC Penny.......it started life in a shop and then in a service van and now a factory floor other than a frame and casters it has held up well....it has rolled more miles in that factory than most cars.........everybody in the maintenance department has a Kennedy or a craftsman.....thing is buy what you need......sometimes a little ingenuity will go a long way

Sent from my SM-T560NU using Tapatalk

 

[Maximus5758]

Thanks for all the input folks , I like the idea of combining 2 smaller boxes just space is the issue only allowed to store 1 box. But reading your input I think I’m gonna look into some used Matco or snapon boxes , as I really don’t want to replace a box every few years ,they take a beating.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Hello garage community
IM new to this community thank you for inviting me. On another note was looking for some advice on tool boxes. I work as diesel mechanic and have to roll my tool box around to multiple bays every day. I currently have the harbor frieght us general 56 inch box. I use to work at a dealer that supplied boxes but now IVe been rolling this around fully loaded for 2 years and now it’s breaking down, cracked welds , drawers not closing, rubber coming off the wheels. Was looking at the us general 72inch because I need more room and also has spring casters which would maybe be better for moving daily. Didnt know if anyone had experience with this box in moving it daily or if I should **** it up and get a Mac or snapon box any experience would be appreciated thank you.

You have a US General box from HF that can't handle the strain and load of being used in a professional work environment on a daily basis and is breaking down.

Why on earth would you look at another one that is basically the same?!

Find a used truck box and call it a day.

 

[Mr_B]

Thanks for all the input folks , I like the idea of combining 2 smaller boxes just space is the issue only allowed to store 1 box. But reading your input I think I’m gonna look into some used Matco or snapon boxes , as I really don’t want to replace a box every few years ,they take a beating.

Good idea, maybe throw a set of wheels and base frame on your current box so can live with it a while longer until find a great deal .
If truly rolling it a lot then snapon tends hold up real well, I got Matco and hed them years and intend stick with them till end, mine these days are stationary, looking for another 7525 as with all speciality tools the kit is always growing .
I spent less than 2K on 2 I got currently, harder find real deals these days due to internet sales platforms but look daily, act quickly and put word out and if you got pretty decent budget you will pick up something decent for 1k to 2k .
2 small is way better than 1 big in my opinion, shop rules on 1 box is stupid, should be done on footprint, 2 boxes at 24 depth or more and at 42" to 56" length makes massive storage that way stronger and portable over one big box .
don't rule out 50-60" boxes and add a side drawer unit to make it a 3-bay box .

 

[ihateminimumwage]

With space being a concern, are you able to squeeze in a service cart? Like if you're working out of a 56", but would have room for a larger box, could you just tuck a cart in next to it?

When I was working on trucks, most of us could do 80-90% of our daily work out of service carts (mostly HF carts) instead of dragging our boxes across the 14 bay shop.

 

[crewchief888]

Last shop I worked, my boxes didn't move for 8 years. Had all my daily use tools on a 2 shelf cart

 

[sweet victory]

Maybe this could help you make a decision. I'm a fan of having a stationary box + service cart. While I don't work on cars for a living, this is something I exercise at home wrenching on my personal stuff.

 

[1982fxr]

You have a US General box from HF that can't handle the strain and load of being used in a professional work environment on a daily basis and is breaking down.

Why on earth would you look at another one that is basically the same?!

Find a used truck box and call it a day.

This^^

 

[Zewnten]

I was in th same boat you are. I now use a HF black cart for my everyday/job specific tools and have a Snap On box that the seller was practically giving away but it took some time to find it. So I made due with a beat up Snap On KR-555D as my movable box and had some cheap POS other box stuffed in the corner for my bulk tool storage. If you can't find a deal then get ahold of the lista dealer on this forum and speak with him. He offers a ton of storage at an awesome deal, something like a 56 by 30 by 56 tall for $4500 depending on the bells and whistles.

 

[WittHay]

Thanks for all the input folks , I like the idea of combining 2 smaller boxes just space is the issue only allowed to store 1 box. But reading your input I think I’m gonna look into some used Matco or snapon boxes , as I really don’t want to replace a box every few years ,they take a beating.

Cool old Mack you have in your picture. Was at the Peterbilt dealership last week. Must have been about 10 Snap-on KRL's there, a couple of Snap-on Epiq's and a couple of Mac Macsmizers.

That 54" KRL seems to be the standard around here. Easy to move around, you can add a side cabinet or a smaller top box. Or you can eventually go with a full width top if needed

Here are some pictures from my Snap-on dealers facebook page of KRL/KTL boxes that he sold in the last year to HD diesel mechanics

 

[bobcatdan]

It's all personal preference. Buy what you like from where you like for a price you are willing to pay. The toolbox market has exploded in 15 years. When I started out you had craftsman and tool trucks. Nearest Home Depot was 100 miles away, never heard of Lowe's. Menards and HF only sold the cheapest little pieces of ****. Auto part store could order a RemLine in sight unseen, same with a box from Napa. No freaking clue where to buy a Kennedy then. Back then it was pretty cut and dry between two paths. Now a days everybody and their uncle sells tool boxes, and big ones. You can pretty much have anything you want now I'm different price brackets.

 

[RedneckWelder]

Stationary you could get away with a cheaper box moving around you are gonna need to step up to a pro level box. Used snap on or Matco probably going to be the easiest to find

 

[jeepinerdeep]

I've always been in the HD industry. Before I got my Listas, I owned and used MAC Tech 1000 boxes AND worked out of some Macsimizers. Both are good boxes.

On the used market a Macsimizer is a freaking tank of a box. Here is one close to you at a nice price.

https://boston.craigslist.org/sob/tls/d/mac-toolbox-class-superstaion/6574715544.html

 

[crewchief888]

Thanks for all the input folks , I like the idea of combining 2 smaller boxes just space is the issue only allowed to store 1 box. But reading your input I think I’m gonna look into some used Matco or snapon boxes , as I really don’t want to replace a box every few years ,they take a beating.

i can kinda understand each guy only having X amount of feet/inches for toolbox space, but saying you cant have more than 1 box, even if they fit in the space?

sounds like someone who's never pulled a wrench came up with that idea


last dealership i worked in, i was in the multiple box crew...