Tool Cab and/or Cart needed - options for UK?

[Techoholic]

Hi everyone, I've been reading this forum for a while now but only just signed up to be part of the community and ask this question. Apologies for the long post!

So I am a home user, enthusiastic DIYer, pro-amateur, I don't know what name you'd call it but I have a lot of automotive tools and often spend my time fixing or taking cars apart, like a lot of us I'm sure, but it's not my job.

I need to consolidate all my tools into one place but the catch is that unfortunately I don't have a garage near the cars right now. What I do have is a large workshop/shed where I keep my tools and do other non car related workshop type stuff.

I need to store my tools in there, but I also want to take all or some of my tools to the cars when needed. Part of this involves taking down a path where currently there is gravel, it maybe be laid smooth eventually but currently I need to deal with gravel.

My original thought was to buy a 54" snap on roll cab, assuming that because it has wheels, it will be easy enough to move between the 2 places. I've since learned that due to the weight of them even empty, that will be next to impossible (please correct me if I'm wrong).

The compromise I'd come up with is to buy a semi decent roll cab to store in the shed (which eventually will move to a garage near the cars when we move house, so I'd still like to have it mobile to pull out), and to get a less heavy tool cart to take what I need back and forwards.

The problem is that I still want both those items to be solid and last a long time, I definitely hate flimsy crappy flat pack stuff. I also need the item that goes back and forward to be suitable to use as a workbench too, to work on car parts. I thought I'd found the "one box" solution in this: https://ffx.co.uk/product/Get/Sealey-Appc07-5051747945050-Pit-Yard-Cart-7-Drawer-Heavy-Duty

But then I realised it was actually huge, too wide to store where I need it and too tall to be a workbench. But in respect to moving it about, not sure there is anything better.

So my questions are as follows

1. Which roll cab to store in the shed would you recommend? I guess a 40" would be fine but a 54" would be good, because it will give me an excuse to buy more tools! But size is not critical as long as it's near 40 or over.
2. I read a lot of people saying if getting Snap On, only the KRL upwards are worth it, but realistically, for a home user, is one of the heritage 40" cabs going to be actually "bad"?
3. What tool cart can you recommend? As I said, it needs to travel over rough ground, maybe 2-3 drawers, a cabinet would be good, and a worktop suitable to use as a workbench.


Sorry again for the long message, but be really grateful if someone can help, I feel like I've looked at all items on the internet which don't quite work but I'm sure I've missed some. Oh and also needs to be available in the UK. Overall budget is up to £2.5k if I need to.

Thanks

 

[Dave455]

A couple of observations, if not direct answers.

Firstly, the “roll cab” won’t roll over gravel. If you get a big one, and fill it up, they need a good deal of effort to move over smooth concrete. My (not huge) Beach roll cab doesn’t like moving over my floor, and it’s concrete with a tiny bit of texture.

The wheels on these big boxes really just make them moveable, if you have to, rather than something you move from job to job. A lot of guys have a separate “cart” for that purpose, which is something to consider. The Sealey “pit cart” is still going to be an effort to move on gravel, and it’s a lot of £££ for a (probably Chinese) cart.

My advice, get whatever box / roll cab you fancy, but leave it in the shop, and just take out what you need. You soon get to realise what you need on each job! There are regularly good bargains on Snap On boxes on marketplace and suchlike.

For moving tools, consider the traditional “cantilever“ tool box (or maybe more than one). They store easily under a bench, everything is accessible when opened, and even relatively full, they are liftable.

Consider also, the Hazet Assistent. Everything is accessible, and at a good height, but you can wheel them around, and closed up they store easily, or fit in a vehicle,

 

[Techoholic]

Thanks for the reply.

Yes I did say that the roll cab probably wouldn't be the answer, and that a "cart" of some sort might be better. I thought though with the big wheels the pit cart would be ok over what is actually more like cotswold buff rather than gravel, and this may also be converted to concrete soon anyway. But either way, that's too big for me.

I don't really like the idea of a tool box as such, because a) I want to be able to take all the power tools with me, maybe even a small compressor and b) it doesn't provide a workbench.

The second option is more along the lines of what I'm looking for but still, it's not quite right and doesn't have a workbench.

Of course I could get a cantilever tool box, a portable workbench, and anything else but that defeats the point of being able to wheel it all in one go

 

[Techoholic]

I'm thinking something similar to this but more robust

 

[richfinn]

Don't dismiss the flat pack plastic carts, Luxor make some tough versions, they don't rust or bend and last for years and are very strong and easy to drill and modify, I used one for holding tools and parts for years so I didn't have to keep running to my main toolbox, you might be able to upgrade the castors for rough ground

Luxor Storage Carts | Officially In The UK

Luxor Storage Carts are now available in the UK! Visit our site and check out our wide range of storage carts and solutions now.

luxorcarts.com

Primetool in the UK has a good selection of roll cabs and often have special offers

Tool Storage & Workbenches

The Wera Kraftform Kompakt W1 Maintenance Kit inculdes the most important screwdriving tools for maintenance jobs both indoors as well as outdoors. It is…

www.primetools.co.uk

If you really want Snap-On go used on ebay, but also look at used Lista cabinets (the ones F1 and other Race teams use)

 

[Andres26tnt]

I moved to the UK but 2y ago(US military), I feel you're pain . One of the biggest issues is the lack of quality roll cabs or boxes. Unfortunately alot of the UK doesn't lent well to big movable boxes, I've lern this . I have a halfords 36" box, its adequate but not really movable. The best option, and what I use the. Most is my craftsman tradestack(dewalt/Stanley).

I have the stanley promax tstack dolly(all compatible with dewalt/craftsman). Craftsman middle box and small box on top. It's excellent for like 90% of what ever you will do. I used shadowfoam out of Norwich since they are local to me. Keeps everything organized and stationary.

 

[Dave455]

I moved to the UK but 2y ago(US military), I feel you're pain . One of the biggest issues is the lack of quality roll cabs or boxes. Unfortunately alot of the UK doesn't lent well to big movable boxes, I've lern this . I have a halfords 36" box, its adequate but not really movable. The best option, and what I use the. Most is my craftsman tradestack(dewalt/Stanley).

I have the stanley promax tstack dolly(all compatible with dewalt/craftsman). Craftsman middle box and small box on top. It's excellent for like 90% of what ever you will do. I used shadowfoam out of Norwich since they are local to me. Keeps everything organized and stationary.

There are decent boxes available here, but they’re sourced very differently. Traditionally, you had to order them through industrial or garage equipment suppliers. They’ve never really been available through retail, so if you go and look in Halfords, you will be disappointed!

There is quite a choice once you start looking. I like Bott at the moment. The steel is decent, as is the finishing.

I have quite a few of their “tool chests” for storing lesser used tools. They’re portable if needed, but I tend to bolt them down for a bit of added security!

They come in various shapes and sizes.

 

[Dave455]

Thanks for the reply.

Yes I did say that the roll cab probably wouldn't be the answer, and that a "cart" of some sort might be better. I thought though with the big wheels the pit cart would be ok over what is actually more like cotswold buff rather than gravel, and this may also be converted to concrete soon anyway. But either way, that's too big for me.

I don't really like the idea of a tool box as such, because a) I want to be able to take all the power tools with me, maybe even a small compressor and b) it doesn't provide a workbench.

The second option is more along the lines of what I'm looking for but still, it's not quite right and doesn't have a workbench.

Of course I could get a cantilever tool box, a portable workbench, and anything else but that defeats the point of being able to wheel it all in one go

It’s difficult when you’re working away from your main shop. I’ve been doing that a fair bit of late so I sympathise.

Although I have a substantial tool chest, and roll cab, I don’t keep everything in them. A lot of tools I store in smaller boxes on shelves. This means I can easily grab a selection of things according to the job I’m doing.

I have one, very small, box of general tools that I bring every time, but that’s it.

Have you thought about constructing your own cart? A wooden frame with a bench top is easily constructed, and you can put wheels as big as you like on it. If in doubt, bigger are better…!

 

[Techoholic]

It’s difficult when you’re working away from your main shop. I’ve been doing that a fair bit of late so I sympathise.

Although I have a substantial tool chest, and roll cab, I don’t keep everything in them. A lot of tools I store in smaller boxes on shelves. This means I can easily grab a selection of things according to the job I’m doing.

I have one, very small, box of general tools that I bring every time, but that’s it.

Have you thought about constructing your own cart? A wooden frame with a bench top is easily constructed, and you can put wheels as big as you like on it. If in doubt, bigger are better…!

That’s not such a bad idea, or at least take a cart that exists and modify it, that could work.

 

[Dave455]

That’s not such a bad idea, or at least take a cart that exists and modify it, that could work.

I encountered an aircraft engineer who built his own cart. It held a small box underneath, and a bench top with a small vice. Amusingly, he had incorporated a battery and inverter, so he could power a light and charge his phone!

I’m guessing it was quiet between flights…!

 

[CS454]

My vote is for some sort of two or three tier Industrial style cart (steel or plastic) on oversized pneumatic casters. That or DIY one yourself out of decent steel, build some chests into it.

I used to work mobile and mainly relied on a 20L pail filled with wrench rolls and twist lock socket rails. I think a decently organized roll cab paired with the cart I suggested above is going to be your ticket. Drop all your common hand tools on the lower bit of the cart and go to town, put it all away when you wheel it back to the shed.

Trying to move everything everywhere all at once, buy a snap on road chest with forklift pockets...and a forklift.

 

[Kent_B]

For your situation I really like the idea of modifying an existing box with the oversize pneumatic casters.

 

[Techoholic]

For your situation I really like the idea of modifying an existing box with the oversize pneumatic casters.

I like this idea too, I might look for a small 26/30 inch box that is suitable to be modified with pneumatic casters

 

[mogandave]

I like this idea too, I might look for a small 26/30 inch box that is suitable to be modified with pneumatic casters

While I like the large wheels idea, I would frame a cart something like the Seely, but with an opening in the middle that my standard sized roll-cab of choice will fit into.

You want to keep the center of gravity as low as possible, and you want the frame to take the abuse, not the box. At my last plant, we took the wheels off most everything, and built custom stands for everything such that everything could be moved with pallet jacks. It's generally a lot faster and easier to move a roll-cab or test station around with a pallet jack than with the onboard casters. This does not help you, because of the gravel, but it was a great system.

For your cart I think you want semi-pneumatic wheels, not full pneumatics.

 

[landrover bodger]

have a look at the Clarke ones from machine mart. i have a Halfords box and a Clarke I think the Clarke is better.

 

[f121]

I would consider one of the Beta mobile tool trolleys, like the C41h for stuff you are using all the time, and a 40 or 55 for the stuff you use less often, accepting you need to decant or hike for the stuff in the 40/55.



Regarding the SO 40” stack, they’re great boxes. I’ve got a purple one with split drawers top and bottom, is the best thing I’ve done for my garage, as it forced me to organise (and buy a LOT of new tools). I’ve also got 55” cab that I use as a bench, it’s slightly tougher built than the 40, but not enough to worry about. The master series boxes are definitely nicer, I expect I will upgrade if one turns up, but there’s nothing really wrong with the cheaper boxes.

The 40s in particular are a great but second hand, typically £1000-1800 on fb marketplace for a very tidy box. Currently it’s a buyers market, noone is biting and quite a few are coming up as young techs tighten their belts. The special editions are meaningless and do nothing to the value, it’s all about condition and how desperate the seller is.

For example:

 

[colin39]

So i have a fairly well loaded snapon 54" tool box with 2 side cabinets but i use a facom (love facom tools) tool box, it rolls well comes up on https://www.primetools.co.uk/?gclid...MUq9wOKUpAFMk1TM2CD9r0XmfRfLkGN4aAshaEALw_wcB
Specials for little money and ticket all my boxes.

The sealy top black box is my breakdown box , this went straight in the boot of my old dacia duster

 

[Mr_B]

I like this idea too, I might look for a small 26/30 inch box that is suitable to be modified with pneumatic casters

to me this idea most workable solution meet your needs .
I would look for a 26 to 36" box and make a frame it sits on and source some good small pneumatic wheels and you got your own mini yard cart for small money .
36" box makes a nice mobile work surface, You see a fair few older MAC boxes used, they stout and the single bay 26-36" size tends sell fairly cheap money ...

 

[ZRX61]

Get a yard cart & put a toolchest in it...

 

[MR2FC]

Pick your toolbox, then add one of these...

Fully Electric Pallet Truck | Heavy Duty 1500kg Capacity | F4 | Manutan

Industrial 1500kg capacity electric pallet truck will modernise your business at a fantastic price! Fitted with lithium-ion batteries with 5.5 hours constant usage. Benefit from a 10-year guarantee and free next day delivery.

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Watched some lorry drivers using them across our yard, which is basically made up of broken tarmac and rough concrete, liberally sprinkled with gravel, fox **** and nuts and bolts from dead BMWs. Effective

 

[Shergar]

Google “Benchmaster” they are UK based fabricators. Do several tool trolleys/chests.

 

[Maxcustody]

My Snap-on 40” weighs 300lbs. empty this would not be an option for rolling over gravel.

 

[Markoos]

40 inch rollcab is plenty big enough for home use (as stationary toolbox) and as said before snapbon ones can be found below £1k, for working outside get metal welded (so it doesnt fall apart) trolley (luxor style-light) with big wheels (solid rubber ones as inflatable always leak air), that will give you worktop and you can store small toolbox on the shelf under it.