Tool carts these days

[impactims]

For a cart, I have never had anything other than a literal cart.

A “shelf“ that is waist high and 4 wheels.

Something like this.



I have only ever used a cart for 1 thing: A convenient, movable place to put tools and parts that I am using at that very moment. Not tool storage. If it’s not in use at that moment, it is in storage in the tool box.

The line between tool box and tool cart seems to be getting very blurry to the point that a tool cart is now the same thing as a tool box, just smaller. Some guys even use a double bank tool box with a hutch as their cart.

Most tool carts as advertised, seem to be single bank tool boxes with a clamshell type of top on it.

Like this…






I can not for the life of me understand why someone would want something like this to use as a cart. I could see using this as a tool box when little storage space is needed. But as a movable cart that is supplemental to a more stationary box doesn’t make a lot of sense. The movable cart would need to be very light and mobile with just enough room to set down the tools you are using at that moment. Multiple drawers are not needed for this.

What am I missing here?

What is the idea behind this shift in making carts that are mini tool boxes rather than dedicated carts?

 

[Pinne]

The number / variety of tools required to work on most cars has increased substantially, having a bunch of tools readily accessible offers a big productivity boost.

I've also seen mechanics using these types of carts in shops that are quite large or don't have dedicated bays.

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

Demand varies?

To me, pic 1 is a cart. Pic 2 is a, albeit small, tool box. I would not buy “pic 2” if I wanted a cart.

Kind regards,
Olli

 

[terrific]

I use one of the bottom type at home in the basement. It fits nicely in a small closet when I'm not using it. I roll it in and out when I need to work on something. It never really rolls further than 20 feet.
The rebuild mechanics where I work roll their 48" boxes over to the machines they're working on each day. The line call guys use rubbermaid carts.

 

[MiteyF]

I share the same, generally unpopular sentiment. I think "tool carts" make zero sense. Get a tool box, or a cart. If I can't set something on top of my box and still get to all of my tools, it's generally worthless.

 

[whateg01]

I think the difference is semantics. What do you call a cart that has a bunch of drawers and then a bottom shelf that is barely big enough to stick a hammer on? Is it still a cart?

 

[MiteyF]

I think the difference is semantics. What do you call a cart that has a bunch of drawers and then a bottom shelf that is barely big enough to stick a hammer on? Is it still a cart?

To me, if the top is a clamshell style, it's a cart. If it's all drawers, it's a toolbox.

 

[mepstein]

If someone wants a “cart” with a bunch of drawers, why not? Everyone’s situation is different.

 

[Stelzer]

A one shelf tool cart is something which needs to be loaded up with tools and unloaded each time you use it, plus return trips to your bigger boxes are usually needed to fetch something extra. In my mind, that's where tool carts like HF's 5 drawer is quite useful. I'd agree with the OP in that the SO box in their image isn't anything I'd typically refer to as a cart though.

 

[Fedwrench]

I think it depends on what you work on and how you work on it. When I worked for a city fleet 18 years ago, there were three shifts working out of the same facility, so you rarely worked in the same spot unless you had a long term project. That's when I learned the value of a multi drawer cart like the Snap on you linked. You can have 90% or so what you use on a daily basis and easily move it to wherever you're working. To go with that tool cart. I've always used a Durham sturdy two shelf cart as a rolling workbench to place removed parts, assemble brakes, whatever I needed wherever I worked.
I feel another reason for the popularity of smaller multi drawer tool carts is the fact that tech's main tool boxes are huge these days. They're too big to easily move. Just look how small the older top chest/bottom rollaways were compared to today's monster set ups.
It seems one man's cart is another man's tool box

 

[redwrench60]

For me, an actual cart never held everything I needed to be truly convenient. I had to get a single bank roll cab toolbox to hold all my most used tools and stay mobile. The flat top held everything I was using at the moment and served as a mobile workbench surface complete with a small vise.

I use the big main box for the legions of specialty tools, diagnostic equipment and lesser used tools.

 

[kbeefy]

I use carts for portable table/workstands, and my small rolling, fully drawered toolbox as a portable or stationary toolbox/workstand.

This is my most used cart. I don't care for the ones with folding lids. Note that this one does have a lid, but I never remove it.
The lower shelf is just a catch all for garbage, the space in the middle wasted.




I have all my most commonly used tools in the small box (I say small, it's 40" wide and 24" deep) and if I'm doing an in depth job it leaves it's normal spot on the wall and placed withing arms reach of my work to save time and steps. The cart can serve as an additional work surface or a place to put parts during disassembly. I have a decent sized shop and could be working on several projects simultaneously, so being able to move the toolbox around is handy.



My less often used tools are around here somewhere....

 

[Callelle]

I work in a shop that's 15 semi bays long on either side, if I didn't have a cart to hold that majority of the stuff I use on everything and roll around with me, my feet would be sponges and my knees would be gone months ago.

 

[L.Cheapo]

For a cart, I have never had anything other than a literal cart.

A “shelf“ that is waist high and 4 wheels.

Something like this.



I have only ever used a cart for 1 thing: A convenient, movable place to put tools and parts that I am using at that very moment. Not tool storage. If it’s not in use at that moment, it is in storage in the tool box.

The line between tool box and tool cart seems to be getting very blurry to the point that a tool cart is now the same thing as a tool box, just smaller. Some guys even use a double bank tool box with a hutch as their cart.

Most tool carts as advertised, seem to be single bank tool boxes with a clamshell type of top on it.

Like this…






I can not for the life of me understand why someone would want something like this to use as a cart. I could see using this as a tool box when little storage space is needed. But as a movable cart that is supplemental to a more stationary box doesn’t make a lot of sense. The movable cart would need to be very light and mobile with just enough room to set down the tools you are using at that moment. Multiple drawers are not needed for this.

What am I missing here?

What is the idea behind this shift in making carts that are mini tool boxes rather than dedicated carts?

I'm currently looking at carts exactly like that for diagnostics. I want to have a mobile dedicated place for all my scan tools, scopes, accessories, evap, meters, etc. Anything smaller wouldn't hold it all.

 

[AEAdam]

I think it depends on what you work on and how you work on it. When I worked for a city fleet 18 years ago, there were three shifts working out of the same facility, so you rarely worked in the same spot unless you had a long term project. That's when I learned the value of a multi drawer cart like the Snap on you linked. You can have 90% or so what you use on a daily basis and easily move it to wherever you're working. To go with that tool cart. I've always used a Durham sturdy two shelf cart as a rolling workbench to place removed parts, assemble brakes, whatever I needed wherever I worked.
I feel another reason for the popularity of smaller multi drawer tool carts is the fact that tech's main tool boxes are huge these days. They're too big to easily move. Just look how small the older top chest/bottom rollaways were compared to today's monster set ups.
It seems one man's cart is another man's tool box

THIS ^^^^

I did a survey of the catalogs at CollectingSnapon.com. Earliest tool cart I found was the KR482 "Roll stand", which appears to be a stand for diagnostics equipment in the 1978 catalog.

Additional models and sizes were added through the 1980s in different sizes, but all basic 2 shelf models.

Earliest model with a lid and a drawer was in the Christmas Supplement of 1990, model no KR4200, described as:

A roll cart and tool chest in one. Secure your tools in this sturdy unit. Then, when you need them, just roll the cart right up to where you're working. Very convenient.



In the 1991 catalog, Snap on added a cart with 2 full drawers and without the top lid, model no. KR4288. I assume the folding side shelf was optional.



As I perused the Tool Storage sections of the catalog (these carts weren't initially in the Tool Storage section but rather the Diagnostics Section), I noticed the boxes were getting rapidly bigger.

The Taco cart, aka KRA 396 was produced between 1953-1967. Like the roll carts, it too would evolve from the humble KR396, to the KR562, resplendent in its KRL style majesty. I could be wrong, but I feel like it was the first multi bank roll cab?


With the exception of the Taco cart above, most of Snap On's offerings seemed to be basic, what I would call "stacker" type tool boxes. They got progressively wider over the years, but generally single bank. But the 1990s seemed to be the time when boxes became bigger and increasingly innovative. My favorite (on my wish list) is the venerable KR-7100 " Coke Machine".



But the KR-761 would become the future of tool boxes. It was a double bank "Rolling cabinet" or "roll cab", shown on its own with a work top, or as the base for a matching "tool chest".


By the mid 90s, these weren't big enough. 56" double bank boxes turned into triple bank 72" boxes, with lockers or additional drawer units added to the sides. Hutches replaced the upper tool chests, at which point, what was once a mobile tool box, became essentially a wall unit with wheels.

I'm not 100% sure when the Blue Point boxes were introduced. The earliest models were 3 drawer units similar to the KR4288, then the sliding top and 4 and 5 drawer models became available.

I was aware of pro mechanics recommending new technicians start with roll carts because they were inexpensive, and essential, being the preferred way to store tools on a daily basis. The idea was, you start with just a few tools and the cart, then save up for a bigger box, or maybe buy one from a co-worker later.

Could be wrong but my impression is, some techs started their profession with more tools than a simple cart could hold. So they opted for the 5 drawer style bluepoints over the tiny 3 drawer models. In time, additional drawers were added such that the only thing distinguishing the cart from a base cabinet was the flip up lid (and the carts were taller).

I think of Snap on's KRSC46 less as a Roll Cart and more of a starter box. Still, it has the open top utility of all the classic roll carts.

For my part, the strict utility of a roll cart was to serve pro mechanics who had a base unit somewhere, and a car some distance from their otherwise immovable "wall unit" toolbox. At its highest utility, I think roll carts should be light enough to be lifted over air lines or obstructions. Roll carts were never intended to be small "roll cabs". Rather, they've always been thought of as supplemental (until now).

Goes without saying there is no right or wrong answer in one's choice for tool storage. All I can say is, the mobile utility of a roll cart isn't only beneficial to pro mechanics. Weekend warriors may find the ability to work outside on a bright summer's day attractive.


I've used the heck out of this little Snap on KRSC32A. A nice day, some extra elbow room, and all the light you could ever need. I remember this day. This was a PCV valve swap, which wasn't soon enough to stop a leak at the rear main seal.

Even inside a garage, there is utility in having your tools within reach, not even steps away. Here's a better pic of my KRSC33A. Note the Snap On pry bar storage area functioning as it should! This is a simple, humble cart I can heartily recommend. I wouldn't hesitate to buy the HF version for fear it's too small. You can fit a lot of tools in these carts.

 

[richfinn]

THIS ^^^^

I did a survey of the catalogs at CollectingSnapon.com. Earliest tool cart I found was the KR482 "Roll stand", which appears to be a stand for diagnostics equipment in the 1978 catalog.

Additional models and sizes were added through the 1980s in different sizes, but all basic 2 shelf models.

Earliest model with a lid and a drawer was in the Christmas Supplement of 1990, model no KR4200, described as:

A roll cart and tool chest in one. Secure your tools in this sturdy unit. Then, when you need them, just roll the cart right up to where you're working. Very convenient.



In the 1991 catalog, Snap on added a cart with 2 full drawers and without the top lid, model no. KR4288. I assume the folding side shelf was optional.



As I perused the Tool Storage sections of the catalog (these carts weren't initially in the Tool Storage section but rather the Diagnostics Section), I noticed the boxes were getting rapidly bigger.

The Taco cart, aka KRA 396 was produced between 1953-1967. Like the roll carts, it too would evolve from the humble KR396, to the KR562, resplendent in its KRL style majesty. I could be wrong, but I feel like it was the first multi bank roll cab?


With the exception of the Taco cart above, most of Snap On's offerings seemed to be basic, what I would call "stacker" type tool boxes. They got progressively wider over the years, but generally single bank. But the 1990s seemed to be the time when boxes became bigger and increasingly innovative. My favorite (on my wish list) is the venerable KR-7100 " Coke Machine".



But the KR-761 would become the future of tool boxes. It was a double bank "Rolling cabinet" or "roll cab", shown on its own with a work top, or as the base for a matching "tool chest".


By the mid 90s, these weren't big enough. 56" double bank boxes turned into triple bank 72" boxes, with lockers or additional drawer units added to the sides. Hutches replaced the upper tool chests, at which point, what was once a mobile tool box, became essentially a wall unit with wheels.

I'm not 100% sure when the Blue Point boxes were introduced. The earliest models were 3 drawer units similar to the KR4288, then the sliding top and 4 and 5 drawer models became available.

I was aware of pro mechanics recommending new technicians start with roll carts because they were inexpensive, and essential, being the preferred way to store tools on a daily basis. The idea was, you start with just a few tools and the cart, then save up for a bigger box, or maybe buy one from a co-worker later.

Could be wrong but my impression is, some techs started their profession with more tools than a simple cart could hold. So they opted for the 5 drawer style bluepoints over the tiny 3 drawer models. In time, additional drawers were added such that the only thing distinguishing the cart from a base cabinet was the flip up lid (and the carts were taller).

I think of Snap on's KRSC46 less as a Roll Cart and more of a starter box. Still, it has the open top utility of all the classic roll carts.

For my part, the strict utility of a roll cart was to serve pro mechanics who had a base unit somewhere, and a car some distance from their otherwise immovable "wall unit" toolbox. At its highest utility, I think roll carts should be light enough to be lifted over air lines or obstructions. Roll carts were never intended to be small "roll cabs". Rather, they've always been thought of as supplemental (until now).

Goes without saying there is no right or wrong answer in one's choice for tool storage. All I can say is, the mobile utility of a roll cart isn't only beneficial to pro mechanics. Weekend warriors may find the ability to work outside on a bright summer's day attractive.


I've used the heck out of this little Snap on KRSC32A. A nice day, some extra elbow room, and all the light you could ever need. I remember this day. This was a PCV valve swap, which wasn't soon enough to stop a leak at the rear main seal.

Even inside a garage, there is utility in having your tools within reach, not even steps away. Here's a better pic of my KRSC33A. Note the Snap On pry bar storage area functioning as it should! This is a simple, humble cart I can heartily recommend. I wouldn't hesitate to buy the HF version for fear it's too small. You can fit a lot of tools in these carts.

We had on of those "Coke Machine" boxes as a communal toolbox/equipment locker/Tech info desk at the Garage I worked at back in the 90s (it was the owners).

Back then I thought it was the biggest most ridiculously extravagant toolbox I had ever seen, but it seems fairly tame by today's standards

I had my own regular 26" Snap-On stacked box and a two shelf cart that I would set up near whatever I was working on

 

[AEAdam]

We had on of those "Coke Machine" boxes as a communal toolbox/equipment locker/Tech info desk at the Garage I worked at back in the 90s (it was the owners).

Back then I thought it was the biggest most ridiculously extravagant toolbox I had ever seen, but it seems fairly tame by today's standards

I had my own regular 26" Snap-On stacked box and a two shelf cart that I would set up near whatever I was working on

Not sure if you are a fan of the tv show Wheeler Dealers, but Edd China’s shop on the shown featured a lift (ramps?) surrounded by what looked like 4 26” tool boxes. While the brand was evident, probably because it was a supporter of the show or donated the tools, I thought the concept was interesting. Not sure if Edd chose that setup or those were the only toolboxes offered or available from the sponsor and they just wanted them in every shot.

Now that I think of it, while I like the mobility, I’d probably keep the boxes closer to the engine bay of the project I was working on. So maybe his layout was just for looks.

 

[nicks78camaro]

A lot of flat rate techs, especially those that don't have assigned bays, make their money by packing 90% of their daily used tools into a cart like a KRSC46, rolling it right to the car, and keeping a larger box along a wall somewhere with specialty and/or less frequently used tools in it.

If you're a home gamer or someone with one/two assigned bays, it doesn't make as much sense.

 

[zimman]

I have two carts with drawers. A Matco Service Cart and a Snapon knockoff.
Use them both a lot.
Zim

 

[Hakeem]

I have this as my tool cart:

Whereas my more experienced coworkers use something like this:


Our shop isn’t very big and space is at a premium so their smaller carts are more useful. Mine is bulkier and less maneuverable. The upside for me is, I have all my tools right there and I don’t have to pack/unpack my tool cart at the start/end of the day. It is a bear to maneuver through tight spaces, though.

 

[shoggoth80]

Been rocking a HF 5 drawer forever and a day. I used it in the independent world, then it became the home box. Sold the cart... Then bought one just like it when I got space again. Lol. It's not packed to the gills, but it's getting pretty full. I had a top and bottom that was employer issued so there was no need to bring it to work.

Working with a service cart is very convenient. Makes sense to me. Mine sits like a cabinet these days, but even if I upgrade to a larger unit, I wouldn't be itching to get rid of it.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

To me, drawers all the way down becomes a rolling tool box. Tends to get loaded up and tool heavy.

A "tool cart" in my mind is the quintessential 4- and 5-drawer HF units. A few drawers for tools, open underneath, and light enough to be mobile. When I worked in a shop I used a big rolling box for storage and a 4-drawer tool cart to move from bay to bay or outdoors, if needed.

 

[drokihazan]

I've been talking to my dealer about Snap-On's KRSC4130. I've had a US General 30" cart for years, and sometimes it's perfect, but other times it's just not enough space. I have a wall of toolboxes in my garage but I actually work on cars on the concrete slab in my backyard, so I need to wheel the cart out there with tools and parts for the job.
The KRSC4130 has 3 pretty good sized drawers and a big cabinet space with a drawer for consumables, parts, and fluids. I can find barely any information online about it and my dealer's never sold one, but hopefully the plastic top is tough enough.
KRSC4130PCM - 40" Three-Drawer Workstation Cart (Royal Blue) https://3p0v3.app.link/a9DvM1uD9Yb

Here's a couple pics of my cart after finishing a huge suspension job (replaced literally the entire suspension) on my personal Land Rover two weeks ago. I really do need a couple more drawers to organize. Bonus pick of the parts to help explain, my projects really get way too big for a single drawer cart some weekends.

 

[whateg01]

I've been talking to my dealer about Snap-On's KRSC4130. I've had a US General 30" cart for years, and sometimes it's perfect, but other times it's just not enough space. I have a wall of toolboxes in my garage but I actually work on cars on the concrete slab in my backyard, so I need to wheel the cart out there with tools and parts for the job.
The KRSC4130 has 3 pretty good sized drawers and a big cabinet space with a drawer for consumables, parts, and fluids. I can find barely any information online about it and my dealer's never sold one, but hopefully the plastic top is tough enough.
KRSC4130PCM - 40" Three-Drawer Workstation Cart (Royal Blue) https://3p0v3.app.link/a9DvM1uD9Yb

Here's a couple pics of my cart after finishing a huge suspension job (replaced literally the entire suspension) on my personal Land Rover two weeks ago. I really do need a couple more drawers to organize. Bonus pick of the parts to help explain, my projects really get way too big for a single drawer cart some weekends.

There are some jobs that no matter how big the cart or how many drawers, it's going to end up just a big pile in the end. Are you loading the cart for each individual job? Or do you want the cart to always have the basic tools in it?

 

[DanPodgorski]

I recently purchased a product from Luxor, and the quality is very good. While it doesn’t exactly match yours, it offers some updated features such as new tires and improved heavy-load handling.

 

[drokihazan]

There are some jobs that no matter how big the cart or how many drawers, it's going to end up just a big pile in the end. Are you loading the cart for each individual job? Or do you want the cart to always have the basic tools in it?

I only load per job. The issue is sometimes the job is so big the cart can't hold everything without being a giant jumbled mess. Extra drawers would spread it out a little more

 

[bigfunwmu]

I'm honestly shocked that there are no tool carts with spring-loaded casters like the larger toolboxes have. Seems like that would be the ideal application for them as carts are intended to be mobile much more so than the tool boxes that have them now, and as noted above the carts seem to be getting larger and larger.

 

[drokihazan]

I'm honestly shocked that there are no tool carts with spring-loaded casters like the larger toolboxes have. Seems like that would be the ideal application for them as carts are intended to be mobile much more so than the tool boxes that have them now, and as noted above the carts seem to be getting larger and larger.

Something I've actually been really considering is getting an overpriced set of those from Snap-On with the cart I've been shopping for, since my current one really bumps and shakes as it trundles across my patio and over the door threshold. I expect it would be a smoother experience with those.

 

[AEAdam]

I'm honestly shocked that there are no tool carts with spring-loaded casters like the larger toolboxes have. Seems like that would be the ideal application for them as carts are intended to be mobile much more so than the tool boxes that have them now, and as noted above the carts seem to be getting larger and larger.

Maybe not the suspension casters, but what about inflatable "off road" tires? I've pulled my cart across grass and gravel more times than I could count.

I want more carts! Maybe one for auto electrical and one for lawn and garden equipment (SAE). The lawn and garden I'd probably want to service my bobcat and any other heavy equipment. That could be really cool to have 10" wheels or something.

 

[impactims]

My cart…

 

[Callelle]

With the shop I work at being so long, and my main box being at the far side of it, my cart is loaded with what I need to fix 80% of anything that comes in. My main box mostly has spares for when I'm working on something with the cart at one end of the shop, and I need to do something on the opposite end. Other than that, it just has specialty tools or stuff like my torque wrenches that I don't want bouncing around in the cart.

 

[1Bad55Chevy]

With the shop I work at being so long, and my main box being at the far side of it, my cart is loaded with what I need to fix 80% of anything that comes in. My main box mostly has spares for when I'm working on something with the cart at one end of the shop, and I need to do something on the opposite end. Other than that, it just has specialty tools or stuff like my torque wrenches that I don't want bouncing around in the cart.

That's the exact set up I use. Us General fullbank with Westlingusa.com organizers! I also organizer like you, my full bank is basically the home for my hand tools and everything else is in my main box or on shelves. I work alone in my shop at my car lot so I dont have to worry about my specialty stuff walking off.

 

[niget2002]

Maybe not the suspension casters, but what about inflatable "off road" tires? I've pulled my cart across grass and gravel more times than I could count.

I want more carts! Maybe one for auto electrical and one for lawn and garden equipment (SAE). The lawn and garden I'd probably want to service my bobcat and any other heavy equipment. That could be really cool to have 10" wheels or something.

I wouldn't put anything pneumatic on anything that can tip or be top heavy. They do have the run-flat wheels, though which would work well.

Sometimes I want a mobile cart with at least 1 drawer, but it's rare. The only cart I have is dedicated to all the stuff for washing vehicles. A second cart would just take up space. The tool box is close enough to the front of the shop it's not too far of a walk. It's when I'm working on something at the back of the shop I wish I had the cart.

 

[Jeeper99]

A lot of it has to do with what you are doing. The average weekend hobbyist time really isn't important, walking back to your tool box for a wrench isn't a big deal. Turning wrenches for a living on flat rate time is money. Dealer guys have a pretty good idea what common sized tools they need for most of their jobs. Keep a cart permanently loaded and roll it to where there's room instead of making room or loading and unloading a cart 5 times a day for different jobs. In the industrial world down time is a big deal, running back to your tool box because you forgot to put something common on your cart or in your bucket of tools is frowned upon.

Where I work 90% of the time I'm minimum 100' to 1/2 an hour from my tool box. A cart wouldn't work for me though when I'm in the shop doing shop work it would be nice to have a cart to roll up right where I'm working instead of walking around the corner to my box every time I find myself needing a tool I didn't grab in the first armload of tools. Because I don't work next to my box I find a lot of times it's easier to make due with what you've brought than run back to your box for the right tool. There's times 1 guy will struggle with the wrong tool while another heads back to grab the right tool, half the time it's done before you get back with the right tool.

 

[AEAdam]

A lot of it has to do with what you are doing. The average weekend hobbyist time really isn't important, walking back to your tool box for a wrench isn't a big deal. Turning wrenches for a living on flat rate time is money. Dealer guys have a pretty good idea what common sized tools they need for most of their jobs. Keep a cart permanently loaded and roll it to where there's room instead of making room or loading and unloading a cart 5 times a day for different jobs. In the industrial world down time is a big deal, running back to your tool box because you forgot to put something common on your cart or in your bucket of tools is frowned upon.

Where I work 90% of the time I'm minimum 100' to 1/2 an hour from my tool box. A cart wouldn't work for me though when I'm in the shop doing shop work it would be nice to have a cart to roll up right where I'm working instead of walking around the corner to my box every time I find myself needing a tool I didn't grab in the first armload of tools. Because I don't work next to my box I find a lot of times it's easier to make due with what you've brought than run back to your box for the right tool. There's times 1 guy will struggle with the wrong tool while another heads back to grab the right tool, half the time it's done before you get back with the right tool.

Can I disagree a little?

Time is important to non pros, but for different reasons. But the pressure can be just as high or higher.

Example:
My son is bringing his POS Kia Rio Friday for a front end pads and rotors job, reporting his calipers are sticking. We're predicting rain, garage is a shambles, and I need to get parts between now and then. Who knows when he shows up Friday morning (he works second shift at a commercial printing outfit). He has to leave by 1 to get to his job an hour away.

I should be able to do a brake job in 20-30 minutes per side. But I've never touched this vehicle before or any KIA product. And there's no telling what I may find. If he shows up at 10, I could have the garage prepped. If it takes me an hour per wheel, I'd have 1 hour if anything goes wrong.

Last brake job I did I could not fit the new pads in the calipers. They did not just drop in. I finally persauded them in and they stuck hard. Could have machined their edges, but instead took them back. They were bad parts. I'm finding car parts have gotten worse post covid which adds extra drama to every repair. Even the OEM stuff seems to be spotty.

For me, having a roll cart means fewer steps, less twisting, sometimes, like a brake job, I can work from a creeper seat and not stand up to access tools. (Brakes don't typically need a lot of tools, so not that big of a deal). Point is, the tool cart concept works exactly the same for me as it does for pros. The only real difference is the scale and the reason for the time pressure.

 

[johnre]

I made sure that my tool cabinet sits behind a locked shop door, but can still roll out to the vehicle bays if needed without encountering a door threshold or similar barrier. But as it turns out, I rarely move it out of the shop.

What I do appreciate instead is a wheeled cart or mobile platform at waist height that I can use to place both the tools that I need immediately for whatever I'm doing, plus the parts involved that are being installed / removed / taken to my workbench. That way, I'm not perching them on the edge of the engine bay where they can be lost, forgotten, fall into a hard-to-access area, fall onto a battery terminal, etc. All of the tools needed are pre-loaded on the cart beforehand and returned afterward (OK, I'll admit that usually needs two trips, as things are forgotten).

So the cart is both for tool transport and organization, and also a work platform. But I agree with OP, it's not useful for permanent tool storage, nor do I want it to be.

 

[kbeefy]

I'm currently looking at carts exactly like that for diagnostics. I want to have a mobile dedicated place for all my scan tools, scopes, accessories, evap, meters, etc. Anything smaller wouldn't hold it all.

Thats what I did. Then my Diag equipment outgrew the cart so it all got moved into a 42" HF box. Now I also have another 42" box with just electrical wiring equipment.

 

[NORTON'S SHOP]

For a cart, I have never had anything other than a literal cart.

A “shelf“ that is waist high and 4 wheels.

Something like this.



I have only ever used a cart for 1 thing: A convenient, movable place to put tools and parts that I am using at that very moment. Not tool storage. If it’s not in use at that moment, it is in storage in the tool box.

The line between tool box and tool cart seems to be getting very blurry to the point that a tool cart is now the same thing as a tool box, just smaller. Some guys even use a double bank tool box with a hutch as their cart.

Most tool carts as advertised, seem to be single bank tool boxes with a clamshell type of top on it.

Like this…






I can not for the life of me understand why someone would want something like this to use as a cart. I could see using this as a tool box when little storage space is needed. But as a movable cart that is supplemental to a more stationary box doesn’t make a lot of sense. The movable cart would need to be very light and mobile with just enough room to set down the tools you are using at that moment. Multiple drawers are not needed for this.

What am I missing here?

What is the idea behind this shift in making carts that are mini tool boxes rather than dedicated carts?

Cart #2 is used to transport your needed tools for the job from your 40' toolbox to cart #1.

 

[mngundog]

A little off topic, but I was wondering how many payments do you have left of it?

 

[whateg01]

Cart #2 is used to transport your needed tools for the job from your 40' toolbox to cart #1.

Just need a bigger cart to cart the smaller carts around!