Toolbox Fever

[seanb02]

Hey folks, would like to rely on the collective wisdom of the knowledgable people on here in regards to Snap-on toolbox lines. I purchased a classic series KRA about a year ago, and ever since it was unloaded from the truck I've been wanting a bigger setup. I always assumed it would be a masters series KRL box that would be my next step.

However today the Snap-on guys were at my shop and they had just loaded a 68" Epiq onto the truck a couple days ago. Beautiful box, candy apple red, black trim, bedliner power top. 3 full width top drawers.

Now I am seriously considering jumping on that one as it appears that it would fit my uses perfectly. Price would be reasonable since they will give me my full original purchase price as trade in on the KRA box, applicable promotions, and general creative leeway brings it what I would consider to be the upper end of reasonable in my comfort level of price.

Any thoughts on the Epiq boxes versus the Masters series? Either one of those two will be hardly comparable to what I have now in the Classic series likely. Attached a picture of what I have currently. Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[Zewnten]

I like the drawer latching system on the epiqs over the finger sliders on the Masters. Do the Masters still have the spring loaded casters or is it just the epiqs now?

 

[FSUwelder1212]

I have a 68” epiq, I’ve been considering trading for a KRL. I much prefer lock n roll over the epiq latch system but I worked out of a lock n roll KRA for 15 years so it may just be what I’m used to. I will say my epiq rolls better than any box I’ve ever touched. My thought is go with whatever you can get the best deal on, the differences between the KRLs and the epiqs are negligible imo.

 

[seanb02]

I like the drawer latching system on the epiqs over the finger sliders on the Masters. Do the Masters still have the spring loaded casters or is it just the epiqs now?

I'm not really a fan of the finger mechanisms on the Classic that I currently have. The drawer pulls on the Epiq felt great on the truck, and I liked the smoother rolled edges rather than the square edges of the Master and Classic series mainly from the standpoint of not having a flat surface for grime to build up on or in the case of dropping a heavy object and hitting and denting rather than deflecting.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

My first truck box was a used classic top/bottom. You are correct, the classics are really not comparable to the KRL/epiq boxes. Be mindful there are two types of KRL "masters" series boxes. KRL7XX and KRL10XX, with the 10XX having an extra row of 4 inch drawers and 6" of additional depth. AFAIK the boxes are otherwise built identically, I've never noticed a difference other than the lack of depth and a shorter platform height.


I have played with the epiqs. I considered picking up two 84"s earlier this year. Here are my gripes/opinions: Not sold on the lift/latch system. I've used lock-n-roll too long. If you're a lefty, I could see how lock-n-roll may be unnatural. For me if feels a tad too mechanical if that makes sense. It works fine on my montazuma cart, I sort of swat the drawers open and draw them outwards. My KRL drawers are much larger and heavier, lock-n-roll makes the opening more deliberate. My dealer mentions easy closing/sloped drawer slides on the epiqs, I personally don't feel a huge difference vs. new KRL slides. The epiq is about 1 inch taller, about a wash to me. The trim is larger though, more bling appeal, which I don't like. My number one issue is the name. "Epic". IMO the tool industry makes us look like fools covering their logos with skulls/flames/rat-fink/pin-ups and other gimmicks that scream "I'm an edgy teenager" to me. I just find the name stupid is all.



Either box would be an upgrade. I've had my 1033 for 6 years or so? Got a locker this year, and have a 7XX single bay top/bottom setup too. Good boxes. Not sure how long you plan to stay where you're at, but layout is important. I really would like two 72" KRLs. But lots of auto repair shops barely have enough room. My 20+ feet of cabinets/boxes wouldn't fit in many shops I've seen. And I'm running out of room. Lots of auto repair facilites seem to be setup for a single craftsman stack as tool boxes; and room for techs tools and equipment is rarely considered a priority or even relevant. I will likely expand upwards as time goes on, giving up my work area. That means I'll have to build a workbench somewhere else in the shop, which also needs to be semi-movable for if/when I leave. Food for thought

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I'm not really a fan of the finger mechanisms on the Classic that I currently have. The drawer pulls on the Epiq felt great on the truck, and I liked the smoother rolled edges rather than the square edges of the Master and Classic series mainly from the standpoint of not having a flat surface for grime to build up on or in the case of dropping a heavy object and hitting and denting rather than deflecting.

KRL life right there. It just adds more time to the 6-8 week clean up of grease and dirt from my hands opening drawers.

 

[seanb02]

My first truck box was a used classic top/bottom. You are correct, the classics are really not comparable to the KRL/epiq boxes. Be mindful there are two types of KRL "masters" series boxes. KRL7XX and KRL10XX, with the 10XX having an extra row of 4 inch drawers and 6" of additional depth. AFAIK the boxes are otherwise built identically, I've never noticed a difference other than the lack of depth and a shorter platform height.


I have played with the epiqs. I considered picking up two 84"s earlier this year. Here are my gripes/opinions: Not sold on the lift/latch system. I've used lock-n-roll too long. If you're a lefty, I could see how lock-n-roll may be unnatural. For me if feels a tad too mechanical if that makes sense. It works fine on my montazuma cart, I sort of swat the drawers open and draw them outwards. My KRL drawers are much larger and heavier, lock-n-roll makes the opening more deliberate. My dealer mentions easy closing/sloped drawer slides on the epiqs, I personally don't feel a huge difference vs. new KRL slides. The epiq is about 1 inch taller, about a wash to me. The trim is larger though, more bling appeal, which I don't like. My number one issue is the name. "Epic". IMO the tool industry makes us look like fools covering their logos with skulls/flames/rat-fink/pin-ups and other gimmicks that scream "I'm an edgy teenager" to me. I just find the name stupid is all.



Either box would be an upgrade. I've had my 1033 for 6 years or so? Got a locker this year, and have a 7XX single bay top/bottom setup too. Good boxes. Not sure how long you plan to stay where you're at, but layout is important. I really would like two 72" KRLs. But lots of auto repair shops barely have enough room. My 20+ feet of cabinets/boxes wouldn't fit in many shops I've seen. And I'm running out of room. Lots of auto repair facilites seem to be setup for a single craftsman stack as tool boxes; and room for techs tools and equipment is rarely considered a priority or even relevant. I will likely expand upwards as time goes on, giving up my work area. That means I'll have to build a workbench somewhere else in the shop, which also needs to be semi-movable for if/when I leave. Food for thought

Thank you for the detailed response, very thoughtful and informative

Another thing I forgot to mention is on the 68" the larger of the lower drawers will fit 36" long items such as prybars and whatnot. Whereas the Master series KRL ones that I have seen come and go on the truck were not quite that wide. Perhaps I haven't seen the right model however and I haven't done much looking on the Snap-on website. But fitting 36" long objects in the lower drawers without using up valuable space in the upper full width drawers is a big bonus in my mind.

Regarding the trim I am right there with you. Fortunately the one I was looking at is minimal in regards to that, and it is black rather than flashy look at me sort of garbage which goes well with the maroon color. Plain Jane bedliner top, although I have to admit I do kind of like the stainless top my current box has.

Realistically I could fit whatever I want into the shop as I can and do arrange the shop as I please. But a 68" width 30" deep box is the size that I think would be perfect for me in regards to expandability and ease of use.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Thank you for the detailed response, very thoughtful and informative

Another thing I forgot to mention is on the 68" the larger of the lower drawers will fit 36" long items such as prybars and whatnot. Whereas the Master series KRL ones that I have seen come and go on the truck were not quite that wide. Perhaps I haven't seen the right model however and I haven't done much looking on the Snap-on website. But fitting 36" long objects in the lower drawers without using up valuable space in the upper full width drawers is a big bonus in my mind.

Regarding the trim I am right there with you. Fortunately the one I was looking at is minimal in regards to that, and it is black rather than flashy look at me sort of garbage which goes well with the maroon color. Plain Jane bedliner top, although I have to admit I do kind of like the stainless top my current box has.

Realistically I could fit whatever I want into the shop as I can and do arrange the shop as I please. But a 68" width 30" deep box is the size that I think would be perfect for me in regards to expandability and ease of use.

Check the snap on box builder site, it shows a bunch of layouts. I just lean my prybars against my 1033. I have 2 drawers my 36 and 48 inch bars would fit in. I'm usually grabbing those in a hurry so I figure I'd gouge up the paint pulling them in and out.

I believe only the triple bay KRLs would have 36+ inch wide drawers.

 

[VinceG]

The Epiq boxes are nice I own a KRL 1022 with a workcenter and Bulk end cab. I am a lefty and the drawer locks don't bother me. I had a MAC Macimiser and whe I would move it around our shop the drawers would always come open. the box was heavily loaded but I had to lock it to move it or it would tip.

 

[seanb02]

I did it. Not the greatest picture, but there it sits! Wasn't expecting immediate delivery but they decided to make a stop at my shop at the end of their day. They will be back to pick up the little red one Friday night.

Will try and snag some better pictures once I start moving stuff into it.

 

[81turbota]

Very nice, congratulations!

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Congrats, enjoy organizing.