Used Snap on box vs others

[FFroadnurse]

Hey folks, this is my first post here.

I need help making a decision here. I have needed a new tool box for my home garage for several years. I am currently in a 25yo Mac Economizer from my days as a tech and My wife green lighted me on a new box.

I found a pristine condition Snap on 54” Masters with bedliner top and matching hutch for $3,000. Me, being the cheap *** that I can be is trying to decide between this box, or spending half or 1/3rd on a US general setup. As a former tech, I just do work on my own vehicles and motorcycles, as well as side work periodically on my coworkers vehicles.

 

[Snapped-off]

I'd go with the snap-on at that price if you like the color. That's a steal for a master series with a top.

I spent a year looking for a used box that was cheaper than a brand new one off the truck and I just gave up and bought an icon setup.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

I have a 72” US General and I just bought a barely used Snap On box, chest and side cabinet identical to what I had in the 80s when I was in the body work trade.

While I am happy with the US General, my vote is to buy the Snap On.

 

[48windsor]

Ive heard good things about HarborFreight toolboxes . Even giving Snap on a run for the money

 

[FFroadnurse]

Thanks for the input. Here is the box I’m talking about. The friction slides on my Mac aren’t awesome and I’m sure it’s overloaded. My wife just said to get whatever will last the rest of my life, that’s when I started to look at used boxes.

 

[AEAdam]

When you get into the bigger boxes, like 56”, the price of used truck tool boxes starts to rival the price of new boxes. I bought my 56” KRL for $800. I would pay maybe double that but no more. I think $3000 is a lot for a home box. I’m not sure why you need a hutch in your own home. I’d hold out for a $1200 KRL.

 

[FFroadnurse]

When you get into the bigger boxes, like 56”, the price of used truck tool boxes starts to rival the price of new boxes. I bought my 56” KRL for $800. I would pay maybe double that but no more. I think $3000 is a lot for a home box. I’m not sure why you need a hutch in your own home. I’d hold out for a $1200 KRL.

I don’t need the hutch. In fact, I would consider selling it. Around here, Classics are going for 3-3200 on average

 

[richfinn]

I would look at the Tekton toolboxes if I lived in the USA (use the search function it has been discussed) and consider that they will deliver it for you.

Tool Cabinets - Professional Quality | TEKTON | Made in Canada

Shop our lineup of rolling tool cabinets, offered in multiple sizes, colors, and drawer configurations. Add on a cabinet top, upper drawer cabinet, or drawer dividers.

www.tekton.com

 

[kngelv]

Ive heard good things about HarborFreight toolboxes . Even giving Snap on a run for the money

I have no idea where this myth started. The U.S. Generals are decent boxes and better than the Home Depot/Lowes type but they are not Snap On. I have a U.S General 56” top and bottom at home and a Snap-On KRL and Kennedy Mechanics Series at work. They are opened multiple times a day and are far more sturdy and open far easier than my Harbor Freight box. Tekton is where I would look if I was buying today. Made in Canada by Rousseau.

James

 

[richfinn]

Here is a link to one of the Tekton discussions

Tekton Rousseau Tool Chest Overview & Thoughts

Hi GJ, Wanted to share a hodgepodge of thoughts regarding Tekton's (Rousseau OEM) relatively new tool chest and why I took a leap of faith on a ~$3K box sight unseen. Apologies in advance for posting a novel! I was in the market for my first large toolbox, moving on from the chaos of living...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[Yarpo]

Here is a link to one of the Tekton discussions

Tekton Rousseau Tool Chest Overview & Thoughts

Hi GJ, Wanted to share a hodgepodge of thoughts regarding Tekton's (Rousseau OEM) relatively new tool chest and why I took a leap of faith on a ~$3K box sight unseen. Apologies in advance for posting a novel! I was in the market for my first large toolbox, moving on from the chaos of living...

www.garagejournal.com

I commented on that thread as I am thankfully provided a Rousseau for work and love it, I've not had a single issue in 5-6 years of daily use but why would/should OP spend more for a Rousseau box for ~lesser or ~equal space? I mean I'd understand the recommendation if he was paying more for the snap on box, but he would be paying more for less here. Not sure I'd make the same recommendation at the new price, or the price when compared to what hes getting I guess.

54" Master series with bed liner top and the hutch which is a bonus for 700 dollars less than the 46" Rousseau box.

(273 dollars tax for me on the Tekton box, maybe OP would have no tax)

 

[1982fxr]

Ive heard good things about HarborFreight toolboxes . Even giving Snap on a run for the money

There's nothing wrong with hf boxes, but this notion is ridiculous.

 

[FFroadnurse]

I would look at the Tekton toolboxes if I lived in the USA (use the search function it has been discussed) and consider that they will deliver it for you.

Tool Cabinets - Professional Quality | TEKTON | Made in Canada

Shop our lineup of rolling tool cabinets, offered in multiple sizes, colors, and drawer configurations. Add on a cabinet top, upper drawer cabinet, or drawer dividers.

www.tekton.com

The Tekton boxes look really nice, but rival the price of a used SO box.

 

[Mr_B]

Look at used MAC and Matco .
Seems you don't want a hutch the 3K deal of box and hutch is a no brainer no buy, it not cheap & it not exactly what you want.
I've gone used boxes my whole career & current setup is selection of matching Matco boxes, you can generally find MAC & some nice older snapon boxes for fairly sensible coin if keep looking and can travel a bit .
Good thing with buying a decent used tool truck brand box is quality is pleasing and there will be almost same value kept if condition stays good ...

 

[FFroadnurse]

The box is exactly what I’m looking for. I just don’t need the hutch. Used Master series are running about 3500-4k around me.

 

[username2]

The Tekton boxes look really nice, but rival the price of a used SO box.

You know, it wouldn't surprise me if they were of higher quality than a Snap-on box. Aren't they a Lista equivalent?

If it were me, and it's all about *me* after all, I'd probably get 1-2 top boxes and put them on a really strong work bench (I've got one I made from pallet racking in my garage). You're more likely to get skinny drawers, and there's room underneath for vacuums, compressors, welders, and the like.

OTOH, the traditionalist in me calls out for 26" stacked boxes with stickers, so there is that.

$3k is certainly more than I'd pay for storage, but horses for courses.

 

[username2]

The box is exactly what I’m looking for.

Maybe the thing to do is just get it then and don't worry about whether it's the absolute best possible price.

 

[Pinne]

I debated this same thing recently - I needed a box in a pretty small width for my current space. Though I know in a few years I'll want and need something larger (and will have the space for it). I checked out just about every option you can get from Home Depot, Harbor Freight, Lowes, etc. I also have good familiarity with Snap On stuff (and it's ultimately what I want).

The tool truck boxes are better built, in general, than anything from the stores.
Husky / Craftsman / etc are all similar - functional but not for heavy use.
The US General boxes are not particularly nice, they are equivalent to the better Husky boxes IMO. I know everyone online seems to sing their praises - but I don't think many of those people have owned or used a tool truck box as a direct comparison. I'm sure you could go nuts and replace the drawer slides and this and that, but it's not the same level regardless.
The Icon boxes from HF are quite nice, not as nice as the Snap On because they are simply trying to mimic. But, they're also expensive enough that I'd rather buy a used Snap On...

So then the real decision is, do you need the super quality box or can you get by with a decent box and save the cash. If it were just sitting in my garage for occasional use I'd go the Husky route honestly - hard to beat them for the money. For something in a shop that isn't just storage - it's very hard to argue with a used tool truck box in terms of quality.

 

[txvwnut]

I've got two SO boxes that I bought new, one is over 40 years old and still works like it did when new. The other is 24 years old and is like the 40 year old box, both used daily and both are full.

 

[The Critic]

There's nothing wrong with hf boxes, but this notion is ridiculous.

I own a 68" EPIQ and a 36" KRSC2430 cart. The EPIQ's are the only Snap-On boxes worth the money, IMO.

The quality of my cart is only marginally higher than the $500 34" US General cart.

If I were to do it again, I would probably buy 2-3 of the 34" US General Carts and designate each one for different items.

 

[Boogerman]

If the 54" KRL is a 1001, I'd get it. If it's the shorter 700 series, I'd pass and hold out for the taller 1000 series.

Like The critic said, IMO. I've had the smaller KRL's, but my 20+ year old 1001 is my favorite, and I much prefer it. Like The Critic, I also own an EPIQ. Mine is the 84". IMO, it isn't worth having; I much prefer the tall KRL's; in fact I'm looking for a matching 1003 73 inch wide 23 drawer to supplement my 1001, and I'll offload the EPIQ.

To me, drawer configuration is everything, and I don't like the mix of Epiq drawers I have, and there's no arrangement that gets rid of the too shallow and too deep drawers in it and replaces them with the ones I like. The tall KRL's configure drawers very well if you get one of the higher count drawer options. This of course is very individual to your needs, others like different drawer configurations.

Like others said, it's laughable to compare the USG to the KRL's. They are okay boxes (for the money). That part in parenthesis is what the HF fanboys always leave off when they compare them to Snap-on. Yes, if you want quantity over quality, you can buy 10 USG 42" boxes for the price of a new KRL. You can buy 2 or 3 USG 42" for the price of a used KRL. I wouldn't recommend buying USG once they have depreciated at all, because they only come up for sale at depreciated prices once they start to wear and not work. The ones that have been lightly used the owners always seem to want more than they go on sale for. USG 42's seem to have two prices: New price and 10% of new, depending on if they've failed yet.

 

[Steve_P]

I'm not a SO fan and I think their new boxes are crazy priced. But there are used, but like new, boxes all the time on Marketplace near me that sell for 30-40% of the new price, so it's similar to a comparable HF Icon's new price. At that price, IMO it's a no brainer to buy the SO; because in 20 years if you need a drawer slide you have an excellent chance of getting one for free from SO and, I think, a near zero chance of getting one from HF.

 

[Wamsutta]

That box is Tonka toy yellow and black. I don't know how you could pass that up.

The hutch is perfect for mounting lights inside so you can see what's in your drawers at night.

And then of course getting replacement slides is a piece of cake because it's a Snap-on.

 

[richfinn]

The Tekton boxes look really nice, but rival the price of a used SO box.

Yes, that is correct Rousseau (The OEM) are a genuine rival to Snap-On by all accounts

 

[richfinn]

I commented on that thread as I am thankfully provided a Rousseau for work and love it, I've not had a single issue in 5-6 years of daily use but why would/should OP spend more for a Rousseau box for ~lesser or ~equal space? I mean I'd understand the recommendation if he was paying more for the snap on box, but he would be paying more for less here. Not sure I'd make the same recommendation at the new price, or the price when compared to what hes getting I guess.

54" Master series with bed liner top and the hutch which is a bonus for 700 dollars less than the 46" Rousseau box.

(273 dollars tax for me on the Tekton box, maybe OP would have no tax)

It isn't always about money in my experience.

Some people like to research all the options, if it were me personally I would buy a new Rousseau over a used Snap-On, I think they look cooler with the full length drawers over the dual bank look and I like the industrial stuff (like Lista) over the tool truck brands.

I get that Snap-On is the Holy Grail in The USA, but you would have to live with that Yellow paint job for the next 30 years