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which toolbox?

nickb

Member
Joined
Apr 29, 2014
Messages
20
Location
southeast FL
I'm looking for a new ~26 inch toolbox. I want it to replace my current work cart but I am having a hard time picking one out. I was wondering what your thoughts are? I've looked at viper and craftsman in person, the viper was really nice but felt kind of light duty for daily use. How do Matco and Snap On (the only tool trucks I ever see) stack up as far as the lower end boxes? I am also open to other suggestions, with the only requisite being that it needs to be a small toolbox somewhere between 20 -30 inches wide.
 
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nickb

Member
Joined
Apr 29, 2014
Messages
20
Location
southeast FL
I also looked at the harbor freight 26 inch boxes, they look good but I have had some serious issues with their other boxes. I had to return two 4 drawer carts before I got one that had all of the parts put together correctly.
 

Don53

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Joined
Sep 15, 2014
Messages
196
Location
NC
I got a 26" Craftsman Edge series cabinet and top chest recently & have been very happy with it (for home use). Not sure how it would hold up for daily pro use though. Both units together list at $1300, but they seem to have 1/2 off sales often. With some points I ended up getting both for about $550 out the door (bought the two separately). Made in US if that matters (Waterloo).

Check out toolsdelivered.com for some 26" Williams boxes... think some of them might be equivalent to the lower end Snap Ons? e.g. this one.

Also, Zoro.com has some nice 26" Proto boxes... catch one when they have their 30% off sale, with free shipping, and you'll get a nice box for the money.
 

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zkling

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Jan 23, 2007
Messages
16,939
Best box for a ~26" width, get an industrial cabinet, lista, vidmar or the like.
 

malykaii

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Apr 10, 2011
Messages
407
Location
New York City, USA
I wouldn't bother with the entry level tool truck offerings. Durability is on par with harbor freight but with added quality control at 4 times the price.

For that cost I can do my,own quality control. What you said, 4 boxes before you got it right to save hundreds?
 
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SASORacing

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Jun 10, 2014
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964
Location
Utah
The red harbor freight boxes are 2x better than the 4 drawer black cart you got.
 

Adam.C

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Jan 29, 2013
Messages
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I wouldn't bother with the entry level tool truck offerings. Durability is on par with harbor freight but with added quality control at 4 times the price.
Not picking on you but I'm not sure why you are comfortable with that answer? Did you have a bad experience with your truck boxes?

The HF boxes are only notable due to their insanely low price. Otherwise, you get what you pay for; low quality casters, construction, weak drawer slides, and inferior drawer locks. The truck tool base models are all much finer boxes, typically featuring 120lbs slides that double to 250, decent casters and well built, reinforced frames.

You have a golden opportunity to pick one up used for cheap. Boxes of this size are not as desirable as the 40"+ roll cabs. Auto students get massive discounts on these boxes and often sell them cheap in good condition when they upgrade.

On the flip side, I would never recommend buying one new for the exact same reason. They don't hold their value well and are pretty expensive new.

The mid range boxes I looked at (link) didn't seem to be great deals. They were often only slightly better than the HF for twice the money.

Lista is always the stand out. But a 26" may be the wrong size and shape for you drawer-wise. I'm a huge Lista fan, but I really would want one to store heavy equipment in my machine shop, not hand tools in single layers.

If you can't find a cheap truck box, see if a Kennedy machinists box will work for you. These are often cheap second hand and offer mid range box performance. You can rearrange drawers like any other box so you don't have to have a tiny thin drawer on top.

Ref: my conclusions here
 

perullo

Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2017
Messages
9
I bought a Viper, and now that I've gotten a few of the newer HD Husky boxes I'm going to sell the Viper. The Viper is a little lipstick on the same old steel generic box pig, while the newer huskys are truly remarkable. Great build quality, drawers, space, design etc. Check em out I'd say.
 
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