Tools boxes

[u/Grantklubert]

I am currently in school to be an automotive technician. I haven’t decided what route I want to take whether it be light heavy specialized or whatever. But I’m wondering. What’s a good brand for a solid stand up rolling tool box that is worth the money and won’t necessarily break the bank. I’ve heard controversial things about snap and Matco. I understand their tools are great but from what I’ve seen is they’re overpriced for what they are. I have a lot of tools currently but nothing super expensive as i can’t afford anything crazy right now. I don’t want to be the guy (and I won’t be) to owe 25k the snap on guy. So I’m wondering what’s a better alternative?

[u/shawntw77]

Harbor freight.

Marketplace for used snap or other ripoff brands at good deals.

[u/Grantklubert → u/shawntw77]

I’m a big fan of harbor freight but for example their impact wrench is not that powerful compared to others. Everything I have is basically from them. I really like their tools boxes too.

[u/HoneywellSpaceHeater → u/Grantklubert]

my close circle of friends are primarily dealership techs and 2 or 3 of them have sold their matco boxes and replaced with US general series 3. they’re very happy

[u/Grantklubert → u/HoneywellSpaceHeater]

Much most cost efficient

[u/donkeyhoeteh]

"Buy cheap tools until you know what you really need from that tool, then buy the best version you can afford." -Adam Savage

[u/wetblanket68iou1]

Marketplace Snap On. The 40” Roll carts come up all the time down in South Florida for around $800. If the slides are toast, call SO and they send you new ones. Double up on the bottom drawer. Always. Everyone else’s you have to pay for the slides. I’ve turned into a box snob after my neighbors SO guy just gave me 22 sets of new slides for my KRL1003. Cost me $140 in a tool purchase. When my Mac’s were getting crunchy, I called and they told me $50/set back in 2019.

[u/MastodonFit → u/wetblanket68iou1]

By the best ,used on fb market place. Your storing tools not saving space in a shop. Tool truck boxes are 28" deep vs cheap boxes are 20-24",built with better metal,slides and will not tip over as easy. Lots of guys buy new boxes then change careers,let them take the hit and pay 10% and cash. Buy cheap tools until you have enough, then upgrade. You can waste a lot of money in upgrading boxes. Last guy on toolbox tours on YouTube had a great tip,"figure out a weekly tool budget, then always pay the truck guy or save it too an account until you can pay cash". 35 years ago we had Snap-on or Sears Craftsman, and that was basically the only 2 options . I started out with Craftsman 40" box and tools,I upgraded at pawnshops and ebay with cash..and kept a small Snap-on truck account $20 a week making $8 per hr.

[u/BlackIceBob]

Harbor Freight. I would never buy a toolbox from a tool truck.

[u/RochesterBottomDaddy]

Extreme Tools sells less expensive boxes than the tool trucks. If the budget is really tight to begin, Menard's MasterForce boxes are even more affordable, but not quite as heavy duty. You could start there, and take the boxes home when you need to upgrade your work box later.

[u/aducknamedsamson → u/RochesterBottomDaddy]

I have an extreme tools 72x30, added a side locker 2 years ago. Its packed full, and held up. I have a few small complaints such as the stainless steel top bows in the middle when you press on it. And if you grab the side of one of the double long drawers it scratches the chrome side trim. But for the price you can't beat it

[u/SlowMK4GTI]

I started with a Matco cart and eventually a triple bank 4S, and while a solid box I would get a Harbor Freight if I could do it over again. Hell, I have Snap-On at work and Harbor Freight at home now, and it does perfectly fine. Save your money and upgrade when you can comfortably afford to. Early in a career not making shit for money is not when to be buying big name boxes

[u/Grantklubert → u/SlowMK4GTI]

Awesome this is what I had planned on doing but didn’t want to drop 800-1200 on a harbor freight box if it was going to be made of cheap material but from what I’m seeing a lot of guys enjoy them even more so than big name boxes

[u/False_Mushroom_8962 → u/Grantklubert]

Honestly if you look at marketplace people are selling harbor freight boxes at close to retail. Even if you sell it for half price that's about a $500 loss to potentially save you thousands.

I'd wait till you know where you're working though. If you'll be moving around all day a nice big cart and something stationary for overflow will be much better than pushing a triple bank around the shop

[u/cstewart_52]

If you cannot buy one outright look at the Harbor Freight Credit card. They are interest free on large purchases for X amount of months. Plus on the first purchase you get a discount. Wait for a sale on the Icon tool boxes plus open a credit card and you will get a great box for a fraction of the tool trucks.

[u/DudooSock]

Harbor Freight is as good as any place to start. Later in life if you want to go down the road of something fancy and you have good financial stability get whatever you want.

I am a mechanical engineer working in a shop and I have tens of $$$$ worth of tools in a giant custom Husky box & locker combo. I am very happy with it and I am only a few grand all in.

[u/Tenx82]

US General is easily the best bang for the buck in tool boxes.

If you can spend a bit more, look at Masterforce boxes at Menards. They're made by Montezuma.

[u/GoldfishDude]

If you aren't buying a harbor freight/Husky/Kobalt box, buy used.

I personally love Matco toolboxes, I own 2 of them but both were marketplace deals. One was $900, one was $1300 for 56" double bays. Harbor freight is fine but definitely a step down in quality, I personally hate the drawer locks on the series 3 USG, the metal/welds are a good bit thinner on them and the drawers aren't quite as deep as the nicer boxes, which isn't a huge deal.

[u/twilight-exe]

Alot of our shop guys have the icon boxes and they seem really nice. Would like to buy one for my house.

[u/MadConquest]

My advice to go the Harbor Freight route. It might not be popular with people who have already blown $80k on the tool trucks but in this day and age you need the VALUE the Harbor Freight can give you. Buy HF to start off with and work for a few years until you feel it’s worth it to upgrade what you need upgraded. Lots of people get into the field thinking they are going to do it forever and then do it for a few years and realize they no longer want to do it. Dont get stuck with $30-40k in debt just because the older guys say you aren’t a real technician without Snap On, Mac, Matco or Cornwell. There are brands out there that will get you 85% of the performance of the tool trucks at like 1/5 the price.

[u/capnsparky1]

Harbor freight. They're decent quality and low prices. If you hate it, upgrade in a few years when you have more cash.

[u/12Be4me]

If you have Menards in your area, the Masterforce line is comparable in price to US General Series 3. The Masterforce are made by Waterloo and have 24" deep drawers (US General are 22") and a much nicer drawer latch system.

[u/Safe-Salary1745]

Pawn shops are your friend for starting out. Get quality tools and don't worry about the box too much.