rolling tool boxes under 800.00
 

Part of my man cave makeover is I want to purchase a larger rolling toolbox. I have kept my search to Sears, Home Depot and Lowes because I want to be able to pick it up and go. Sears currently has a 48 x 61 black painted for 699.99 which supposedly is on sale for 50% off the regular price. Seems to have nice slides and drawer latches. HD has a similiar sized box made of stainless steel for 749.00. Lowes has black, blue painted boxes but they are smaller in width then the above. They do have larger but well over 1000.00. I'm leaning towards the HD unit as I like the stainless finish. I know it's Chinese made and I do have some reservations about the long term quality but I have no idea where the Sears unit is made. Any suggestions guys on what to get ? I'm just a DIYer looking for an upgrade over my current standard Sears red box.

Have a look at where they are manufactured and let you conscience be your guide.

I like the look of the black Sears stuff and it seems to be durable enough for home shop use.

Otherwise look to some of the online used tool ads. Sometime you will find outstanding deals there.

Have you looked at Costco? They have a nice looking stainless steel box here.

Not as easy, but I bought my craftsman boxes from the local snap-on dealer cheap. They take in other brands on trade.

Next time I'm going stainless steel. My good Sears boxes have chipped and rusted over the years. Besides, I've out grown then badly.

Have you considered scouring local craigslist ads for a used snap on, mac, matco box. You can pick up an american made $10,000.00 tool box for pennies on the dollar. The bottom really falls out on this stuff once it is used.

I hope not :eek:

Go check out the boxes at Harbor Freight, seriously. They're better quality than my ball-bearing Craftsman box and 1/2 the price, when I upgrade my box it's absolutely the route I'll go. Sure they're made in China, but so is everything short of Snap-On, Matco, etc. My local Sams Club also has some nice boxes in stainless, but they're still more than the HF boxes.

Both COSTCO and SAMS club have stainless steel rolling tool boxes for a good price and good quality.

Lots of off-brand boxes, including Sears and HF are made by Waterloo, if what I've read on the interwebs is true.

SEARS now buys from two (or more) sources AFAIK. Their traditional boxes, like the ball bearing grip-latch set I have, are still USA made. The stainless is probably from overseas. Reading their tools catalong carefully will give you a clue.

Don't bet on it. I export metals and most of the stuff we sell is made in the USA. Plain old steel is made everywhere. Special metals (Stainless steel, Al-6061, etc) are not.

I'd look at Costco too. I got one of their stainless boxes for less than $400, however mine was a bit of a discount for some reason. It is large, roomy, nice locking casters, locking drawers which are very smooth. I've compared to similar boxes at all the stores you mentioned and would have paid double. Sams has nice ones too with similar pricing.

I picked up my rolling Craftsman tool box combo from OSH (don't know if they have them in FL) for 50% off. Seems to go on sale every few months.

I like my Snap On, but some times it is hard to see..
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1290805018.jpg

Yep. Last time I checked, they were still the OEM supplier for Craftsman's Professional line. I'd check with Grainger, as they are (or used to be) one of Waterloo's biggest dealers. Of course, Sears may have some decent black-friday deals today as well.

Also, you might check with your local Snap-On guy. They usually take boxes in on trade, and some keep a decent inventory of them, including different brands.

Lastly, as mentioned I would check on CL for used boxes. If you can get a good used Snap-On or MAC roll-cab for a few hundred more, it would probably be a better investment than a new Craftsman/Kobalt/HF/Costco box.

Menard's has some sweet boxes as well. I'm pretty sure they are located nation-wide.

Paid 600.00 for a 6 ft long 13 drawer snap on rolling box froma 2nd hand store. Amazing quality.

The black Craftsman box similar to the one the OP posted about that I bought in 08 was made in the USA.

Snap-On Toolbox
matco tool box 2 bay
Matco MB6525DB Tool Box

This one is under $800 and obviously you can get it customized for your brand. ;)

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-914-used-parts-sale-wanted/393492-porsche-tool-box-decal-costco-stainless-tool-box.html

G

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/201466-tool-storage-recommendations-feedback.html

My journey down the same path. Mine was purchased almost six years ago and I still love it. I just transported this behemoth (disaassembled, of course) to our other home in Huntsville three weeks ago. While I had the drawers out I 'slathered' up the slides/ball bearing with an abundance of grease. This chest is great and the cost was more than reasonable.

You should head to the Turkey Rod Run in Daytona this weekend, always a few boxes for sale at the swap meet there..

Yesterday I decided to go to Sears because they had a large tool box on sale until noon. Regular price 1399.99 on sale for 699.99. Ball bearing drawer slides and painted black. The drawers have a nice latching mechanism to keep the drawers closed while rolling the box around. I decided to buy one but of course they had sold the last one they had in stock 10 minutes before I got there :(. So they ordered one for me and should be in stock on Tuesday. I was impressed with the quality and I might even spring for the matching side box for my own version of the ultimate tool box ! :D I do appreciate all the advice you guys gave me thanks.

You did well...I eventually settled on Sears..ball bearing griplatch. You're going to love the griplatch feature. It mean no need to lock the unit when rolling it.

We have two of the larger SAMS boxes from a few years back ('06ish?) They are really good stainless boxes. No complaints here.

the costco 41" stainless one is on sale for the next few weeks...

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11282957&cm_mmc=BCEmail_592-_-FOCUS-_-34-_-TRINITYToolChest

Check Craig's list, I picked up this Snap-on box for $500 about a year ago. Just had to freshen up the paint a bit. And I have to stand on a 10" step to see into the top.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1292725344.jpg

My wife gave me the black Craftsman stacked one two years ago for my b-day. I won't say it to her, but the quality SUCKS. It's flimsy and the drawers hang up a lot, very low quality for the Craftsman name.

I still have a Snap-On set I bought used in the '70's, works the same as when I got it. I'd look for a used SO or Mac.
Jim

When you can load a drawer in a tool box and then stand in it and not hurt anything, you have found a well built box.
I would not part with my Snap-On KL1000 for anything. But I work out of it so I require the higher end stuff.

I don't make a point of standing in my tool box drawers. ;) Day in and out in an Auto shop is one thing. Homeowner level service is another. I don't have an infinite tool expense account and spend more on the tools than the boxes they are in.

I don't see the deals you guys are getting on the Snap-on boxes. I see List $6K box for used for $4K and the like. Must be the area I live in.

I think that I paid $100 for my used Snap-on roller about 10 years ago. The guy threw in a Craftsman box that sits on top of it. I'll try to dig up a picture.

It will definitely outlive me. Some kid who has not been born yet will keep his tools in it.

Here it is doing mobile duty back when I rebuilt my old Powerstroke in DD74's office parking lot: :)

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1292780141.jpg

Sounds like she bought the base unit? Is it a ball bearing griplatch model? Other than wishing I'd gone wider instead of higher, I've been happy with mine...