Email: sales@nhproequip.com
Call 603-234-2612 or 603-219-0060
FREE SHIPPING ON MOST EQUIPMENT!
Search
Filters
   
Close

Reviewing Toolboxes: How to Choose the Best One for You

When shopping for a tool box there are many things to consider. If you’re a professional technician based in a repair shop or a person in one of the many trades, and you make your living turning wrenches you probably have different needs than being just another regular guy. There are a whole lot of people that need tool boxes, and a number of reasons why people need to own them. There are many suppliers to choose from. The quality manufacturers listen to their customers and build products that include features with the end user in mind. Tool boxes come in many variations: roll cabinets, top chests, hutches, side boxes, lockers, roll carts, and road boxes. They also come in different widths, depths, and heights. It can be difficult to gauge one brand of tool box against another because only a few manufacturers make all the specifications readily available. It is important to know what you are buying when shopping online.

If you can, we recommend you access complete specifications and features such as:

• drawer configuration and drawer interchangeability
• full extension drawers that pull out to the back of drawer
• amount of long drawers that offer deep socket storage and long bar or long extension storage
• thickness of steel used in cabinet frame
• drawer dimensions and thickness
• drawer pull
• drawer close: positive latch or friction stop, plastic or metal, ease of operation
• drawer under supports for heavy loads that prevent drawer from buckling
• type of drawer liners - rubber or foam
• weight capability of ball bearing slides on each drawer
• locking and security
• caster size, number of casters, and type of casters
• accessory tool boxes available for future add-on (top box, side boxes, hutches etc.)
• pricing
• shipping cost or free shipping
• warranty and service
NET WEIGHT, when comparing equally sized tool boxes (similar width, depth, and height) this is the most tell tale sign that the tool box is built well. When you are not able to find answers to all the spec’s of a tool box the net weight (not the shipping weight or gross weight) will be a very good indicator of quality construction. The suppliers consists of mobile distributors, many independent manufacturers, and even big box stores. Higher quality products are usually related to the mobile distributors Snap on, Mac, Cornwell, Matco and other manufacturers such as Extreme Tools, Lista, Shure, to name a few.

Really making an impact is Extreme Tools, a manufacturer of tool storage solutions -based out of Illinois - that started in 1999 and began selling tool boxes in 2004. Extreme offers a very well-built tool box for a very low price. Like most tool box manufacturers, they offer a professional series and a standard series. They are the best bargain I know of if you are shopping for a tool box. The best thing about Extreme Tool Boxes is the SHEER VALUE. They offer great design features, good-looking tool boxes, quality components, and - as an added bonus - they now offer a patented-drawer latch that is by far the best in the market, all at a fraction of the cost of competitors: in short the very best bang for your buck.

Snap on Tool Boxes may be the best yard stick for comparison as they are very high quality and proven over time. Although there is a wide difference in pricing between the two, You will notice many similarities. Be sure to read our customer reviews as we've been selling these tool boxes for a couple of years now. You will see many of our customers have made comparisons to the name brands, including Snap-On. They are worth a read to give you a better idea of how these tool boxes stack up against the name brands. Many of these customers also submitted photos of their tool boxes set up in their garages, shops, dealerships....make sure you check out the customer photos, too, so you can see the boxes in their natural environment, from repair shops, to home garages! Several have drawers/lids open, so you can see what kind of tools are being stored and how well they fit - a nice way to experience a virtual tour of the compartments and drawers and get a better idea of the boxes in general.

Below is an example of in depth tool box specifications.

CRX722519RC rolling tool box

CRX Toolbox WEIGHT 751 lbs

Check out our line of Extreme Toolboxes here.

Check out our own CRX Series Toolboxes - made by Extreme Tools but with additional features and upgrades - and at a reduced price!