Snap On Road Chests

[Brad93]

i'm looking for something suitable for van use.

Has anyone got any experience? I believe they might have friction slides which isn't ideal.

I'm half tempted to go with a Lista or Polstore cabinet but their not made for vehicle use, and the sizes i need are a bit odd.

Whatever i buy must be robust, lockable, available second hand.

1100mm wide max, 800mm high max, about 750 deep max.

 

[pressbrake1]

Lista type with a box section frame to stop it flexing . Everything breaks .
Road chests are expensive and small, I had one twenty years ago

 

[Tom O]

Worked fine for Shirley!

 

[frank horton]

Shirley who ?????

 

[Sergei Slovenija]

...friction slides which isn't ideal.

What do they look like and why is this a disadvantage?

 

[pressbrake1]

What do they look like and why is this a disadvantage?

On very heavy draws they don’t glide but on a mobile chest you want friction slides to give stability. You don’t want them all sliding open when you unlock it and you don’t want them buffeting back and forth when driving.
I’m talking from experience

 

[Sergei Slovenija]

On very heavy draws they don’t glide but on a mobile chest you want friction slides to give stability. You don’t want them all sliding open when you unlock it and you don’t want them buffeting back and forth when driving.
I’m talking from experience

I understand the words, but I have no idea how it looks in metal. The problem of terminology in different languages.

 

[sako243]

Just throwing it out there but what about something like the Packout system?

If you're always close to your van then I can see how a toolbox would be beneficial but if you're further afield then perhaps there's benefit in being able to grab the boxes of tools you want and taking them with you?

 

[GRW]

Cos I used to have to work out a small Fiat Doblo type/size van - I have a Keter stacking toolbox (bottom one is a wheeled/extending handle, the other stack & clip on top).

Plusses - handy as I often couldn't have the van close to where I had to work - plus I could grab a couple of boxes & leave what I didn't expect to need.

Minuses - nowhere near as easy & quick to access a tool as a drawer cabinet if working in or close to the van.

 

[premmington]

Just throwing it out there but what about something like the Packout system?

If you're always close to your van then I can see how a toolbox would be beneficial but if you're further afield then perhaps there's benefit in being able to grab the boxes of tools you want and taking them with you?

Engineers ended up with metal forklift portable site boxes for a reason.

Pack out systems work for building trades thou.

 

[winchman]

I have a KRA 63C I believe its a similar spec to the road chests, it one of the heaviest boxes I have seen, made in Canada in my opinion Canadian boxes are of a better spec, very well made and quite rare.
I would be willing to part with it of its any use to you?

 

[sako243]

Engineers ended up with metal forklift portable site boxes for a reason.

Pack out systems work for building trades thou.

That's kind of what I was guessing (re building trades comment) is that the "pack-out" style systems aren't really suitable/big enough for the kind of stuff that @Brad93 does. I guess if he was mainly doing work along the lines of a "service" technician for heavy plant and he can park up next to the job then it's pointless having a removable system but I get the feeling quite a bit of his work involves going inside factories etc., so having something that's mobile might be beneficial.

As I said originally - it really depends on his particular situation and setup, I was just throwing the idea out there.

I went through a spate of having to do a load of mobile electronics stuff and was seriously contemplating a pack-out system for it because I was continually having to empty my "office / lab" stuff into the Land Rover to head down to the job and then cart it inside. Although rather ironically those jobs I could have probably parked the Land Rover next to the job if I really wanted to but it would have probably got in the way of employees trying to get on with their day job.

 

[winchman]

I would take £500.
Heres on on Ebay

Snap on Heritage Series 9 Drawer Top Chest KRA63B Made in Canada | eBay

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[arther dailey]

if you consider a standard snap on slide lock, go for older canadian as heavier built , then weld up a angle iron frame with diagonal braces, tight fit to rigidise it in the van , as its the diagonal/torsional twist on corners that breaks the welds on them eventually , plus put a drop down piece of ply or something to stop a draw opening/anti theft as well.

 

[arther dailey]

goes with out saying, remove castors and bolt to floor etc

 

[gaz1]

I have a KRA 63C I believe its a similar spec to the road chests, it one of the heaviest boxes I have seen, made in Canada in my opinion Canadian boxes are of a better spec, very well made and quite rare.
I would be willing to part with it of its any use to you?View attachment 413904

i think thats too small for what brad wants

its fine for the mechanics tools though spanners, sockets and bars and many other stuff used with a mobile mechanic but its bolted to the body of the vehicle and welded so its not coming out easily

its fine when level but if sloping back and you lift that locking lid those drawers can slide open easily

 

[GRW]

i think thats too small for what brad wants

its fine for the mechanics tools though spanners, sockets and bars and many other stuff used with a mobile mechanic but its bolted to the body of the vehicle and welded so its not coming out easily

its fine when level but if sloping back and you lift that locking lid those drawers can slide open easily

The lads with boxes in vans I worked with - while using different makes (from SO to Kirkland) all had the same feature - individual latching drawers.

 

[8ob]

Looking at the size Brad is after, that’s a big box. Custom made frame with Bott or similar drawers/cupboard system may be the way to go.

Bob

 

[Erie Fred]

I'm thinking that maybe the boxes for vans don't have ball bearings because
of the constant vibration might brinnel bearings, or wear the rails in spots.

 

[plewlandsbob]

I have a KRA 62C. It has been in Van's, since I bought it In 2012. It does have friction slides. It has been a good box, apart from piano hinge, going on lid. Snap On wouldn't replace lid, so I bolted on a hinge from screwfix.
Also replaced lock with garage door handle, as could not get one , during China flu shortages.
To be fair, I am an Agricultural mechanic, van has been along bumpy farm tracks, in fields, woods and place , most 4x4 drivers wouldn't venture.