I was wondering which tools and tool boxes were the best and most affordable. I have been looking at a Craftsman box for 200 for xmas. Would you recommend harbor freight? I have always had luck with Craftsman. I like it because their mostly American made and cheap =)

 

I have an aluminum diamond plate Kobalt cross bed toolbox on my current 1992 F350. It came with the truck. Pretty well built, no leaks.

 

sorry I meant a rolling box, I already have a truck one

 

I guess it would all depend how deep into the fix-it field you are into, experience, etc. Craftsman is always a good choice for starters, then I guess Kobalt for intermediate. Snap-on is way too pricey and for just tools to beat around with, Harbor Freight has some real good choices.
Coming from a semi-advanced auto/truck/tractor-trailer mechanic, any wrench available when needed, has paid for itself. I would suggest a name that has a replacement guarentee. Very handy to have, to keep the tool and your knuckles in good shape.

Welcome to F.T.E. by the way.

 

yeah I was thinking of along the lines of Craftsman because it's what I've always used but Kobalt is really nice too

 

Look into the 'GearWrench' lines for your wrenches. They are great for limited reach/access wrenching. Also, invest in one of those extendable ratchet wrenches. Long reach for breaking loose bolts, shorten it for normal removal. I love mine and grab it the first time I need a ratchet.
Tools RULE!!!
I was told, 'Better to have it and not need it, than to need it, and not have it.'

 

Craftsman is more like crapsmen these days, thier quality int he last 10 years has gotten horrible.

Go to walmart and buy stanley, its better made. If you want you can also buy husky brand sold at home depot, same stuff as stanely but they carry some better sets.

As for toolbox, craftsmen is junk-buy one of the ones from harbor freight or lowes.

 

No mater the brand buy with ball bearing slides.....

 

I own a couple of these, I have a craftmen from the 70's that was my dad's, it's ok. I have a SNap On from about that same time period, maybe a little newer, that was my grandfather's, I love it. And a Snap On I bought brand new last year, to replace a Craftsmen and a kobalt, and must say that the Snap On Classic series is the way to go if it were my money. Lots of storage, ball bearing everything, latching drawers, pick proof locks, lifetime no qestions asked warranty, and if you talk real nice to your dealer you can usually pick up one of the 60" ones for around $1500

 

I agree about craftsman. I used a brand new impact socket and shattered it. I've broke a LOT of my snap on tools but the replacement is really nice. As far as tool boxes I got a snap on but no matter what box you decide on. Don't go cheap. I got a cheap one in my garage and most of the drawers slides are shot. So like stated get one with quality ball bearing slides

 

Snap On is out. Would love one but can't afford it. I love my Craftsman wrenches. Sockets work but I've seen a lot better but they do last. I saw a US General from harbor freight for 200 which looked like an upgrade from the 200 craftsman box. Craftsman one looked flimsy. Kobalts are nice but a tad expensive for my budget now. US General is ball bearing too. Is US General a decnet brand. I don't need it everyday, just to hold my stuff

 

bought a husky mechanics set from their but returned it. Ratchet wouldn't fit socket. crap

 

there was also a waterloo on sale from sears..............

 

Never had an issue with thier stuff and used it exclusively for cheap tools I used while doing roadside work for the last 5 years. Even snap on can have defective stuff.

I dont like crapsmen cause the gears in the ratchets are PLASTIC!

 

Kobalt has really stepped it up over the last couple years with their rolling boxes. Their basic boxes with ball bearing slides are great. You can even get a box now from kobalt with a fridge built in. Not totally my cup of tea, but it is pretty cool. I like the stereo you can get as well.

I've been wanting to get a good box, but I'm always working on a project, so my money goes into the project instead of the box. I have an old craftsman box with the bearingless slides you have to grease all the time. It gets the job done, but I'd really like more storage space as all my drawers in my top and bottom box are packed to the max.

If I needed a box tomorrow, i'd drive over to lowes and pick up a kobalt.