Rolling Tool Chest - Different Question

[Technoholic]

I know there are a lot of posts asking which roll cab is best. I actually want to ask about their actual ability to roll. I need a cabinet, and unfortunately I don't have a garage since knocking it down. But I do have a big workshop/shed at the back of my house. Of course, I need to work on cars out the front of the house. It's a bit of a walk back and forwards each time I've forgotten something.

I'd like to know if any of these rolls carts are able to actually be rolled from back to front, over relatively smooth ground, or whether they would be too unwieldy when full?

I have a couple options:

1) Roll cab all in one for all tools with a worktop available (probably like a 40")
2) A mechanic trolley to load up with what I need, with a worktop, maybe 1-2 drawers and side bits for cans and towels etc (Currently looking at the Milwaukee one)
3) A tool tote to load up as per number 2, but I've tried this at the weekend while changing a wheel bearing, and I couldn't actually get that much in there, I needed lots of long ratchets, torque wrench and so on, so this isn't that practical.

Any pointers on which would be best? A combination of 1 and 2 would be ideal but can't stretch the budget to 2 right now. But getting a Milwaukee trolley wouldn't be big enough on its own for ALL my tools, just some.

Thanks very much

[RizzoTheRat]

I have a basic Halfords tool cabinet, on solid castor wheels. It's fine on perfectly smooth concrete like you'd have in a clean garage, but as soon as you hit a small stone its lack of flexibiity/suspension/give in the wheels means it just drags the stone or you have to lift half the weight of the cabinet over it. I wouldn't expect a more expensive brand roller cabinet to be much better unless it has soft tyres.

I think options 2 or 3 are going to be better, unless you can find a tool cabinet that's more like a sack truck on a coupe of big tyres.

Edited by RizzoTheRat on Monday 29th January 14:34

[Technoholic]

Good point, I did ask this question previously somewhere else and someone suggested something like a pit cart which have big pneumatic wheels. I wonder if a good roller cab could be modified with some of those?

[CrutyRammers]

They're quite high, heavy and narrow so wouldn't be my first choice over any sort of rough ground.

[Belle427]

The lower sort of waist high section is ok but I wouldnt want to roll the full cab on anything but smooth ground.
I prefer the lower height stuff myself.

[Technoholic]

Yeah it would be a bottom box only not a full height bottom and top.

But it sounds like option 1 is not a good idea, unless I could put some proper wheels on

[RizzoTheRat]

Or get something you could mount on a garden trailer like this? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gardeners-Removable-Pneum...

[Technoholic]

that's a great idea, although that would not take the weight, something like that could make the start of a good build by using a box on top

[RizzoTheRat]

Yeah, that particular one is fairly light weight but I've been looking at them for something else and seen ones that take way more weight, but cost a lot more.
They seem really common around here to tow kids to the beach

[GliderRider]

Bear in mind that if a tyre goes flat on the garden trolley any off-centre weight in the tool cab may be enough to tip it over. Nearly contacting blocks of wood under the trolley, when stored, should prevent this.
Another option would be to go for base board slightly larger than the base of the tool cab and fit the largest castors you can find. 200mm (8") castors are readily available, in either solid nylon, soft tyred or pneumatic.

For example:

200mm swivelling braked castors

[tapkaJohnD]

I did that for my recently new welder. Bought welder trolleys mount the heavy unit high up, so I made a frame to fit the welder, with a platform behind for the cylinder, diagonals to support it and castor wheels under. First job for the new welder!

[Smint]

Large garden wheelbarrow, make some sort of easy access cover for it, stick all the tools you're likely to need for the job in it.

[Bill]

Technoholic said:

3) A tool tote to load up as per number 2, but I've tried this at the weekend while changing a wheel bearing, and I couldn't actually get that much in there, I needed lots of long ratchets, torque wrench and so on, so this isn't that practical.

I use a tool tote for the smaller stuff and a large french supermarket bag for life for the long/awkward kit.

[InitialDave]

I've replaced the small castors with bigger (about 6") ones on some stuff, which does make for easier rolling.

But the larger castor does have the contact point a further horizontal distance from the pivot/mounting centreline, which means if they're pivoted to the "inside", the cabinet can be more prone to tipping if tilted in that direction or hitting something when rolling.

Not a total showstopper, and could be alleviated by mounting it on a frame that puts the wheels further outboard, but something to be conscious of.

[donkmeister]

I have a similar situation and tried option 1. My two failings are:

1) a step halfway between my workshop and my cars... Could have built a removable ramp except for...
2) almost immediately I bought a vertical extension
and a top box, meaning my trolley height roll cab was now 5-6 feet tall with a higher CofG. I didn't fancy building a structure in my workshop to hold those up with my roll cab underneath.

So my plan is to go for OPs option 2, when I have some spannering time.

[donkmeister]

InitialDave said:

Not a total showstopper, and could be alleviated by mounting it on a frame that puts the wheels further outboard, but something to be conscious of.

I can see the stubbed toes and bruised shins already

[donkmeister]

tapkaJohnD said:

I did that for my recently new welder. Bought welder trolleys mount the heavy unit high up, so I made a frame to fit the welder, with a platform behind for the cylinder, diagonals to support it and castor wheels under. First job for the new welder!

I like that. Also appreciate the first use of the welder being to build an accoutrement for the welder. When my great uncle bought a lathe and a mill for his retirement, his first year was spent using them to make tools for the lathe and the mill.

Do you think you will leave it as is or are there plans to add storage above the welder for welding bits and bobs?

[Chris32345]

Get a cart made up with large air filled wheels overhanging the box should move a lot better then

[ferret50]

Rebuild garage so that tools and car are closer together?

[twibs]

lidl have ali trolleys coming up not sure if you could put a top box on one.

https://www.lidl.co.uk/p/parkside-aluminium-flat-b...

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-ctc900c-mec...