Looking to invest in a new or decent secondhand roller cab for my tools as my current one was just a cheap first one, and now cannot handle the weight and amount of tools I have amassed over the last few years.

I have been looking at the US Pro tool chests on ebay which look good, and good value (looking at the £430 ones really, or even considering the much wider versions with the worktops on them), but I am struggling to find definitive reviews on whether they are good quality or not.

The other option is to get the Halfords Professional range 5 drawer cabinet and 7 drawer chest which is on offer as a combined deal for £199. So that is much cheaper but I am just concerned that I dont want to buy another set that in a few years I will need to replace again.

Anybody got any experience of either, or any other suggestions or good offers they know of?

I have the Halfords Professional (or whatever they are labelled) ones.. Very decent. Definitely noticeably better than the budget thin-wall offerings, but it's obviously not as solid and smooth as a top of the range snap-on etc.

Weight of tools doesn't seem to make much of a difference, it's just the steel could be a bit thicker and the bearings a bit smoother, but I am rather picky.

No experience with US Pro off ebay, but IIRC when I was looking at them, they did seem slightly beefier than the Halfords ones.

With Halfords though, you tend to get a pretty good quibble-free warranty!

Halford pro range are very good and good value for money, I have 2 and havent had any issues,did break a key in the lock and halfords replaced it foc !!!! I would always spend my money on tools not overpriced toolboxes...

Incidentally, I bought mine on offer too, and for £200-£250 or whatever it was, nothing comes close in terms of quality.

MachineMart have some decent offerings in the £300-£500 range (for a similar set), but I just couldn't find enough of a reason to justify such a premium in price.

The Halfords set in total would be £270 to be equivalent in size to the £430 (+£15 postage) US Pro set. So £160 between them.

Just not sure if there is really a £160 quality difference between them or not.

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Originally posted by PSpirine
Incidentally, I bought mine on offer too, and for £200-£250 or whatever it was, nothing comes close in terms of quality.

MachineMart have some decent offerings in the £300-£500 range (for a similar set), but I just couldn't find enough of a reason to justify such a premium in price.

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I have US Pro roller cab, step up, top box and side cabinets. Very pleased with the quality and strength, they are built like a tank and are mega heavy weighing around 650lb empty.

If you are going to buy from Halfords, look on their website first. When I bought my tool chests they were £150 less on the web than in store. I bought and paid through website then went and picked up in store.

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Originally posted by Dunbikin
If you are going to buy from Halfords, look on their website first. When I bought my tool chests they were £150 less on the web than in store. I bought and paid through website then went and picked up in store.

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I went to go try find a Machine Mart store today while I was out, but it turns out that where I thought there was one there wasn't. But there was a Dixon Hall there so I took a look inside.

The had a roll cab and top box in there in blue and cream, but it was a brand I didn't know. But the bugger of it is, I can't remember the brand name .

So anyway, I had a look at the setup and was talking to the store owner about it, and it was proper solid built stuff! Really thick steel walls and nice running drawers and rollers with a click shut feature on them to stop them just sliding out if in a van.

Was on offer for £499 which was supposedly reduced from about £1k. The store owner said it was East European built stuff and he had a set in his garage and it was working well fully loaded up.

I liked it but I just aren't too sure about buying a totally unheard of (to me) brand that I have never seen anywhere else either. Plus, I spoke with the US Pro suppliers today and got some direct prices from them for a couple of their setups, and am seriously considering buying the 72" wide bench tool box inside, so that it gives me a workbench instead, as I can get that for around the same money.

Would this one be of any use to you?

Halfords

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Originally posted by se7en
Would this one be of any use to you?

Halfords

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Well I thought I had made my decision to get a US Pro unit, but then today I went and took another look at the Halfords Professional and took the plunge and bought the roll cab and top box on a £199 offer, and then added in the 4 drawer intermediate unit.

All unpacked and built up and I am impressed with it. Can't believe how big it is compared to my old box (you can see my old one in the background in the photo below). I got it all setup and though "I am never goint to fill that". But what I couldn't then believe is that I have filled it up already

Only bad thing I can see with it at the moment, other than I have filled it already, is that the stickers on the cabinet and drawer fronts are soooo tough to get off They are plastic coated and when you try pick at them and peel them off they just instantly tear up and leave 75% of the sticker still on there. Even tried a bit of Turps Substitute wiped on it to ease them off but didnt help.

Jost decided it is probably best to leave them on.

Hit the stickers with a hair dryer, should loosen the glue and they will peal off easily

[Edited on 28/10/12 by mark chandler]