Harbor Freight Tool Boxes WOW!

[Torquedork]

We bought a smaller rolling Harbor Freight cabinet that we could roll next to whatever car we are working on. We then filled it with the 300 piece tool set and a bunch of air ratchets and impacts.

Everything has been great and made life alot easier..

[sniper]

Yea looked into that option as well BUT when I looked at the 44 inch one with the TOP as well and ADDED on the 7 drawer add on you actually get 40% more storage while only paying 68 bucks more.. Can you tell I researched the heck out of this already? LOL.

Mark
TOOFUN

Don't go buy drawer count. That 56" one shows storage capacity at 28,240 cu in.
If you add all those add ons to the 44" box ( 11,528 cu in. )with the side drawers (4708 cu in.) and top chest (7973cu in) you only end up with 24,209 cu in.
I like the 56" better as well because of the drawers are deeper (to the rear). I'll probably try to pick one up here soon. I need something, I have stuff everywhere.

I have been thinking about the 56" for awhile now, and I just need to get it. I mean, whats the worse that could happen? If it falls apart every two years, your still ahead of the game after 20 years. I know of plenty of guys that start with the small snap-on classic series boxes ($4K range), out grow them and upgrade to the epic series ($9k range). So, not many people stay with just their first S.O. box. I work with a guy that has a Mr. Big with twin hutches. I think that was almost 40K. That is just crazy.

[Tony_SS]

Has anyone used their jacks? I'm looking at a low profile aluminum 3.5 ton....

[feeble]

I've got this one: http://www.harborfreight.com/2-ton-l...ump-68050.html

Works great, no problems and very high lift.

[shmoov69]

I got an aluminum one from Oreiley's and I'm sure thier made by the same chineese company since they look the same, but it works fine, just leaks fluid a little. But then again, so does my older craftsman!

[johngross]

Love my HF aluminum jack and it doesn't leak! But, do use jack stands as because everything doesn't work as advertised.

[toofun]

Well picked up the Top/Bottom and Side pieces today. Worked out a deal with the store and got an even better deal PLUS they signed me up for the Customer Rewards or something like that program. Basically you get coupons every week that are discounted even lower than the regular coupons they send out to the regular mailings... The discounts are on average about 10%-15% lower than what they offer the general public so it really adds up if you buy alot of tools... Also, I was worried about the July 4th sale and they said that within 45 days if I see a better price than what I got it for to bring in my slip and they would give me the difference back! MAN I LOVE HARBOR FREIGHT. Always liked their on line store but now that there is a physical location 2 miles from my house its like going into a strip joint to see what new! LOL!

[67 455 Bird ragtop]

I've got this one: http://www.harborfreight.com/2-ton-l...ump-68050.html

Works great, no problems and very high lift.

I've had this same jack for years. I LOVE IT !!!

[Tony_SS]

I got an aluminum one from Oreiley's and I'm sure thier made by the same chineese company since they look the same, but it works fine, just leaks fluid a little. But then again, so does my older craftsman!

My old 3 1/2 ton leaked... and then it finally gave out! Good thing I had the tire on the Tahoe when it did.

I need to start a thread because I want to use the jack for my Tahoe and Truck and don't think 2 tons will be enough.

[malbright]

Found this bad boy as well. Pic was huge so I left it off.

I bought the HF box 1 size smaller than the one you were talking about and I think it is slightly better quality than their "industrial" one. Drawers seemed more solid. I wanted the bigger one but found it to be not as nice.

[SparkyRnD]

why not look on the local craigslist for a good used USA-made box? You can have MUCH better quality, for not much money

[sniper]

why not look on the local craigslist for a good used USA-made box? You can have MUCH better quality, for not much money

You would think so, but to be honest people think because they got suckered for 10k, 4 years ago on a box, that it is worth 8k now. Believe me when I tell you that, I have been scouring CL for about a year and a half now with zero luck on something "reasonable. Example. I see lots of classic 78's on CL. That box off the truck is between 4k and 5k. I have not seen one less than 3k on CL. Sorry, but I can find many more uses for that 2300. While quality is important, the reality is that if holds freakin tools. Nothing more. It does not make me money. And come on "USA made". Really?

[SparkyRnD]

if you are looking at a box in the last 4-6 years, odds are it was made in China, but earlier large boxes were made here in the USA. Just takes searching, using incorrect spellings and the like. By the way, what city are you in?

[shmoov69]

TooFun, so what was the "better deal"?

[chuckd71]

I bought that same one pictured above on sale and with coupon, so far it's the only thing I've bought at harbor freight that seems to be of even remotely decent quality. It's actually surprising how nice it is, though I say this as someone who generally despises harbor freight and their cheap disposable chinese garbage.

Like someone already mentioned craigslist might have a deal from time to time but people seem to think their boxes are more valuable than gold. I'm all for buying US made but what possible reason could there be for a $4000+ tool box? That's just insulting. Perhaps there is an aspect I am misunderstanding but it appears analogous to women buying expensive purses and etc.

[SSninja]

I have a friend who is a Matco dealer and talk about this with him from time to time.

No question about it, those "professional" tool boxes are very well built, but I still haven't been given a reasonable explanation as to why they're worth what the distributors are charging for them.

The most common explanation is "Well, we warrantee the box for life". Gee, at that cost, I hope so!

[SparkyRnD]

One thing to note is while the more expensive boxes may 'appear' the same, take a look at how much weight the drawers will hold with the drawer pulled all the way out. Many of the big name boxes can support a grown adult, with the drawer open, standing on the drawer. Most of the less expensive boxes don't hold anywhere near as much, and would be damaged by that kind of weight. If you want to bore yourself to tears, there are quite a few threads over on Garage Journal talking about boxes, quality, capacity, et cetera.

[sniper]

One thing to note is while the more expensive boxes may 'appear' the same, take a look at how much weight the drawers will hold with the drawer pulled all the way out. Many of the big name boxes can support a grown adult, with the drawer open, standing on the drawer. Most of the less expensive boxes don't hold anywhere near as much, and would be damaged by that kind of weight.

That is a great point. If you plan to or already have that many tools that weigh so much that it may damage your drawers, then may I suggest buying two of the cheaper boxes and not piling so many tools into one drawer? Most of the time I've seen guys with over loaded drawers it's been with "extra" nuts, bolts and misc things.
I agree with some of the other posts, there just is nothing in a tool cabinet that is worth 10K or more.
A kid that works at our shop just purchased a freakin snap on tool cart. It's one of those not a cart but not quite a tool box size thingies. He spent like $2500 or more on just that, plus the "deal" on some tools his bill that day was $4K. I just think that is insane. I guess I am just a cheap ba$tard. Me and another guy are going to head to HF to see if we can get a better deal if we buy two that day. Can't hurt to ask.

[toofun]

I been there did that with Craigslist and the members on here are right... Got suckered into spending 10k only to try and get someone else to help recoup some of that by offering them for 5k... I am all for buying American but when it comes to something that is HOLDING my TOOLS, I will go with the harbor freight setup any day of the week. I would say after getting it and putting my tools in it, the quality is a little better than the CRAFTSMAN tool box I had before. Now I am sure Snap On, MAC, and all the others make indestructable tool boxes but I dont need a BOMB SHELTER to house my tools... I think alot of these companies are ABUSING the Made In the USA marketing ploy to soak people on the price! Just my .02 cents on the subject. Now car parts, and tools themselves is a different story!

BTW for all three boxes above I paid 875 and that included a free one year membership that gets my discounts coupons lower than what are offered to the public..

Mark
TOOFUN

[Tony_SS]

that included a free one year membership that gets my discounts coupons lower than what are offered to the public..

Mark
TOOFUN

Everyone gets those... they also tell you every mailer you get is the last one unless I respond (!)... They keep sending me more. lol