Help me pick...Harbor Freight...26" Double stack or 700lb tool cart + 580lb tool cart

Help me pick...Harbor Freight...26" Double stack or 700lb tool cart + 580lb tool cart

I need some more space to tools in my shop. The top of by budget is $300+tax, so unless someone has a killer coupon hiding out there for the 13 drawer 44/42 model, please don't suggest it.

For all of you who keep up the buy USA mantra, I get it and I wish I could. I've been watching craigslist for months and even if I were willing to drive two hours, the cheapest I've seen from SnapOn/Matco/Etc in my area has be $575 for a nearly useless two drawer two shelf Matco cart.

I have a few discount coupons for Harbor Freight which expire on Monday and I've had them for a few months without seeing any better deals/coupons roll out.

The red US General 26" double stack 8 top/8 bottom drawer cabinet for $299[$30.00 less than any other coupons I've seen]:
http://www.harborfreight.com/26-8-drawer-roller-cabinet-with-8-drawer-top-chest-67831.html

The red five drawer 700lb tool cart coupon for $159[ten less than any other coupons I've seen]:
http://www.harborfreight.com/five-drawer-service-cart-95272.html

The black 580lb Tool Cart coupon for $99[could have sworn I spotted one for $89 but I can't find it now]:
http://www.harborfreight.com/580-lb-capacity-four-drawer-tool-cart-95659.html

I've been eyeballing the 700lb tool cart more than the double stack roller cabinet and I recently stumbled upon the 580lb tool cart coupon.

I already have one double stack cabinet of a similar design as the harbor freight model, from sams club years ago and in stainless instead of painted. It's filled to the brim on nearly all the drawers.

Any reason to go with one over the other you guys can think of?

Thanks
Wes

Re: Help me pick...Harbor Freight...26" Double stack or 700lb tool cart + 580lb tool

If you don't need the stack and want the 5 drawer cart, get the cart.

Re: Help me pick...Harbor Freight...26" Double stack or 700lb tool cart + 580lb tool

How's the build quality compare between the three? Anyone had any failures of either one of those?

I'm considering buying one of each cart or just the double stack for clarity sake. Althought I guess I could do three of the black carts...I'm just not sure what I'd be giving up other than 120lbs of capacity.

Re: Help me pick...Harbor Freight...26" Double stack or 700lb tool cart + 580lb tool

Can anyone comment on the 26" double stack?

I have a Ford WDS that I would probably put on a cart, but I am wondering if I would be better off with the 26" model and put the top half on a work bench for now. I am very curious to know if it is of comparable quality to the 42/44 or the 56 tool chests that many people here think highly of here.

Thanks
Wes

Re: Help me pick...Harbor Freight...26" Double stack or 700lb tool cart + 580lb tool

I know a guy with the double stack that he uses every day at work now for about a year. Has had no problems with it.

Re: Help me pick...Harbor Freight...26" Double stack or 700lb tool cart + 580lb tool

I wish you could buy just the lower part of the stack, then it would be a no brainer! I need more drawers for my workbench, but I don't want to buy a 44" for just a few drawers, that's where the lower box out of that stack would come in handy.

Re: Help me pick...Harbor Freight...26" Double stack or 700lb tool cart + 580lb tool

Good point on just the lower. I will ask today. Any more words of wisdom before I head ou?

Thanks
Wes

Re: Help me pick...Harbor Freight...26" Double stack or 700lb tool cart + 580lb tool

I went with just the US General Pro 700lb red tool cart. The black one was nice but the drawers were slightly smaller and didn't have as much depth. The wrench holder trays for the drawers will not fit in the black cart's drawers. I may end up picking up a black one at a later time though as the fit and finish was very nice.

I wasn't to impressed by the 26". It's probably fine, I just didn't see it fitting my needs that well. I did look at the 56 and the 44 while I was there just to see what all the fuss is about. I found the drawers in the floor model 56 to be on the flimsy/flexible side. the 44 was a bit better but the full length drawer in the 44 had quite a bit of flex to it.

Overall, I was left with the impression that if the 56 and the 44 are even close to what Snap On sells for thousands, people are crazy for paying for Snap On prices. If Snap On's using higher quality sliders, heavier gauge steel and they include a 10 year warranty maybe they are worth 1500-2000. I seem to remember the old Snap On boxes feeling considerably more substaintial than the HF 56/44 models, so perhaps that's how they still are, but based on the postings here, I'm left with the impression that perhaps Snap On boxes just aren't what they use to be.

Wes