Is there a Harbor Freight tool truck yet ?

[kody1234]

Snap On never had a retail store, in every crappy shopping center In America.

Maybe they missed out

Not many people can afford to pay 40,00 for one socket.

 

[zendriver]

Not many people can afford to pay 40,00 for one socket.

It was a joke and my HF store is in a crappy shopping center, but you are absolutely right.

Maybe this thread is just reflective of a tool buying demographic shift, that does not necessarily boast of prosperity.

 

[AEAdam]

It's fun to spend $20 to do what people say you need to spend $200 to do.

Hmmm. I think I understand this. My version is that is: it’s fun to repair a car for $300, that the local garage wanted $1100 for. Or, fun to drive a vehicle normal people can’t afford the repairs for (e.g. out of warranty Land Rover product).

No judgement, but I’m not sure what GJ members are working on. Suspect lawn mowers and swing sets. The cost of labor in SE PA is like $120-150/hr and nearly every job starts with a diagnosis fee, typically 1hr of labor. Understandable, justifiable. But these costs (for me) dwarf the one time price of any tool, set, or tool box to really insignificant.

Back on topic, a tool truck doesn’t legitimize a tool company. It’s not an indicator that a tool brand has “made it”. It’s just a distribution model some manufacturers have used. Metlmunchr above has it right.

BTW, in my opinion, HF HAS made it. They have successfully replaced craftsman as a convenient source of decent tools. They don‘t need a tool truck.

 

[AEAdam]

It was a joke and my HF store is in a crappy shopping center, but you are absolutely right.

Maybe this thread is just reflective of a tool buying demographic shift, that does not necessarily boast of prosperity.

I think it’s the mistaken logic that tool trucks serve pros and strip mall stores serve amateurs. Therefore, if HF sells using tool trucks, they will be professional quality tools.

 

[Kenskip1]

How about it "Criss" Does "Astro" have a electric powered mini van ready to pedal your wares? Sorry, but I had to toss this at you. It is mandatory to have solar panels to qualify for the tax incentive.

 

[zendriver]

I think it’s the mistaken logic that tool trucks serve pros and strip mall stores serve amateurs. Therefore, if HF sells using tool trucks, they will be professional quality tools.

It's not my logic, as I see HF products in truck shops often.

On your second point, if Sears had tools trucks, they would have - by default, be professional quality as well.

 

[AEAdam]

It's not my logic, as I see HF products in truck shops often.

On your second point, if Sears had tools trucks, they would have - by default, be professional quality as well.

Interesting and respect. I don’t think the distribution and product quality are related. I suspect a lot of pros use consumer quality tools. That doesn’t make them pro grade tools because pros use them.

 

[sparky 1971]

I could see HF having the above mentioned delivery truck, but not a travelling sales truck. It's no different than auto parts, or in my case, electrical construction material. I rarely take advantage of the free delivery unless it's something big, or a mass quantity that won't fit on my service truck. That being said, one time I realized I had forgotten to pick up a pair of bushings that cost less than $1 and had them delivered that day. Another time, I ordered 25 sets of conduit straps and a there were only 23 pair in stock. I wound up not using and forgot about the back order...until the delivery truck pulled into my driveway 35 miles from the supply house at 6. a.m.carrying the straps I was supposed to pick up at the supply house. Less than $3 worth of product that time. HF could put a minimun $ amount as well as a maximum mileage, but there are precedents of deliveries losing money to keep customers happy.

 

[Fedwrench]

A Toptul Tool Truck All of that green goodness It's good for me that it's far away and Toptul doesn't want to sell here or embrace 15 & 18 mm wrench sizes

Snap on did in fact have an actual store in Albuquerque, NM in the 1980's It was a sight to behold

 

[zendriver]

Interesting and respect. I don’t think the distribution and product quality are related. I suspect a lot of pros use consumer quality tools. That doesn’t make them pro grade tools because pros use them.

Define "pro grade"

 

[dnschmidt]

Actually, Snap on had one retail store in the early 1990's. It was in Albuquerque, NM.

I'm waiting for the Toptul truck myself.

Hell's Bells Fed I live down the street from you! Why wait?

 

[sparky 1971]

Interesting and respect. I don’t think the distribution and product quality are related. I suspect a lot of pros use consumer quality tools. That doesn’t make them pro grade tools because pros use them.

Honest question. What makes a pro grade tool? For example, as an electrician with 29 years experience under my belt, I mostly use Klein screwdrivers for two reasons, the supply houses carry them and almost everyone else in the trade uses them. I'd consider them pro grade, but I also have some Chinese screwdrivers from Menards under the the Masterforce name and really can't tell the difference.

 

[Jtels85]

I don’t get the fascination with comparing HF, an importer of low quality Asian goods, and Snap On, a major US based tool manufacturer.

We have quite a few heavy equipment technicians at work who use ICON tools daily without any problems. Expert off the MAC truck is another favorite. They’re working on anything from large wheel loaders, excavators, Astec shuttle buggy’s, etc..

They don’t seem to have any complaints about the Taiwanese tools. They’re far from low quality and get the job done.

SnapOn is no longer the be all, end all of quality tools. They’re just the most expensive.

 

[AEAdam]

Honest question. What makes a pro grade tool? For example, as an electrician with 29 years experience under my belt, I mostly use Klein screwdrivers for two reasons, the supply houses carry them and almost everyone else in the trade uses them. I'd consider them pro grade, but I also have some Chinese screwdrivers from Menards under the the Masterforce name and really can't tell the difference.

Yeah, good question. Didn’t want to go there with this thread.

Did post this about my sense of cheap tools.

I know you guys are thoughtful and got the point I was trying to make about truck service. It’s not (my opinion) a good indication of anything regarding quality or success…..

 

[joel63]

This has to better than the "Ice Cream Truck."

No problem, just gotta be in western Australia.

 

[rockettauto]

This has to better than the "Ice Cream Truck."

If there was a bunch of tekton trucks, women everywhere would be making this comparison.

Ok , maybe not, these days it would be like...a playstation truck.

 

[Dakotadadv8]

Probably in the shop often since truck made in PRC.

 

[rockettauto]

Probably in the shop often since truck made in PRC.

So like ... A poor man's jaguar.

 

[mogandave]

Actually, Snap on had one retail store in the early 1990's. It was in Albuquerque, NM.

I'm waiting for the Toptul truck myself.

Is this it?:

 

[jonesg]

A retired Snap On dealer said he figured there would be one some day.

HF quality is no where good enough to withstand commercial use.

 

[Madjik Man]

HF quality is no where good enough to withstand commercial use.

I don’t know how you substantiate this claim.

There’s tons of pro mechanics using Icon and Pittsburgh in a shop with no problem.

And there’s tons of pro mechanics warrantying Snap On et al or having their truck guy repair it.

 

[BreeStephany]

Honest question. What makes a pro grade tool? For example, as an electrician with 29 years experience under my belt, I mostly use Klein screwdrivers for two reasons, the supply houses carry them and almost everyone else in the trade uses them. I'd consider them pro grade, but I also have some Chinese screwdrivers from Menards under the the Masterforce name and really can't tell the difference.

For me, pro-grade is a quality tool that lasts up to torture and still kicks and a company that stands behind it over a long history. I consider Klein a "pro-grade" tool for the electrical trade because I still have the first pair of D2000s I ever bought when I entered the trades in 2006, and while the teeth aren't as sharp as my newer pairs, they will still snip steel without a problem. I still have all of my Klein screwdrivers from when I entered the trades (minus a few 5/16" flat blades that became "beater screwdrivers") and all of them still do their job very well and most, with a little cleaning, still look almost new today. I have broke a few Klein tools over the years from everyday use and Klein and the supply houses stood behind the Klein warranty and replaced them without question.

I consider my Snap-On and Mac tools to be pro-grade because the tool trucks replace them if they break, even in those instances where the failure was obviously my fault.

I would also consider HF's Icon series tools "somewhat pro-grade" because while I'm impressed with the quality of the tools, and they do have a "lifetime" warranty, I don't know what that warranty will look like in 10~20 years because the Icon series and the "lifetime" warranty are relatively new for HF, but I do know that most times, HF replaces tools when people break them, even when they could clearly prove it was the buyer's fault.

I think a company's history of quality tools and a warranty that supports the buyer is "pro-grade".

Just my two cents.

 

[lardy1]

I'm not sure how their model of selling in sets rather than individuals would come into play. Modifying just that aspect would throw a wrench into their normal supply method.

But......overall.....in todays market, I kind of think some form of it may work in targeted areas.

 

[cherrybomb]

HF doesn't need a truck,as long as they stay in the same strip mall with Family Dollar.My young neighbor says thats where he takes his wife on date night.UGG!

 

[rust in the eye]

There was a fellow in my area that made the rounds offering specialty tools and bulk hardware. Not sure if he was profitable but he had same/similar specialty tools at a price that was a fraction of what the other trucks offered. He was cash and carry only.
I don't see a market among professionals for common cheap hand tools with concierge service.

 

[ecotec]

HF is not set up for a tool truck model. They would lose money.

Having said that… they could buy a few trucks, with big lift gates and do high end wraps on them… in a similar style to the rock and roll trucks… and just use them to deliver ICON boxes. If the city is not big enough for the truck to not have a full schedule… move it to an even bigger city. It would be deliveries that they are already making, and it would be like a rolling advertisement.

 

[JesSharTucker]

Tool truck or car, etc., imagine the money ya'll would make showing up at garages with 10mm sockets!! Quality or price doesn't matter as long as it's a 10mm socket!!

 

[rockettauto]

Tool truck or car, etc., imagine the money ya'll would make showing up at garages with 10mm sockets!! Quality or price doesn't matter as long as it's a 10mm socket!!

Just these

 

[dchawk81]

HF doesn't need a truck,as long as they stay in the same strip mall with Family Dollar.My young neighbor says thats where he takes his wife on date night.UGG!

Any girl who will consider Family Dollar or Harbor Freight a date is a keeper.

 

[JesSharTucker]

Any girl who will consider Family Dollar or Harbor Freight a date is a keeper.

I'd prefer her to go to Dollar General!!

 

[dchawk81]

I'd prefer her to go to Dollar General!!

Elitist.

 

[JesSharTucker]

Harbor Freight Tool Truck: Serving Tacos in the morning! Buy 20 10mm sockets & you'll get a 5% discount for every 5 tacos you buy during morning hours!! *Restriction Do Apply* And yes our tool truck is a modified Corvair

 

[IndyGarage]

HF quality is no where good enough to withstand commercial use.

The young guys from the pro shop at the end of my building would beg to differ.

Almost all of them are switching over to a lot of HF stuff. I keep thinking it's not that good and they keep proving me wrong. They know exactly which pieces to buy and which not to buy.

The older guys still spring for SO or Mac, but based on what I've seen I believe that truck model is not going to last.

 

[qqzj]

Tool trucks are scams. It got going in acient times when people had limited access to data and truth. Nowadays, anyone with a brain willing to think can realize that tool tricks are obstacles to their life’s goal.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Tool trucks are scams. It got going in acient times when people had limited access to data and truth. Nowadays, anyone with a brain willing to think can realize that tool tricks are obstacles to their life’s goal.

Damn, I'll have to remember to buy my Ford escape remote cooling system adapter from Icon.

 

[NFH2740]

 

[dchawk81]

Tool trucks are scams. It got going in acient times when people had limited access to data and truth. Nowadays, anyone with a brain willing to think can realize that tool tricks are obstacles to their life’s goal.

You're the expert.

 

[dchawk81]

Damn, I'll have to remember to buy my Ford escape remote cooling system adapter from Icon.

Consider the source.

 

[ForrestT]

I don’t know how you substantiate this claim.

There’s tons of pro mechanics using Icon and Pittsburgh in a shop with no problem.

And there’s tons of pro mechanics warrantying Snap On et al or having their truck guy repair it.

Couple mechanics at my Chevy dealership have switched to using Pittsburgh pro sockets. If they lose the 10mm, $10 for the whole set. One of them told me, I just go warranty stuff on Saturday or Sunday. I always bought snap on until I got tired of paying $25 a socket every time I lose one.

 

[dchawk81]

Couple mechanics at my Chevy dealership have switched to using Pittsburgh pro sockets. If they lose the 10mm, $10 for the whole set. One of them told me, I just go warranty stuff on Saturday or Sunday. I always bought snap on until I got tired of paying $25 a socket every time I lose one.

I switched to generic socks for the same reason.