Above 1200 Sq/FT Aces High Speed Shop's New Home - 36x40x14

[OutlawDrifter]

I have a set of those too! I want to put them on my 1965 C-20 long bed but the offset is not right. Anybody have a spacer recommendation that won’t kill me or anybody in oncoming traffic?

Unsure of required spacer dimensions, but run a good Stahl (steel) or Bora (aluminum) spacer torqued properly and you'll be fine. I have a set of 2" Stahls on the rear axle of my Suburban. Stahl/Bora are made by the same company. Do they hit the drums? I know guys run them on squarebodies with no issues.

 

[Xti04]

Good call on the bolt pattern!

 

[Blackbyrd]

Thanks!

Just need to decide how much effort I want to put in them...also means new tires @ the 16" diameter.

In regards to the box, I've been due for a while, just didn't want the added expense.

I don't think they do it now, but I leveraged the harborfreight credit card. I had to call and harass them, but they had the apply for the card and have 0% financing as long as you made equal payments and paid it off. I told them it was false advertising if they had that on the icon tool box sets and they didn't apply that same promotion. I got a call from there corporate marketing and they agreed. So my 73 inch box and 2 cabinets were done under that promotion.

 

[bj383ss]

Upgraded the taillights on the Suburban this weekend. It's the only lens that was still OEM. They are scuffed and in need of a serious polish, which I will do at some point. The replacements are the least euro/ricey/alteza I could find that use a real bulb, and they also get rid of the circuit boards that tend to go out in these light housings.

That's weird I bought a new set for my 95' Couple of years ago off of the Jungle that are damn near OEM.

Bret

 

[OutlawDrifter]

That's weird I bought a new set for my 95' Couple of years ago off of the Jungle that are damn near OEM.

Bret

You can get the OEM style still, Bret. I wanted something without the circuit boards and that would update the look just a touch.

 

[OutlawDrifter]

So this 20% off on the HF US General S3 boxes has thrown me for a loop. I think I still like the 3 large drawer makeup of the bottom box on the Masterforce...but I love the white color on the US General waayyy more than the blue.

Masterforce pros - better lower box drawer layout, 24" deep, large upper box top area with a shelf(could also be considered a con)

US General pros - White box, better drawer config on upper box, larger side cabinet (22" vs 16" with the MF), with the sale...$240ish less expensive

Is 2" depth that big of a difference...depends on the user, haha...sorry

I don't hate the blue color on the Masterforce box, but I don't love it either(the black and the gunmetal are not on the short list, wish they still had a red box).

The saved dollars would cover the cost of necessary vanity purchase of the SS/Brushed trim kit for the US General.


Masterforce:

https://www.menards.com/main/tools/...inet/2907772mml/p-1642874314321410-c-9188.htm

US General:

https://www.harborfreight.com/72-in-x-22-in-triple-bank-roll-cab-series-3-white-70318.html

https://www.harborfreight.com/72-in-x-22-in-triple-bank-top-chest-series-3-white-70325.html



Or I could just punt and live with what I have...as Justin always says, "I'm in analysis paralysis" right now.

 

[Mr.zippy]

I have the 56 inch base and top. It's the series 2. On sale it was a good deal, so I pulled the trigger. While I don't love some of the box configurations, I have found you have many options for dividers etc to make it useful for what you want.
The white is what I would get if I had a do over!

 

[OutlawDrifter]

I have the 56 inch base and top. It's the series 2. On sale it was a good deal, so I pulled the trigger. While I don't love some of the box configurations, I have found you have many options for dividers etc to make it useful for what you want.
The white is what I would get if I had a do over!

Appreciate your insight!

 

[Blackbyrd]

Now that I'm seeing them, I'll be honest the extra draw you get out of the masterforce I wouldn't like. The shallow drawers don't really hold as many tools as you think unless it's stuff that lays down super flat like wrenches and screw drivers Having 3 of them that wide may leave you a lot of deadspace depending on what your tool situation is. A for instance I've got one of those plastic trim removal kits one of the tools has to lay the right way in one of those shallow drawers on mine or you can't close the drawer.

The 2 extra shallow wode drawers I have in my icon box are the most empty. I also like the holster drawer you get with the US General.

 

[OutlawDrifter]

Now that I'm seeing them, I'll be honest the extra draw you get out of the masterforce I wouldn't like. The shallow drawers don't really hold as many tools as you think unless it's stuff that lays down super flat like wrenches and screw drivers Having 3 of them that wide may leave you a lot of deadspace depending on what your tool situation is. A for instance I've got one of those plastic trim removal kits one of the tools has to lay the right way in one of those shallow drawers on mine or you can't close the drawer.

The 2 extra shallow wode drawers I have in my icon box are the most empty. I also like the holster drawer you get with the US General.

Totally understand the issues with the shallow drawers, but I've got a plan for them...or "had" a plan for them until my frugal and vain sides kicked in

My white Husky 46" roller holds all my ratchets/sockets, end wrenches, pliers, etc. It gets rolled over to what I'm working on. Big box is more for lesser used tools and overflow(which continues to grow).

 

[Blackbyrd]

I was also gonna say you are getting one of the hutch top boxes which I don't have so my point is a bit moot haha.

I don't think you can go wrong with either choice, but at the end of the day my vote is which one makes you happy when you stare at it. That's how I decided atleast.

 

[XJSuperman]

I have the 56 inch base and top. It's the series 2. On sale it was a good deal, so I pulled the trigger. While I don't love some of the box configurations, I have found you have many options for dividers etc to make it useful for what you want...

I have the same setup and love it Marc. No complaints. I chose it over the Menards as I believed the drawer quality was better. Layout didn't concern me too much between the two of them. Did you say Menards doesn't offer red anymore? I was sure I just saw a red box on display at my local store...ope, its their cheap line that still has red. Looks like they dropped the green too. Bummer

 

[OutlawDrifter]

I have the same setup and love it Marc. No complaints. I chose it over the Menards as I believed the drawer quality was better. Layout didn't concern me too much between the two of them. Did you say Menards doesn't offer red anymore? I was sure I just saw a red box on display at my local store...ope, its their cheap line that still has red. Looks like they dropped the green too. Bummer

Well the allure of the 20% discount sold me. Youngest and I made a trip down to Lansing (saved some sales tax over my usual St Joe location) and picked up a 72" top/bottom combo with a side locker. Rep told me it would be about 3 weeks for it to arrive.

 

[OutlawDrifter]

Not too much going on in the way of "fun" stuff lately. Just yard work and work work

After a few good rains my yard snapped out of the brown dormancy it found itself in!




We had a bday party and a retirement party on Saturday, so didn't do much around the house. Mowed and sprayed yesterday, polished the wheels on the Suburban, helped daughter #2 with and oil change, and then we went for a cruise in the '49(I let her drive). Had an awesome fried chicken dinner prepared by my bride to cap off the day.

Have some new tools coming in over the next few days. Need to do the driver's side rear axle bearing on the Tundra. Hoping I get notice that my new tool box will be delivered to the store soon as well!

Have a great week everyone

 

[Boostingaz]

Happy belated Father's Day. Sounds like you had a great weekend!

 

[OutlawDrifter]

Happy belated Father's Day. Sounds like you had a great weekend!

Thanks, same to ya!

 

[Mr.zippy]

Wow! You have a beautiful place! Was the retirement party for you?

 

[OutlawDrifter]

Wow! You have a beautiful place! Was the retirement party for you?

Thank you! We do our best to keep it looking good.

Unfortunately no retirement party for me yet!

 

[zmotorsports]

Yard looks amazing Marc.

 

[OutlawDrifter]

Yard looks amazing Marc.

Thanks Mike!

 

[madison069]

Yard look sharp!

 

[Blackbyrd]

Marc your property is gorgeous!

 

[OutlawDrifter]

Yard look sharp!

Thanks Cody!

Marc your property is gorgeous!

Appreciate it sir, it's not too bad for a place out in the country!

 

[Blackbyrd]

Thanks Cody!



Appreciate it sir, it's not too bad for a place out in the country!

I'd take that over a .5 acre in the burbs anyday!

 

[Xti04]

Yard looks great Marc!

 

[OutlawDrifter]

Yard looks great Marc!

Thank you!

 

[OutlawDrifter]

This past week was vacation week. Headed back to my old stomping grounds. Made the best mileage I've ever done with the Suburban, 14.53mpg @ 68mph with the AC blowing. The new ignition components are working. We left Saturday afternoon and fought 30-40mph winds and 103° temps. The mechanical fan ran a lot even at highway speeds. The rest of the week was in the high 70s to mid 80 degrees temps, perfect summer weather.



Washed up for the last half of our trip out west:



Played mechanic and spent a lot of the week haying. Had the youngest driving the JD 7810 with the twin bale mover on the 3pt.



Put the ol' red 2500HD to work moving the bales to the stack yard from the fields further away.



All in all a great trip and I was able to recharge my batteries after a LONG spring at work.

 

[OutlawDrifter]

After arriving home Friday evening, I received a call that my new toolbox was in, so Saturday morning I hooked the trailer up and kept the Suburban rolling.



Spent the rest of the day unpacking the 3 pieces, assembling them, and moving tools over. Ended up moving the shelves in front of my lift, the new home for the toolbox.






The 52" Husky combo it is replacing.







Lots of work and glad to I have that part out of the way. Now I get to play, "where the hell is that tool" for the next few months !

 

[Xti04]

Nice score on the boxes! How do you like the cabinet so far? I have 2 of them and really like them for all my box sets

 

[OutlawDrifter]

Nice score on the boxes! How do you like the cabinet so far? I have 2 of them and really like them for all my box sets

Thanks, so far so good. It's going to be a learning curve after moving stuff around in my roller cart and the big box. Biggest gripe is the "slide left" to unlock the new box, that was one of the biggest selling points of the Menard's Masterforce boxes, their pull-out unlocking system.

The white color was definitely what I wanted though. Lots of space and I currently have one empty drawer in my roller cart and 1.5 empty drawers in the big box.

 

[zmotorsports]

The Suburban is looking sharp as hell Marc.

The toolbox looks great all outfitted with the locker and looks great right where you placed it.

 

[OutlawDrifter]

The Suburban is looking sharp as hell Marc.

The toolbox looks great all outfitted with the locker and looks great right where you placed it.

Thanks, Mike!

The 'burb is going to stay in daily driver duty until I get the driver's side rear axle bearing replaced on the Tundra. It's been earning its keep the last couple of weeks for sure.

 

[XJSuperman]

Thats definitely a sweet new addition. The white fits in well there. I too, am not a fan of the Gen3 locks. The Gen2 (mine), only has a tab at the far right of each drawer, not a hundred of them for me to stub my fingers on across the width.

 

[OutlawDrifter]

Thats definitely a sweet new addition. The white fits in well there. I too, am not a fan of the Gen3 locks. The Gen2 (mine), only has a tab at the far right of each drawer, not a hundred of them for me to stub my fingers on across the width.

Thanks man!...1st world problems, right?!

 

[Xti04]

I tried to talk my wife into a white roller cart for her salon as a work station. She didnt fall for that

 

[OutlawDrifter]

I tried to talk my wife into a white roller cart for her salon as a work station. She didnt fall for that

We can always try

 

[madison069]

Surburban is looking sharp! I've been glancing over facebook market place just to see if there's a decent surburban around here, but most are jsut rusted out junk.

Good use of the lift to get the top cabinet on the lower half! Ill have to remember that if the time ever comes.

Now, what are you going to do with most of the stuff that was on those shelves?

 

[OutlawDrifter]

Surburban is looking sharp! I've been glancing over facebook market place just to see if there's a decent surburban around here, but most are jsut rusted out junk.

Good use of the lift to get the top cabinet on the lower half! Ill have to remember that if the time ever comes.

Now, what are you going to do with most of the stuff that was on those shelves?

Thanks, Cody!

I was going to use the loader, but @ almost 400lbs, it seemed easier to use the lift and keep it stationary.

The shelf got moved over to where the Husky box lived...and it got cleaned off...a bit

 

[madison069]

Open shelves drive me nuts, but they are cheap storage solutions. Soon I hope to get rid of some more shelves clutter in my garage and then put everything in storage cabinets. My goal is to try and keep things cleaner in the new garage. So closed cabinet would help in that department.

But, if everything is behind closed doors, I suspect I will be hunting for everything in the future so it's a damn if you do and damn if you don't situation!

 

[zmotorsports]

Open shelves drive me nuts, but they are cheap storage solutions. Soon I hope to get rid of some more shelves clutter in my garage and then put everything in storage cabinets. My goal is to try and keep things cleaner in the new garage. So closed cabinet would help in that department.

But, if everything is behind closed doors, I suspect I will be hunting for everything in the future so it's a damn if you do and damn if you don't situation!

I concur Cody. In my last shop everything was stored on open shelving due to cost constraints and adding as I went along. I swore I would not have open shelving in the new shop, but it does come at a cost. Those cabinets are not cheap and they do take up real estate, but they sure keep things concealed nicely.