Does anyone have first hand experience with the CT MAXIMUM 5-Drawer Cart?

[daithi]

The Canadian Tire MAXIMUM 5-Drawer cart is due to go on sale next week ($299 instead of 599). That puts it in the ballpark of the US General that everyone seems to think is the best value for money (still a little pricier than the HF with a coupon, same price as without one).

They look very similar although not identical. The dimensions aren't exactly the same on the websites (width for example, 20.55" vs 22") but that could be rounding errors, not taking bumpers/handles into account etc.

I can't find any written reviews online, just a few Youtube videos. Most of them are reasonably positive but no direct comparison to the USGen. One is critical of it (I can't post a link) but a single comment from 3 weeks ago halfway down the page says that theirs is newer than the (2019) video and they've added more structural reinforcement in line with the USGen.

Basically if it's the same box or near enough in quality I'll probably pick one up this weekend. Doesn't seem like the border is going to open any soon to go to HF. I've started an apprenticeship and I'll need to buy quite a few tools in the near future. I have a ****** 26" box someone gave me for a case of beer but it's already jammed full and it doesn't really roll well. I'm thinking I'll put all my everyday tools in this cart - sockets, wrenches, pliers etc and my less used stuff can stay in the 26". That comes close to doubling my current storage space and by the time I outgrow that I'll replace the 26 with a 56 and be golden.

As much as I'd love someone to gift me a 5 figure snap-on setup I'm not taking out a loan on an empty box (and I need some leftover budget to actually buy tools for the empty drawers).

Anyway, I could ramble on aimlessly for a while. Has anyone here bought or seen this box and could chime in before I spend a bunch of money? Or throw a similarly priced, Canada-available alternative into the ring?

 

[mr57]

Harbor Freight cart goes on sale every once in a while for $149.00 US which at today's exchange is 189.23 Canadian Dollars. The cart is most likely made in the same place as the HF one, so at $299, it's still too damn much money!

I missed a used one here for $150 last month. Guy that had it said it was very well built, though, and served him well. He just upgraded.

Yes, I'm bitter....

 

[darkzero]

Harbor Freight cart goes on sale every once in a while for $149.00 US

Not anymore, not for the 5-drawer. I haven't seen the 5 drawer for $149 since the series 1 which is what I paid. My series 2 I paid $169. $169 days are long gone too.

But at today's price it's still cheaper than that Maximum & they look similar if not the same.

 

[joey1320]

Seems like the exact same as US Gen.

Same as this one too.

https://www.ruralking.com/crimson-30-inch-5-drawer-tool-cart-gray-24570005

 

[CS454]

I've had it for about a year, we have a pretty large shop and it sees a lot of mileage. It's held up better than I thought, the lid struts are weaker than I'd prefer but it will absolutely hold the junk, I've attached a few pics how I currently have mine set up, and the far more crowded setup that inhabited it previously

No bolts have backed out, the frame doesn't wobble. the drawer detents are alright, takes enough effort to pull the drawers out but not painfully so. The caster locks show some considerable wear but I do some stupid stuff with them. For $299 it's held up a lot better than two coworkers Husky carts.

 

[daithi]

Harbor Freight cart goes on sale every once in a while for $149.00 US which at today's exchange is 189.23 Canadian Dollars. The cart is most likely made in the same place as the HF one, so at $299, it's still too damn much money!

$169 days are long gone too.

But at today's price it's still cheaper than that Maximum & they look similar if not the same.

Unfortunately we're not spoiled for choice in the great white north. $300 Canadian is basically list price for the Series 2 ($240USD) and the best coupon available right now on the Series 2 ($199USD) brings it to $245 Canadian. $55 in gas would barely get me to Harbor Freight and back even if the border was open so that's kind of where I'm at in price anyways.

I've had it for about a year, we have a pretty large shop and it sees a lot of mileage. It's held up better than I thought, the lid struts are weaker than I'd prefer but it will absolutely hold the junk, I've attached a few pics how I currently have mine set up, and the far more crowded setup that inhabited it previously

No bolts have backed out, the frame doesn't wobble. the drawer detents are alright, takes enough effort to pull the drawers out but not painfully so. The caster locks show some considerable wear but I do some stupid stuff with them. For $299 it's held up a lot better than two coworkers Husky carts.

Thanks for your replies & photos! Is that a set of 3/8 drive bolt removers in the grey case? I think I have the same set. For $299 I'd be ok with replacing casters and/or gas struts down the line, provided the rest of the box is holding up. Even my coworker's snap-on is in need of some wheels after a couple years (and moreso after he drove into it last week).

 

[darkzero]

Unfortunately we're not spoiled for choice in the great white north. $300 Canadian is basically list price for the Series 2 ($240USD) and the best coupon available right now on the Series 2 ($199USD) brings it to $245 Canadian. $55 in gas would barely get me to Harbor Freight and back even if the border was open so that's kind of where I'm at in price anyways.

I see, that makes sense. I'd probably go with the Maximum too then. And if you were to have a problem you wouldn't have to make the trip back to HF.

I was unlucky when I got my series 2 cart. The stores around me were having damage issues. I had to exchange 2 because of damage before I finally got a good one. Had no such problems when I got my series 1.

 

[Jswain]

I just received one for Christmas and I couldn't be happier with it. Takes all of about an hour to put together and they honestly couldn't have made it any easier as all of the nuts are one size with carriage bolts so they don't require a backup and a Philips screwdriver for 4 of them.

Once it is together it feels very solid & can fit a lot of tools, in my mind for $300 you can't go wrong

 

[VR6ix]

It's Crappy Tire - buy it, try it, don't like it? Just return it! At half price I would go for it. I think 90% of my tool purchases at CT were because it was 40-60% off lol. If I'm looking at the same one, 058-1364-2, it's rated to hold 700lbs. The casters look suspect, I've never seen an industrial caster that tries to mimic the look of a ricer alloy wheel, but that's easily fixed years down the road when they wear out. Surprised the MAXIMUM warranty is only 1 year exchange but I think I read a couple years ago that they scaled-back all the warranty coverage.

 

[daithi]

I just received one for Christmas and I couldn't be happier with it. Takes all of about an hour to put together and they honestly couldn't have made it any easier as all of the nuts are one size with carriage bolts so they don't require a backup and a Philips screwdriver for 4 of them.

Once it is together it feels very solid & can fit a lot of tools, in my mind for $300 you can't go wrong

That's good to hear. I'm definitely leaning towards picking one up this weekend

It's Crappy Tire - buy it, try it, don't like it? Just return it! At half price I would go for it. I think 90% of my tool purchases at CT were because it was 40-60% off lol. If I'm looking at the same one, 058-1364-2, it's rated to hold 700lbs. The casters look suspect, I've never seen an industrial caster that tries to mimic the look of a ricer alloy wheel, but that's easily fixed years down the road when they wear out. Surprised the MAXIMUM warranty is only 1 year exchange but I think I read a couple years ago that they scaled-back all the warranty coverage.

Honestly at CT the sale price is what I consider the real price. Their list prices are out to lunch but at 50% off they're reasonable (and everything goes 50% off once a year at least). Pity the MAXIMUM warranty has been nerfed. I've put up the extra dollars over base Mastercraft for most of the stuff I've bought there and the warranty was part of the reason.