Hazet Assistent 166N Unboxing

Modern Jess · Oct 5, 2011

Shortly after arriving here at Garage Journal, I had the misfortune of noticing several threads about the Hazet Assistent. I've been wincing ever since, trying to rationalize purchasing one. I don't generally hesitate to buy things that are genuinely useful to me, but this purchase just seemed really excessive.

Well, after about a week of deliberations, I finally bit the bullet and ordered one. It arrived today, and I thought I'd borrow a meme from the gadget world (where I am a bit more at home) and do an unboxing here for all to see.

Here we go...

The box inside the box that the toolbox arrived in

All the parts laid out

Wheels on

Posts in

Trays mounted

Tada!

This thing is so cool!

dougal · Oct 5, 2011

Great photos!

Danglerb · Oct 5, 2011

Wow, if it turns out to actually be useful its going to get very hard to resist.

Monte · Oct 5, 2011

very nice toolbox !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:drool:

now you need some more handtools

bart1 · Oct 5, 2011

Sweet! Where did you get it? Jens?

canuckian · Oct 5, 2011

nice!!! Love the classic Assistent!! I almost pulled the trigger on a 166N myself but Jens was offering the 166C for such a great price it was hard to pass up. Maybe I shoulda got em both?? lol. Mine arrived yesterday. I'll have to post some pics when I get everything set up.

Zrexxer · Oct 5, 2011

canuckian said:
I almost pulled the trigger on a 166N myself but Jens was offering the 166C for such a great price it was hard to pass up.

For the Hazet-illiterate among us, what's the difference in the two models?

cundifc · Oct 5, 2011

What do those things run?

ricleh · Oct 5, 2011

Zrexxer said:
For the Hazet-illiterate among us, what's the difference in the two models?

The 166C is a little larger than the 166N.

canuckian · Oct 5, 2011

ricleh said:
The 166C is a little larger than the 166N.

yep that's the major difference. I think the 166C's bottom part is just a little deeper but AFAIK, the trays and top parts are pretty much the same. there are a few more subtle differences in the wheels and top tray material (I'd rather the rubber mat than the wood that's in mine) but that's about it.

Modern Jess · Oct 5, 2011

bart1 said:
Sweet! Where did you get it? Jens?

I got this one from Samstag Sales.

JMcFly · Oct 5, 2011

They can be pricey. But they are very cool

bart1 · Oct 5, 2011

I really like mine, honestly not a ton of storage there though.

Zrexxer · Oct 5, 2011

bart1 said:
I really like mine, honestly not a ton of storage there though.

Seems like the Assistent has something of a cult following with the air cooled VW folks, and frankly there's not a ton of tools really required to work on those cars.

Modern Jess · Oct 5, 2011

bart1 said:
I really like mine, honestly not a ton of storage there though.

I'll be using mine exclusively for working on Vespa scooters, so I'm optimistic that I'll be able to get everything I generally need in there. Primary sockets are 1/4" drive, the "large" torque wrench is 3/8" drive, the biggest fastener (the nut on the rear wheel) is 24mm, and the most common fastener is 10mm. So in general, the tools are quite a bit smaller than they would be for working on cars.

The clincher will be fitting a few of the Piaggio-made factory tools in there, which tend to be rather medieval in design.

pipsters · Oct 5, 2011

cundifc said:
What do those things run?

http://www.mansew.com/images/HAZET/TOOL-TROLLEY.htm

$900 here, that seems incredibly, well, stupid. Looks like it's worth about maybe $300 max even new, and I still wouldn't pay that.

The lock on it is funny, you can just pick the thing up and put it in your truck to steal it.

Modern Jess · Oct 5, 2011

pipsters said:
$900 here, that seems incredibly, well, stupid. Looks like it's worth about maybe $300 max even new, and I still wouldn't pay that.

It's kind of a fetish item. Either it's the greatest thing since sliced bread or just another toolbox, depending on your perspective.

pipsters said:
The lock on it is funny, you can just pick the thing up and put it in your truck to steal it.

I suspect that's largely to ward off tool borrowing by your fellow mechanics, given that these have a long history of being used in the service department of German car dealers.

lauver · Oct 5, 2011

Gang,

Just an observation... the Assistant is not a full blown tool box. It is a well thought out space saving service cart. It's not designed to store every tool you own, but instead, it's designed to keep your high frequency tools and supplies in easy reach while you're working.

Viewed as a handy compact service cart, it's a thing of beauty!

EDIT: Oh, and they are cool, *****, and an acquired taste...

canuckian · Oct 5, 2011

lauver said:
Gang,

Just an observation... the Assistant is not a full blown tool box. It is a well thought out space saving service cart. It's not designed to store every tool you own, but instead, it's designed to keep your high frequency tools and supplies in easy reach while you're working.

Viewed as a handy compact service cart, it's a thing of beauty!

well put. A tool box it's not. I bought mine to house a basic set of tools to keep in the attached garage that takes up little space. Even the KRSC31 I have is too big in there. that space is smaller than my detached shop but has to house 2 vehicles. the main box and bigger cart are in the detached shop so in the event that I don't have what i need in the assistent, I get it from the other shop. the bonus is that it has a worktop to place whatever I'm working on that moment....kinda like a ....well, like a service cart.

that, and I just think they're pretty stinkin cool!!! :lol_hitti

SpiderGearsMan · Oct 5, 2011

looks like rubbermaid ..priced like platinum

alohavw · Oct 5, 2011

Very nice! Price is a little steep but it would be a nice addition for someone that wants a nice service cart. I might consider getting one if the price was right.

Modern Jess · Oct 5, 2011

SpiderGearsMan said:
looks like rubbermaid ..priced like platinum

Looks are deceiving. It's all metal, save for the top work surface.

cundifc · Oct 5, 2011

And people think snap on boxes are over priced....not for me. But it is a cool design

Monte · Oct 5, 2011

cundifc said:
And people think snap on boxes are over priced....not for me. But it is a cool design

Does your Snap-On box fit in the trunk of your car ?

jaysonb · Oct 5, 2011

Thanks for sharing. I will be on the lookout for a used one.

cundifc · Oct 5, 2011

Monte said:
Does your Snap-On box fit in the trunk of your car ?

No it doesn't and I understand that's what makes it appealing to most. But that scares me. Too easy to steal.

canuckian · Oct 5, 2011

cundifc said:
No it doesn't and I understand that's what makes it appealing to most. But that scares me. Too easy to steal.

so is a handbox, which, organized properly, can hold as many tools as an assistent and would be easier to carry off.

geez, if I had to worry about everything I owned being stolen, I'd have some heavy and bulky stuff!! I lock my doors and windows and buy insurance to take care of those worries.

Modern Jess · Oct 5, 2011

cundifc said:
And people think snap on boxes are over priced....not for me. But it is a cool design

I'm regularly appalled at the price of snap on boxes listed on Craigslist, so I guess to each his own.

Modern Jess · Oct 5, 2011

Monte said:
Does your Snap-On box fit in the trunk of your car ?

That sealed the deal for me. On more than one occasion I've trucked a scooter to a race or had a support truck following along at the back. Having a complete set of tools to address any possible problem plus a mobile work surface is going to be an all-around win.

Monte · Oct 5, 2011

You often see that tool box used by "mobile mechanics" for example forklift service mechanics or i once saw the smallest Assistent used by a cash register/printer service technician. Easily stored in the trunk of a station wagon and you don´t have to carry a bag/case around with you, simply push the cart.

Monte · Oct 5, 2011

btw you need a new lock

jensputzier · Oct 5, 2011

Zrexxer said:
For the Hazet-illiterate among us, what's the difference in the two models?

The 166C is larger than the 166N and the tool trays have the same size as the larger Assistent drawers. This means that the tool logic foam inserts with tools also fit the 166C.

I'll post a pic of the demo trolleys in my shop tomorrow.

j.c.whitney · Oct 5, 2011

I'm pondering a Hazet Assistent right now. Worth the price of admission Jess? You'll need is a Lambretta sticker on the the Assistent lol.

Modern Jess · Oct 5, 2011

j.c.whitney said:
I'm pondering a Hazet Assistent right now. Worth the price of admission Jess? You'll need is a Lambretta sticker on the the Assistent lol.

Hey a familiar face. Errr... username.

So far I'm really digging it. A bit bigger than I thought, but that's good, actually. I think it's going to work for my situation really well, with work split between the garage and the workshop. The Assistent should roll between them nicely. If I just had a single space with all the bikes in it, my Craftsman stack would probably be fine, though it wouldn't be able to go with me on the road. Too many tools in that damn thing anyway. This will be a chance to put together a set of tools that's very focused on a single task.

And yes, I'd love a Lambretta sticker on that puppy.

bart1 · Oct 6, 2011

Modern Jess said:
Looks are deceiving. It's all metal, save for the top work surface.

Stick a magnet to it. Unless you mean the rubber liner, the black top tray is metal also.

jensputzier · Oct 6, 2011

I promised the comparison pics. Sorry for the crappy Iphone pics but you get the point:

SpiderGearsMan · Oct 6, 2011

we had gotten a foreman from the local indy volswagen shop to work in the chevy/jeep dealer , his only toolbox was an assistant , his experience was equally as small ...

I see red when I see those things

johnnybentwrench · Oct 6, 2011

They are perfect for what the OP is using it for. It is a service cart NOT a Tool Box. They take a second to get used to

bart1 · Oct 6, 2011

jensputzier said:
I promised the comparison pics. Sorry for the crappy Iphone pics but you get the point:

I could use the extra space of the C, but love the classic look of the N and prefer it

canuckian · Oct 6, 2011

bart1 said:
I could use the extra space of the C, but love the classic look of the N and prefer it

I do like my C a lot but those N's seem to have a little more of a retro look to them. Those double casters and the chrome hub caps give it a nice look also. I had never seen closeups to it like that. Now I may have to buy more than enough german tools to fill the C to justify having both!!! :lol_hitti

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