Are the HF US General Series 2 boxes going away?

[308guru]

I'm looking on the HF website for the US General Series 2 44" wide and there are no lowers at all. The uppers have just a few colors available and the usual black/red show as currently unavailable?

I really hope they aren't dropping the Series 2 in favor of the Series 3. They seem to be very different products and I, and plenty of others, seem to prefer the Series 2.

 

[purplezr2]

I'm looking on the HF website for the US General Series 2 44" wide and there are no lowers at all. The uppers have just a few colors available and the usual black/red show as currently unavailable?

I really hope they aren't dropping the Series 2 in favor of the Series 3. They seem to be very different products and I, and plenty of others, seem to prefer the Series 2.

Pretty sure that is what is happening, Gen 3 is replacing Gen 2, but are said to be compatible.... whatever that means.

 

[Fedwrench]

The series 2 is history, replaced by series 3.

 

[alinc100]

I would dare say unless you live in Siberia or some small volume Harbor Freight area the Series 2 boxes are long gone. That ship has sailed. It is possible you can find a demo/floor model. If you look at the HF website and find the Series 2,the website will search your area for one.

 

[MarkH]

Visited the youngest daughter for Christmas. Her husband was looking for some shelving. As the city boy raised upper class he had looked at Amazon, Sams, Costco etc and god only knows were online and was holding off due to the price for the quality he wanted. Since they live in a city I was planning to pick up a couple items at Horrible Freight. So he got his first trip to Harbor Freight. Pricing surprised him and as he assembled the shelves, "he is a Lego master so it was like putting together a Lego with giant pieces to him", he was stating better quality when complete than what he saw elsewhere. He said he will be back. His parents may disown him though for it. Given current situation at least the old HF smell is not as obvious anymore. The picture in my mind of his mother with him when he says I have to stop at Horrible Freight in my mind is priceless.

He is the one who had never touched a tool until he met my daughter. He is learning. The last time they had a car with a dead battery his parents were call a wrecker and have it taken to the dealer. He was no we will just take it out and get a new one and put it in, the car is in the driveway. The daughter said there was just silence on the phone at the other end. She guessed what they were thinking.

I did warn him that HF is a marketer not a manufacturer. So he will have to check product quality it changes. One of the things that I pointed out was the banners out for series 3 US General products. Series 2 have been long gone everywhere. I was using it for an example of how HF clearances and when they do that go shopping if you have something you want it is usually cheaper. The old series usually go very quickly and before most people knew about the change the only series 2 you could find were in odd colors. White might work for the wife's jewelry box and some industries but not in my shops. He is a coupon freak so I showed him how to check coupons a couple times a month.

 

[JeepYJ]

The last time they had a car with a dead battery his parents were call a wrecker and have it taken to the dealer. He was no we will just take it out and get a new one and put it in, the car is in the driveway. The daughter said there was just silence on the phone at the other end. She guessed what they were thinking.

They were probably thinking why is my grownup married adult son calling me to tell me he has a dead battery in his car in a non-emergency situation?

 

[308guru]

And just moments after I made the post here, all of the Series 2 has been removed from the website. The webmaster was typing at the same time I was.

 

[MarkH]

They were probably thinking why is my grownup married adult son calling me to tell me he has a dead battery in his car in a non-emergency situation?

Actually he had called to brag he could do it. The first time before they were married he called my daughter on what to do when his battery lost it. She said get your jumper cables out and I will pull by and start your car. He went jumper cables???????? She went I have my own we will use them. It will get you to the local batteries and bulb store. You will need a new battery.

Actually she said his mother was thinking now what will that *&^*%* he married have him doing next!!!!!!!!!! He is getting dirty!!!!!!! He also got jumper cables for his Christmas present that first year from me.

 

[smackey05]

Gen 3 is replacing Gen 2. I'm disappointed they don't have the Blue/Silver and went Blue/black for the Gen 3.....

I bought a Gen2 toolbox and none of the Gen3 matches unfortunately.

 

[308guru]

I was just at the store checking out the Series 3.
The handle latches are ridiculously cheesy/cheap. Good thing they slide right out.

 

[Crowbarman55]

I will wait for the gen 4.
Or just keep buying the Husky's from HD. Don't hate me, I love my Husky boxes.
Todd

 

[CGarage]

Why do folks prefer the Gen 2 version???

 

[number9]

I've been meaning to get a 26" Series 2 in black for a while now, and just came to understand they've been discontinued. I've called every store around me, last one told me no store within 100 miles has any. Called Customer Service and yep, there gone-gone.

What a freaking bummer. Already have a couple of the larger boxes, paired with Husky garge cabinets (black w/ chrome handles). Series 3 with black trim looks like sh*t on a stick (I despise the blacked out look).

Does anyone know of a US General knock-off or other brand that has similar quality and still has the traditional look?

..

 

[71goldss]

I've been meaning to get a 26" Series 2 in black for a while now, and just came to understand they've been discontinued. I've called every store around me, last one told me no store within 100 miles has any. Called Customer Service and yep, there gone-gone.

What a freaking bummer. Already have a couple of the larger boxes, paired with Husky garge cabinets (black w/ chrome handles). Series 3 with black trim looks like sh*t on a stick (I despise the blacked out look).

Does anyone know of a US General knock-off or other brand that has similar quality and still has the traditional look?

..

Harbor Freight claims that trim options will become available for the series 3 boxes. I haven't seen anything listed yet, but I haven't been looking either. I don't know if the trim will need to be special ordered with the cabinet, or if the trim will be offered separately and installed by the purchaser? Just something to watch for.

 

[mailmandave]

Why do folks prefer the Gen 2 version???

if I recall, they had more drawers on the 44in

 

[lbhsbz]

Just saw this...they have chrome trim kits for the series 3 boxes

Chrome Trim Kit for Series 3 27 in. Roll Cab

Amazing deals on this 27In Roll Cab Chrome Trim Kit at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

 

[lugnut71]

I been thinking about a 27" box for sometime , i really like the drawer layout on the series 3 unit

 

[Pontiac787]

Thanks for the heads up. It makes the series 3 more appealing but also makes it more expensive.

 

[CGarage]

I would like to buy the 6 drawer roll cart at some point.

I wish someone made replacement bumpers that were blank, rather than being marked “US General”.

 

[flying eyeball]

Looks like HF is showing 'chrome' and 'titanium' trim kits for all the boxes.

 

[shakenfake]

@CGarage Yes more drawers on the 44" version. What also is annoying is that now you only have the 42" cabinet, which means if I want to buy a top chest it will not fit perfect like the 44" version from Gen 2. Not the end of the world mind you but it is a slight irritant. The Series 3 42" box would never fit all my stuff. My 44" is pretty loaded and I am looking at expanding into another box, probably just a top chest.

I do however much prefer the Series 3 end locker to the Series 2. So that is a welcome change. Now I just need to buy it at some point... Maybe after I finish my shed.

 

[GeoBruin]

@CGarage Yes more drawers on the 44" version. What also is annoying is that now you only have the 42" cabinet, which means if I want to buy a top chest it will not fit perfect like the 44" version from Gen 2. Not the end of the world mind you but it is a slight irritant. The Series 3 42" box would never fit all my stuff. My 44" is pretty loaded and I am looking at expanding into another box, probably just a top chest.

I do however much prefer the Series 3 end locker to the Series 2. So that is a welcome change. Now I just need to buy it at some point... Maybe after I finish my shed.

I'm not sure that's right. The boxes are all backward compatible with series 2. I think the issue here is the confusion about the naming. The "44" box was never 44 inches long. It's 42 inches long. HF caught a lot of flak for including the handle in the dimensions and kind of inflating the size of the cabinet, so this go-around, they're calling a spade a spade and actually calling it a 42" cabinet.

Here's a picture of my Series 2 "44".

 

[shakenfake]

@GeoBruin Thank you Geo, did not realize that was a thing. I never measured my box when I got it except the insides of the drawers for the tool grid.

 

[71goldss]

I'm not sure that's right. The boxes are all backward compatible with series 2. I think the issue here is the confusion about the naming. The "44" box was never 44 inches long. It's 42 inches long. HF caught a lot of flak for including the handle in the dimensions and kind of inflating the size of the cabinet, so this go-around, they're calling a spade a space and actually calling it a 42" cabinet.

Here's a picture of my Series 2 "44"

@CGarage Yes more drawers on the 44" version. What also is annoying is that now you only have the 42" cabinet, which means if I want to buy a top chest it will not fit perfect like the 44" version from Gen 2. Not the end of the world mind you but it is a slight irritant. The Series 3 42" box would never fit all my stuff. My 44" is pretty loaded and I am looking at expanding into another box, probably just a top chest.

I do however much prefer the Series 3 end locker to the Series 2. So that is a welcome change. Now I just need to buy it at some point... Maybe after I finish my shed.

My OCD would prevent me from putting a series 3 cabinet on top of a series 2. Even with ordering the chrome trim kit, it still won't match because the actual shape of the trim is different now also! It would look like having a Husky top box, and a Craftsman bottom box. Would drive me nuts every time I looked at it!

 

[shakenfake]

Gotta do what you gotta do. Not buying a brand new box just to match

 

[CGarage]

I sort of prefer the convenience of owning multiple ~ 26” cabinets at home compared to one large cabinet. I have a big cabinet in the office machine shop but it’s gotten too big and heavy to move and stays stationary at all times, which sort of defeats the purpose. I think it is about 52 inches wide.

 

[shakenfake]

@CGarage I see cabinets as stationary. I prefer a mechanic's cart if I wanted to move stuff around.

Other than ease of rearranging stuff around the shop I never understood why they always came on wheels.

 

[1956 F100]

I bought most of these during the sales of the series 2 Boxes. At considerable saving.

 

[ToolMoney]

Why do folks prefer the Gen 2 version???

As a Gen 2, 56" rolling cab owner, I can tell you the drawer size (height), configuration (more bigger drawers), and layout is just better thought out. More room for tools of any shape/size if you play around. The new Series 3 has fewer drawers and there's a huge reinforcement bar that runs the length of the toolbox in front below the 2nd drawer. Huge waste of space if you ask me, should have been a third shallow full length drawer.
Also, the Series 3 began the charging drawer and power tool drawer; both of which in my opinion are useless to a regular mechanic who is going to have his power tools at his disposal in a separate roll cart, and his chargers in the main toolbox top, or hutch area, or in a locker on his main toolbox. Charging drawer is a terrible idea since there's hardly any room by the time they throw the cable chain in there and add the power strip. Secondly, did anyone think about the heat generated when you're charging a couple of Milwaukee 5.0ah batteries at the same time, in a closed space smaller the size of a shoebox? There's no place for the heat to go, just close that drawer up and turn it into an oven. Heat is bad for batteries and chargers, that's why they put little vents on them and feet for the air to circulate underneath. Anyhow, those are just a couple of my reasons. I have more. Oh yeah and the Series 3 hutch; (or a series 2 box with a series 3 hutch) workcenter riser door is so low to the ground you whack your head on it when standing in front of the box! Super annoying! Let's not talk about the additional work surface you lose with a USG series 3 hutch.. 1.5" on three sides of the box. Crazy. They're a small enough footprint to begin with, without adding that on there. I think I'm done for now