Buying Americal General Roller Cab

[Lucid Moments]

So I have decided that the 72" American General roller cab is on top of the list of boxes I want for myself.

With that as a given what is the best practical way to buy this sucker for myself? I have a flat open trailer than I can take down to my local Harbor Freight. Is that my best option? Or do they have shipping options that are better/more convenient? I like the blue color, but to be brutally honest I don't really give a **** what color it is so I can take anything they have available.
Are there any coupons available now or soon? I understand there are usually deals available on black thursday are they worth waiting for?

Any suggestions are welcome.

 

[Badger 13]

I would say watch for a sale, especially with Labor Day coming up, and if you have a trailer, pick it up yourself.

 

[AA/FC]

American General? Did HF change the name of their boxes?

 

[TuxThePenguin]

When there is a coupon it will get listed here: http://www.hfqpdb.com/best_coupon/72"+X+22"+TRIPLE+BANK+EXTRA+DEEP+CABINET

None right now but you can see a history of the coupon prices over time

Ask a friend with a truck or trailer to haul it; if you have them ship it freight, I believe that's a bare minimum of ~$150 and potentially up to around double that. I had them quote a 56 box freight to me in the past. The freight price was extremely high so I paid a friend who has a truck $50 to help me out.

Can also rent a truck from a truck rental place like Home Depot or U-Haul. Or perhaps rent a trailer from U-Hail. Unless you have to drive a lot of miles on it, it should work out way cheaper in monetary cost than freight, but it's a higher cost in your time and effort, so make your decision on which option you're okay giving up more of.

 

[Lucid Moments]

American General? Did HF change the name of their boxes?

Sorry US General For some reason I always want to call it American General even though I know better.

 

[ekimneirbo]

When you get it home, the first thing you should do is separate the keys and put one somewhere besides laying in a drawer. I bought a bottom and top box and while organizing them I laid one set of keys in a drawer and picked up the other set of keys. While loading tools I closed the drawer to put tools in a different drawer. Somehow it locked and the people at Harbor Freight Customer Service can't grasp the concept that I need another key identical to the ones locked in the box. Over 2 weeks to ship me a replacement and its the wrong one. The "lady" assured me I didn't know what I was talking about when I said she needed to send me a "specific" key number. All 64446 Blue 44" Boxes use the same lock&key.......she said. The next lady assured me was all that I needed to do was remove the lock and replace it with the new lock they sent me.I asked how to do that when the box is locked shut. She referred me to another department that she was sure could tell me how to do it. I'm still waiting for their reply.So play it safe and put one of your keys someplace else. Other than customer non-service the box seems pretty decent.

 

[ndnchf]

Yes, just use your trailer. They will load it with a fork lift. Brings straps to tie it down too. Then get a couple friend to help unload it at home. I just got a 56" top and bottom, they are heavy. So be careful.

 

[Mr_B]

flat trailer best way for a 72" .
hold out for the 999 coupon or perhaps a open box deal if not fussy on color or minor mark .
If boxed try inspect before bringing home for obvious damage .
The okay buy but only really for coupon prices or damage manager struck deals .

 

[SeisMec]

FWIW From a post 5 days ago on the harborfreight sub-reddit.

Today HFT announced a 72" top chest for the 72" US General roller cabinet. They will be available in December of this year. Also, keep an eye out for existing open boxed 72" red roller cabinets as they are coming off of display in favor of a green one.

And the day after saw this post.

Local HF has a 72” “open box” for $960. Manager said it was marked yesterday and can’t wiggle price.

I believe managers are required to knock-off an additional 10% ??? every two weeks until sold.

 

[Lucid Moments]

Just bought one. Local Harbor Freight had an open box 72" red one for $959.98 so I went with it. Got to switch tools over tonight when it gets a little cooler outside.

 

[ndnchf]

Since floor space is at a premium in my garage, I just got a 56". I figure its better to go tall than wide

 

[JP Chestnut]

When you get it home, the first thing you should do is separate the keys and put one somewhere besides laying in a drawer. I bought a bottom and top box and while organizing them I laid one set of keys in a drawer and picked up the other set of keys. While loading tools I closed the drawer to put tools in a different drawer. Somehow it locked and the people at Harbor Freight Customer Service can't grasp the concept that I need another key identical to the ones locked in the box. Over 2 weeks to ship me a replacement and its the wrong one. The "lady" assured me I didn't know what I was talking about when I said she needed to send me a "specific" key number. All 64446 Blue 44" Boxes use the same lock&key.......she said. The next lady assured me was all that I needed to do was remove the lock and replace it with the new lock they sent me.I asked how to do that when the box is locked shut. She referred me to another department that she was sure could tell me how to do it. I'm still waiting for their reply.So play it safe and put one of your keys someplace else. Other than customer non-service the box seems pretty decent.

Yeah. Not locking your keys in your toolbox is a good idea.

 

[Niteman9]

Just get the icon. They dropped the price and are 20% of the new price with 0% right now. $3039.99 right now. $85.00 a month for three years. And it's free delivery and uncrating. Just kidding but they are nice boxes. Don't think they are three times as nice.

That being said I bought the US General in black. Uncrating it was the hardest part.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

 

[Lucid Moments]

Just get the icon. They dropped the price and are 20% of the new price with 0% right now. $3039.99 right now. $85.00 a month for three years. And it's free delivery and uncrating. Just kidding but they are nice boxes. Don't think they are three times as nice.

That being said I bought the US General in black. Uncrating it was the hardest part.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

Mine was an open box so already uncrated and assembled. And cheaper!

 

[Mr_B]

Just bought one. Local Harbor Freight had an open box 72" red one for $959.98 so I went with it. Got to switch tools over tonight when it gets a little cooler outside.

nice quick action .
would like seen open box bit cheaper but if it mint it good buy and 40 bucks cheaper than best coupon ...
Have fun swapping over, 72" of counter-top space is useful ...

 

[jtitus07]

When bought mine, I had it delivered. It was about $100 for delivery on a tractor trailer with lift gate, to my house. I have a pickup truck it would have fit in, and HF will load it with a forklift, but I had no way of getting it off the truck at home as I think it weighs 500-600 lbs. That being said, if I had a trailer or a forklift at home, I would have picked it up and saved the money. I also got lucky that the truck showed up when I was home because no one ever called to schedule the delivery so I'm not sure what would have happened if I weren't home.

Edit: I See you already solved your issue. Congrats on the purchase! I'll leave my comment up for future potential buyers.

 

[ekimneirbo]

The US General is a pretty nice box, not perfect but I like it better than the Craftsman ones I have owned.

 

[ekimneirbo]

Yeah. Not locking your keys in your toolbox is a good idea.

Always has to be a smarta** somewhere. Toolboxes aren't supposed to lock on their own.
I imagine that a lot of people lay their keys in their toolbox once they open it, because they don't want to have them fall out of their pocket while working on a customers car, and get carried off when the customer drives away. Mine was inadvertant as I was dealing with two sets of keys for new (top/bottom boxes) and laid one set down.
The thing I found out later (after drilling the lock out) was that there is a rod mounted directly behind the lock that runs to the back of the box. It rotates when the key is turned. Whether this is an anomalie with just my box or not, I don't know. Anyway, the rod lifts/lowers a bar at the rear of the box. If the rod has any bow in it, it tends to rotate over center and the weight of the bar can make it rotate on its own.
In my box, If I place the rod in it one way, the over center/weight combination can cause the unlocked lock to rotate to the locked position on its own. Thats the way mine was. Simply pushing a drawer closed created enough movement that the bar dropped down and locked. While I had the lock drilled out and was installing the new one, I experimented and found if I rotated the rod 180 degrees and reinstalled it, it would then want to fall toward an unlocked position. So I reinstalled the rod where it would only fall toward an unlocked position. Now when I unlock the box, a slight key movement will continue and open it. When I lock it, the tumblers hold it up and it can't unlock on its own......and it doesn't lock on its own either. Kinda like you expect any toolbox to operate. So now I don't lock my keys in the box and the box doesn't do it either.

 

[Mr_B]

^
Is 2 factories making US Gen boxes with slight difference in lock design, but both are designed if drawer left open and box locked the drawer can be closed without needing unlock .
This makes it easy lock keys in if off guard or clumsy .
One thing you learn pretty quick in trade is not put you main keys inside your box and don't leave keys inside a car without a window open .

 

[ndnchf]

My 56" set came with 4 keys for each box. I had them laying in a top drawer..... :-( After reading this, I went out and broke them down into 4 sets. One set hangs on a hook in the garage. The others are in the house with other spare keys. Thanks for the heads up

 

[ekimneirbo]

^
Is 2 factories making US Gen boxes with slight difference in lock design, but both are designed if drawer left open and box locked the drawer can be closed without needing unlock .
This makes it easy lock keys in if off guard or clumsy .
One thing you learn pretty quick in trade is not put you main keys inside your box and don't leave keys inside a car without a window open .

Normally I am very cognizant of keeping keys out of the drawers and have a "key closet" in my shop that holds all my keys. This was a case of getting new boxes and initially sorting things out. Had two sets of keys and laid one down while messing with the other one. Simple mistake, but still something that should not have happened. I pretty much always make sure I have extra keys made for anything that only has 1 key. To their credit, the USG boxes come with several keys.....unfortunately they were all still on the ring.

Edit add: In my shop at home, I never lock any tool box.....don't need to.

 

[ekimneirbo]

My 56" set came with 4 keys for each box. I had them laying in a top drawer..... :-( After reading this, I went out and broke them down into 4 sets. One set hangs on a hook in the garage. The others are in the house with other spare keys. Thanks for the heads up

That is exactly why I posted my screwup ......for all to see. Hopefully a lot of people see it. Glad to know I'm not the only one who laid their keys in the box.