Finally did it... Got a US General 44" Roller, but...

[BearsFan315]

been looking at upgrading my old tool box setup. need more storage for my tools ready man postings n the US General and them being a great bang for the buck.

finally broke down and got me a 44" US General Rolling Cabinet. I got an email that harbor Freight was brining back the coupons, so I got excited. Then I got a 25% OFF Any One Item No Exception Coupon. So I went for it, I went down and got a US General Orange 44" Roller, plan to get a 26" top Chest to put on it soon (waiting for a sale or another Coupon).

Question is when I got home and unpacked it, it was the old First Generation not the NEWER Series 2 ?? There were NO dings, dents, scratches, and all drawers roll nice and smooth.

Question is should I worry or good to go ? trying to find out what the Series 2 changed and added ? Upgrades

 

[Gizzygone]

I’m just curious how/when you got the coupon? (Wanting to make a purchase myself)

 

[BearsFan315]

I’m just curious how/when you got the coupon? (Wanting to make a purchase myself)

got it via email

 

[Gizzygone]

got it via email

Are you an inside track member? Or just signed up for emails?

It’s a nice looking toolbox, BTW!

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Major difference between the First and Second Generation 44" Boxes is the Second Generation being 22"+ deep (measured front to rear) vs the First Generation being about 18" deep. Please grab Your tape measure and report the measurement back to Us. Now I am curious!

 

[Firstram]

I don't think they had orange 1st gen.

 

[Blackbyrd]

Got the same coupon this morning

 

[BearsFan315]

just an FYI they are NOT fulling extending drawers. stop about 1 1/2" short, but not a big deal.

 

[BearsFan315]

few more shots

 

[Renegade1LI]

Pretty sure that’s a gen 2, isn’t it 22”? Gen 1 was 18”. I have a 72” with the drawers pulled out tug on them a bit, mine are almost full extension.

 

[unslow1]

I don't think they had orange 1st gen.

I'm pretty sure they didn't.

 

[Cairo94507]

I just bought the 72" US General yesterday in green. I was able to negotiate a $300 discount with the manager. I will pick it up in about 2 weeks when it arrives. I had another US General, before I remodeled my last garage and it was a great, solid box. No issues whatsoever. I gave that to my cousin when I did full custom cabinets in my garage and did a built-in tool box. Now in my new garage, I needed a tool box until I can get to that remodel. This fits the bill nicely.

 

[CombatNinja]

22" deep makes it Gen 2. I favor shallower boxes for my use and workbench/counter fitment so I was kinda bummed when they went away from the 18" deep configuration. Seems all the boxes these days are going in that direction.

 

[BearsFan315]

Got the same coupon this morning

I got the 25% for Memorial Day Weekend, but says it excludes 'Storage Cabinets, Chests, and Carts' along with other things and one day only Monday 30 May.

 

[BearsFan315]

Still need to figure out Where i am going to put this one It is technically replacing my older Craftsman Roller, Intermediate, and Top Box. Craftsman is only 26" wide and 18" deep for roller, Intermediate and Top are only 12" Deep.
ran out of room, plus my old box does NOT have bearing roller drawers, so they are fun to open and close, especially the heavier ones.

got the US General 26" Top Chest Orange on my radar...

 

[Blackbyrd]

I got the 25% for Memorial Day Weekend, but says it excludes 'Storage Cabinets, Chests, and Carts' along with other things and one day only Monday 30 May.

Read the fine print it also says instore items only........ oh well

 

[nadogail]

May you enjoy your new tool box and good health for many years.

 

[pattenp]

The OP was lucky the store honored the 25% off on the tool chest. I checked with my local HF and they said the 25% one day coupon has the same restrictions as the 20% off coupon. The OP's HF store people must have been asleep at the switch.

 

[Chumly]

Was eyeballing a Chief long neck air hammer so I regret not being on this coupon list. I'll sign up and see if I get 20 or 25% off in July.

Still need to figure out Where i am going to put this one It is technically replacing my older Craftsman Roller, Intermediate, and Top Box.

I think it's obvious that it goes where the Craftsman currently is and see where THAT one goes instead. That's a sharp looking box *giggles* and from this 1st Gen I'm holding for the son-in-law, they're better than many for their price point...let alone 25% off.

Look, we have addictions and we find ways to justify them. Until that General cart is a stack as you plan to do, you'll be living out of that box while it's under renovation and moving out of the old Craftsman stack the way I see it. I know if I don't put the new cart I want to live out of up front, I'll still utilize the old one that I want out of.

On that note, that color might make me aggressive toward buying the other, matching, boxes more quickly too in case of some shortage on the run. I've got a gray Craftsman top chest that I never found again so it remains forever a stand alone item, never to be completed.

The OP was lucky the store honored the 25% off on the tool chest. I checked with my local HF and they said the 25% one day coupon has the same restrictions as the 20% off coupon. The OP's HF store people must have been asleep at the switch.

Or just being human. Move product, what do I care? Ours down here has always been like this and will cut verbal deals. They know why I'm in Harbor Freight just the same as they would shop there. "in store only" to ours seems to be, "well, we usually have it but it's out of stock. There's one in the other store, buy it here and you can pick it up in an hour". Deal.

 

[NC Fabricator25]

OP, why were you thinking this was a Gen I box? I don’t think it is (I own a Gen I box, it’s shallower as mentioned).

Either way, a very nice looking box and glad you got it for a good deal!

 

[Crabman]

The image on the HF website shows a "Gen 2" emblem that his box does not have.

If important, maybe they will send you one?

Nice box!

 

[Crabman]

Correction "Series 2"

 

[dante2]

Possibly an early series 2. My green box is a series 2 but doesn't have the badge.

Correction "Series 2"

 

[ianagos]

I had one of the first gen 2 44" boxes and a year or so ago I decided to buy some more well the newer ones are not as good by far. drawer slides are cheaper and they have less steel in the frame I was disappointed but oh well. if you got an older one id count yourself lucky they were very very good boxes the newer ones are still ok but cheaper and much more expensive.

 

[BearsFan315]

The OP was lucky the store honored the 25% off on the tool chest. I checked with my local HF and they said the 25% one day coupon has the same restrictions as the 20% off coupon. The OP's HF store people must have been asleep at the switch.

lol the coupon i used was NOT the one shown or one day only one for Memorial Day it was one i got in an email and it stated 25% Any ONE ITEM NO EXCEOPTIONS, had like a week or so to use it.
No one was asleep because the store manager read it twice and said nice coupon, not many of these were sent out.

 

[BearsFan315]

OP, why were you thinking this was a Gen I box? I don’t think it is (I own a Gen I box, it’s shallower as mentioned).

Either way, a very nice looking box and glad you got it for a good deal!

thought there was a NEW Series 2, all the ads, website, etc show the NEW series 2, and they show the boxes with "Series 2" decal on them.

 

[NC Fabricator25]

thought there was a NEW Series 2, all the ads, website, etc show the NEW series 2, and they show the boxes with "Series 2" decal on them.

Ah, well, yes, that would make perfect sense! I was too caught up in the specs, or size, or quality…..I didn’t even think that the badge might simply be missing. Again, congrats on the box, show us some pics after it’s loaded up!

 

[Bucko]

I bought the series 2 mechanics 5 drawer in gray and the sticker on the lid does not have the gen 2 on it. Others have mentioned this as well, I guess they stopped using it.

The bottom drawer on mine looked like it was painted with water or something on it, had a bunch of bubbled paint. I called customer service and asked about a replacement drawer. Guy said no problem but when he looked it up he said it would be about 16 weeks out. I kinda laughed, he then said I could order another and swap it out but then I'm waiting another month and driving 40 miles to the store. He said he would order the drawer and give me a "appeasement" for the trouble. He put me on hold to talk to a supervisor to approve. He said he could offer 20% but would need pictures and would possibly be higher than 20%. I sent them in and after no answer in 5 days I called back and after getting bounced around I finally got someone to look up my email. When she located it she said she could offer 20% but would have to be store credit because it was a in-store purchase. I said fine but wanted to confirm the drawer was still on order. Then she said if I wanted the drawer she could only offer $25. Being that I was originally offered 20% minimum plus the drawer (eventually), it kinda ticked me off. If the guy had originally said it was either the drawer or the appeasement i would of been fine with just the drawer but don't tell me you are going to do something and then Welch on it after I took the time to send pictures and sit on hold because they can't respond as I was told they would.
I told her I was fine with the $25 but felt they wasted my time and lied to me. She bumped the credit to $30 (which i didn't ask for) but would not do the 20% as I was told. The 20% would of been $40 so she pissed off a customer for $10 who will share his story. Not to mention it is store credit so considering their markup on the product it really wouldn't of been $40.

I never asked for an appeasement and only wanted a drawer but if they offer it I'm not turning it down and the way it was handled it pissed me off a bit.

 

[iagsxr]

lol the coupon i used was NOT the one shown or one day only one for Memorial Day it was one i got in an email and it stated 25% Any ONE ITEM NO EXCEOPTIONS, had like a week or so to use it.
No one was asleep because the store manager read it twice and said nice coupon, not many of these were sent out.

I got that same coupon a few months ago and gave it to my nephew. He used it on a black 44" they had to order. It was no problem. I feel like the individual managers have a lot of leeway so results may vary.

 

[Craftfab]

The Series 2 has been out a few years now and every so often HF has been adding new colors. I have never seen a photo of an actual box with the "Series 2" badge. I am pretty certain it is a digital badge only for their marketing. Some of them have full extension drawers and some do not. At least in the past some colors like the blue ones have more than one SKU number and one SKU was full extension and the other was not. Regardless great deal on the box. I have had mine a few years now and its been a great purchase.

 

[Mikeske]

I have 3 of the old Series One 44" All three of these boxes are 18" wide and all three of the boxes are RED and RED was at that time the only available color. NO orange, black, green or pink with white polka dots. Just RED. The newer series 2 boxes come in the varies different colors and are 4 inches in depth deeper then the series one from front of box to the back side. I also have a 72" red Series 2 box and the width is obvious in comparison to the 44" boxes. 3 of the boxes were acquired as either open box (Store sample as the 72" was) or a scratch and dent that had a healthy discount.

 

[My Old Tools]

I have 5 of the series 1 boxes. 4 built into Steevo benches, and one with a top box for machinist tooling. Yep, red.

 

[gatewaysysop]

I've got an orange box from Strictly that I got quite a few years back. Have to say, great color choice. I'm not normally big on orange, but it was better than blue or black which were my only other choices at the time, so I went with it. In hindsight, seeing it up close and especially loaded up with tools, I would not change the color even if I had the entire rainbow to choose from.

 

[CJM8515]

i have the 18" deep 44" and an 18" 26" stack as well. the deeper drawers would be nice, but in a garage it kinda takes up a decent bit of space if your garage aint all that big. also after looking at them in store the series 2 dont seem as robust and well built to me. I got the 26" stack at a huge discount cause the top was dropped and bent. nothing a bottle jack and a hammer didnt fix.

if i had to do it all over id spring for a 56" or an icon.

 

[Vahispd]

Nice buy @BearsFan315 , especially with the coupon.

got the US General 26" Top Chest Orange on my radar...

Any reason why you are looking at the 26" Top Chest vs the 44" Top Chest?

 

[bbxlr8]

I got that same coupon a few months ago and gave it to my nephew. He used it on a black 44" they had to order. It was no problem. I feel like the individual managers have a lot of leeway so results may vary.

Just read this and found it in my email a bit too late now @ 8 PM on mem. day -ugh..)
Thanks for posting though - love this group!

 

[BearsFan315]

Nice buy @BearsFan315 , especially with the coupon.

Any reason why you are looking at the 26" Top Chest vs the 44" Top Chest?

just a good configuration for me. i like a 26" top box, and a little room for working or staging things. debating on which way to go, and this configuration seemed to work for what i want to do

 

[Bucko]

just a good configuration for me. i like a 26" top box, and a little room for working or staging things. debating on which way to go, and this configuration seemed to work for what i want to do

Are you planning to put a solid top across it first to help distribute tge weight? Most boxes are designed for having the same size on top and the load is transferred in the corners.

 

[ITGuy1998]

I had no idea there were gen1 and gen2 versions until a few weeks ago. I've had a red 44" box for several years. I finally decided to get a side cabinet for it (the one that's all drawers). When I got it home and unboxed, it was deeper than my box. That's when I learned about the different generations. Not a big deal. I just cut a notch so the cabinet would fit, and the extra length just sticks out the back. One day I might make something to attach to the back of the main box to take advantage of that empty space - maybe a small rack to hold wood scraps or - just thought of this - some sort of setup to hold clamps.

 

[Griff79]

That's a gen 2