Gearwrench 120 4pc set or Snap on dual 80?

[Luke M]

With my birthday coming up soon I thought I'd improve my ratchets. I'm now stuck between buying the gearwrench 120 set of 4 flex heads new or buying a snap on 1/4 and 3/8 flex head used for around the same price. Any help on which and maybe even why to win me over.

Thanks.

 

[zcbauer89]

I sure like my Dual 80s. My only experience with a gearwrench ratchet was an 80 tooth or 88 tooth ratchet, 1/4 drive and I didn't like it at all. Not as smooth as my Snap On and it had a bad habit of auto reversing. Your mileage may vary.

 

[ADSR]

I have both! And i like both! But i'm too cheap to buy snap on. I bought the BAHCO dual 80 made by snap on. It's 34 bucks on amazon and same dual 80 guts.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3997501&postcount=15561

 

[zcbauer89]

+1 on the Bahco. Too bad they don't make them with a standard handle.

 

[ADSR]

+1 on the Bahco. Too bad they don't make them with a standard handle.

The dual 80 is awesome. Wanted to try one before committing to a snap on/price.

 

[ADSR]

Luke, my 120xp's flex do have a bit of side to side head play. I've been told to tighten them and it fixes the problem, but i haven't tired it yet. The chrome isn't the best on them either. Mine came pretty beat up from the factory.

They are great bang for the buck tho.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I vote used Dual 80's. Easy warranty and known quality.

 

[cheechi]

How often do you use a 1/2" flex head? will that missing from your upgrade matter?

For the price, the 120xp set is what you should get. For the quality and every other aspect, yes the SO is the better choice.

I have both. I don't always reach for the dual 80. Often its the 120xp or the HF composite rat instead.

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

I would vote for the Dual 80, Much easier warranty, But Gearwrench makes a nice rat as well.
-Sam

 

[Nanashi]

Snap on dual 80 gets my vote. I haven't used the gearwrench 120xp but I beat the piss out of my dual 80 and I pull on it sometimes to where it should brake or something but instead of braking it just keeps on working like the day I bought it. Fit and finish on my snap on ratchets are awesome as well.

You make the call but if you do this for a living don't compromise for what you want it's just going to eat at you. Also if you do this for a living and a snap on truck Congress to the shop them yes the dual 80 will be easier to warranty if you enter actually had to.

 

[AndrewV]

The so warranty won't be covered if they ask for paperwork. But at the same time, the warranter on the phone mite not care.

Now for op.
I have both, and love them equally. Reach for either that fits what im doing. For spark plugs, i grab the gw. For caliper bolts i often grab the so. But there comprable to each other really.
But w/ no truck access, i would say gw, any place that sells them should warranty.

But check them out in the store first(gw), see if you like them.

 

[alinc100]

Personally I'm cheap and only drink the Snap On koolaid when it's deeply discounted.
I'm not a day to day mechanic using ratchets constantly all day every day but I think my next new tool purchase is the GW 120's via the ebay link below:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/390795741157?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

[sonvolt]

My vote is dual 80, I have 2 of them and never looked back.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

The so warranty won't be covered if they ask for paperwork. But at the same time, the warranter on the phone mite not care.

Now for op.
I have both, and love them equally. Reach for either that fits what im doing. For spark plugs, i grab the gw. For caliper bolts i often grab the so. But there comprable to each other really.
But w/ no truck access, i would say gw, any place that sells them should warranty.

But check them out in the store first(gw), see if you like them.

I got a repair kit for free directly from Snap On for a ratchet I bought used. I was at my local Napa the other day and they will on only warranty Gearwrench with proof it came from them. Worst case scenario, a Snap On repair kit is $11 shipped.

 

[oldldh]

www.tooldiscounter.com

They the GW's for $ 102.82...

Not too shabby, for a socket set...

 

[d.mcfarland]

Don't forget parts for the Snap-On will be available down the road .. the GW might not be so lucky.

 

[Luke M]

Thanks for the input. I think with the replies it's obvious what I'm going to buy. The snap on wiil be much much easier to fix/replace as I'm in the UK gearwrench is rare here but a snap on truck comes by the garage every Friday. Now regular or long handle? Decisions decisions.

 

[BK13]

Depends on what you already have. In my case, I'd probably look at either the FLL or the bent flex handle, since I already have older Snap On regular, regular industrial finish, and long (FL) ratchets.

 

[AndrewV]

I got a repair kit for free directly from Snap On for a ratchet I bought used. I was at my local Napa the other day and they will on only warranty Gearwrench with proof it came from them. Worst case scenario, a Snap On repair kit is $11 shipped.

I know what you mean. But at the same time, i went to sears to warranty one of my gw dies. Took 10mins.
As for napa, i call them at the shop, and they'll replace it. But perfer autozone for that.

 

[AndrewV]

Now regular or long handle? Decisions decisions.

My answer....
Yes lol.

 

[Hiball]

I own them both, My GW came from the Factory with a terrible finish...





But... I made a point to Always grab a 120 ratchet when performing a task for about 3 months solid, I Cant say I ever had any usability issues but after the 3 month test I very seldom find myself with anything but a Dual 80 tech ratchet in my hand because I enjoy the Mechanism and find the back drag to be Non existent for working in No hands zones. I don't think you can go wrong with Either, Outside of Customer Service Availability for your area. With that Said, the GW can be had much cheaper and Rebuild kits can be purchased fairly reasonable and you can keep them on hand for any down the road issues with the Mechanism.

Good luck on your Decision...

 

[Luke M]

At the moment I only have regular ratchets 1 1/4 2 3/8 and 1 1/2 as I've only been working as a mechanic under a year. I really like the 3/8 long handle flex head grip model but the 1/4 I may just get regular length flex head.

 

[Luke M]

Ouch that finish isn't nice at all! The back drag on the dual 80 is a big seller for me is it really non existent?

 

[Hiball]

Ouch that finish isn't nice at all! The back drag on the dual 80 is a big seller for me is it really non existent?

Well.. In 3/8" drive I would rate is as the best, especially after you put some swing time in. I would rank the SK round head above the T72 ratchets as far as smoothness/back drag, the 1/4 ratchets feel clumsy to me in snap on form.

 

[Chandos]

I use both and like them a lot. I've been accumulating a lot of GW stuff, but also have 4 SO ratchets. My sense is that the SO is slightly better at engaging the ratchet when the bolt is 'loose,' but not yet 'finger' loose. The GW will simply rotate the bolt backwards.

This is not a scientific test. YMMV. GW ratchets are well made and very reasonably priced for what they offer.

Cheers!

Chandos

 

[transittech]

My vote: 13" SO flex head hard handle.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

Now regular or long handle? Decisions decisions.

I went with both. I love having short handles for quick work, but long handles offer invaluable leverage. To start out, I would go with the short ratchets used on ebay as they sell for about 30% off of retail even in new condition.

 

[92integra]

My vote: 13" SO flex head hard handle.

ill second this... it is my #1 ratchet bar non! for a short guy i think ill try out a bahco myself and if you need a 3/8ths to get in to small tight space's the SO fcf72 is an awsome ratchet 1/4" body with a 3/8ths head its fricking awwwwwwwwwwwsome

 

[Givl Reggin]

I'm now stuck between buying....

Why not get both? After all it's your BIRTHDAY!

 

[si_jeff]

I'm not a pro and I don't wrench for a living. I'm also not an expert by any means but I have no regrets buying snap on ratchets. spent msrp w/o tax from a truck guy near my area for a FHLF80 and THLF72. For me, it's smoother than the craftsman thin profile and the kobalt taiwan ratchet I own. I don't have any gearwrench 120xp's so can't compare but from what I read the CM thin profile is almost similar to some gearwrench and matco's in terms of the mechanism inside. I have no regrets getting them.

 

[Skin]

Dual 80 mechanisms seem to get smoother resistance wise the larger the drive size. That said they aren't magic. I dumped most everything and use quick release flex comfort versions (which I like very much) and regularly take advantage of the fact that I can stop the drive from back spinning on a loose fastener by pressing on the QR button.

Go for which ever you think will leave you without buyers remorse.

How often do you use a 1/2" flex head? will that missing from your upgrade matter?

If he has air or one of the newer IR/Milwaukee 1/2" battery impacts he probably wont need it much at all. If he doesn't have access to those types of tools a decent 1/2" ratchet would be fairly advantageous.