Harbor Freight SKU Difference Resource for Tool Storage

[jinx18]

Hello everyone! I just went through a fiasco buying the U.S. GENERAL
44 In. X 22 In. Double Bank Roller Cabinet and the differences between the multiple SKUs available for the tool boxes and accessories available at Harbor Freight. I figure I would start a thread to help compile all of this information. If people could help contribute that would be amazing. I will start with the 44" roller but am willing to add whatever people can give info on.

Background:

Harbor Freight roller cabinets, top chests, end cabinets, end lockers and other items come from multiple different factories. They are supposed to be the same items but there are some differences, some which many consider significant enough to want a specific SKU. I would like to use this thread to document the differences so people can pick the best item for themselves.

U.S. GENERAL 44 In. X 22 In. Double Bank Roller Cabinet

The main difference seems to be the drawer latch and locking mechanism. There are 3 different types.

Latch/Lock 1:

Folded and tack welded on drawer

Square Stock for lock

Latch/Lock 2:

Rivet

Bar with notches for lock
NO PHOTO YET

Latch/Lock 3:

Plate Rivet

Bar with notches for lock
NO PHOTO YET

Pros/Cons of each design:

Latch/Lock 1:

Pro: Drawers fully open and clear entire box.

Cons: When shutting drawers those square pins rattle and make a metallic noise

Latch/Lock 2:

Pro: Drawers close quietly

Cons: Drawers do not open fully. They are approximately 1.25" shy of clearing the drawer above.

Latch/Lock 3:

Pro: Drawers close quietly

Cons: Drawers do not open fully. They are approximately 1.25" shy of clearing the drawer above.

SKUs for each box and which latch/lock they have:

BLACK

64443:
64441:
64442: Latch 1

RED

64281:
64133: Latch 1
64134: Latch 2

BLUE

64446: Latch 3
64444:
64445: Latch 1

YELLOW

64956:

ORANGE

64955:

GREEN

64954:

How do I know what SKU I have if I threw out the box and don't have the recipt?

There is a large sticker on the back that will have the SKU of your item on the bottom left corner.

How you can help:

Please share what SKU you have and what latch you have for items missing info. Please review above and verify information is accurate if you have one of the boxes listed. Feel free to share any other changes you notice between SKUs. There are other differences besides this I am sure.

Thanks everyone for any help!

 

[Turbo442]

Out of eight blue 44” rollers I have randomly purchased only one is full extension. I have not check the PN’s on the ones I have, it’s quite a bit of work to move them around they are held in place by the steel countertop backsplash.


This one is not full extension and needs to be swapped with the one that is full extension.

I will write the PNs down when I get around to it and let you know. Unless you want to come over and help. Then it might get done a little faster.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[JP Chestnut]

My full extension 26" can barely fit an Ernst socket tray long ways. The actual length of the drawers are far less than the in store model that isn't full extension. I think both SKU drawers pull out the same distance - one drawer is just much shorter.

Also OP, all of your images are broken links.

 

[jinx18]

Out of eight blue 44” rollers I have randomly purchased only one is full extension. I have not check the PN’s on the ones I have, it’s quite a bit of work to move them around they are held in place by the steel countertop backsplash.


This one is not full extension and needs to be swapped with the one that is full extension.

I will write the PNs down when I get around to it and let you know. Unless you want to come over and help. Then it might get done a little faster.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I would be more interested in the depth of the drawers on the ones that fully extend vs don't. For instance if the full extension are only 18" deep but the non full extension are 20" and that's why they don't come all the way out.

 

[jinx18]

My full extension 26" can barely fit an Ernst socket tray long ways. The actual length of the drawers are far less than the in store model that isn't full extension. I think both SKU drawers pull out the same distance - one drawer is just much shorter.

Also OP, all of your images are broken links.

Thanks for the info. I'll see if I can stop by some stores and take photos.

Also I'll look into why the images aren't displaying. Thanks.

 

[Mr_B]

Yes the drawer length differs as folded different depth on drawer pulls and possibly for rear latching .
As far as I remember the box that seems better made in construction is one with shorted drawer

 

[JP Chestnut]

Yes the drawer length differs as folded different depth on drawer pulls and possibly for rear latching .
As far as I remember the box that seems better made in construction is one with shorted drawer

Based on my experience that’s correct. Full length drawer extension goes with the crappy closing squeak.

 

[59 wagon man]

this transcends its way into home depot too, same plumbing fixture, different sku ,different quality

 

[Matt XYZ]

Reviving a thread. I have a very short opportunity to ship a 44 inch Series 2 to replace my mid quality 26" Waterloo Euro Series. Can anyone confirm if the full open drawers are in fact not as deep as the one with a 1.25 overlap (Latch 2&3 in the OP)? I would rather have the depth and deal with the drawers not fully opening.

I won't have a chance to open or inspect the box, just load it up and ship. Hopefully there aren't any serious defects. At least there is a current coupon for $450. I won't have the chance to wait for Black Friday,

 

[jinx18]

Reviving a thread. I have a very short opportunity to ship a 44 inch Series 2 to replace my mid quality 26" Waterloo Euro Series. Can anyone confirm if the full open drawers are in fact not as deep as the one with a 1.25 overlap (Latch 2&3 in the OP)? I would rather have the depth and deal with the drawers not fully opening.

I won't have a chance to open or inspect the box, just load it up and ship. Hopefully there aren't any serious defects. At least there is a current coupon for $450. I won't have the chance to wait for Black Friday,

I went to the store and measured. There is only a small difference.

The drawer that fully open measures hair under 19 3/8" of usable space front to back
The other ones measure about a little over 19 1/2".

About 1/4" difference.

 

[Matt XYZ]

I went to the store and measured. There is only a small difference.

The drawer that fully open measures hair under 19 3/8" of usable space front to back
The other ones measure about a little over 19 1/2".

About 1/4" difference.

Thanks. I appreciate the info. Doesn't seem like much a difference to worry about.

 

[JP Chestnut]

Thanks. I appreciate the info. Doesn't seem like much a difference to worry about.

It was the difference between an Ernst socket boss fitting longways with its tray or not. It fit fine in the larger drawer and I had to cut off the handhold on one side for it to fit in the smaller drawer.

Even so, the smaller drawer SKU is noticeably heavier in construction.

 

[Matt XYZ]

JP, thanks. So the smaller drawer is the better constructed model. That is more important to me and If they have it in stock I will try to get this one. I use Ernst rails also but that won't be a show stopper.

 

[JP Chestnut]

JP, thanks. So the smaller drawer is the better constructed model. That is more important to me and If they have it in stock I will try to get this one. I use Ernst rails also but that won't be a show stopper.

Based on my two data points, I do think the shorter drawer model is higher quality. My long draw wasn't square (which happens) so it went back and happened to be replaced with a shorter drawer version. The short one was noticeably harder to lug into the basement due to its greater weight. The drawers closed more solidly on the heavier box.