Harbor Freight Tool box wheels

[Fueler]

I have 2 of the 72" boxes loaded and I do mean LOADED.
When I got the first one I noticed it was a serious tank heavy problem moving it around.
I assumed it needed that third set of wheels in the center of the box.
Since I got it where I wanted it and don't move it I let the issue slide.

Yesterday I was down on the floor looking for a small bolt that tried to disappear into the abys. Everyone knows that abyss.
While down there I saw what the box moving problem was.
The wheels consist of a rubber band held around a steel wheel.
Well.......see for yourself. Concentrate on the 12 and 6 o'clock positions.

 

[OccupantRJ]

That must be the new "adaptatread" design.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Sell them both and get a KRL 1023

 

[ChrisLS8]

Good idea. Sell 2 completely functional 72" boxes with a small issue and use that money to get a box that will only fit half his tools

 

[bobcatdan]

14 years old, loaded about as heavy as you can load a base unit and pushes with ease.

 

[chrisnazzy]

17 years old. 600+ lbs empty. Thousands of pounds loaded and on the rare occasion I need to move it, rolls great. Also slightly more cubic inches and square inches of storage in a 54" box compared to 72".

Not being a ****, just saying "buy once, cry once" and "you get what you pay for".

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[Tinner]

See my sig line...

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Good idea. Sell 2 completely functional 72" boxes with a small issue and use that money to get a box that will only fit half his tools

You're obviously not familiar with them, comrade.

 

[ryan20021982]

You're obviously not familiar with them, comrade.

Your right he should have said, sell 2 boxes add about $10,000 and get 1 box that can't fit all his tools.

 

[mbshop]

For every toolbox out there, there are certain expectations from them. But the vast majority of the big ones is to sit in one spot and store tools. Then one uses a tool cart to hold tools at the work area. For those that for some odd reason need to move a huge box, then one will need to invest in the proper wheels be it by buying an expensive box or buying expensive wheels. I had big boxes that basically were rolled to a spot and would then sit for years. Guess what ? They were so and mac boxes and they got flat spots.

 

[CJM8515]

New wheel time

 

[Fueler]

Well, I certainly didn't intend this to be another endless, boring appendage comparing match.
Guess I should have expected it.
I just thought it was interesting.

AND yes I think they are a fine box with good drawer slides at $2200 for the pair + tax.
What's left in your wallet?

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Your right he should have said, sell 2 boxes add about $10,000 and get 1 box that can't fit all his tools.

Funny, I see them for three to four grand all the time.

 

[ChrisLS8]

So it's a terrible box because of one faulty wheel when it's 1k versus a 5-8k box? If the seams were ripping and the slides were falling off I'd agree but that's not the case and he did say it's LOADED.

The arguments over what would be a 20-40 dollar repair seem pretty unsubstantial

 

[zendriver]

17 years old. 600+ lbs empty. Thousands of pounds loaded and on the rare occasion I need to move it, rolls great. Also slightly more cubic inches and square inches of storage in a 54" box compared to 72".

Not being a ****, just saying "buy once, cry once" and "you get what you pay for".

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This box looks nice, but it also looks like it has the same type of wheels as the OP.

 

[bobcatdan]

This box looks nice, but it also looks like it has the same type of wheels as the OP.

That's because HF copied SO plain and simple. SO has used those caster for 30 years going back to the taco cart. No other box manufacture used spring loaded caster that look like that until imported boxes that tend to look like a SO box anyways started putting them on.

 

[Fedwrench]

Does harbor freight sell replacement parts for their rollaways?

If not, you could make a frame adding upgraded casters.

I don't see any reason to throw the baby out with the bath water and get a new box but, that's just me. Good luck

 

[Fueler]

It is not something I am going to obsess over.
These probably won't move until I am gone.
Told the kids they could have one each.
Let them worry about it, eh?

 

[Richard Cranium]

I love my h.f. 72inch box

 

[bert1913]

let the contest begin!

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

So it's a terrible box because of one faulty wheel when it's 1k versus a 5-8k box? If the seams were ripping and the slides were falling off I'd agree but that's not the case and he did say it's LOADED.

The arguments over what would be a 20-40 dollar repair seem pretty unsubstantial

Sensitive much? Never said it was a terrible box, and your premise that a 1023 is 5-8K is unrealistic. But to pretend your thousand dollar HF is the same quality as a Snap On is ridiculous. Enjoy your Chinese toolbox.

 

[ChrisLS8]

I never said that the quality was completely comparable
However you are saying he should get a completely different level of box that even on the used market is 3-4 times as the HF due to a faulty wheel which is an easy fix

 

[TNBurban]

For the pros out there, I can see why you'd choose Snap On or Mac or Matco or Cornwell or whatever over HF. For a non-pro like me whose box sits in the same spot unless I change addresses, the HF box is perfect. Have a 56" box (top and bottom) plus a HF cart. The cart might move twice a month, the box will only move if I change addresses. HF boxes are probably the best bang for the buck for a homeowner, and a low cost solution for a starting pro but not a long term solution if you make a living wrenching.

 

[Druder]

Quality casters cost $100-125 that hold 1200lbs+ on each corner and your HF box is still well under a grand... not sure why anyone would insinuate an SO box is the "only" alternative when a wheel flat spots...

 

[BDT/NWMN]

pull the axle bolt on that wheel and take some measurements of the wheel. If the other wheels look to be in the same shape, order new wheels for both boxes.. Another option I have considered is replacing with steel wheels. Other options are a complete set of new casters of the same size. But being I don't move My 56" General often, don't care for the casters, and want to lower the entire box, I am thinking of buying new casters with 3" steel wheels.. Check Zoro, Northern Tool, and eBay.. There are lots of options.

 

[zendriver]

Could "really loaded"
mean overloaded?

1100+ pounds on one caster rubber wheel seems like a lot of weight, even on the high dollar models.


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[Mr_B]

I would inspect wheel and others to see exact cause, if like it from start is possible bored slightly off centre which hasn't help as it then binds on the centre cover plates .
Easy enough put better than standard with some better rated wheels .
HF boxes do get over rated but then so does snapon lol, right box is one owner wants, not everyone wants, needs or finds snapon box number 1 choice anyway .

 

[BDT/NWMN]

I took a close look at the wheels on My 56" General this morning. What looks like a baby moon hubcap on the center of the wheel is actually that..... what I would call a baby moon hubcap.
It doesn't support any weight, and is there for looks. Looking at photos of the wheels on the 72" General; the wheels appear to be of the same design.

If the tire is not splitting or cracking, they should be ok.

Those hub caps do not turn with the wheel. Try to center them better by loosening the axle bolt and re-positioning them.

 

[-->]

So like it's a cockfight? Only with toolboxes ?

 

[anndel]

See my sig line...

Ouch

 

[xin]

Ouch

The line is classic and well stated.

 

[TNBurban]

I took a close look at the wheels on My 56" General this morning. What looks like a baby moon hubcap on the center of the wheel is actually that..... what I would call a baby moon hubcap.
It doesn't support any weight, and is there for looks. Looking at photos of the wheels on the 72" General; the wheels appear to be of the same design.

If the tire is not splitting or cracking, they should be ok.

Those hub caps do not turn with the wheel. Try to center them better by loosening the axle bolt and re-positioning them.

Took a closer look at mine as well. 56" top and bottom box. Loaded down. Don't move it.

Definitely see some difference between the rubber and metal at the 12 o'clock position and the 6 o'clock position. Can see a gap at 12 o'clock. I'm fine with it - when I move the box it will be because I am moving, or maybe some odd situation. But when I do move it I will unload as much as I can. For about $700 total I'm fine with some warping rubber on the wheels under the stress I have on them. ($700 total in that I bought the bottom used on CL, and top new from HF for a total of about $700).

 

[rpcraft]

I know this is a slightly dated thread but am curious that with the proliferation of all the other multi-colored versions of these HF boxes if anyone has found a suitable wheel or replacement caster set? Hate to say why but obviously I own one. I can move it with a little footwork (literally) but I am not sure in my case if it is the same kind of problem or if it is another issue because it seems like the wheels roll well ok once you get them pointed the right direction but getting them to swivel is the problem.

 

[magicrat]

You can buy different plates and different caster wheels at an industrial equipment handling supplier. Get anything you want from 1500 to 2000 pound rated wheels. Probably cheaper than you think. Helped a friend replace is 900 pound Matco casters with 1500 pound casters. Iirc We even went from 7 inch wheels to 8 inch wheels. The plate that attaches to the box was universal on the Matco, very common size. Use the Jack took us about 10 minutes to replace all the wheels.

 

[Mgnu]

Well this thread went about the way I was expecting. I really do pine for the older GJ days when everyone wasn’t a dickhole about snap-on and harbor freight.

 

[DwightS]

I know this is a slightly dated thread but am curious that with the proliferation of all the other multi-colored versions of these HF boxes if anyone has found a suitable wheel or replacement caster set? Hate to say why but obviously I own one. I can move it with a little footwork (literally) but I am not sure in my case if it is the same kind of problem or if it is another issue because it seems like the wheels roll well ok once you get them pointed the right direction but getting them to swivel is the problem.

If you’re interested in trying something... one of the popular upgrades for the 4 & 5 drawer carts is to swap the fixed casters with swivel casters from Harbor Freight. The swivel wheel is blue, so you can swap the actual wheel between the frames to get the black wheel. It appears the large boxes also use the 5” wheel frames. So I think in theory, you can swap the fixed casters with swivel, just swap the original wheels onto the swivel caster frames.

With all that said, I don’t know what the # rating on the swivel frame bearings and pivot bolt are. I know the 5” caster off the shelf is rated at 375# with the thick rubber tire.


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[rpcraft]

You can buy different plates and different caster wheels at an industrial equipment handling supplier. Get anything you want from 1500 to 2000 pound rated wheels. Probably cheaper than you think. Helped a friend replace is 900 pound Matco casters with 1500 pound casters. Iirc We even went from 7 inch wheels to 8 inch wheels. The plate that attaches to the box was universal on the Matco, very common size. Use the Jack took us about 10 minutes to replace all the wheels.

I was looking at some spring casters on Amazon and they may work. The load rating across the 4 of them was 3600 lbs but I'll probably dig deeper before purchasing anything. The pain always turns into making sure the mounting plate has matching dimensions. I always seem to be the guy who ends up buying replacement casters for all the tool and platform carts and **** at work so maybe that makes me qualified to do it at home now too, lol. I'd like to match the casters across this cart and probably pick up a second set because I like the current height as a work bench and rather than building up I was thinking at some point I would also like to buy a 44 or 56 inch chest in the matching color. I already have the 14 inch side drawer and I could use it as a joiner piece in the middle of them and then the whole front wall of my garage will essentially be a tool box/work bench combo. I guess in the grand scheme I could go ahead and buy 8 swivel casters and then then that would allow for me to roll it away from the wall when necessary. I have to be able to do that because my attic access drops in that area so I just need to be able to roll it away from the wall enough for it to drop down.

 

[rpcraft]

If you’re interested in trying something... one of the popular upgrades for the 4 & 5 drawer carts is to swap the fixed casters with swivel casters from Harbor Freight. The swivel wheel is blue, so you can swap the actual wheel between the frames to get the black wheel. It appears the large boxes also use the 5” wheel frames. So I think in theory, you can swap the fixed casters with swivel, just swap the original wheels onto the swivel caster frames.

With all that said, I don’t know what the # rating on the swivel frame bearings and pivot bolt are. I know the 5” caster off the shelf is rated at 375# with the thick rubber tire.


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Yeah I am not sure any wheel HF sells in the store is able to be put on these 72 inch tool chests. I think what they have just doesn't have enough load capacity. The ones on it currently are a 6 inch spring loaded beast of a caster. I think they are just a typically cheap design, probably with cheap bearings and such.

These are the ones I found on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079WRV3CJ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[rpcraft]

You can buy different plates and different caster wheels at an industrial equipment handling supplier. Get anything you want from 1500 to 2000 pound rated wheels. Probably cheaper than you think. Helped a friend replace is 900 pound Matco casters with 1500 pound casters. Iirc We even went from 7 inch wheels to 8 inch wheels. The plate that attaches to the box was universal on the Matco, very common size. Use the Jack took us about 10 minutes to replace all the wheels.

If you have some you have checked into and have a part # and brand I would definitely be interested to know more. Thanks if you do!

 

[rpcraft]

I also found these and they seem rated well enough and have a swivel and brake for around 55 bucks each. Not too bad overall:

https://thecasterguy.com/product/6-polyurethane-on-iron-swivel-caster-w-brake-14595/

I'm not really sure that these tool boxes actually need a set of spring loaded casters or not. It's just sitting in my garage 99 percent of the time until I have to have a service person get up in the attic.