Harbor Freight US General 56" Toolbox Combo VS. Menards Masterforce 56" Combo

[jserr68594]

Harbor Freight US General 56" Toolbox Combo VS. Menards Masterforce 56" Combo

Which box do you like better and why? Thanks?

US General Lower:
https://www.harborfreight.com/56-in-double-bank-red-roller-cabinet-64165.html

US General Upper:
https://www.harborfreight.com/56-in-Double-Bank-Red-Top-Chest-64166.html

Masterforce Lower:
https://www.menards.com/main/tools-...tool-cabinet/me5611rc1gmm/p-1490163925864.htm

Masterforce Upper:
https://www.menards.com/main/tools-...r-tool-chest/me5607ch1gmm/p-1490163926607.htm

 

[Mr_B]

Re: Harbor Freight US General 56" Toolbox Combo VS. Menards Masterforce 56" Combo

On the 56" I would be 50/50
drawer layout bit better on us gen
masterforce 2 bay centre split not great as all drawers same and too many deep drawers .
Masterforce lift latch proper nice and overall construction good plus it 2" deeper .
Warranty better on masterforce too .

 

[Brownsfan]

Re: Harbor Freight US General 56" Toolbox Combo VS. Menards Masterforce 56" Combo

Masterforce . The drawer retention is by far superior to the HF. Got to HF and check them out and compare to the MF. Most of the time the plastic latches on the HF are broken. Ive seen the Masterforce in person as well as the HF and in my opinion its a superior built box. Plus there are more add on options available.

 

[M6erfan]

Re: Harbor Freight US General 56" Toolbox Combo VS. Menards Masterforce 56" Combo

I checked out the 56" at HF today. Seems like a decent box for the money but that latch system would drive me nuts.

 

[kngelv]

Re: Harbor Freight US General 56" Toolbox Combo VS. Menards Masterforce 56" Combo

They are both decent boxes. I have the HF. I looked at both very closely but the Menards was at the regular price when I purchased mine so I went with the HF. They are pretty equivalent as far as construction quality. I would not be surprised if they were built by the same supplier. The Masterforce has a far superior latching system. I hate the ones on my HF. The Masterforce is slightly deeper. The HF has better casters and I like the drawer layout much better. Either one is a good choice. I honestly can't believe that HF went with the same latches on the Series Two. They ****.

James

 

[Kaane]

Re: Harbor Freight US General 56" Toolbox Combo VS. Menards Masterforce 56" Combo

I've had my HF 56 gen 1 for 3 years now, I abuse the **** out of it and it still works perfect. Latches are annoying, but you get used to them. In the end I just like thicker heavier duty construction.

 

[Mr Ratchet]

Re: Harbor Freight US General 56" Toolbox Combo VS. Menards Masterforce 56" Combo

I'm not wild about either drawer layout on the bottoms. I do like the wide drawer on the MF and the additional 2" depth. I like narrow row and wider row of drawers on the HF. I prefer four wheels to six. Quality is a wash between these two brands.

I would look to see which drawer layout works the best for you and your tools.

 

[Rickster]

Re: Harbor Freight US General 56" Toolbox Combo VS. Menards Masterforce 56" Combo

HF box. The MasterForce box has that full width drawer that just looks like it will either bow or destroy it's hinges after a while working with a full load of sockets in it.

 

[sk farmer]

Re: Harbor Freight US General 56" Toolbox Combo VS. Menards Masterforce 56" Combo

i have looked at both and think that the masterforce may be slightly better built, i just don't like the way any of them are laid out and it is flat out stupid not to offer them in red. i think hf has a better drawer layout on their boxes vs the masterforce. my vote goes with the hf with a better layout at a slightly better price.

 

[jserr68594]

Re: Harbor Freight US General 56" Toolbox Combo VS. Menards Masterforce 56" Combo

i have looked at both and think that the masterforce may be slightly better built, i just don't like the way any of them are laid out and it is flat out stupid not to offer them in red. i think hf has a better drawer layout on their boxes vs the masterforce. my vote goes with the hf with a better layout at a slightly better price.

It's funny you bring up the lack of red on the Masterforce. I have a red Bendpak 4 post lift and the lack of red is probably the number one thing swaying me to the Harbor freight box.

 

[Max]

Re: Harbor Freight US General 56" Toolbox Combo VS. Menards Masterforce 56" Combo

The boxes are close enough in quality that other things make the decision for me. I like wide drawers. (They are more flexible and I can divide them if needed myself.). The MF looks like two 27” cabs bolted together so it is a fail for me.

Max

 

[jserr68594]

Re: Harbor Freight US General 56" Toolbox Combo VS. Menards Masterforce 56" Combo

Poll is dead even!

 

[bobcatdan]

Re: Harbor Freight US General 56" Toolbox Combo VS. Menards Masterforce 56" Combo

I'd go masterforce. Full width drawer and its deeper. I fail to see how the HF box is built better. Also unless HF changed the top lid area of the 56" box with the series 2, its board line useless being so shallow.

 

[Evan(CA)]

Re: Harbor Freight US General 56" Toolbox Combo VS. Menards Masterforce 56" Combo

You can find a used truck box for what the top and bottom + tax will cost. Storage capacities will probably be similar with the depth gained on the truck box and you'd have a full 54" of work space

 

[pelletman]

Re: Harbor Freight US General 56" Toolbox Combo VS. Menards Masterforce 56" Combo

I was at HF today checking out boxes, I hate the drawer latches, there was one nice box without the latches but it wasn't the big one.

 

[sk farmer]

Re: Harbor Freight US General 56" Toolbox Combo VS. Menards Masterforce 56" Combo

You can find a used truck box for what the top and bottom + tax will cost. Storage capacities will probably be similar with the depth gained on the truck box and you'd have a full 54" of work space

i get so tired of this type of comment. contrary to popular belief, there are many parts of the country that are not ripe with cheap boxes. i have looked on all of the typical spots to purchase in my area and they do not exist at a reasonable price. the cheapest place around here to actually buy a "truck" box is from a "truck". i know, i have been pricing them and a 56 is nearly twice the price of a 72 inch from hf or a 56 inch stack. i have been looking for quite some time with no luck.

there is also the thought that some people may just want to buy a new box that is theirs and no one else's. they may also want it right now rather at some point in time when they find one.

 

[ryan20021982]

Re: Harbor Freight US General 56" Toolbox Combo VS. Menards Masterforce 56" Combo

I've had the 56" for over a year now and don't regret it one bit. I also hated the latches on the drawers but mine has detents also so I removed the plastic latches as soon as I got it out of the crate and it works just fine. I doubt many people are buying HF 56" boxes and moving them around all the time so the detents work just fine. I did mess with the Masterforce boxes before buying and I just feel the HF box is sturdier than the Masterforce.

 

[kngelv]

Re: Harbor Freight US General 56" Toolbox Combo VS. Menards Masterforce 56" Combo

I've had the 56" for over a year now and don't regret it one bit. I also hated the latches on the drawers but mine has detents also so I removed the plastic latches as soon as I got it out of the crate and it works just fine. I doubt many people are buying HF 56" boxes and moving them around all the time so the detents work just fine. I did mess with the Masterforce boxes before buying and I just feel the HF box is sturdier than the Masterforce.

I'm ready to take all my latches off. The sucky thing is my top box has the detents and my bottom one does not. There is a thread on here somewhere about different HF part numbers having minor differences and this is one of them. They have two different part numbers for their 56" top and bottom.

James

 

[71goldss]

Re: Harbor Freight US General 56" Toolbox Combo VS. Menards Masterforce 56" Combo

I'm ready to take all my latches off. The sucky thing is my top box has the detents and my bottom one does not. There is a thread on here somewhere about different HF part numbers having minor differences and this is one of them. They have two different part numbers for their 56" top and bottom.

James

Here's the link to that thread:

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=408543


I’ve never seen the Masterforce box in person, but some of you guys may be unknowingly making an unfair comparison depending on which HF 56” box you’re using for comparison. In my case, and as explained in that thread, I purchased two HF black 56” bottom boxes on the same day and ended up with one with item #64457 and one with #64458. I had them side by side at home, and in my opinion the 64457 is far superior and probably twice the quality of the 64458. I eventually ended up taking the 64458 back and exchanged for another 64457.

 

[kngelv]

Re: Harbor Freight US General 56" Toolbox Combo VS. Menards Masterforce 56" Combo

I was in Menard’s earlier today and looked closely again at the Masterforce. One thing that should be noted is that it is 19 gauge steel while the HF is 18 gauge.

James

 

[Mr_B]

Re: Harbor Freight US General 56" Toolbox Combo VS. Menards Masterforce 56" Combo

^
grade of steel and how it formed, gusseted and welded make far more difference than 1gauge difference . The quality craft produced masterforce are pretty decent made, only the better factory made us gen versions are equal match, the other factory made version us gen fall short by a long shot ...

 

[tonyciambrone]

Re: Harbor Freight US General 56" Toolbox Combo VS. Menards Masterforce 56" Combo

HF box. The MasterForce box has that full width drawer that just looks like it will either bow or destroy it's hinges after a while working with a full load of sockets in it.

Looks can be deceiving...it does have double slides..

I like my Masterforce 72" just fine. I do not like the US General Latches and feel the slides are of lower quality. The Masterforce latch system is very good.

Perhaps a slight advantage on layout to the U.S general

But 24" depth vs 22" negates that to me

 

[NY98M3]

Re: Harbor Freight US General 56" Toolbox Combo VS. Menards Masterforce 56" Combo

Does anyone see any coupons for the Harbor Freight 56" boxes??

 

[djcslice]

Re: Harbor Freight US General 56" Toolbox Combo VS. Menards Masterforce 56" Combo

Does anyone see any coupons for the Harbor Freight 56" boxes??

http://www.hfqpdb.com/best_coupon/56"+X+22"+DOUBLE+BANK+EXTRA+DEEP+CABINETS

 

[Ammar87]

Re: Harbor Freight US General 56" Toolbox Combo VS. Menards Masterforce 56" Combo

I have had a Masterforce for a couple of years now and love it. I was contemplating between that and the HF unit. I liked the way the Masterforce latched better than the HF. THe quality also seemed better. Better color selection as well at the time. My only regret was that I didn't order a larger one!

 

[untchabl]

Re: Harbor Freight US General 56" Toolbox Combo VS. Menards Masterforce 56" Combo

I've had the HF 56" top and bottom combo for about 3 years now. It gets used every weekend when I'm out in the shop and I have zero complaints about it. Like everyone else has mentioned, the latch design isn't the best but I'm used to it so it's not a big deal. There isn't a Menard's in North Carolina so it wasn't an option for me.

 

[jserr68594]

Re: Harbor Freight US General 56" Toolbox Combo VS. Menards Masterforce 56" Combo

I think I am going to pull the trigger on the HF box tomorrow. Thanks everyone for your input!