HF 44in Roller & Top Box

[YW84U]

I've just gotten a green light for my Christmas gift from the Ministry of Household & Finance to retrieve said tool boxes . But after reading the huge amounts of threads here, I wish to ensure that I do not end up stuck in the HF parking lot with no way to get them home....

I'm heading cross-border to an HF near Seattle tomorrow, and have at my disposal a 2001 Honda Odyssey Minivan to bring the items back with me. I would have taken my pickup, but I will have to overnight at a hotel as a different part of the trip and would not want to leave it outside in an exposed parking lot overnight (theft, weather etc).

I've researched the dimensions and packing threads here on GJ, and believe that they should fit if they are laid on their backs. I intend to remove the rear seating (which always leaves me room to stow full 4x8 sheet goods with some room to spare), lay the roller cab on its back at the rear gate, and muscle the top box in behind the front seats through the side sliders. The service rep from HF told me over the phone that it would likely not fit, but they would forklift it to the van and I 'could take it from there'. I will have with me my 18yo son, so there will be two of us 6ft+ tall 200lbs type folks present to try and muscle them in.

With this setup, am I doomed to fail? My thoughts were to lay down some plywood in the rear, bring some 2x6's to assist in sliding it up and in if need be, and possibly bring some tools to remove the crate/packaging if required. I want to prepare as much as possible before we head out tomorrow, so if anyone is able to provde some insight or advice in this regard, it would be greatly appreciated

Cheers,
Tom

 

[John316]

Re: HF 44in Roller & Top Box -Transport Question for tomorrow

I have a 2002 Honda Odyssey and I just moved the bottom roller and top box with no problems. I did remove the crate and packaging though. I had them help load the roller into the back of the van down on it back and easily slid the top box across the middle row seat from the side door.

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[ZRX61]

Re: HF 44in Roller & Top Box -Transport Question for tomorrow

Forget the 2x6's for sliding the toolboxes in. It will be easier to use moving blankets to slid them in & out. Just lay the bottom box over so the top of it is just inside the back of the van on the blanket, then pick it up by the wheels & shove it in.

 

[John316]

Re: HF 44in Roller & Top Box -Transport Question for tomorrow

Also at my Harbor Freight they have you come around back for large items like tool boxes. You pull your car up to a large warehouse garage door where they I have always agreed to help unpack the item and help me load it as well as disposing of the packaging

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[Outlawmws]

Re: HF 44in Roller & Top Box -Transport Question for tomorrow

Tow rope or chain! it has wheels for a reason!








Seriously, on this
VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

Forget the 2x6's for sliding the toolboxes in. It will be easier to use moving blankets to slid them in & out. Just lay the bottom box over so the top of it is just inside the back of the van on the blanket, then pick it up by the wheels & shove it in.

 

[jkwilson]

Re: HF 44in Roller & Top Box -Transport Question for tomorrow

It will fit in a 6.5ft bed on a pickup with the tailgate up and enough space between the box and tailgate for two side boxes.

 

[fitz11]

Re: HF 44in Roller & Top Box -Transport Question for tomorrow

When I worked there we put one of the 44" rollers into the trunk of a ford taurus. It wasn't pretty but the guy made it home and came back for the top. If you have the minivan with no seats there should be no problem. Have them take the crate off and leave the cardboard on if you want to protect your interior.

 

[YW84U]

Re: HF 44in Roller & Top Box -Transport Question for tomorrow

Tow rope or chain! it has wheels for a reason!

I just had a fantastic visualization of that!!! It even included a mental picture of a WA State Trooper hot on my heels as the roller is snaking wildly behind me doing 60+

Thanks everyone for the timely responses! I had just stepped away for a coffee, and was nearly floored at how quick the replies came back . From the sounds of it, the HF clerk seemed to infer that I would not likely be able to tap into their help to get it loaded beyond the forklift to the rear gate - understandably so, since it would likely be a OH & Safety thing. I've got a moving blanket in the shop here I can grab, and if I need more, it looks like they have the 40" x 72" ones on sale this week for $5 or so if I need a couple extra.

John316 - with your 02 Ody, did you find it necessary to remove the crating before loading up? And is anyone able to advise as to how to tell which side is front or back from looking at the outside carton? I had initially considered opening things up to look for any damage, but felt that doing so would inevitably make it harder to load. I suppose it is a risk I'll have to take, as once I leave the store there is not much chance or money to travel back for any exchanges though.

I'm looking forward to getting it home - I've long since outgrown my original Beach B29 mechanics chest, and have wanted a decent cabinet combo since I stopped officially pulling wrenches back in the 90's. Thanks to everyone here who has shared their experiences with both these and other boxes - it certainly made it far easier for me to choose which ones to consider and purchase!

Cheers,
Tom

 

[rexer]

Re: HF 44in Roller & Top Box -Transport Question for tomorrow

Open them up at the store and make sure they are not damaged. Also it will be better to handle that way. Two guys no problem to move. Moving blankets are another good idea...

Before you leave, fill them up with stuff..

Good Luck and have fun...

 

[PA Woody]

Re: HF 44in Roller & Top Box -Transport Question for tomorrow

I agree with rexer. Plus you won't have to deal with disposal of the packaging at home. There's quite a bit of it.

 

[DanCo]

Re: HF 44in Roller & Top Box -Transport Question for tomorrow

Remove the cheesy packing create, inspect both the top and bottom boxes, give it a good once over. Pay close attention to the hardware on the casters...take my word on this. They loaded my bottom box into my Kia Sorrento, and I had no problems unloading by myself. 6'1 225lbs.

If you're gonna stay a hotel/motel try to get a ground floor room roll the bottom in and if you can bring a dolly or pick one up from HF for rolling in the top chest.

Good luck on your adventure.

Dan

 

[YW84U]

Re: HF 44in Roller & Top Box -Transport Question for tomorrow

Success!



There was room-o-plenty to fit both of the boxes into the rear of the Ody

As it turned out, the staff at HF working that day were greatly helpful and offered to assist with loading it up. At first, when I told them what I was driving, they were saying 'nope, won't fit'. Once they eyeballed it, no problem. They even unpacked both for me to have a quick look for damage, and used the forklift to run it to the van. They dropped the forks level with the rear, and I just slid the roller cab straight onto a moving blanket. I had roughly 2-3 inches spare room on either side for clearance. The top box I just slid in behind the seats, and still had about a foot and some extra both behind the seats and towards the rear gate.







The poor gal running the forklift got really worried and upset when the van suspension settled, letting the rear hatch come into slight contact with the mast. There was no damage at all (I wasn't worried anyway), but she went on to say that she was used to people losing their minds and screaming at them for things like that - I spent about a good couple minutes reassuring her that it was fine and that I was in fact just appreciative that she and her colleague took the time to help me pack and load it. Apparently, she was saying it was not unusual for them to get yelled at or people get hostile if something 'didn't fit' or wasn't loaded they way they wanted....I could not help but think that they must encounter a lot of ignorant people in a given day .

I had earlier mentioned that I was going to snag a couple of moving blankets to cover the boxes, and she insisted that she at least do something on the price for me. They ran in and grabbed two of the biggest ones off the shelf, and insisted on only $1.41 each at the till despite my protest! I must say, that this was my first time ever walking into an HF and I have to say that the customer service I encountered was beyond my expectation. I realize that YMMV from store to store, but I just wanted to put this out there since people will often post to complain about something but are less likely to take time to point out the positives. I'll be sending an email to their HQ later today to ensure that they are aware that they have some caring and competent folks working for them

My day of awesome continued on even when I got back to the border - I rolled up, and declared that I had just the toolboxes and their total value with tax. The agent then asked if I had any smokes or liquor (nope), and then just said "Have a good one". I looked over at my son, and we were both stunned! So off we went, with our helluva deal on a toolbox (got to use a $359 coupon I found on the Intertubes plus no import fees!)

I unloaded the boxes by myself, which turned out to be no problem at all. I just slid the roller box out onto its side out the hatch, and righted it onto its wheels. For the top box, I unpacked it in the van, attached and grabbed the the side handles, and used my thigh as a fulcrum to heft it up onto the cabinet.



Thanks again to all who have posted and shared their advice - it made this a much easier event for me!! Now the hard part - moving and OCD'ign stuff from the old box and various cupboards to the new box.....

Cheers,
Tom

 

[Firestarter Fred]

Re: HF 44in Roller & Top Box -Transport Question for tomorrow

Looking real good! Now all you need are some auto stickers and some tools to fill it all in and you are set!

 

[Jagmandave]

Re: HF 44in Roller & Top Box -Transport Question for tomorrow

I have also had good luck at my local HF, and it makes it hard to understand some of the negative comments I read here on GF.

I printed out some labels on my computer and labeled the drawers, otherwise I'd never be able to find anything in mine! I used Arial black font and 40 size in all caps - seemed to be the easiest to read.....I just slid the label in between the backing and clear cover, and slid them right into the handles - easy peasy.

Also, I found the drawers open and close best if you pull them from the middle of the handle.

View media item 35903

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Re: HF 44in Roller & Top Box -Transport Question for tomorrow

I'll take that Beach top box off your hands since you don't have a use for it anymore.

 

[YW84U]

Re: HF 44in Roller & Top Box -Transport Question for tomorrow

Looking real good! Now all you need are some auto stickers and some tools to fill it all in and you are set!

Actually, was just working on de-stickering it

And trying to figure out where all the tools go......



A work in progress. Just spent the past couple hours adding some Permatex Ultra Slick to all of the slides and detents - what a huge difference. I also bolted the top and bottom together as a safety measure too.


Lookin4'67Galaxieconv - Love to send the Beach to a new home, but I imagine the shipping costs would be exorbitant ....

Cheers,
Tom

 

[monomach]

Re: HF 44in Roller & Top Box -Transport Question for tomorrow

I have also had good luck at my local HF, and it makes it hard to understand some of the negative comments I read here on GF.

Yeah, same here. Even from the teenaged-looking kids who work the night shift go out of their way to help.

The workers at my HF may not know jack about tools (HF can't get knowledgeable people for the low money they pay), but they're just fine when it comes to dealing with people.

 

[KPSquared]

Re: HF 44in Roller & Top Box -Transport Question for tomorrow

Frick man. I've gotta get me across the border and pick a couple of those boxes up.

I talked my buddy from Vancouver into running down to Bellingham for his. KMS Tools want's like $700 for the same box. . . Seems stupid when it's half price less than an hour away.

I've got a few guys that want them. We may be getting them shipped to the border then going down to get them. Just way better boxes than the Mastercrap option at Canadian Tire. . .

 

[YW84U]

Re: HF 44in Roller & Top Box -Transport Question for tomorrow

They are definitely better than the Can Tire boxes I've looked, at and worth the extra hassle of borders and transport. I had gone to my local KMS and eyeballed the Bynford Pro versions of this setup and can attest that they are the same except for the exterior handle and the price. They had a top box on the floor for $451, and the 7 drawer side cab for $289 . I was in Lordco yesterday and checked out out a TCA 42" stack that was on sale for $2K as a special, and didn't really see much benefit over the HF other than color and the slides seemed a bit smoother. I didn't bother to tempt myself by playing with the ones on the SO truck last week, but even with the promos he had going on there was no way I could rationalize such an investment.

If you're considering a road trip, make sure to call ahead and check stock levels - I was originally going to hit Bellingham, but they were sold out (as was Everett). I had to hoof it down to Bellvue to find any currently in stock, and the clerks said that they sell a fair number each week.... If you have them shipped, maybe check into using one of the various parcel outlets near the border - when I bought my truck a few years ago, I had it shipped directly to one and they stored it there until I could clear customs and get the title sorted out. The extra hassle of importing tools and other goods can definitely save you a fair amount - DIY importing the truck saved me just over $18,000 versus buying the same thing up here. I figure the HF boxes saved me roughly half the price of going with the KMS/Bynford versions, which leaves more room in the budget for more tools!

Cheers,
Tom

 

[KPSquared]

Re: HF 44in Roller & Top Box -Transport Question for tomorrow

I'm at about $500 per box (for the bottoms) I might actually do better with the 56" boxes. Fuel, duty, and tax adds a lot but still better thab ANYTHING in that price range around here. Every used SO box apparently worth $2500...

 

[Trey T]

Re: HF 44in Roller & Top Box -Transport Question for tomorrow

how did you get the wheels on there w/o openning the box?

 

[k-os]

Re: HF 44in Roller & Top Box -Transport Question for tomorrow

how did you get the wheels on there w/o openning the box?

It comes with the casters attached.

 

[oldldh]

Re: HF 44in Roller & Top Box -Transport Question for tomorrow

I'm at about $500 per box (for the bottoms) I might actually do better with the 56" boxes. Fuel, duty, and tax adds a lot but still better thab ANYTHING in that price range around here.

Santa Claus brought me the HF 56" Roller Cabinet for Christmas this year...

My advise, GO FOR IT!!!

Absatively, posilutely the mostest for the leastest!!!

Weighs over 440 pounds, so get some help unloading it...