HF toolbox VS HF toolbox VS HF toolbox

[MechanicNamedJohn]

This is for anyone interested in purchasing a US General toolbox. As some of you may know I have have the 45" with top, and 2 side lockers "link is in my signature." I've been interested in the other boxes HF has to offer. I do like the 72" but they do not offer a matching top, nor any side cabs "doubt I would ever need a side cab, if a top was available." The 56" does not offer a matching top, or sides as well.

I pretty sure the 72" base is not enough for me, and I am certain that the 56" will not be enough. So I guess I'm stuck with the 45" combo for awhile; at least with these I can just keep adding on as much as I need.

So lets get to the facts first. Even though this is an option I'm sure most will the agree; the 72" and 56" inch boxes look better vs the 45" and it's wrinkle finish. Plus the deeper drawers vs the 45". Also the 45" is really a 42"; as far as the others, I can't say how accurate the sizes are because I never physically measured either one.

72" cost $1280 "with 20% off coupon." The box has aprox 47,000 "less than" cubic inches of storage.

56" cost $720.00 "20% off." This box has 28,240ci of storage.

45" cost $280.00 "20% off." This box has aprox 11,500ci of storage.

Now, of course all these prices are subject to change, but this is the current to date deals you can get. Also tax was not factored in since this varies from state to state. As it stands they are all really close in price per cubic inch.

But the 45" inch shines a little bit more when it comes to value and here is why.

Top for the 45", $240.00 "20% off," 8,000ci of storage.
7 drawer side cab, $160.00 "20% off," 4,700ci of storage.
2 shelf side cab, $80.00 "20% off," 8,400+ ci of storage.
2 drawer side locker cab $160.00 "20 off," 12,788ci of storage.

I have aprox. 45,076ci of storage for $840.00; that is just shy of the 72" storage capacity, but at $440.00 savings. Also my box combo is aprox. 76" long, so it's not much longer than the big box.

All in all price per cubic inch is very close, so know it just boils down to how much box you want, and how much room you have. Another option that comes in to play, is cases; how many tools do own that you keep in their cases? In my case "no pun intended" the lockers come in really handy for storing most of my cased items, without wasting space in a drawer.

If HF offered a top and sides for either the 56" or 72" I would assume sales on the 45" would go down "so would the price." Maybe that's why they are not offering a top yet??? But, if they did, I would without a doubt purchase the set.

I know there is a 56" that offers a top, but it's the red wrinkle finish. Not sure on the price, but I'm pretty sure you have to order it online, I called the local HF, to see if they could order it, but they said it was discontinued.
http://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa/itemdisplay/displayItem.do?itemid=94496&CategoryName=&SubCategoryName=

Either way, if you're like me, I don't like red "or light red, red'ish orange, etc." So no matter what box I choose, I will eventually paint it. You can get the same boxes in different colors from other websites "just branded with different company name, and much higher price tag."

No matter what you decide, you will be getting the best value for you money in choosing any of the boxes US General has to offer.

 

[Indy_500]

41" you mean

 

[MechanicNamedJohn]

41" you mean

My tape measurer says 42", however it is a free Cen-Tech from HF

 

[mrholeshot]

Those side boxes you have hold a lot of plastic box stuff

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

I would still love to see that top box in person.

 

[MechanicNamedJohn]

I have aprox. 45,076ci of storage for $840.00; that is just shy of the 72" storage capacity, but at $440.00 savings. Also my box combo is aprox. 76" long, so it's not much longer than the big box.

If I can't get a larger box with a top and sides then next thing I wanted to do is purchase another bottom and top, join them to my current bottom and top, with a locker on each side. The box would be aprox. 10' feet long with 64,576ci of storage for only $1360.00. Compare that to the 72" and now that's a helluva deal; $80 more, but with more than 17576ci of storage vs the 72".

I think I've made up my own mind, I going to get another top and bottom, and paint the entire setup; I should be happy with it.

 

[Indy_500]

If I can't get a larger box with a top and sides then next thing I wanted to do is purchase another bottom and top, join them to my current bottom and top, with a locker on each side. The box would be aprox. 10' feet long with 64,576ci of storage for only $1360.00. Compare that to the 72" and now that's a helluva deal; $80 more, but with more than 17576ci of storage vs the 72".

I think I've made up my own mind, I going to get another top and bottom, and paint the entire setup; I should be happy with it.

i always thought of making a hugeass toolbox with em. I'll start from left to right:

side chest, roller w/top box, locker, roller w/top box, side chest and make a super strong frame on the bottom and put the casters onto that and space them out equally. I would love to paint the boxes blue with black drawers

 

[kythri]

The only downside to the smaller boxes is the depth. The 72" box is nearly 30" deep, which seems incredibly cool.

 

[bmxr4life87]

Deep drawers are very underestimated by the masses but he makes a point too.....

 

[Bjkearns]

30" deep just makes sense
full length prybar and extension sets deep
just perfect

 

[rsieracki]

let alone a 30" +/- deep drawer allows all of your wrenches in one drawer instead of spread around. i have 2 of the 41"s w/o handles or wheels built into a work bench im trying to shuffle my tools into. the 41" is a great value but the drawers are too damn small, and i feel lots of un usable space or space that could be better layed out. i should have got 2 56"(which i didnt know they sold) or 1 72"

 

[jeepmedic]

I have that top and like it. the big drawer is a bit odd but works for welding stuff in the top drawer and paint guns in the lower parts.

 

[speed bump]

Its all about usable space and that is where the 41" box in my opinion is lousy. To many drawers that are just slightly to deep and a few that aren't deep enough.

I am possibly going to buy a side cab for my 41" box and then I will probably be done with buying tool boxes from HF they just don't offer the box I want.

 

[oldtools]

I saw the 72" at the store. That is one nice box for the money. I am tempted to get that instead of a used SO.

 

[Indy_500]

for the same money you can get a monty 72" off of strictlytoolboxes.com

 

[MechanicNamedJohn]

for the same money you can get a monty 72" off of strictlytoolboxes.com

Are you sure? Got a link to the box?

 

[mrholeshot]

The room in a 72 inch box will dwarf that 41. When you have a box that had 11 inches more depth thats a lot of box. My Macsimizer is 96 inches long 29.5 inches deep. It will hold about 7X as much as a 41 inch box

 

[kythri]

for the same money you can get a monty 72" off of strictlytoolboxes.com

I REALLY like the Montezuma boxes, but even the bottom end 72" Montezuma is still a fair bit more expensive, and not as deep.

HF 72" box is $1599.99, $1279.99 after 20% coupon. 30" deep.

Cheapest Montezuma 72" that I saw is the deal they're running right now for the 16-drawer job, $1800.00 ($1775.00 plus a $25.00 delivery fee since I don't have a dock the truck can back up to. It's also only 24" deep.

To get the 30" deep Montezuma, you have to jump up to a "Classic" which is $2250 (figuring in the $25.00 lift-gate fee).

$500.00 isn't peanuts, but it's not a TON of money. Were the bottom-end Montezuma 72" as deep, I'd probably buy it over the HF box - I just can't see paying that much more for the shallower drawers.

Now, all of that aside, the HF box is about 36" tall, where the Montezumas are about 46" tall. I just rebuilt an old workbench in my shop that was only 28" tall, and brought it up to 36" - perfect height for me. Dunno if 10" more on a box would be a good or bad thing. If I wanted to use the box as a workbench as well, I'd think that 46" might be a bit too tall.

 

[78Bird]

The shallow HF box is also sometimes a good thing. My little 'shop' is small, and I don't have a ****-ton of tools. It fits against the wall and doesn't take up so much space that it's annoying, and keeps all my hand tools in 1 place. I still have some room in there too.

I think they are aimed at different types of user, and for me the smaller roller is perfect.

Would I like to have a SO or Mac, sure... but right now I cannot justify the cost because while used ones are plentiful here, they also tend to be pretty dear in cost.

 

[Mike 47]

for the same money you can get a monty 72" off of strictlytoolboxes.com

True, but it's only 24" deep with approx 8,500 sq. in. of space, compared to the 30" deep HF box with approx 11,000 sq. in. of space.

let alone a 30" +/- deep drawer allows all of your wrenches in one drawer instead of spread around.

Exactly. Having wrenches (or pliers or screwdrivers) spread between multiple drawers is annoying to me.

And to John, I usually pay attention to the square inches of a box when figuring out size, not cubic inches. Got lots of boxes or something you're trying to store in your toolbox?

 

[csp]

If I can't get a larger box with a top and sides

Unless it's a requirement that they match, there's nothing that says that you can't put a 41" top box on either of the other bottoms or hang a side cabinet for the 41" box on them either.

Sure they aren't the same size, but it can be done.

 

[WSMC633]

I had the 45" (or 42, or 41, or whatever it is ) with the top box. It served me pretty well, but the lack of drawer depth was one of the things that really started to annoy me. The whole box was pretty packed, but I just couldn't organize the way I wanted. Spreading things out across drawers and sometimes into the top compartment didn't work for me.
Granted my Current Set-up cost a lot more money, I'm ultimately way more happy with it. Doing it over again, I would probably guy something from Strictlytoolboxes since they've had such great reviews on here. But I'm pretty sure my box will be around a long time, so I'm not really worrying about it!

 

[regguy1]

The 56" looks similar to the unit I bought at Costco for $459.00, I'm using it as the garage desk. Has a nice hardwood top. Wasn't bad for the price: