HF Trailer Tongue Box
- Thread starter bmxdad
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bauschracing
Well-known member
Put one on my enclosed trailer. It is being used to contain the battery and controls for the winch. It is worth the money.
csp
Well-known member
I have one on the tongue of my enclosed for a deep cycle battery as well. It works well for what it is and what it costs. Take a 20% off coupon in as well to get it for even less.
The powder coating loses its shine pretty quickly. I've seen two of them with broken pins that the latch grabs. It's kind of a weak design.
The powder coating loses its shine pretty quickly. I've seen two of them with broken pins that the latch grabs. It's kind of a weak design.
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
A co-worker just put one on his small utility trailer and he said he was happy with it. He mentioned the hinge(s) seemed a bit cheezy but overall he was happy. He just said he would deal with the hinge when/if it becomes an issue.
I put one similar on my 6x10 trailer but it is a poly version from DeeZee. If memory serves it was just over $100.00 and I am very happy with it.
Mike.
I put one similar on my 6x10 trailer but it is a poly version from DeeZee. If memory serves it was just over $100.00 and I am very happy with it.
Mike.
Wanna Ride
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Hundred bucks? And a 20% coupon to stack on it... I'd ****** one up if I needed it, at that price.
chrispyny
Well-known member
Tractor supply has the poly/thick plastic ones on sale for $100 all the time. I had one on one of my trailers. It was real nice. Not metal, no clanking. I'd be afraid of the thin metal rusting very fast.
csp
Well-known member
Kind of ironic to expect no clanking when a trailer is involved.
How thin are you assuming the box to be? Without taking a gauge to it I would guess it to be at least 16ga, or at least the Chinese equivalent.
Some of us don't live where metal rusts with the humidity in the air.
Ign
Well-known member
It's 14ga. They're heavy for what they are. I put one on FIL's trailer a couple years ago, I was surprised at quality (good)
Around here not much rusts and virtually nothing "rusts through ". I'd be worried about poly warping or sagging (like truck boxes, but they're unsupported). Steel's still harder to pry into.
My *****: the lock set is stupid IMO. You can't leave it unlocked and remove the key. Any good locksmith should sell a new cylinder though.
Around here not much rusts and virtually nothing "rusts through ". I'd be worried about poly warping or sagging (like truck boxes, but they're unsupported). Steel's still harder to pry into.
My *****: the lock set is stupid IMO. You can't leave it unlocked and remove the key. Any good locksmith should sell a new cylinder though.
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
That was my thinking when I purchased my DeeZee poly box, I didn't want to contend with noise of a metal box, even with ratchet straps banging around and making noise.
Not necessarily. I absolutely HATE and DESPISE rattles and noises, period. Whether coming from my vehicles themselves or what I am towing. It takes some effort and time but I was able to make my 6'x10' utility trailer deathly quiet when towing. From the poly tongue box to wrapping the ratchet mechanisms on the straps in towels when placing in the box to using rubber and spring components to preload my ramps so they don't rattle. It was not easy but my little trailer is quiet as hell when towing.
Mike.
tlmartin84
Well-known member
I bought one, like it real well. I did throw an extra coat or two of enamel on it prior to mounting though.
I also drilled it and mounted it using 4 bolts instead of the **** hardware you get.
View media item 63479
I also drilled it and mounted it using 4 bolts instead of the **** hardware you get.
View media item 63479
bauschracing
Well-known member
You know that even if you had the metal, a way to cut and bend the metal, latches and a lock, you could not justify your labor cost for what this box cost.
pepi
Well-known member
Disagree, plastic tongue box will not out last a metal one, regarding noise, LOL this is a first, The tongue box on the trailer has axle straps with chains, tie downs, and a mess of odds and ends. The only noise ever heard is when the top drops after the gear is tossed in .....
Driving down the road, any noise from the box seems to me will be behind the tow vehicle anyway and unheard. Used when purchased 99, same tool box, trailer has some great features. Electric brakes, loading ramps slide up into the rear of the fixed ramps ...
Just saying
greg
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zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Disagree, plastic tongue box will not out last a metal one, regarding noise, LOL this is a first, The tongue box on the trailer has axle straps with chains, tie downs, and a mess of odds and ends. The only noise ever heard is when the top drops after the gear is tossed in .....
Driving down the road, any noise from the box seems to me will be behind the tow vehicle anyway and unheard. Used when purchased 99, same tool box, trailer has some great features. Electric brakes, loading ramps slide up into the rear of the fixed ramps ...
Just saying
greg
I didn't necessarily say the poly would outlast a metal one. The good quality metal ones will last, had one on my previous car hauler for 16 years after the last refurbishment. However, the noise of gear and ramps was what I didn't like so when I built my new smaller utility trailer is when I went with the poly box. Yes the rattles and noises can be heard, especially driving through quiet suburban neighborhoods where the noises resonate off of houses and fences, and it bugs the living hell out of me. I could be a bit **** though.
Mike.
Wanna Ride
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I absolutely despise anything rattling around on a trailer or making a bunch of racket. That one was one of the objectives when I built my utility trailer. And I'll promise you it makes no such noise. Not the fenders flapping, the ramps banging, gates, none of it. It's a pretty solid build. I built it almost ten years ago, and have dragged it to the east west coast, all the way to the west and back. Probably 20k miles total, if I had to guess.
I used an aluminum, diamond-plate box from TSC, and mounted it on the tongue, and it's been on there for every mile, since day one. But... I built the mounts for that too, so it's sits securely and well-supported, Inside are all the standard items you'd find in just about anyone's well-prepared trailer; plenty of ratchet straps, some slings, the truck hitch, replacement pins and misc. hardware, zip-ties, tape, a multi-screwdriver, utility knife, a couple spare padlocks, tire chocks, spare LED bulbs, WD40, hand cleaner, paper towels, gloves, wet-wipes, a couple towels, gallon of water, and a bunch of other "what-if" stuff. But all of those items are secured in two totes inside the box, so those items aren't flopping around while you're going down the road and gouging the bottom of the box.
My point is, it's VERY possible to have a trailer with everything you need, that's prepared properly, and does NOT rattle and clank, making a bunch of noise.
csp
Well-known member
Mine is currently unlocked and the key is sitting on the kitchen island. How old is yours? Mine was purchased Oct-15, so maybe they made a revision.
I understand that you can go to the lengths to make a trailer quiet. I can't hear mine with the windows rolled up and it clangs and bangs (at least my flatbeds do). Most won't go to those lengths.
Ign
Well-known member
That's the cheaper one. THERE ARE TWO MODELS OF THIS BOX.
The better one (which I have experience with) is taller w more angular front
http://m.harborfreight.com/2-34-cu-ft-steel-trailer-tongue-box-62253.html
The cheaper one (they actually show 2 cheaper ones rated at 2.33 and 2.25 cu ft, not sure if accurate or just a matter of math "interpretation ") is a bit shorter w flatter front
http://m.harborfreight.com/35-inch-steel-trailer-tongue-box-66244.html
Noise, eh whatever. I just turn up the stereo. I've got weld-on D-rings all over my trailer so it makes all kinds of noises. Couple that with a squeal from my hitch (ball, probably) and tire scrub.....it's just all part of the melody of towing.
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Outlander
Well-known member
I have one from my previous trailer (the one I donated to the ATV club). It has lasted so well I kept it
Ign
Well-known member
I can't stand aluminum boxes. Anything riding in there gets a nice black sheen after a short while.
Ign
Well-known member
The "better" box installed on FIL's snowcat trailer. I also added the front bump rail, D-rings, new deck under the treads, expanded in the middle, dual spare tire mounts, new tongue jack, 2500# HF winch (his choice). Basically everything.
CSP, looks like I purchased this box around 4/15. But they list 2 "lot" numbers on the HF website for the same box. So perhaps yours came from chi-com factory #1 while mine came from chi-com factory #2.
Regardless, I was really impressed with the construction, weight, and overall fit and finish of the box for sub-$100 with 20% coupon. I had to adjust the latch striker a bit so the lid would close more tightly but that's expected.
CSP, looks like I purchased this box around 4/15. But they list 2 "lot" numbers on the HF website for the same box. So perhaps yours came from chi-com factory #1 while mine came from chi-com factory #2.
Regardless, I was really impressed with the construction, weight, and overall fit and finish of the box for sub-$100 with 20% coupon. I had to adjust the latch striker a bit so the lid would close more tightly but that's expected.
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tlmartin84
Well-known member
I wouldn't necessarily say "better". Just bigger......same finish, same thickness material, it does have the latch.
I looked them both over, and I just personally like the lower profile, smaller box. It sits below my rail so if I need to set something on the rail it isn't resting on the box. Didn't think it looked as bulky.
I looked them both over, and I just personally like the lower profile, smaller box. It sits below my rail so if I need to set something on the rail it isn't resting on the box. Didn't think it looked as bulky.
