How to Unload your Harbor Freight 56 inch cabinet.

[rogersmithiii]

How to get a Harbor Freight 56 inch box off the truck.

I just bought a Harbor Freight 56 inch, 11 drawer, Industrial tool cabinet. It's not Snap On, but it's much nicer than most of the other tool cabinets on the market.

Here's how to get it off of your pickup truck and into the house without killing yourself, or destroying the cabinet.

1. Order a set of these ramps from Harbor Freight. Don't forget to use your 20% off coupon to avoid overpaying for the things.

http://www.harborfreight.com/1200-lb...amp-94057.html

2. Buy (2), 1 foot long pieces of chain, and two S hooks. The chains that attach the ramps to the truck aren't long enough to reach the eye hooks on the side of the truck bed. Attach ramps to truck tailgate, and hook in the chains.

3. Unpack / uncrate tool chest. Strip all the packaging off except for the pallet base, and the blocks supporting the chest underneath. Lock the wheels so that they don't rotate. Only one set of castors can be locked.

4 TAKE ALL OF THE DRAWERS OUT OF THE CABINET. Extend the drawers, and when they reach the limit of travel, gently push down on the plastic levers inside of the drawer runners on the sides of the drawers. The drawers will come out of the unit with ease. This will remove at least 200 pounds from the unit, making the shell easily manageable. You might have to tip the cabinet to allow the bottom drawers to clear the sides of the pickup bed. Lay the drawers on the cardboard to keep them from getting scratched.

5. Have one person tip the unit off of the supporting blocks on one end of the cabinet. The drawers and packing are all gone, so this can be done safely by one person. Use a sledge hammer to carefully whack those blocks off the pallet base. Gently lower the wheels of the now empty cabinet onto the pallet. Repeat with the center supporting blocks, and the ones at the other end. The cabinet will now be resting on it's wheels.

6. Carefully lift the unit (it's easily doable with one guy without the drawers), and roll it off the pallet. I'd roll toward the front of the truck to keep the thing from rolling down the ramp if it gets away from you. Remove the pallet from the truck.

7. Carefully roll the cabinet down the ramp, and onto the driveway. The cabinet will not bottom out while going down the ramp on either end. Still, go slowly.

8. Move the cabinet where it's going to go, and replace all the drawers.

I moved mine with my 88 y/o step dad, and had no trouble whatsoever.

Enjoy!

Rog

 

[Davefr]

Or save some money by eliminating purchase of the ramps and rent a U Haul 6X9 trailer with the drop down tailgate/ramp. ($29/day)

It's much lower to the ground then a truck and makes moving a large box very easy.

 

[t1r2u3s4t]

I think this thread needs more pictures!

 

[tpolley]

something to add, i've used the friction of a ratchet strap to roll my riding mower off the back of my truck. hook one end to the front of the mower and the other end to the headache rack and if done right the friction of the strap turning on the mechanism should allow the mower to slowly roll down the ramps. i don't know how many times you could do that before you ruin the strap. and i'd make sure there's nothing behind your truck in case it gets away from you.... i've done it 3-4 times with good luck.


welcome to the forum, by the way.

 

[fitz11]

I unloaded my box today by myself. My way was to have the box loaded at the store without the pallet base, at home I raised my motorcycle lift to tailgate level then rolled the box off the truck and onto the lift and lowered it to the ground. I dont know how I ever managed without the lift, it is so useful!

 

[DENALIAKITAS]

Why not just wrap a couple straps around it and use a cherry picker? Simple, controllable and most car guys have access to one.

 

[Craftsman_88]

Why not just wrap a couple straps around it and use a cherry picker? Simple, controllable and most car guys have access to one.

Unloaded many toolboxes off trucks and trailers with the engine hoist. Much better then ramps IMO

 

[35mastr]

Why not just wrap a couple straps around it and use a cherry picker? Simple, controllable and most car guys have access to one.

Thats how I unload them also. I also have a HF Gantry,But its quicker with the cherry picker. Just lift up off the bed and move the truck forward.

 

[Kenwc]

Thanks for posting...I always like to hear about these methods and good for your stepdad getting in there with the foisting...

Being in a wheelchair I've had to come up with some pretty wild ways of doing things..leverage and fulcrums make gravity you friend.


...now....pics of the cabinet are in order....

 

[iroc409]

When we buy a house, I'm going to have a chain hoist at minimum. If we end up getting an acreage, I'm going to put in a little loading dock/ramp.

 

[BajaBound]

It was interesting unloading mine but my buddy and I got it out of my truck.

 

[blue2golf]

Or save some money by eliminating purchase of the ramps and rent a U Haul 6X9 trailer with the drop down tailgate/ramp. ($29/day)

It's much lower to the ground then a truck and makes moving a large box very easy.

Never thought of that. Excellent idea.

 

[CD1]

 

[tpolley]

...now....pics of the cabinet are in order....

Yes.

 

[jhelrey]

My Brother and I picked my 56 Masterforce box up out of my truck like men and set it on the driveway.

 

[-Brent-]

My Brother and I picked my 56 Masterforce box up out of my truck like men and set it on the driveway.

That's what I like to see! No instructions needed!

 

[tpolley]

My Brother and I picked my 56 Masterforce box up out of my truck like men and set it on the driveway.

i'd like to see you do that when you're 88.

 

[j.c.whitney]

The thing with moving heavy boxes...obey gravity, it's the law

 

[t100]

there are better, less hassle ways to do it.

I load and unload my Matco 64" tool box by myself with 1 ratchet tie-down and a small floor jack. I took it home on a 4x8' Uhaul trailer.

 

[Drisco Z71]

I prefer it this way, makes installing the castors a piece of cake as well.....

 

[allinon72]

That thing looks like it's about to slide right off the front.

 

[pipsters]

Same dimensions as HF 56" box did it by myself

 

[Outlawmws]

79.3% of the threads here are "not really necessary".

Don't rag on the OP. There have many numerous "how do I move this toolbox?" requests in the past. Maybe this will help some future person when they perform a search.

If this thread is such a waste of your time then don't read it!! There's no rule that every thread here needs to be read.

Quoted for truth.

I'd rather see 100 threads of this type than one more ******* match over COO or "brand X vs. brand Y"

 

[DekeT]

I have a front end loader and a 3 pt lift boom. I would be happy to unload it for you. Drive on over here and I will take care of it.

 

[W650Mike]

Hang in there Roger; welcome to the forum.

 

[fm2176]

don't let the meanies chase you off! They've tried to get rid of me and I'm stuck to them like velcro..

re-post it please and share your moving technique... I personally had a hell of a time moving my box.

I don't even have a big box, but I clicked on this thread in hopes of learning something (regardless of how useful it may or may not have been). My 26" Mac box is always a pain to move, primarily because it is old (read: white lithium grease and grime over the drawer slides), well built, and packed full of tools that sit more than they are used. I also have a 500+ pound gun safe that usually gets moved around by me alone, albeit with a little help getting it in and out of the house. Tools and guns are not very conducive to easy DITY moves in the military.

I've registered in many forums and post only in a few. Before it got shut down I was a regular LWS member, driven to the gun forums there due to the usual forum attitudes being prevalent on other gun boards. This site is helpful and I only have time to check in on occasion (in spurts, as evidenced by my recent activity after a 6+ month hiatus). Still, I think we should all get over ourselves and realize that sometimes the most senior or highest posting members, or other so-called 'elite" shouldn't just run amok over junior members. The best thing about large forums are their constant activity and user friendliness. The worst thing is that they allow each of us to hide behind a keyboard and an avatar.

 

[plinker]

You know this thread is a good idea, some people do not have the resources/knowledge to move a box and those that do might learn some new trick anyway.

I didnt get to read it, as the post was removed, So I guess I wont know if I could have learned anything or not.

Now to some people moving a toolbox or even putting a truck on a trailer for hauling is completely unkown to them in how to do it, to others it's second nature. Thats why if you dont know you ask questions. You have to start somewhere.

How-to's or tutorials make a difference no matter how much usefulness they may or may not seem to have, There's always someone they can benifit. No one is an expert in everything, no matter how much they claim to be.


And if you dont like the topic, DO NOT POST

 

[Danglerb]

Secret to moving anything heavy, don't do anything you can't reverse, never get between something heavy and gravity, and a cherry picker is really handy.

 

[Adam McLaughlin]

I posted a thread a couple of weeks back asking for opinions and personal experiences from people whom have both shot Supernovas and LPH-400 guns. I think I got ONE reply and the thread fell to the bottom and disappeared.

Adam

 

[Interex]

I used a hoist for my 13 drawer, fully crated.

 

[Coach James]

I have no engine hoist, cherry picker, forklift, brother and my friends all work 2 or more jobs like I do so unloading is almost always just me. Much of the post I have done before, but I never saw the HF ramps chained to a truck bed like that so I give the post a . I may put those ramps on my "To get" list.

Coach

 

[kngelv]

welcome back Rog.. That was actually a good post on how to maneuver the large box off your truck... thanks.

I agree. Welcome back. I think your post was quite helpful. I have the same box and unloaded it without any lifts/ramps/straps etc. from the back of my 2001 Ford Ranger 4x4. The way that thing is packed makes it quite difficult to maneuver. I slid the whole thing off the tailgate down to the ground on its side. Then again I'm a strong fat f***er (powerlifter). It was not easy. I have to say that compared to my two-shift Strong Hold cabinet moving the box was "amateur hour". I bought the Strong Hold from an auction at my old work. We used a Hi-Lo to load it on my truck. A friend and I had a h**l of a time sliding that thing off (damned near killed ourselves). I can't believe my tailgate cables did not snap. I should have opened the damn thing up but it was sealed and I was too impatient at the time. Turns out there were 29 various hammers, a bunch of copper dies, 25 pairs of hearing protection muffs and about 500 chemical gloves. The thing weighs 762 pounds when empty. The dies and hammers easily added another 400 or so pounds. I was an idiot for not taking all that **** out. My buddy still gives me sh** about it.


James

 

[Larwyn]

I would probably use my cherry picker these days. A few years ago, before I purchased the cherry picker I would have used my ramps, a few years before that I would have pulled the front wheels of the truck up on some timber or ramps or backed the rear of the truck into a hole to lower the rear of the truck a bit then maneuvered the box back to the tailgate and tilted one corner to the ground as gently as possible (hoping for minimal damage) and tilted it on to whatever end/side was nearest parallel to the ground.

I read your original post with interest as I usually end up working alone (most of my free help has moved/died off by now) and I always watch out for better ways to get heavy jobs done with minimal help. Ropes, pulleys, hydraulics, ramps, and levers help but nothing beats experience and the experience of others greatly accelerates the learning process. Thanks for your post and a pox on those who belittled it.

 

[plinker]

Nice write up.


Those look like nice ramps, I should get a set sometime.


VinDSL,

What is the hydraulic table rated for, pound wise?

 

[VinDSL]

VinDSL,

What is the hydraulic table rated for, pound wise?

500 lbs.

I tried to lift one end of our welding table (which probably weighs a ton) and it gave me the middle-finger. LoL!

But, it's handles most things you throw at it... very handy item!

 

[plinker]

Cool, Thanks for the info! I can see where it would be handy to have.

 

[rogersmithiii]

Quick question. What's a cherry picker? I thought it was one of those light department bucket trucks that are used to work on power lines. I did think it strange that people would have one of those sitting around, but more guys that I know go over the top when messing around with their hobby.

Second, is that a Harbor Freight engine hoist? I had no idea that they could raise things that tall. What a cool thing to have around the house!

 

[OccupantRJ]

Quick question. What's a cherry picker? I thought it was one of those light department bucket trucks that are used to work on power lines. I did think it strange that people would have one of those sitting around, but more guys that I know go over the top when messing around with their hobby.

Second, is that a Harbor Freight engine hoist? I had no idea that they could raise things that tall. What a cool thing to have around the house!

The engine hoist is the cherry picker. Just a slang name for it. Bucket truck also called that. I also thought that your response to the hecklers showed class.

 

[djmartins]

BTW, I bought a HF 5-drawer service cart a few weeks ago -- shipping box weighed 175 lbs.

6) Even with the hydro cart, it took two ppl to lift the drawer assembly onto the service cart legs, for final assembly.

Hmmmm, I assembled mine by myself without a hydraulic cart and I am not a big guy.

 

[VinDSL]

Hmmmm, I assembled mine by myself without a hydraulic cart and I am not a big guy.

Nice! No scratches either, right?!?!?

Here's a link to 75 reviews: http://www.harborfreight.com/five-drawer-service-cart-95272.html

I read these before I bought my service cart. Many of them declare it to be a "two man job".

I *thought*, "Oh, please! What a bunch of wimps."

I was stupid enough to *think* I could get it home in my Honda CiViC. LoL!

Anyway, that all charged when I saw the crate in person...

Kudus!