unloading a Harbor Freight 56" bottom

[dlwilson]

I looked for a thread to put this in, but didn't see anything appropriate, so here it is. I finally got the HF 56" bottom, yay. I've been using a couple of mismatched 26" stacks for years. They were used when I got them, but they have mostly been okay despite the small drawers. But a few months ago one of the large drawers that I keep my pliers in broke, and it's just been too annoying getting that in and out.

So I printed out the coupon and borrowed a friend's truck. It wasn't until the HF guy was loading the box on the truck that I realized I hadn't really thought this through. I guess I thought I'd just slide the box out the back of the truck, but as I was standing there I read the 520 pound weight on the box. And the forklift could not put the box in very far, so it was pretty much all the way to the end of the tailgate.

The box looked really tippy, and there was just a small strap in the truck that I didn't trust, so back inside to buy a big ratchet strap. I got it tightened down, and took surface streets the five miles back to my garage, creeping around corners the whole way.

I ran out the engine lift and some straps, but of course the box was too tall to lift all the way. I was worried about scratching the bedliner (new truck) so I was able to get cardboard under the pallet. After a lot of work I was able to get the box just hanging off the back of the tailgate.

Finally I was able get the engine lift in from the side, and lift the box free of the bed, and drive the truck forward. But now what? I couldn't just set the box on the ground, because it would land on the legs of the engine lift. Eventually after a lot of jacking and rocking I got the pallet onto a couple furniture dollies, and pushed it up the driveway into the garage.

Then I wrestled it off the dollies, pulled the cardboard and packaging off, and rolled the box off the pallet onto the floor. Next step, transfer the contents of the old boxes into the new box. I was going to put the old top boxes on the new box, but the new box looks so nice, and the old ones have so much patina, I think I may just get the matching new top box.

I'll use my trailer for the top box. That's what I should have done for this box. Now I know.

Anybody in West Palm Beach want to buy a set of 26" Craftsman and Stack On boxes cheap?

 

[jdlong]

Holy ****. Their site claims the 56" bottom weighs 400 lbs. I remember getting the 44" box combo 10 years ago without considering weight. Took two of us to unload the units from my truck.

 

[kkroger]

I used a sheet of plywood for a ramp to bridge between my truck and the side of my driveway (only a slight down angle from there) Uncrated, Knocked the blocks from under so it was on the wheels, then I rolled it across to my driveway then into my garage. I put a 5'x30" Maple work top on it.

 

[Richard Cranium]

weight is some thing that most buyers don't think about when buying a tool box.

 

[Mr_B]

One reason why i prefer 2 cabinets and/or cabinet with hangon side cabinets over 72" or bigger as the big ones size/weight equals a ballache when do a location change or rolling on anything other than decent smooth surface .
i've done few boxes on my own via ramps winches block and tackle etc plus good old engine lift. easier get them off a truck or trailer over loading and far easier when new on pallet over dealing with used collections .

 

[Mikeske]

I have a tractor with a front end loader and pallet forks. Easy as pie to load and unload the toolbox EMPTY. Since my tractor is a small compact tractor I make sure the drawers are out if they are loaded. When I got my 44" I just slid the roller box to the tailgate and then slid the pallet forks under and had my wife drive the truck forward

 

[thooks]

Unloaded it by myself out of my 4x4 Tundra.

Same with the top box. My 5'-0" 122 lb wife did struggle to help me put the top box on.

 

[wildbill23c]

Yep, many never think that far a head when they buy large items. Cool the guy at the box store loaded it up easy as hell with that $10k+ forklift. Ok, well I'm home now and how the h*** do I get this out of my truck, car, SUV, etc.

I've realized this a few times and I have a trailer to use for these things because it sits lower than a pickup bed, so it makes it easier to slide things off and onto the ground if need be. Yeah its great you can haul that 400+lb item in your truck bed but how you going to get it onto the ground unless you have one of those fancy $$$$ tractors to unload it LOL.

 

[Mikeske]

Yeah its great you can haul that 400+lb item in your truck bed but how you going to get it onto the ground unless you have one of those fancy $$$$ tractors to unload it LOL.

All you need is this fancy $$$ tractors

 

[crewchief888]

I'll use my trailer for the top box. That's what I should have done for this box. Now I know.


yea you shoulda used the trailer for the bottom, i'd use the truck for the top box instead of the trailer..

reason being, with the top box in the truck, have the box at the edge of the tailgate, roll the bottom up to it, and slide the top box onto the roller cab.
if you are working by yourself, (like i always am) remove the drawers to lighten the load..

thats how ive always moved my boxes

 

[Codejack]

Bah, that's what 30' ratchet straps and handy nearby tree limbs are for

At least, that's how I get car doors and truck beds and such in place.

500# is a little more than I'm used to.... but that just means that I need more ratchet straps

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

I recently moved a Matco top and bottom. At first I thought I'd need help, but then I realized I could do it myself. The toughest part was loading the roller. Right behind that was picking up the top box and setting it on the roller from the bed of the truck.

Thinking things through and knowing your capabilities and limitations is key.

 

[ibedayank]

just use the right tool. You mean to say not everyone has one of these in their garage???

 

[dlwilson]

So this happened. I figured I would just get what I wanted, set it up, and be done with it. This time I took the trailer to Harbor Freight, and three HF guys just carried the top box out and set it on the trailer. And my tenant was home, so he helped me set the top box up on top. Now I just have to move the new boxes into position and put four Rubbermaid tubs full of tools from the old boxes into them.

The old boxes served me well, but they feel really flimsy next to these boxes. One old one is a stack of three Craftsman boxes, and the other is two Stack On boxes. I've already traded the Stack On boxes to a friend for a bottle of rum, and the Craftsman boxes will be going to my garage sale this weekend.

I am really looking forward to having my sockets in particular spread out for easy selection.

 

[IndyGarage]

just use the right tool. You mean to say not everyone has one of these in their garage???

The only problem with those little Clark forklifts is they are so handy you start buying bigger stuff and pretty soon you need a bigger lift. I had a couple of them a few years ago.