US General Series 3 vs 2?

[cfk]

Now that the series 3 has been out for a month or two, has anyone had a chance to compare them to the series 2? Looking at getting a new 56" box, and from the one photo I've found online, I think I like the drawer layout on the 3 better, but I'm a little concerned with the weight difference on the 72" boxes.

The Series 2 weighs 528# and the Series 3 is 490#. Wondering if they used some thinner gauge metal for the construction.

Just wish they'd release a date on when the smaller boxes are going to be hitting the stores...

Anyone had a chance to play around with the new series and have any thoughts on it?

 

[Mikeske]

Having a series 2 72" toolbox I like it better for the most part as it has more drawers and fits my use better in my home garage. I do not see the need for the hutch as I use the top of this box as a work space and adding the hutch or top box just does not fit in the usable space the top has. I don't care for the drawer locks on the series 3 or for that matter the series 2 as I actually like to see the lock have it secure both sides and be a lift handle but that adds much more cost to the box.

Since this box is so large it hardly ever gets moved in my shop so I have no idea if portability is wanted but for me moving is not something that happens alot

 

[rockettauto]

I was there tinkering with one today. The drawer layout I think is nicer, but I think it's also where the weight reduction is.
Off the top of my head it seems like far fewer drawers....just longer and deeper layouts.

 

[DemoFly]

I was seriously disappointed at the series 3's downgrade in drawer count.

Also relieved, because I bought a series 2 about 6 months ago.

 

[saltwater4life]

I have the series 2 72 inch top and bottom and I much prefer the drawer layout of the series 3. But I also got my 72 inch bottom for 999 new in store so no complaints.

 

[Mr_B]

I would say Series 2 the better box/buy .
They done some reduced pricing clear lot of the series 2 stock and that probably last chance get that quality to price ratio box .
Series 3 looks a reduced manufacture cost effort to me .

 

[cfk]

The 56" series 2 doesn't have any full width drawers - the wide drawers on the bottom are all 37" wide (inside), which is my only hang-up on buying that box. The 72" has a 52" wide drawer on the bottom, which was added to the new 56" boxes - two of them, which would be awesome for sockets and wrenches.

I also like the unlocking mechanism on the series 3 better..

Just nervous they possibly cheapened up the new boxes, which would obviously be a concern.

 

[gizardlizard]

I bought the series 2, 72” box two years ago for just under a grand. I looked at the series 3 and like the series 2 better. I did buy the series 3 hutch though and can confirm it’s backwards compatible with the series 2 like they said.

 

[cfk]

I looked at the series 3 and like the series 2 better.

What do you like better about the 2?

 

[mepstein]

I have a 56 series 2 and I might get another one if the blue one goes below $600 like the yellow. For me, the lowered prices (a couple hundred is significant) of the 2’s is more important than any small upgrades or drawer changes depending me to the 3’s.

 

[Mr_B]

The 56" series 2 doesn't have any full width drawers - the wide drawers on the bottom are all 37" wide (inside), which is my only hang-up on buying that box. The 72" has a 52" wide drawer on the bottom, which was added to the new 56" boxes - two of them, which would be awesome for sockets and wrenches.

I also like the unlocking mechanism on the series 3 better..

Just nervous they possibly cheapened up the new boxes, which would obviously be a concern.

Series 3 drawer latch is still a pretty cheap plastic workaround versus the alloy pull trim lift latch systems .series 2 or 3 both got compromises, series 2 seems little more solid and better final finish, 56* was 599 couple week back .
56" drawers can still organise sockets and wrenches fairly well in top 2 lines of drawers .
You need go in store and poke the boxes around and conclude likes/dislikes yourself .

 

[cfk]

I might get another one if the blue one goes below $600 like the yellow.

The problem is I think they have to be there at the store for you to get that price. The yellow shows "back in stock soon" for me rather than "order in store for pickup". I went to a HF last week wanting to order the black series 2 and could order the bottom to be shipped to the store, but the top was unavailable for order. They told me if I wanted the top, I'd have to find a store that still has it in stock - and there wasn't one within a couple hundred miles of me.

They checked all the color combinations and couldn't make a matching top and bottom set.. they have the black combo as their floor display and told me I could buy that when they get word they can sell it, but that's when I got to researching the series 3.

To the guys with the series 2 boxes.. are all your open end wrenches in 1 drawer? Have any pics?

 

[Matt XYZ]

Out of curiosity, can you still get the Series 2? If so, in which sizes, I assume the 44"s are all Series 3 by now. Is HF still producing both or just until the 2s are out of stock? I have a series 2 44" but eventually want to get the top chest. Currently in Europe so it's not an option for a few years anyway.

 

[cfk]

Out of curiosity, can you still get the Series 2? If so, in which sizes, I assume the 44"s are all Series 3 by now. Is HF still producing both or just until the 2s are out of stock? I have a series 2 44" but eventually want to get the top chest. Currently in Europe so it's not an option for a few years anyway.

Series 2 are no longer being produced, so they are available just until they're gone. No 44" or 56" series 3 boxes have been released yet (only 72s). I was told by a friend that works at HF that they won't release them until more of the 2s are cleared out - which is annoying because like I mentioned above, I can't make a matching set with what's available, but I can't get the new one yet either.

 

[gizardlizard]

What do you like better about the 2?

I actually prefer the drawer layout of the series 2 more than the 3. I also don’t care for the new drawer latch setup on the 3. With that being said, I didn’t like the latch setup on the 2 either but you get used to it quick and it no longer bothers me. The thing I liked the most was the price lol. I got it for $899.00 plus tax.

 

[GRB]

I have 5 Series 2 boxes and have looked extensively at the Series 3 boxes in person. Series 3 is just as good quality as Series 2 but still has the 95% drawer open of later Series 2 and not the 100% open of early Series 2. Series 3 has fewer but larger drawers and gains the dedicated power battery charger drawer and cordless tool drawer like the Icon has had for a while. VERY obvious Series 3 is replacing Series 2 just as Series 2 replaced Series 1.
I'm a former HF hater but am in total awe at the bang for the buck of the current HF boxes.

 

[1320]

I would've liked a series 3 72" that looked like this -



I like the drawer layout of the series 1 & 2, but do like the wider "wrench" drawer on the series 3 and the single lock instead of 2.

It seems to me like more "tall" drawers add to the overall volume by reducing the amount of space taken up by drawers, but remove the amount of usable space in the toolbox for how most people store stuff, which isn't stacked on top of each other in a pile in a tall drawer. Even in a completely full of sockets top drawer, probably 60% of the volume is still just air.



They also added this dumb* drawer to the series 3, which the lack of is one of the things I like the best about the series 1 and 2 over other manufacturers' offerings.

*my opinion

 

[1320]

Something like this would've been really slick, I think -



Replace the right side small drawers with a tall slide out power drawer like the Snap-on/Masterforce/Montezuma.

It would probably need something more than what they've got to prevent racking/parallelogramming, though.

 

[Beowulf]

As it relates to the 44" which do you like better? I have not been able to see the Series 3 44" in person, but it seems the Series 2 is being cleared out with lower prices.

From the pics, it seems the S3-44" has a second full width drawer which I think i'd like. Sockets on the top drawer and wrenches in the second. BUT, when I look at the top chest, I like the Series 2 more with the old style lid.

What is the real difference between S2 and S3? Did they change metal thickness? Change Slides?....etc

 

[QtheGenius]

I bought a 56" S2 maybe 3 years ago and also the 14.5" end cabinet. It's essentially a 72" (yes, it's 1 .5" shorter, but only ur mom would notice), but price wise it was way cheaper than the 72". I think the 56" S2 has a good drawer layout.

14.5 in. End Cabinet, Red

Amazing deals on this 14.5In End Cabinet, Red at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

 

[GeoBruin]

Something like this would've been really slick, I think -



Replace the right side small drawers with a tall slide out power drawer like the Snap-on/Masterforce/Montezuma.

It would probably need something more than what they've got to prevent racking/parallelogramming, though.

I'm with you. They've already got the full height end lockers. Just chop it off at the same height as the boxes so it will all fit under a workbench or low overhead cabinets.

 

[KSJeff]

Didn't see a more current thread. Picked up a series 3 locker for my series 2 56". Looks like they are on sale for members @299 until 5/2 so I think I'm going to get another one. Stands up a little taller, but I never close the top lid so I'm not sure I care. Held in with two bolts around the top of the base cabinet. There are bolt holes lower in the locker, but I didn't have those holes in my base. Seems sturdy to me, but I haven't loaded it yet.