US General Tool Cabinet/Box/Side Boxes from Harbor Freight Recommendations

tenorplayer23 · Mar 5, 2011

Guys,

Hope to purchase the Harbor Freight US General Tool 42" roller cabinet and matching upper tool box, along with the two side tool chests built specifically for the rolling cabinet.

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Reviews on the main two pieces are excellent.

Does anyone own the side pieces and can you comment on their respective quality, as well as, fitment to the main tool box and cabinet? Is one better than the rest......can you add the multi-drawer side cabinet to either side of the base??

Also, best prices I have found of late for all pieces, are:

42"/13 drawer lower tool cabinet on rollers - $349
42"/8 drawer upper tool box - $299
Side 7 drawer extension cabinet - $199
Side large door extension cabinet - $199

HAS ANYBODY SEEN OR PURCHASED THESE LATELY FOR A BETTER PRICE? Given that 20% off coupons are no longer applicable to tool boxes and carts, these sale prices seem to be it. The question is, have they been on sale for any less recently??

Would appreciate your timely feedback. Thanks in advance for your help.

See ya, :hellobye:

Bob

84bimmer · Mar 5, 2011

About a year ago I got the 7 drawer end piece. I think it was on sale for 169.99 at that time. I think they are probably selling enough of these tool boxes now, that they don't have to ***** them out cheap. The sales lately have not been great.

The quality of this side box is right on par with the roller chest. Very sturdy. Good stuff. I am pretty sure you can put one on each side, but you lose the handle. I am planning on doing so. I wanted the small 2 shelf side cabinet, but when I was messing with it in the store it felt cheap and light. The door and shelves seemed to bend easily. If it was less than $100 then I would buy it to keep diagnostic and specialty tools in. But I think for the price another 7 drawer side box would be better. That's all I can tell ya. Hope it helps.

Oh, BTW............
Fitment on this 7 drawer side box?.......After tweaking it minimally it matched up perfect. A very good fit. And the only downside for me was, those little drawers fill up quick. But then, they are also the perfect size for some things, like a punch and chisel drawer, perfect!

Two more things come to mind, weight distribution, and maneuverability. Like I said I have just the 13 drawer chest and 7 drawer side cabinet. The weight factor probably won't be as bad with a loaded top chest. But, when I added the side box and loaded, that def made that side more heavy, and threw off the balance. One wheel on the opposite side did not really touch the ground, therefore the box would sometimes wiggle around on that side. A light shelved side cabinet may not be enough counterweight to prevent this. Also this made the box a lot harder to move around in tight spaces. I couldn't imagine how hard it would be to move with 2 side boxes and no handle.

Skin · Mar 5, 2011

i dont believe i've ever seen a coupon for the top chest. I want to say i've seen the end cabs at $170 or $180. If you're really serious about getting it all i think your best bet would be to barter with your store. I'm sure they'd knock some money off if you were buying all of that. This assumes the store manager isnt a nincompoop though. I would absolutely call first and see what they can do with the price, it will make them more inclined to barter just to get you down there.

I concur the additions are essentially the same build quality as the cabinet and top chest.

diesel research · Mar 5, 2011

tenorplayer23 said:
Given that 20% off coupons are no longer applicable to tool boxes and carts, these sale prices seem to be it.

Hold up. Since when??? When did carts get hit by such a policy? They weren't 2 weeks ago, so this must be new stuff.

84bimmer · Mar 5, 2011

tenorplayer23 said:
Guys,

View media item 6275
......can you add the multi-drawer side cabinet to either side of the base??

Look at this pic. First off it is wrong. I put my handle on the other side. The handle is mounted by two threaded brass fittings built into the side of the cabinet. This pic does not show the 2 brass fittings about an inch above the casters. The side cabinets have holes that much up with these fittings and you bolt them together. It is like this on both sides. The box is more versatile than the pic shows.

84bimmer · Mar 5, 2011

diesel research said:
Hold up. Since when??? When did carts get hit by such a policy? They weren't 2 weeks ago, so this must be new stuff.

Man I hope not. Lately they have been making a lot of cart specific coupons. I wouldn't be surprised man. Like I said, I think they sell enough of these now that they don't have to treat them like cheap hookers anymore.

larry4406 · Mar 5, 2011

I have two 7 drawer units mounted on each side of the base cabinet. Your choice where you mount the cabinet. You do loose the holes for mounting of the pull handle. From inspection of the tall cabinet, the door and hardware appears reversible so cabinet could mount either side.

I rearranged the drawers of the units. Put all of the doubles in one frame and all of the singles in the other frame.

pipsters · Mar 5, 2011

I never felt the top chest was worth the $300. It "completes" the tool box but I think honestly they sell the bottom for "at cost" or close to it and then make their money on the accessories like the top and side chests. If you have the room for it I would almost rather buy two bottoms and put a workbench over them. Plus anything on the top chest in the very top lid is getting a bid hard to reach depending on your height.

Skin · Mar 5, 2011

i agree 2 bottom cabinets is probably the better way to spend your money but some guys like the top chest due to the height, some dont for the same reason and prefer having a work surface. Its not just HF, all the box manufacturers charge quite a bit for the top chest as well.

84bimmer · Mar 6, 2011

Skin said:
i agree 2 bottom cabinets is probably the better way to spend your money but some guys like the top chest due to the height, some dont for the same reason and prefer having a work surface. Its not just HF, all the box manufacturers charge quite a bit for the top chest as well.

I prefer having a work surface/desk area, and skip the top chest.

ramtuff · Mar 6, 2011

I have the top chest, and you guys are right...for the money, the bottom cabinet is the better deal. With the coupon, it's only $50 more for a second roller cab than the top chest. The top chest works great for me though, because I have a bad back and don't like continually bending over to get stuff...if I can store stuff at waist level and higher, then I'm a happy camper. I also have the 7 drawer side box, and it fits great. I'm going to add either another 7 drawer box or the tall locker too.

bursty · Mar 6, 2011

i have two of the bottom roller chests and love them

Serj · Mar 6, 2011

When i first joined this board HF in my area had signs posted all over than the 20% coupon was not valid for the tool chests. It had been like that for months around here(probably over a year now) so afaik that was a corporate thing. investigating here lotsa people were claiming they got these killer deals with the 20% off coupon on top of sale prices, i thought it must had been an old post! Maybe it's regional? Perhaps areas where the tool storage sells slow the managers have been honoring the coupons to clear stock and move units, then when areas that this is popular, they reach a certain threshold of units moved and they cut off the offer to the chests/cabinets?

tenorplayer23 · Mar 7, 2011

You're right, as far as I can tell. All the 20% off coupons and such say not applicable to cabinets, etc.. The only coupon specific to tool cabinets have been for the bottom cart......the price varies up and down between $349 (lowest I have seen yet) to $369. I have yet to see the top chest on sale. As far as I can tell, it remains at $299.

If anyone has better info., please let us know. Thanks.

Serj said:
When i first joined this board HF in my area had signs posted all over than the 20% coupon was not valid for the tool chests. It had been like that for months around here(probably over a year now) so afaik that was a corporate thing. investigating here lotsa people were claiming they got these killer deals with the 20% off coupon on top of sale prices, i thought it must had been an old post! Maybe it's regional? Perhaps areas where the tool storage sells slow the managers have been honoring the coupons to clear stock and move units, then when areas that this is popular, they reach a certain threshold of units moved and they cut off the offer to the chests/cabinets?

84bimmer · Mar 7, 2011

tenorplayer23 said:
You're right, as far as I can tell. All the 20% off coupons and such say not applicable to cabinets, etc.. The only coupon specific to tool cabinets have been for the bottom cart......the price varies up and down between $349 (lowest I have seen yet) to $369. I have yet to see the top chest on sale. As far as I can tell, it remains at $299.

If anyone has better info., please let us know. Thanks.

That is exactly what I have been seeing the last several months as well. It still beats a comparable Craftsman box.

tenorplayer23 · Mar 8, 2011

Agree.........the HF set is ~50% of a comparable set. And as far as I can tell plus feedback on the forum, better built for the money.

Thanks.

84bimmer said:
That is exactly what I have been seeing the last several months as well. It still beats a comparable Craftsman box.

zoomzoomjeff · Mar 8, 2011

The Des Moines, IA store has the same notices posted about how you can't use coupons on tool boxes and other items. It states effective 12-31-10.

gritsngumbo · Mar 8, 2011

I bought the roller cabinet last year and got 20% off the sale price. I just went back last week to buy the top cabinet and they wouldn't honor the 20% coupon (I hadn't read the fine print). So, I paid $299 plus tax for the top box and then was informed they didn't have one in stock. I "forced" them to sell me the display box (think they were aware that this old man was going quietly" and they knocked off 30%. It was a little dusty, but all in all a good deal. All in all I'm in for about $550 for both pieces and am very happy with the quality. Would recommend them to anyone. They are certainly much better than anything Sears has to offer.

84bimmer · Mar 9, 2011

gritsngumbo said:
I bought the roller cabinet last year and got 20% off the sale price. I just went back last week to buy the top cabinet and they wouldn't honor the 20% coupon (I hadn't read the fine print). So, I paid $299 plus tax for the top box and then was informed they didn't have one in stock. I "forced" them to sell me the display box (think they were aware that this old man was going quietly" and they knocked off 30%. It was a little dusty, but all in all a good deal. All in all I'm in for about $550 for both pieces and am very happy with the quality. Would recommend them to anyone. They are certainly much better than anything Sears has to offer.

Nice strategy man. I've had similar experiences with sears. Take in a broken raised panel ratchet, make sure they don't have any in stock before you talk to anyone. Then present it to them and they pretty much have to give you the better quality "professional series" chrome teardrop. Happened by accident once, then I just happened to break a couple more RPs, dangit :thumbup:

JAVIER0 · Mar 9, 2011

Wow,It's awsome
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justin85 · Mar 9, 2011

Can anyone confirm a paint job change on these boxes? It came up in the cart thread that HF may have changed this box over to the glossy finish. Anyone confirm?

sparky7 · Mar 9, 2011

Yeah i would like to know this as well. I am buying that box this weekend.. or i was planning on it, so i want to make sure a better version isnt on the way.

Im going to give HF a ring today.

ramtuff · Mar 9, 2011

justin85 said:
Can anyone confirm a paint job change on these boxes? It came up in the cart thread that HF may have changed this box over to the glossy finish. Anyone confirm?

I bought mine not even two weeks ago...has the textured finish on it. I bought it at a new store too, so their stock is only three weeks old.

Sterff · Mar 9, 2011

If you are concerned about the handle I moved mine to the side-box. I also noticed that the drawers on the side-box tend to open a little easier than on the main box. Maybe the slides have a lower rating?

ramtuff · Mar 9, 2011

Sterff said:
If you are concerned about the handle I moved mine to the side-box. I also noticed that the drawers on the side-box tend to open a little easier than on the main box. Maybe the slides have a lower rating?

Compared to the bottom cab, the drawers on the side cab do open easier, but they're just like the drawers in the top chest. The top and bottom chests have different style detents, and although I haven't pulled a drawer out of the side cabinet to check, I'm sure the detents on that are the same style as the top chest.

78Staff · Mar 9, 2011

zoomzoomjeff said:
The Des Moines, IA store has the same notices posted about how you can't use coupons on tool boxes and other items. It states effective 12-31-10.

Same in Jax, they have a sign right on the tool chests, actually... ;(

JB22 · Apr 7, 2011

bought mine yesterday and its still textured flat red finish.

US General Tool Cabinet/Box/Side Boxes from Harbor Freight Recommendations

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