Rolling tool chest/boxes on wheels harbor freight verses the others?

   / Rolling tool chest/boxes on wheels harbor freight verses the others? #1  

coobie

Super Member
Joined
Sep 19, 2004
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Location
S.Michigan
Tractor
Kubota RTV 1100c, JD 740,Kioti DK 40 with KL401 loader .
Not being a garage mechanic that needs a top notch tool box/chest on wheels what are your thoughts on a harbor freight/general double bank rolling tool chest SKU#64446 ? Are snap-on,matco,cobalt,craftsman that much nicer for $$ spent? Being a simply homeowner looking to purchase one( lower bottom unit) in the near future.
 
   / Rolling tool chest/boxes on wheels harbor freight verses the others? #2  
I'm not a mechanic either, and never used a rolling tool chest before. I bought one of the red 27" from HF a couple of years ago. Got a good deal as both the top and bottom chests were on a "sidewalk sale" for about $235 for the set. It was lacking casters, but I put it on one of their $10 furniture movers, and it works fine (yes, I could have spent a few more bucks for some casters, but I didn't intend to roll it around anyway). The chest is fairly well built, and I am very pleased with it. I compared them to the HD and Lowes versions, and found the HF to be better. It's now full of tools, and I have no problem with the weight in the drawers. No complaints from me.
 
   / Rolling tool chest/boxes on wheels harbor freight verses the others? #3  
YouTube has several videos that compare features. HF isn’t always cheaper. Other folks will have deals or the regular price is competitive. I ended up with a Husky from HD and have been happy. But if I had a HF coupon or something I’d have no issue with theirs.
 
   / Rolling tool chest/boxes on wheels harbor freight verses the others?
  • Thread Starter
#4  
YouTube has several videos that compare features. HF isn’t always cheaper. Other folks will have deals or the regular price is competitive. I ended up with a Husky from HD and have been happy. But if I had a HF coupon or something I’d have no issue with theirs.
I was looking at the Home depot Husky comparable product today but the local HD employees were a total nightmare.NO SALE..
 
   / Rolling tool chest/boxes on wheels harbor freight verses the others? #5  
I have several Craftsman boxes, bought on sale or clearance, and find quality and price to be comparable to HF or others. I'm a maintenance technician at a oil bottling plant, my big box at work (52" bottom chest only) is always getting rolled around to where needed, as mobile work bench. At home, I have a 41" bottom/top combo, and 27" bottom/top combo, the top 27" is nearly 25 years old, dad got it for me in high school.

Guy I work with has a SnapOn tool chest, a little bigger than mine in hight, built a little heavier, drawer slides are a little heavier duty, but with a price 10x higher, complete with payment options, the return on investment isn't there for me by a long shot.
 
   / Rolling tool chest/boxes on wheels harbor freight verses the others? #6  
I have a HF box and I’d rate it as better than craftsman and Kobalt. Unless the Snap-on box comes with gold bars inside it’s not a real player for hobby use.
 
   / Rolling tool chest/boxes on wheels harbor freight verses the others? #7  
I have a HF box and I’d rate it as better than craftsman and Kobalt. Unless the Snap-on box comes with gold bars inside it’s not a real player for hobby use.

Guy I worked with at my last job had a HF box, one of the better ones, 54", priced at about $700, on sale for $600. Good quality box, nice drawer slides and good latches. I looked at a smaller one back then, the quality was not as good, and no drawer latches, which was one of my requirements.
 
   / Rolling tool chest/boxes on wheels harbor freight verses the others?
  • Thread Starter
#8  
As stated not used for industrial use just for my po-dunk garage use.I have a cheaper craftsman's in my other barn which has held up well.It was a craigslist purchase on the cheap.
 
   / Rolling tool chest/boxes on wheels harbor freight verses the others? #9  
Rock Crawler's the local HF Tool Chest connoisseur. He has a whole string of them. Lots of posts on the HF thread.
 
   / Rolling tool chest/boxes on wheels harbor freight verses the others? #10  
They rate very well on some other sites/ threads.
I bought one of their rolling tool caddy with about 6 drawers for a "test run" as they all have the same construction, just different sizes. No issues and seems to be better built than my Craftsman box's. I was highly surprised by the weight of the box when I bought it. That weight is reflected in it's construction. Coobie I wouldn't hesitate on that HF chest at all.
 

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