Harbor Freight 72" Tool Box | 1 Year Review!!
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- Опубликовано: 6 апр 2019
- Does Harbor Freights tool box stand up to use in a professional shop environment and every day use? Does it store enough tools for a mechanic? Today we review this toolbox and give our opinion of it after using it for 1 year!
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I need to get one of those snap-off stickers
Me too ! I'm planning on buying the 72" when they go on sale or a lower price since I'm a paid member. So I'll want that sticker ! 😎
I like the “snap-off” logo 🤣👍
Hah! Thanks your the first one to say something!
I completely agree with you “less money spent on the toolbox,more money to spend on tools to do my job”, I have a husky toolbox & I’m a tech at the Chevrolet dealership
That was the parody name in the original fallout.
Lol I didn’t notice he had another one on the top chest
I just bought a 72" General and wanted to do the Snap Off logo, but you beat me to it! LOL.
Should have bought the 72”. My 56” US General is already full. Thanks for the video.
🤣 that snap off decal. Love it!!
Great video, got straight to the point 🤙🏼
Thanks for the honest post 1 year review. It was nice to hear the few drawbacks of the tool box are very minor especially considering the affordable price.
Been over 2.5 years now and still just as good 👍
So I actually had the same bottom box and used a lammanent wood (Wood flooring)for the top of it. Worked really well for me as a motorcycle mechanic as I always have parts or dirtbike engines on top of it. Easy to clean after wards and kept the rubber top looking brand new when I sold the box.
I bought the HF tool cart this past winter and picked up the 44" box a few weeks ago. The cart has the same style drawer release as your box, but the 44" has detents rather than latches. I wonder if that's one of the improvements of the "series 2" boxes. I prefer the detents and may replace the latches on my cart with some sort of magnet as a detent to keep the drawers shut. I'm pretty happy with both of them so far.
I have the same one and my top has lifted also. The latches on the side are annoying after quite a while. Can't wait to see and hear about the icon version
I had a box that the previous owner had put a laminate counter top on. That was a great work surface.
Just order the icon 73x25. Can’t wait hope it handles the rest of time in the transit industry
Good review I have the same 72 inch box
I got 2 big rubber mudflaps from napa had it on till i sold the box stayed good
I got 56 top and bottom side locker in the shop i work. Works amazing love it. She holds everything from dewalt to snap on. Weighs a ton lol. Its gloss black too
Awesome!! Black is cool when I got this Red was the only option!
I just sat through a 4 minute ad for sunglasses. It was a pretty good ad, reminded me of the Dollar Shave Club spots.
Now on to the box review :)
Hahaha
Was it William Painter
Just got one a few days ago. First thing I did was take off the drawer catch latches. I hated having to go to the right side to open a drawer and could see me breaking them eventually. Don't see me moving the box around much anyway. I am going to get the 5 drawer cart that will get moved around
Remove the latches and add magnets to rear of box on inside, add as many as you need to create a small grab then you won’t have to worry about grabbing the specific spot to open you can grab whereever and doors will stay closed
Not a bad idea but I prefer having the latches myself. I like that it has latches vs the 42 inch box above it that doesnt, I just would love the latches built into the whole handle! but hey at the price I paid you cant have it all and it has been great.
Conveyor belt works good for the top of the box.
Great video.
I got mostly matco and snap on tools..with husky tool box and a cosco one. This is general seems like the best bang for the buck and I can add some new tools
Great video, gonna get one. im just gonna make a plywood top, its gon na get beat up anyway. good job.
swwet i got the cart its awesome. menard have some good boxes with the lift handle.
I've been looking at various tool boxes for a while now, and although everyone has some complaints with some "spit and polish" features of us general, it keeps coming out as a great toolbox. Especially with the price difference. Maybe if it was a couple hundred different it would worth spending more, but when it's 500+ minimum, it's a great deal
I have the US general smaller tool cart at work. I removed all of the plastic locking clips on the side. Removed each drawer and placed 2 strong magnets on each drawer. When I close the drawer the magnets are close but do not touch the back wall of the box. Drawers close great now with just enough resistance to close and open great
Great idea.
Wondering if you could hang the 17" side cabinets on the side of the 72, then hang lockers on the side of that. I wonder how much weight it could hold
Cut a piece of 1/4 plywood to fit top of cabinet and use contact adhesive to glue may on. Be careful, bonds instantly can't get apart. Could put some aluminum trim around edges for pro look. Materials available at home center.
I’m planning on picking up a 56” tomorrow. These boxes are tanks for the price.
I have the 56 inch topper also
Nice box
Absolutely great box I intend to get one myself also seen a review were a guy used a tool to measure the thickness of the metal it showed to be thicker than Husky and other boxes no wonder that thing is such a monster I've heard nothing but good reviews on this box besides the Box in tools don't make the technician experience does great review
well i been trying to find a spec on what gauge steel it is. when it was measured was it bare steel sometimes paint gets thick .
16° mostly 18° for huskey, I was surprised about that , I have Harbor Fr the 54 top and bottom side cabinet and the locker I have no complaints,I cant see spending 6 k on boxes,
The complaint about the drawers not being deep enough is like a couple having children and then saying the house is too small. Of course. And as a "gearhead", you will continue to add to your "family" of tools, so how and where you store your tools will change over time. Instead of that locker cabinet you have on the right end, I would have suggested you needed the 64159 end cabinet with 7 drawers. And as for where the drawer latches are, that is just another reason why some cabinets are more expensive than others. The feature of being able to unlatch the drawer all along its length is one reason your cabinet was less expensive. I liked the video; it is always nice to hear what the pros and cons are from the end user.
Of course those are reasons it is cheaper than the other boxes! I am happy with the size of the box for what I paid but I wish it was a little deeper to fit/organize a few things differently but I am not short space. I got the cabinet for specialty tools in foam formed boxes, its much better suited to that and is a better use of space for me than more drawers would have been because it was taking up most of my lower drawers.
and btw I appreciate the comparison to a couple having children and saying the house is too small lol but thats not whats happening here, Im literally just saying deeper and better latches would make this an almost perfect box for me, theres nothing really wrong with it and the price is killer.
I picked up a pair of 42"s last month for $399 with coupon, and the 26" for $249, which were smokin deals. I was gonna get the 72" this month and seen they raised the $$ from $1099 to $1199, grrr!
I'm sure they'll still have the coupons for $999, I'm hopin so anyways! They are still a great value! Awesome video!
72" x 22"? dude i work at hft! i have a coupon code that takes it down to 999$ as well if you're still interested? Free of course. no itc needed btw lmao
@@wudntulike2no32 Good till November www.greentractortalk.com/forums/tools-equipment/126770-harbor-freight-tools-review-thread-24.html#post3337916
@@wudntulike2no32 Glad you could use it, I got my green one last weekend, glad I had forks for my tractor...very heavy. Had one rivet missing from drawer rail. So check them out.
I bought the 44 inch bottom chest and was impressed by the quality. Couldn't see paying 6 times more for a Snap On or Mac box.
That locker is it the 16 inch looks like a nice addition
I'm getting one
I own one too. I love it but don’t like the lack of depth and how hard it is to steer box around while loaded
Have a green one coming in Oct, and with a $200 off coupon the series 2 was still $1K ..,Nice review. The Icon stuff it too pricey for me.
chex313 yeah Icon is pricey but no lie it’s niceeeee !!
Wow the GearGods have blessed us with another video so quickly!
Nice overview and review. Only thing that would really be nice is those full length drawer latches. My tool boxes are so cheap they don't even latch!
Haha my top one doesnt latch either! and it is really nice, but to me its not worth the price difference when I am happy with the rest of the box.
Love my 72 inch box. I put a wood top on mine. We used car lift with straps to pull mine off the trailer I moved mine on.
Yea I am thinking about top ideas and wood would look nice if I did it right. Not a bad way to get it down!
I put wood board top works great
Great box for a starter or someone that don't move it around a lot.
Starter boxes honestly can be a lot smaller. I filled this thing up and got another tool cart to have space again. Good for someone thats been doing it awhile also that doesnt want to make a car payment on a box! And with tool carts luckily I dont need to move it it stays parked and I can just grab what I need and put it in the cart and do my best to put things away at the end of the day or before work starts the next morning.
I think the updated 72 box has 22in depth now
Got to get a HF box.
Make sure you check out the casters on them bc some of them are cheap as shit. What my boss did was he bought the HF toolbox but then R&R casters with the ones for the 72" EPIQ and they fit perfectly. I would recommend checking the dimensions first before doing though. As my boss says measure twice so you don't have to cut haha. Good luck man
I agree about the drawer latch. Only having it on one side is a pain. But I also don't like the snap on one either. To use to just pulling the drawers open. I have the husky 52" with the soft close. Love it. I also have the hf 5 drawer service cart and I put the hf side cabinet on my husky. Been thinking about the side locker. Is it any good?
Its not exactly complicated just comes empty and you set the drawers where you want them, Im very happy with mine!
I have the Husky as well with the soft close and tbh I wouldnt want it any other way
I have the same borrom boxe and side lockers in my garage here at house I have had box 2 years or right at it now 56in top box also only problem I had is every blur moon the lock sticks and side lockers hinges making popping sound when u open it but nothing major as faea problem those two things had problems with uses on blaster lubricant too lubricated them haven't any problem since overall box is a good box and it is completely full side lockers full also and been that way since I bought it now have a craftsman box that had for long time that still got stuff in it but it no where as big as us general box that have now
Those boxes seem fairly nice. I’d say 1k is a fair price also. I’m a huge snap on whore but I won’t knock on anyone’s tools or box. If it works good and makes your job/life easier then it’s a good tool. With most tools I’d say buy what you can afford as long as you feel it’s good quality and gets the job done! Build it up over time
I agree completely. I'm not a snap on hater or whore either way, I really like some of their tools and really like some Matco tools and other truck brands as well. The thing is right now I don't have a lot of extra money to spend and this box has been fantastic for the last year, and my whole setup currently holds more tools than my bosses $12k snap on box. Man, his box is definitely a lot nicer than mine and I can always appreciate good tools, but for me at the moment what I have works and makes me money and I am super happy with what I paid for it!
better to have a $1000 toolbox filled with $10,000 tools then a $10,000 box with a $1000 worth of tools
@@johnmine5609 True, because the 10,000 dollar box always needs to borrow 1/2 of my tools found in my 1,000 dollar box 🤣🤣
Thanks for the video what's the Measurement from the top of the box to the top of the locker
Hey man just measured it, 23.75"
@4:23 As a former Snap on dealer, it's not a matter "sense of humor". He didn't want to alienate any future/potential customers in any shop. Just window-dressing. And I can't wait for HF Icon box!
lol sure I get it but he's fine. He's friends with my boss so he's around a lot.
@imgone Icon is HF's new pro tool line
Great review! I've been wanting one of their smaller boxes for a while now. Oh, and which drawer do you keep your Miata?
Haahaahhh!!! Almost fits in the bottom drawer! I love this box its been great so far
I really enjoyed your review of this box and i am just about to purchase one myself, Is this the second gen box or new style box?
Thank you! and it looks like on their site now they have a "Series 2" listed, looks the same as mine but honestly not sure what the differences are. I bought this one a little over a year ago and love it.
I just looked it up and it looks like there was no changes made to the 72 inch box.
I believe the series 2 boxes are deeper, which is the route I'll be going when it's time to upgrade
ICON will be high priced!
"The extra few inches really does make a difference"....That's what she said😂
Waw hilarious
Snap-OFF lolol funny!
I would like to mount this box under my work bench without the casters installed. how tall is it without the casters? Thanks.
He measures it at 6:30.
a 1k from Hf is a 5k box from snap on
I got a 72inches us general but How much weight will the bottom drawer hold ...?
Cant find no answer on website
Idk I have never seen a weight rating per drawer...I can stand in it though 🤷♂️ It has dual roller sliders on each side so it can support plenty enough.
Hello Gear heads
I just came across this Video, thank you in advance. I've watched it twice. You gave all the dimensions but one. Shallow drawers to deep drawers. I have a ton of tools that to be organized to save space. Now that you're into year two, what are your thoughts on the Harbor Freight 72" box?
I am currently looking for a new Toolbox. Although, my needs are not all different, But I have to be able to move my box to different work locations and or buildings (Hangers). I would not think most automotive mechanics would encounter that need. Just how much does it weigh empty. As I, do not have a trailer for towing. I have to be able load it up into my pickup. Sometimes I have access to a forklift, which makes it simple.
Before I forget to ask, where do you get the Snap-off decal? Again thank you for a Great Video.
My opinion on it is still the same on it, love it for the value of the purchase it isnt perfect but was worth more than I paid for it I feel. It is heavy, very heavy even empty I wouldnt want to have to be wheeling it around. That is what tool carts are for, big box sits and the tools I use 99% of the time all sit in the tool cart and I only go to the box intermittently for random things.
Snap off decal was from ebay!
@@GearHeadsGarageChannel Thank you for the quick response. Unfortunately, in my side of transportation, Aviation. Moving your Toolbox is almost a occurrence. We don't get just park and go. Although, you will see a sea of tool boxes parked from one shift. As other shift goes to work. Som, we move around the same Aircraft. Other times to different locations altogether. So weight does become an issue.
That wide upper drawer measures exactly as my 52" craftsman toolbox.🤦🏻♂️ We have a SnapOn toolbox at my job that has that same plastic locking mechanism.
They say not to use lithium grease on drawer sliders. It tends to gum them up. Better off using a teflon dry film lubricant. Can't beat HF boxes, best quality for the money. My Craftsman box is nowhere near as good as my US General. For those of us not buying off the tool truck and choosing between Husky, Craftsman, etc., they're the best made I think.
Definitely a big step up from my old craftsman boxes! I will look up more about the grease for the sliders I wasnt aware, thank you for sharing!
Some folks remove the latches and use magnets in the back to hold the drawers.
Yea but I like having latches, I just wish it had a better latching system but overall I prefer to have them.
@@GearHeadsGarageChannel Agreed. I don't like the off center latch either
i like the side cabinet, whats the make on it?
Its a harbor freight side cabinet
If you have access to a table saw and you want to ditch the top box, I'd get a butcher-block countertop and cut to fit.
How is it holding up? I have had mine for 2 years, so far so good.
Holding up great still, I think its been 4-5 years now!
Are these series 2 boxes?
Lower box is, upper I dont remember now...if the Series Tow 42" doesnt have locking drawers then probably.
Don't have the $1300 at this moment for the Harbor Freight 72" Tool Box
Do u feel the drawers could be deeper?
I mentioned in the video for the price you cant complain and its a great box. But one of the only things that would make me want to upgrade in the future is drawer depth...30 inches would be legit...but a snap on box 72" wide and same depth as this is like $5000 so Im stoked its been great.
That’s the cleanest box I’ve ever seen. You vacuum out the drawers?
I clean my tools before putting them back in, thats it.
Vacuum? Shop air. Blow it out.
Snap Off!
Amusing emphasis on easy sliding drawers. If you are turning wrenches, you can open drawers.
Easy sliding implies less wear and tear over time. An engine that runs rough or doesnt turn over easy by hand because of friction/bearing issues is not long for this world. Same rule applies anywhere else. Been almost 3 years with this box by the way all the drawers work perfect still. By this point it has paid for itself if you figure how much you would have paid towards a big name box of similar size.
Also if you are turning wrenches and arent weak then sure. But I dont want drawers that are more difficult or take 2 hands to pull open evenly because you have to pull and lift weight off to get it to open, its a pain, costs time, and half the time I have tools in one of my hands and am just reaching for something else real quick.
Easy sliding drawers is one of the main things people look for in a toolbox and for good reason. No reason to accept shitty drawers to save money, if thats what your happy with go buy a 20 year old crafstman box without roller bearings and watch it get harder and harder to open the more weight and tools you fill it with.
No reason why it wouldn't stand up to everyday use unless it's abused. Mechanics have made do with less over the years. There was a time when roller slides were a luxury. Us old dudes had to deal with "friction slides"! Remember them? You younger guys have waaaaaayyyy more choices in toolboxes these days. Tools too.
I've had my 44" top and bottom chest for gee probably 12 years or longer, full of tools and sits outside on a carport, its never been inside a building so I'd say with that they're good chests and I sure wouldn't waste money on those Snap-On and other ridiculously over-priced boxes that are most likely built in the same Chinese factory the HF boxes are built in. May upgrade to the 56" top and bottom with end cabinets here in the next year or so as they have discontinued the old 44" stuff so none of the new end cabinets will work on my boxes and its time for a slight upgrade anyways. Just wish they'd build them with deeper drawers, especially those larger boxes....I can't fit many of my tools in my current 44" box due to the drawers not being deep enough, and for the size of that 72" that whole bottom row of drawers should have been at least 12" deep for those larger tools like skil saws, framing nailers, etc....which is where the end locker would be a great add-on for me which now isn't an option as they've been discontinued.
Seems like narrow drawers don't hold much, and take up too much space.
for 72" box the masterforce from menards the winner at best sale/rebate price .
I have seen those they look great!
they tick off your main complaints of wanting handle lift latch system and extra depth.
Build quality is proper good and drawer layout pretty good although 1 or 2 deep drawers would of been better switched out for shallow drawers .
US General are pretty decent boxes and at lowest coupon deals good value.
The plastic finger latch is one of worst budget features on US Gen, some of the series 2 boxes have detents on slides as well as pull latch and the plastic latch looks stronger,, they make these boxes in 2 different factories and other differences in metal forming, lock system and drawer slide pull out depth exist so got do some homework before buying .
For a young tech 1 to 2K is all really want be spending on box/boxes used or new.
Buying box new off truck is about worst financial tool buy you can do .
I would look at better thick rubber mat (such as stall mat) or if can remove that rubber re-glue it to hardboard .
Stainless tops are awful long term, heavy duty rubber or wood about the best, nice bit of ply with exposed edges beaded and stained looks nice and pretty low cost option .
Keep enjoying the boxes .
@@mrb1864 I'm probably going to end up doing wood for the top eventually. Thank you for all the info and sharing! I am very happy with my box but its always good to know what else is out there. I probably wont sell this one I'll just keep it around at home if I upgrade at work eventually etc. For now its good!
Are u still happy with ur box?
Yup! Still holding and organizing my tools just fine!
Is this the serious 2?
Yes it is.
SNap off, LOL!
are you part Japanese?
That's what she said 🤣🤣
"Those extra inches make a difference " that's what she said
It may not sound like much but it is!
That what my wife says...she luv my Latino extraaaa extended inches LMBO:)
The Camera adds 10 inches on Guys, and 10 pounds on Women!
Hell it takes a year too get the top box
I see you have a knock off Snap-On decal...
It says Snap-Off
@@GearHeadsGarageChannel I got that... But you missed the pun in the comment...
Ppl
With snap on boxes, the only thing you’re paying for is the name. Some of the snap on boxes are made in the same factory in China as the harbor freight boxes. So yeah why pay extra for basically the same product
It amazes me how a lot of you guys are mechanics but you have no tools.😀I'm a mechanic and I have a ton of tools. I have this box in blue my brother paid $200 it had a small dent and the mgr was tired of moving it around the store😀. Lucky Me!