Can You Really Save $20,000 With "Cheap" Harbor Freight Tools? U.S. General Series 3 Review

really diggin that grey and black box didnt know they had that kolor, quote of the year- " You dont make money with the big fancy toolbox, you make money with whats in it"

I've gotten a lot of hate for my views on harbor freight tools. We built our current racecar with harbor freight tools and the only issue we had was with the 4 1/2 grinder,the hand tools performed flawlessly. And ues we ised chrome sockets with a impact and never broke one. We've used a Bauer battery 1/2 impact for six years for R&R of wheels at the track and never had a issue. We used the same impact last winter to build the car and it took the cradle bolts out with ease and the rear axle bolts without any problems. Heck hf tools jave helped us win races and a championship so

Icon tools are amazing! I am slowly buying some of their tools to get to Jared level lol

I dont understand why so many mechanics focus on manual ratchets and wrenches these days. I use my Milwaukee M12 power ratchet anywhere it will fit. Time is money.

Is there a link or list of all the items mentioned in this video? I’d love this as a shopping list.

You have a tool list for everything in the box?

Yea now at 57 I have over 150 k in tool truck tools but didn't have those options back in the day have used Quinn from HF great stuff for the $$$

I have all of the Snap On and Mac and matco and let me tell you I have some Harbor freight tools and I can definitely tell the difference between a snap on and a harbor freight tool. You get what you pay for. I bet if you load down the drawers in that box heavy with tools the tracks will fall right out on the ground. Hahaha 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Really enjoyed the video, 2x speed with the captions on is the best way to watch imo

would you not say (usa made) tools instead of "name brand"? i mean i get it, i'm here to save money on the tool chest as well, however... well anywho gl hf.

I’ve read comments on other videos from guys bashing HF tools and the people buying them. As far as I’m concerned they can piss off. I wrenched on heavy trucks for almost ten years until the arthritis in my hands said no more. The cheapest tools I had in my $8000 Cornwell box were a few USA made Craftsman screwdrivers and small sockets. All else were the big names. During those years I don’t recall NOT owing a small fortune to the tool vultures that pulled in our lot every single week. Even after I went into a different career, I had to sell most everything off to pay it off. Never again. And I mean never. I just bought a Series 3 56” box with a side cabinet to make it a 72”. It’s not perfect, but it’s great and a nice setup at home. The finish is flawless, unlike my Cornwell box that had to be sent back and touched up. And, it was about $6800 cheaper. The drawer slides are a little stiff, but I don’t have to worry about a heavy drawer creeping open that I may have forgot to latch. Overall, I’m very pleased with Harbor Freight. They’re really stepping up the game. 💪

I wonder how much harbor freight payed him. This comes from a someone who never bought anything off a truck, only has 2 tool truck things, both from a pawnshop.

Can we get an update on how the HF toolbox and tools have held up since?

Great vid btw

Exactly i don't have your set of pliers with the teeth like the snap on and the Japanese engineer brand but I am like you Jared sir I would be alot more impressed with them picking up a crankshaft with them by the journal and would not care less about them picking up a dime, because if they can pick up the crankshaft then if you need to get a carburetor e clip or use them hold on to small fasteners and or pins like on drum brakes and cotter pins and they should be quite sufficient and handy to use and honestly if you are going to carry a set of pliers on you id suggest those and the Doyle slip joint pliers..

I have a new set of around i think 9 1/2 inch tekton usa made tongue and groove pliers for my $25 rewards points and I have a set of the Doyle I believe needle nose pliers might be the be the wire cutters anyways way better products than the green and black plastic handle pliers but both cost significantly more...i have not tried any of the icon brand pliers,, and I regularly use the channel lock brand USA made pliers have for years because you can use and abuse them and they last but aren't cheap so that's why I tried both of tekton and the Doyle brand pliers and I am probably going to end up buying a few sets of both brands but I don't see me replacing or getting rid of the channel lock brand new set of 6pc assortment pliers and the set of 410 nut buster grip channel lock brand pliers

I have had my husky 26 inch top chest, and 28 inch bottom chest for ten years now. both of them have held up remarkably well drawers and gas shocks for the lift top work just as good as day one. I've dragged them all over. lifted the top off to travel many times. the paint has held up to torture and I have splashed it with everything from grease to brake fluid. soldered in the top of it. and I paid less than 250 dollars for both at the time.

I got the gen 2 72 inch us general lower at 0% interest for home and im not disappointed at all. Im a mechanic in a factory and we get all us general boxes if the company buys. I have a stationary craftsman i bought and my roller cart for moving around the plant is us general and so much nicer of a box. Probably at some point in the next year or so upgrade my stationary to a US general also. For the money they are hard to beat.

One screwdriver organizer I've liked is actually a silverware drawer tray. Not the cheap plastic ones but squared up perforated metal.

I like my husky better. Cheaper plus power outlets included at the top

The other good thing is that you don't have to wait a week for harbor freight to come back to fix the tool that you obviously needed because you broke it

I guess my opinions are going to be difficult to understand for most people in here. I'm guessing most of y'all are either shadetree guys or you're professional auto techs.
I'm an Industrial Electrician and Maintenance Technician. I work in American manufacturing. Made in America is extremely important to me because I realize that's my bread and butter. I know it doesn't make a damn to the auto tech guys, and to be honest, it probably doesn't matter to the die-hard name brand guys either. They just like buying off the trucks. I need a box that's going to hold up to the abuse of carrying at least 500 lbs in it and being moved all around the plant, all day, every day. So far, Waterloo was the best brand for that. My runner-up would be Craftsman. I like Kennedy, but their stuff is expensive.

I too have had a terrible experience with matco i even called corporate they said its my fault for being the consumer who ended up with it.

Those drawers do not look as deep as my Cornwell box

The ICON light kit will fit most any hutch.

Thanks for sharing !!!

Fun. I am 44. I didn't realize that I am older.
I have a couple rolling toolboxes--at Mom's house a few hours away--but I am in an SLP program.
Hopefully I am making good money in 18 months without bashing my knuckles.
I will be doing that for fun.

The Craftsman wrenches and sockets/ratchet/extensions that I bought from Sears in 1978 are still the ones I use today. Not one failure. The advice here is great - don't buy the $200 ratchet when the ICON (the new Craftsman level of tools in my opinion) will last a very long time.

Aviation mechanic here chiming in. Majority of us use US General Tool Boxes! And we Use Doyle, Icon, and Quinn. Yes we make great money but majority of us in the aviation field aren't willing to spend massive amounts for the main tools needed. If need be we save the massive money for aviation specialty tools. Especially if we're contracting, some of the tools harbor freight has surpasses the big names from a price point of view and longevity daily use.

You buy that box off the Snap on truck, you better get ready for a reverse mortgage, literally F the big three, they continue to get worse and worse quality while price stays the same, I got 1 or 2 old gen 2 Milwaukee guns that would smoke the snaps out the water. trust your gut, i've been using the same US general roller since i was a lube tech and that was 15 years ago.

You’re obviously being kind of a tool.

Real shame it wasn't. around years ago ....Snap-on box not one Snap-On tool to go into it you were broke T/G For H/B

What is the weight rating on the drawers and the tool box over all.

Love the upgrade.

HF was junk in 2014, 2023 in general isn't great, but the guy who started HF is now a rock star

Probably one of the most honest and detailed reviews I've seen. I went back to school and one of my modules talked about tools needed, and it was a powerpoint that only showed MAC. Looking at their page and seeing (and knowing from the younger years) the superb craftsmanship, I noticed they had a "student program," also. I figure after the program, they 'll show up to reel in your soul. I was looking at other tools, hence this video. I did not know There where any other tools at Harbor besides Pittsburgh. I am so happy I found this video. Thank you for the information.

US General doesn't have a light solution for their hutch but the Icon hutch light will work I'm there and activates by magnets that make contact turning the light on and out when they separate

I did have a question on your thoughts on the icon box also

Jared, thanks for all the input definitely was thinking about getting a new US general box

I just bought this box. Only thing I wish it had is soft close drawers and a power tool organizer in the bottom right drawer.

Bro this guy like 7ft tall???

Do you need a receipt to honor their ICON lifetime warranty?

I totally agree I just purchased the 56 inch roller banker. I love it good value

Gear wrench is cheap, would spend more on icon. Dont like the hutch would rather have the working top with a bench vise. Dont see the point of short wrenches when have ratcheting shorts. Would use a battery impact set of tools and pry bar set tho. Nice video to help mechs

Doug is my new hero. Pick a favorite hack. Can I just pick the video? Haha. Great job gentlemen.

" if you have Visa credit, you can get it now "

🧐?

You could line some flat LED strips, like you might see on a gaming computer for lighting in the hutch for like, 5 dollars

I think US general basically owns the market for above entry level tool boxes that you can actually afford. They are substantially better than what you see at home Depot and Lowe's, better than Craftsman and just a little bit more money. The series 2 blowout deals recently were one of the best buys I've ever seen in my life on toolboxes

Sonic and similar European tool boxes do not have those garbage spot welds showing through. It's time for us to hold these companies accountable for their shoddy work

That color does look cool..

Good morning. I’m starting a mini truck project and I am an avid Harbor Freight purchaser. I’ve ordered the Quinn master mechanic tool set. I’ve purchased my US General tool box. Getting the hutch later. Could you send me a list of tools I will need. Removing the engine and sending it off. Removing and replacing body panels. Going to attempt a paint job myself. Maybe some self teaching welding. Any help is appreciated