The hutch is to lock up your computer and things on top of your toolbox if you work in a shop with other mechanics that like to take your s*** I wouldn't get one but if I did you could stick your head in there close it down and eat lunch alone
I use mine as a cleaning area for my tools used during a shift. I use a tool it doesn't go in a drawer until it's been cleaned. EOS I clean my tools put them away. Lock up and go home. Also use it to hold my drink lunch paperwork new parts old parts etc.
Dude, I really appreciate that you don't blanket push viewers to subscribe. You literally say what you're about most of the time, and if we're not into it, don't subscribe. Dude 100% respect.
Lot of youtubers focus way too much on subscriber count. I'm glad you appreciate it, because I watch youtube myself all the time and hate when people beg me to subscribe
I'd suggest picking up the Ernst Wrench Pro wrench organizers. Inexpensive and incredible for keeping wrenches organized and saving considerable space at the same time.
Wow thank you for that. I hate all wrench organizers I can’t seem to get the wrench out without using two hands. That Ernst looks legit. You just made them money when I tell 20 people about it.
I picked up the wrench and plier organizers. My now has 2 empty drawers AND 2 half full ones. They are WORTH IT. Also they have said they are working on a screwdriver version. Will buy that when it comes out because the tool box widget I bought for that drawer SUCKS.
My job has provided me with a Series 2 & recently upgraded to the Series 3. The sliding lock is hard to operate one-handed when compared to the Series 2. One of the drawers snags on the corner, requiring 2 hands to open. I had similar issues like you pointed out with the bottom right drawer, but went away after break-in. I am seriously thinking about buying the Husky for my home. Thank you so much for this video.
I took the slide locks off my box because they became too frustrating to use, the old style harbor freight boxes with the latch on the corner were so much nicer.
I was going to get that US general set up but then a black friday deal came around on the 19g version of the Husky that I ended up getting for around 700 and got free shipping so I couldnt pass it up. It definitely isnt as sturdy of a box but it is good enough for me and for half the price of the general I am happy about it.
Thank you for the great review, especially showing the underside of the box. I plan on getting the hutch. I do body and paint so I don’t need many thin drawers. I don’t need a drawer dedicated 02 sensor sockets or any of the many small tools you wrenches do. I do however need to hide repair orders from coworkers eyes, a place to hang my guns, and a small area for a tea kettle would be nice. My DA sanders just get kicked around and fall over so there’s that. They sell holders for everything I’ve mentioned and many drawers just don’t do it for me. I just discovered you can put a mini fridge in the side locker so I’m getting that as well. Homak boxes were made in the us until a decade ago I really regret not getting one of those and entertaining chyna.
Very helpful video. I'm actually seriously considering upgrading to one of these, from my older, smaller, and very antique-feeling Craftsman rolling chest and top chest. After watching your review, I think the Husky is the better of the two for me
Just a few inputs. Generally, the more casters, the weaker the box. They use the extra casters in the middle to help make up for weaker metal, so the US general probably is stronger. Also, 4 casters makes it far easier to back it against a wall vs 6 casters. Some home depots will help you load the husky into your truck, others won't, your mileage may vary. HF will always load the box into your truck unless they don't have a forklift tech on duty or the forklift is broke. you can get a us general 27 and 42 inch and bolt them together (they're designed to do this) and you now have a 69 inch cab for the same price, but you would lose the top hutch and the largest drawer wouldn't be as wide as the largest drawer on the 56 inch. Pros and cons to both setups. Good video. I like the straight to the point format.
I have a 56" us general that is supposed to arrive the middle of January. I think I may just remove the drawer release mechanism but not sure yet. I also don't see much sense in the top hutch.
I had a Husky, i dumped it to get a US Gen ... way better built ! Top hutch is typically for a laptop , scanner and temporarily placing items such as wallet, keys, phone, drinks ... And the guys at Harbor Freight loaded mine up with a special lift cart that made it easy as they weigh close to 300 lbs.. All in alll , love my Series 2 box . 😎
Love the video, real nice comparison. Couple of tips for ya. I have the Series 2 box, and if you take the rubber mat off you actually bolt the top box to the top of the bottom box. Much better than the husky brackets. They have a wax or something on the top so it won't scratch and actually slides really easily when lining up the bolts. I highly recommend renting a low uhaul trailer when picking it up. If you're unloading it by yourself, put the top box in the bed of the pickup and the bottom box in the trailer. then you can roll the bottom box off, uncrate the top in the bed, remove the drawers and tilt it onto the bottom box. Easy to do with one person. I don't like the new drawer catches. I just take them out, they pull out from the side pretty easily. I peeled the large US General sticker off the top box. Was pretty easy. The drawers do loosen up over time. They are full length extension, but you need to pull them all the way out a couple times until they break in.
I really appreciate your review. I came upon your review trying to find one without the hutch. I also agree that’s a waste of space and money. It would be a giant catch for crap and be useless for my needs. The top box is a far greater value for storage and use of drawer space. It gives you about 1/3 more tool storage space from what u can see. My store did not even have on in stock to view just the hutch. I Just ordered one today with the top tool chest in the grey color. I got mine out the door with both top and bottom boxes 56” for $1,278.00 got 20% off both pieces. Mine is supposed to arrive January 16th 2024. Can’t wait to get mine! This is just for my home garage. Way over kill for my needs but should look great and be a huge organizational tool for my garage and tools. Can’t wait to clean up my work bench when this arrives.
I gotta say I use to agree with you on the top hutch. Now after looking into it and all the accessories I can put on the back board and it can double as a work bench . That sold me and my next box will be getting the hutch.
@@beardedreviews Well let me elaborate. The hutch only works on a tool box that is 30 inches deep. You could fit all the tools from a top and bottom 20 inch deep into just a bottom 30. For your US General then yes the top box is a must.
Im debating why the 72” is double the price? Wouldn’t it be wiser to just buy two 56”s? Any difference in the construction/reinforcement/metal thickness? Looks like only the casters 🤔
I’m liking the drawer layout on the USG and the latches on the HSKY but am really curious if you notice any significant build quality differences? Is either built with thicker steel? Are the drawe glides stringer on either? Do you know if the load capacity is different per drawer or overall? Do the larger USG casters have a better load rating than the smaller HSKY ones? I’m really looking for build quality info as well to help round out my decision making. Great video overall! Any extra info on build quality would be greatly appreciated!
I'm not expert or mathmagician, but to me build quality feels almost the exact same. I think in the 1-2K price range, most tool boxes will be around the same quality and you're just picking brand loyalty or drawer layout or one of the few features one may have over the other
You need some toolbox widgets for your wrench organizing. I'm considering getting a gray series 3 for the exact reason you are ... the socket and wrench drawers. Will be replacing a husky also. It is nice but I'm pretty sure I can combine a 54" husky two tier and a smaller old school 3 tier craftsman both into the 56" two tier series 3
Hello Bearded Reviews I just found your channel and subscribed. Rather than just two full length drawers. I would like to see three or more drawers at the full length. It depends on what tools you acquire. Besides sockets, ratchets, extensions and not to forget breaker bars. Then pliers take up a lot of room. But I have a suggestion for you. I think you will appreciate the Toolbox Widgets Organizers. I started with their wrenches and screwdrivers organizers. What a difference they make. They are very easy to use. They are pricey, but compared everything else. It's worth it. Again thank you 😊
Hard to say which would last longer. I think construction is similar but it would just come down to the latching mechanism being better on husky and drawer layout being better on usgeneral for me
I have a seris 3 56 inch green and it’s slam pack with tools for heavy equipment and I have no issue with opening or closing the box even with one hands, although I would argue that it could be at least 2-3 inches deeper
Sometime if you get a chance I’d like an overall height measurement with the top lid open. All I’m finding on the HF website is the height measurement with the lid closed.
The only thing I can think that would be beneficial about the enclosed hood top would be if you work in a shop and needed somewhere to lock big items away. Also the peg board, but that’s about it
@@beardedreviews The hutch works if you work in a shop. 2 of the 4 mechanics in my shop have hutches. I'm seriously considering purchasing this box with a hutch and a Side locker. For me it's the being able to store some higher things inside the hutch, but also being able to quickly secure everything by just closing up the top. When you are in a shop you tend to get really good at not throwing everything onto your box, or roll cab. I think my only issue with the bottom cabinet is the lack of a few smaller drawers for the catchall bullshit that we all accumulate. But with that being said. I can't bring myself to buy a snapon box at $4000 with 19% Financing. I've acquired a lot of snap on and Mac tools, but that box price got me like, whoa. Not going there. I'd rather have a $1500 box and use the other $2500 putting tools into it then spend $4K and have crap tools. But thank you for the review and comparison between a couple of entry level boxes. I found this very informative.
@@ftkinney yes I would like a hutch to keep a clean space that no dust gets into and feels like a part office. The Icon hutch works very nice, but because of certain dimensions being the door swings out more than the depth of the box sticks out too far and I could easily bump my head on it. So for the Us general the extra storage with the top box makes more sense. I just got a couple series 2 26" boxes and its amazing how many tools and organized a garage can get with those.
@@jacobe1942 that makes sense. The idea of having a clean area that closes versus a drawer is something I didn’t think about that probably does make sense for quite a few homeowners.
I would look into Alien Space Saver wrench organizers. I was going to jump on the toolbox widget wagon but chose those instead. Townline auto has a bunch of videos on them as well.
@@beardedreviews lots of DIY, and equipment maintenance , I’ll be storing our 12v tools in the bottom drawers. I’ve run into needing more space than what I have as issues spring up and new tools are needed!
First of all, my first car was a mustang and second, I like TikTok. That being said, you seem like a handsome, respectable young man and I trust your opinion. I’m going to subscribe
Very good review vid. My buddy has that same Husky set-up in black, and I have that same US General set-up in black as well. He's a tad jealous of mine..... Lol. One thing I like about the US General smooth finish is that it is way easier to wipe off greasy fingerprints and such. And of course the ease of applying stickers like you said.. And that full-length wrench drawer is awesome. Just a tip: Ditch those space-eating trays the wrenches come with, and forget those triangle holders as well. Grab a few pair of the OEM Tools rail wrench organizers. Part #22218. They changed my wrench organizing life! They are 23" long, but you can cut them down to any length you need. :)
If you look at the channel, I made a video about modifying it, and one of the things I did was those wrench organizers like you were talking about. They work awesome!!
I have 3 of the 34" Carts and a 56" Series 3...1st thing i did on all of them was pulled the drawer latches out...(to the right), and put them all into a plastic garbage bag and stuck them in the garage attic...
I will probably do the same thing that I did with my 72 gen 2 and eliminate the latch, and then put the magnet blocks from strips behind each drawer. 3 years and no problems. My top box is supposed to be here in the middle of January
How did u put the top of the us general on top of the bottom chest when u were home since u don’t have a fork lift at home? Thanks. I’m searching for a box now.
The casters came installed. They seem nice, I didn't see any grease fittings, but I guess I didn't check. Mine will just sit stationary and never really move
yes the us general comes with casters, and a ramp to easily slide off once the holds are removed. I am sure the US general is heavier. I think that is the only way the husky can incorporate more thrill features. This extra weight is in its strength and there is a reason husky decided it needed 6 casters instead of 4. I am hesitant to think they have grease fittings, looks like no from pictures.
I wish I could get a half hutch to have for power tools. I understand that's dumb in most cases but I'm going to start potentially in airframe maintenance and we will roll all our stuff under wings. So there's disadvantages to anything other than a cabinet
I just got a 72" series 3 base cab and the drawers suck a little bit to open and close. Its loosening up, and im used to my crappy old Kobalt box but its noticeable.
I absolutely despise the handles on us. General boxes. That is the reason I bought 3 72” Roll Cab boxes, they have the lift handle like the husky’s. I did get 1 hutch, I use it as a work bench for small stuff. But it does tend to collect junk. I have had my boxes for about 5 years, and if a drawer slide does go bat I will replace them with soft close ones. Because your tools tend to migrate to the back when repeatedly slammed (as you do when really working on something) no matter what type of liner you use. I’ll check out your channel. Like how you did the video, not groveling for likes is refreshing.
Good tip about the loading, not a lot of people mention that. I've bought several boxes from harbor freight, always goes very smoothly. I've gotten two boxes at Home Depot and it was a shit show both times, guess because tool boxes just aren't as big of a thing there as Harbor Freight.
I use the shit out of the hutch on my Husky for chargers and batteries. In fact I don’t have enough room. But that will thin out as I make more work areas in my shop. The US General looks a bit too high for it to be used like that for me (5’ 11” (was 6’ before the Army fucked my back).
What do you mean that US General are cheap boxes. I would sooner get a US General over my junky Husky Box. But living in Canada we either have to spend big money to get a descent tool box or go to Home Depot like I had to and get junk. I put my money into my tools but I do not trust my Husky. I am tempted to take the wheels off on mount it on wood or concrete blocks. But I would never ever roll the Husky around. It would crumble to pieces.
The reason that deep drawer is hard to open is more than likely cause you have 2 drawer slides and no weight in it, also cause its new. Once you use it and theres weight in it, it will probably open fine. My matco box does the same. I dont use thw drawer regularly so its never improved. Ill probably end up saving for a top and bottom chest from Harbor Freight, 56 or 72, and getting rid of the matco. Its trash. Lol.😂
I got the husky and love it and it's built so much better than the US general that was what swayed me to husky I'm 233lbs I can stand and sit on my drawers
I mean.....it already plugs in. Alls they have to do is install a compressor, some insulation, and convert that lower right hand drawer into a beer drawer. Whose with me?
The US General is definitely higher quality than the Husky. The US General weighs over 700 lbs and the Husky weighs just over 600 lbs. Also, the Husky is rated for 3000 lbs., and the US General is rated for 4400 lbs. The US General doesn't have the soft close drawers, built in powerstrips, etc., but it does have thicker metal which is way more important.
