Harbor Freight

[RedRocket]

Okay here it goes. I have bought several things from Harbour freight that I do think are good quality. Predator generator, several ratchets, a breakover, and some sockets. Although they aren't the most expensive tools they get the job done. Anyone else have any story they'd like to share?

[Tbos]

Which generator did you buy? How is the noise level? Thanks in advance.

[RedRocket]

Originally Posted by Tbos

Which generator did you buy? How is the noise level? Thanks in advance.

I have the 3500. It's a nice generator, real quiet and plenty of power for my TT. I did do a few mods to it, to get it to breath right. Purs like a kitten now. Hauled it to Yellowstone this past summer just in case, and used it a few times on that trip.

[Tbos]

Originally Posted by RedRocket

I have the 3500. It's a nice generator, real quiet and plenty of power for my TT. I did do a few mods to it, to get it to breath right. Purs like a kitten now. Hauled it to Yellowstone this past summer just in case, and used it a few times on that trip.

Thanks, I appreciate the information. If I remember correctly that TT has a 15K AC on top of it. I would want to use it to run at least one of mine. What else did you do to it to help it breathe?

[chuckster57]

Now if I were a professional mechanic wrenching 8-10 hours a day 5-6 days a week, no I would probably buy better quality, but for us do-it-yourselfers they are more than adequate in my opinion.

I have been wrtenching on the side for 40+ yrs on my driveway and most of my tools in my garage arsenal are also Harbor Freight. I will say the 18 volt drill is a bit bulky when working in some tight spaces in an RV. I have a 12V makita for that and now a 20V Dewalt brushless for regular stuff.

[RedRocket]

Originally Posted by Tbos

Thanks, I appreciate the information. If I remember correctly that TT has a 15K AC on top of it. I would want to use it to run at least one of mine. What else did you do to it to help it breathe?

I used a paddle bit to add a few holes under the front so it could get more air where it needs it. Across the cooling fins of the inverter. As well as a few little filters, on the oil door and to the front.

[chuckster57]

95% Harbor Freight. Some specialty tools from Mac

[fourfourto]

I had good luck at harbor freight.
The only item that I had problem with was there line wrench it cant handle a stubborn /rusted nut.
They refund / replace with no problem even if you can't find receipt.
You get free flashlights , chepo batteries , scissors and volt meters .
20% or 25%
off coupons save you a lot . You can get coupons online if not on mailing list

[travelin texans]

I'm like Chuckster, my tool box plus 95% of the tools in it came from HF. They actually have a better warranty than Craftsman on hand tools, if it breaks or malfunctions they'll replace it & on their power tools for a 1% charge they are warrantied for 2 years, full replacement with equal or better.
Now if I were a professional mechanic wrenching 8-10 hours a day 5-6 days a week, no I would probably buy better quality, but for us do-it-yourselfers they are more than adequate in my opinion.
Actually if you were to do some investigation you'd find that their 18 volt battery operated tools are rated right up their with the best of them.
I have NO affiliation with Harbor Freight, other than spending money there regularly!!!

[River Duck]

I bought a 100 lb pancake style air compressor there a few days ago for 40 bucks!
Hard for me to turn down a deal like that!

[wiredgeorge]

Originally Posted by River Duck

I bought a 100 lb pancake style air compressor there a few days ago for 40 bucks!
Hard for me to turn down a deal like that!

Have you tried to inflate a 60 PSI tire with that pancake compressor? I have one and it comes no where near able to go to 60 PSI. I am a professional mechanic and most of my tools are pretty old. Craftsman and SK Wayne for the most part. I use screw drivers a LOT and use Vessel brand which is a Japanese company that makes a wide range of Japanese Industrial Standard screwdriver.



I could never see buying from the trucks as the value just isn't there in my opinion. I use a power drill a lot and use Black & Decker. There are probably better but I usually buy several at a time and the chucks usually are the first thing to go as they won't hold a bit so I just change out. There may be better quality but for the price vs lifespan, they have served me well. I keep Harbor Freight hand tools on my bikes as they work fine; especially the forged stuff. The screwdrivers and their impact driver not so much. I still use a Craftsman hand impact driver I have used for over 50 years.

[Andymil]

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

Have you tried to inflate a 60 PSI tire with that pancake compressor? I have one and it comes no where near able to go to 60 PSI.

I have a Craftsman 3 gal “hot dog” compressor that wouldn’t make 60 psi after very little use. I found the head gasket was blown. Now it makes 125 psi. Just like new.

[TLB]

Zip ties tarps and telescoping flag pole that I take along camping.

[SummitPond]

2 gallon hot dog air (vs pancake) compressor and associated hoses/fittings, IR temperature gun, air pressure gauge, palm sander and other assorted little items (screwdriver sets, VOM, etc).

I used to prefer Sears for tools, but there aren't many around these days - and getting scarcer.

[Local150]

For the average guy at home they are pretty good for the most part,, if I too were a full time mechanic I think I would buy better,, good prices though

[fourfourto]

They discontinued my portable garage , I got the last one on the east coast 5 years ago to replace 13 year old one. It held up great
I recover every 3 years with a HF camo tarp $29.00 on top of orig one.
A bag small HF bungee cords .
think the PG was $179.00
I skidded the floor 12 skids $3.00 each
10 for floor 2 I brokedown for filling in the slats

[DJ&JA]

There is a new Harbor Freight that opened only 40 miles from us so it's new to me but they did have the right size side marker light for our trailer. The stock ones couldn't hold the lens on. The smallest bump and they would pop right off. The whole light assembly was only $5 and it takes a screw driver to pop the lens off.


Also picked up an 8 ton bottle jack and a pair of 3 to jack stands. They seem like quality and what don't we import from China these days? I figure I'll look at that generator too.


So I'd give them an up vote. Good staff too, not a bunch of whiners as some retail is these days.


West end of Richmond is the new location, Gaskin Road and Broad Street.

[Gegrad]

Hand tools and disposables (chip brushes, sandpaper, gloves) are all good. Grinders, heat gun, and sanders are decent. Any kind of saw that you need precision on (i.e. mitre saws, jigsaw, circular saws) is a hard pass for me (woodworking and home improvement is my main side hobby when time permits). Too much play in the chucks and such leads to wildly inaccurate cuts. Besides, spend $10-20 more on a sander and get a Rigid and never buy another one with their lifetime warranty. Had a HF quarter sheet palm sander (what I use most) and burned it up after a while (well after the warranty period). Bought a Rigid, and after about the same time I had it the pad break down on me (3 years after purchase)... it got replaced for free and I have a brand new pad on it. Like a new saw. So HF is very good for some things, not so much with others.

[HitFactor]

Originally Posted by Gegrad

...disposables (chip brushes, ... not so much with others.

It took a while, but I found something I could agree with in this thread.

[JimSchwenk]

Originally Posted by DJ&JA

There is a new Harbor Freight that opened only 40 miles from us so it's new to me but they did have the right size side marker light for our trailer. The stock ones couldn't hold the lens on. The smallest bump and they would pop right off. The whole light assembly was only $5 and it takes a screw driver to pop the lens off.


Also picked up an 8 ton bottle jack and a pair of 3 to jack stands. They seem like quality and what don't we import from China these days? I figure I'll look at that generator too.


So I'd give them an up vote. Good staff too, not a bunch of whiners as some retail is these days.


West end of Richmond is the new location, Gaskin Road and Broad Street.

Speaking of bottle jacks, I have two that I bought there, a 4 ton and an 8 ton. (lots of other goodies over the years bought there, too)
I had them running all over the store a few weeks ago, looking for a bottle jack kit, you know the ones with a base plate for more stability and a slip over adapter to cradle the TT frame or leaf springs. No luck, but I suggested they come up with an inexpensive alternative to the high-priced kits available on-line elsewhere.
In the meantime, I think I'll have a buddy weld up the top on an old jack stand to a piece of pipe to slip on the cylinder top. The bottom plate has me designing things in my head and then breaking them in my head, then re-designing... Need to be able to bolt it onto the bottle jack base some how (but I don't want to drill into that base!). Or maybe come up with a way to clamp the jack to the plate? Sorry, I digress...
HFT's are like others have said, great for stuff you need a couple of times a year. I have stuff still new in boxes that I bought a few years ago just to have handy, "in case."