Harbor Freight Movers Blankets Have You Covered
Moving is tough. And not just because you’ve got to change your address, forward your mail, find new local restaurants and get your cable/internet hooked back up. You’ve also got to get your furniture safely moved without damaging or scratching any of it. When securing furniture (or anything you’re transporting for that matter) mover’s blankets are crucial. And at Harbor Freight Tools, we’ve got a few different types to choose from which can be useful for a variety of jobs and tasks. Here’s a quick look at our selection of mover’s blankets and what sets them apart from each other.
First of all, while these blankets are often called mover’s blankets or furniture pads, the usefulness of these items extends far beyond just moving furniture. Obviously, the main use for mover’s blankets is protecting your furniture or other items when using ratchet straps, tie downs or winch straps. The pads keep your cargo from being broken or scratched and otherwise just give you some peace of mind when you’re driving that U-Haul and trying to make it through traffic with no rear-view mirror. Unlike paper pads, mover’s blankets won’t tear during transport and can be used again and again.
The largest furniture pads you can get at Harbor Freight are 72” x 80”. Great for securing and protecting larger items, these blankets are also ideal for deadening noise while recording audio. If you’re recording a song, for example, hanging some of these blankets on the walls will greatly improve acoustics, making your recording clearer. Also, these pads can adequately silence camera noise when recording on film. These big blankets are made of a cotton/poly blend with reinforced stitching to maintain strength and longevity for repeated use, also making them good for lying on when working under vehicles. If you’re looking for something a little smaller, we’ve got that too. The 60” x 72”, 40” x 72” and 36” x 40” mover’s blankets are equally durable with strong double stitched poly and non-woven fabric.
Aside from these general purpose mover’s blankets, you could also opt for the camouflage blankets. Useful for the same tasks as the other blankets, these are also perfect accessories for hunting or covering tools and other items you don’t want to draw any extra attention to. The camo blankets come in two designs, one the traditional dark green and the other a light green and beige for dustier areas. Either way, these camouflage mover’s blankets offer great protection and concealment for a variety of items.
As you can see, even if you aren’t in the process of moving, these mover’s blankets have a multitude of uses around the home and garage that will make them well worth the money, especially considering they only cost between $6.99 and $9.99 each. Even if you only use these blankets just as blankets for spreading out and having a picnic in the park or laying out in the sun, these blankets hold up to repeated use and wear and tear. Luckily, they come without any wear and tear on your wallet. So whether you’re moving, about to move or have no intentions of moving anytime soon, these blankets are still versatile items to keep handy!
How to Deal with the Problem Girlfriend
Most guys have had at least one impractical girlfriend in their lifetime: gorgeous, exotic, passionate, exciting to hold... but at the same time, expensive to buy for and hard to please. I've had mine for about a year now, and though my wife of 23 years is aware of her existence, she doesn't feel threatened. It IS, after all, just a gun-- a Remington 788 rifle customized to a .358 Winchester caliber, to be exact-- and I love her. Unfortunately, the .358 is a more expensive round than a .30-06 (about $45 for a box of 20) and vastly harder to find, as the number of suppliers continues to dwindle. On the other hand, she feels oh-so sweet to shoot and aims true. Like I said, the impractical girlfriend. I'm telling you this because I've resolved to tackle my dilemma with her by taking up reloading. I've already got the brass, the dies, a reloading kit and (thank goodness) a buddy who knows how to use it. The only thing I need now is a workbench. Leave it to Harbor Freight Tools to have just the ticket-- the Windsor Design 60" 4-Drawer Hardwood Workbench.
This workbench has a rock-solid lacquered wood top and its four drawers are felt-lined to protect your finer tools. There's also a bottom shelf for larger tools and containers, and a wood block vise for sanding, drilling, etc. So, lots of work space, lots of storage.
Check out this sweet set-up a customer posted on 1911Forum.com. This is something like what I have in mind:
The Windsor Design 60" Hardwood Workbench (#93454) is fast and easy to assemble (takes about 2 hours, if the consensus of customer reviews is to be believed). As the above picture demonstrates, it offers a certain amount of flexibility, like installing two drawers instead of four. Going through the reviews, I've seen guys add lockable casters for mobility-- or even a Trailer Jack on one or both sides to completely eliminate any shimmy.
There are so many uses for this workbench, I can only scratch the surface. Whether you're into woodworking, crafts, electronics, metal projects, jewelry-making, repairing, have an art studio, micro-brewing. etc., it's the best deal out there.
Thinking Outside of the Box: In my research I was impressed to find people who purchased Harbor Freight's workbench for other than its obvious purpose. For example, in one of our customer reviews:
"This will sound silly, but a few people might spot this review and love the idea: My wife and I needed a baby changing table. All the ones we found were flimsy, had little storage, and were ridiculously over-priced. Then we spotted this bench on sale. It's an incredibly perfect changing table, and once the kids are done with diapers I'll get a nice workbench out of the deal! (An actual changing table would end up being gifted or donated and the investment is lost. This one will be around for years)." Workbench Daddy - Pasadena, CA
Another customer converted their workbench into a kitchen island:
Still another bought TWO hardwood workbenches, mated them end-to-end, and now uses them as an outfeed table for their table saw.
The subject of casters came up several times. Some guys love the mobility that casters give the workbench, but others complained that even locking casters have a little sideway shimmy which can be a pain when you're doing precision work. Their solution (and I loved this) was to either put two casters on one side of the table with a Trailer Jack mounted on the other... or affix trailer jacks on BOTH sides. Genius!
There's a wealth of insight: usage ideas, assembly tips and other information in the Windsor Design Workbench product page customer reviews, and through Google searches. Treating the wood with wax from time to time can add to its lifespan and resilience, too.
The 60" workbench from Harbor Freight is the ideal solution to help solving my girlfriend problem, but I'm sure I'll be using it for a lot of other things, too. If only all relationship problems were so easy.
What Kayak Canoe Put On a Utility Trailer?
Usually when you go to Harbor Freight for a trailer to haul your canoe or kayak, you'd probably look for the Haul-Master 600 lb. Capacity Boat Trailer. Makes sense, right? Not to everyone. It's not that the boat trailer isn't pretty great, itself-- it IS, as the customer reviews can attest!-- but what if you want something different,and still keep the price nice and low?
I recently found a slew of canoe/kayak mods made from Haul-Master utility trailers, and I thought they were so cool-- and share-worthy-- I decided to post them here:
On TexasKayakFisherman.com, a forum member who goes by the handle "G-Man" purchased a Haul-Master 1090-lb. Capacity 40-1/2" x 48" Mini Utility Trailer, extended the tongue and added two sets of bunkers for two kayaks--
-- and then, shortly thereafter, he modified it again!
Florida resident "venice" also shared his solution using the 1090-lb. Mini, adding a 6-ft. 2' x 2-1/2' piece of steel and a couple of kayak carriers.
He offers a detailed account of his project, including multiple pictures.
"The eyebolt in front is used to use a "Dog holder Y" which we used with our Golden, two clips attach to front of kayaks and the third to the eye bolt... this forms the "Y" I mentioned, the point of it is fast stop, etc., this restrained any forward movement of the kayaks. Overkill, I know, but..."
No apologies, buddy. Overkill is underrated. You found a sweet solution!
And as a final example of the 1090 lb. Mini, ... this is the best build using a Harbor Freight trailer as a base with no welding that I have seen so far! Check out MattD's post, once again compliments of TexasKyakFisherman.com.
"It started as a Harbor Freight trailer, a pile of SuperStrut and some scrap steel from the dumpster. I added a couple of coats of spray-on bedliner coating and a recycled battery box for tie-down and tools. "
Also on TexasKayakFishing.com, "smitty24," a Washington state resident, modified his 1720-lb. Capacity Super-Duty 4'x8' Utility Trailer--
"I welded some square stock to the side, slid a larger piece over it and mounted a flat piece of steel and the yakima carriers to that. I made the tongue movable, but I need to cut a foot or two off. I'm planning on adding a coffin type box in the middle so I can carry everything inside and keep it locked, but I want it to be removable too, so I can still use it as a regular trailer to haul stuff. It was actually pretty easy to do..."
You can click here to see additional photos of his work.
Finally, check out Marcel Rodriguez' modification of the Haul-Master 870-lb Capacity 40"x49" Heavy-Duty Utility Trailer:
Marcel replaced the tongue with a 14-ft. two-piece square steel tube, which he ran from the rear of the trailer, and created the rack from steel tube stock. The trailer can fit four boats comfortably and "could accommodate six." In the category of getting the most out of little space, this baby takes the prize! To really appreciate what he's done, you need to go visit his site.
That's it for now. But, explore the aforementioned sites, yourself-- and Google others-- for the awesome examples of kayak and canoe trailers made from Harbor Freight utility trailers. There's no shortage of them-- in probably every configuration imaginable-- including the one that best matches your needs.
Tailgate Warriors… Come Out and Play!
Football! The season couldn't have come fast enough. I was getting sick hearing nothing but politics and hopscotching around TV reruns. But-- hallelujah!-- it's time once again for Pac-12 and pro ball (Go Big Blue!)-- clear the boogie boards and swimming noodles out of the man cave, kick the PS3 crap off the floor and fill the chest freezer with wings, poppers, bacon and shredded cheese. And more importantly, get ready for the blacktop!
The tailgate party is a sacred ritual, much like a holy pilgrimage or pantsing the new kid. And like any ritual that requires serious reflection, one needs to decide how they will prepare for it. For example, go with the beer shorts, don't go with the beer shorts? Obviously, if the beer helmet is out, it leaves you looking for a viable alternative. Also boning up on your cornholing and knowing the ACO regulation cornhole rules.
To throw a successful tailgate party for a bunch of your swellest buds, you'll want to bring awesome gear. Of course a lot of what you bring depends on your power source, if any. A gas-powered generator can bust your options wide open-- and there really are a ton to consider: a crock pot for the Lil' Smokies or nacho cheese sauce, an electric grill for burgers and dogs, a portable oven for pizza, a mini-fridge, a heater or fan--depending on the weather, a string of lights or lanterns, a radio or other sound system, an LCD TV with portable satellite receiver, a PA ("attention, fans of other team..."}, a blender or margarita machine, coffee maker... hey, you could be there as long as 12 hours, man. Gear up for any possibility.
That said, my recommendation is getting the Chicago Electric 3050 Watt 7 HP Gas Generator. It runs quiet, it's great on gas and it's got all the juice you need to make it a helluva party! This is Harbor Freight's most popular generator, and the proof is in the praise:
"I use this to power my refrigerators and freezer during outages, as well as charge and run needed electronics. It is very nice for this application since you can run for 24 hours on 10 gallons. She is very quiet... fires up easily and runs smoothly. Very nice product. "
Another customer had this to say:
" I use it mainly (for) hunting and camping, but have used it for power outage. It run a 5th wheel camper AC during day and furnance at nights with TV, frig, lights, PC, water pump, with no problems, and the 4-gallon tank runs it for approx 6 hrs. with over 50% pull on it. A sweet generator for the$$$ for sure. "
Besides football tailgate parties, this generator's the perfect companion for rave parties, swap meets and fairs, rock concert tailgates, camping, and as I previously pointed out, areas of paranormal activity.
While you're at it, I suggest you pick up an 8" Never-Flat Generator Wheel Kit or a slightly-more-economical Mover's Dolly along with a handy-dandy Swivel Handle. You'll thank me, I promise. And finally, grab a 10' x 10' Popup Canopy while you're there. Unless burn is your team color.
Haul-Master Utility Trailers Get a Lotta Love
If there’s anything I learned about Harbor Freight customers, it’s that they’ve got a lot of stuff to haul. A utility trailer is worth its weight in load—and Haul-Master’s been the go-to vehicle for years.
Foldable-- AND Brawny!
I was curious why customers were so sweet on the Haul-Master utility trailers. I mean, it’s not like there’s a shortage of other brands. The first thing that caught my attention was all the noise about their durability. Talking about the 1195 lb. Capacity 48”x96” Foldable Utility Trailer (#90154), for instance—
One guy said: “I bought this trailer about 8 years ago and have abused it without mercy during that period. I estimate it conservatively has about 7000 miles on it now. The longest single trip being around 1000 miles carrying a 2500 lb load…”
Another added, “Having just returned from a 5,000 mile trip carting a 500# motorcycle without any problems......THIS LITTLE TRAILER is AWESOME.” (caps included).
And the comments just kept on coming.
When choosing a utility trailer, consider the space it’ll take up at the house. In some areas they don’t like it when you park it on the front yard, driveway or street (the neighbors might think it’s an eye sore-- there’s no accounting for taste). But the nice thing about the 1195 lb. trailer, you can just fold it and lay it flat against the garage wall, or out back, and it takes up next-to-no room! And, whether it’s a full-size Harley, a power washer, a half-ton of top soil or a teardrop trailer, the formidable 1195 lb. Capacity Foldable Utility Trailer will take it on, and give you years of reliable service.
Solid Super Duty
If you prefer an un-foldable utility trailer, but still want the heavy load capacity, the 1720 lb. 48”x96” Super Duty (#94564) is just the ticket.
Able to take on everything the foldable trailer does—and more!—the Super Duty is a favorite among ATV, quad and kayak junkies (as well as others) ‘cause it’s lightweight, durable and it’ll tilt to the ground nicely for loading and unloading. One happy owner raved, “I have had one of these for almost 7 years and I love it. I've gotten so much use out of it, it's paid for itself tenfold, at least.”
Another reported, “This is my fourth trailer. I have not worn one out yet but seem to give them away to the family. The one my son has is about 8-yrs old and still kicking.”
Point being, it’s a tough little sucker.
As with others, by adding your own planking to the 5-lug Super Duty, you’ve just created a heavy-duty cargo trailer, ready for anything. Head on over to your local home improvement store and get the thickest pressure-treated decking you can find. This type’s best ‘cause it’s got factory-injected water repellant,-- which is up to eight times better than the surface-applied repellant—and they make awesome planking.
Because both the Foldable and Super Duty trailers sport 12” wheels, they’re great for camping trips-- even spots that take you off-road—as well as transporting & launching small boats and jet skis. The trailer is fine going into salt water; just be sure to hose it off with fresh water when you get home. The 12 inches also provide a greater load-carrying capacity.
The Mighty Mini
If either one of those utility trailers is too large for your needs, Harbor Freight has smaller models to accommodate you. The 1090 lb. 40-1/2” x 48” Mini Utility Trailer (#90153) is every bit as rugged and reliable as the foldable and Super Duty models,…
...but also has the advantage of being able to brave narrow trails and smaller roadways. “I've had one of these for many years now,” bragged one traveler. “It always towed straight and true.”
Bikers like this trailer, too-- not only to haul their motorcycles, but also to pull cargo behind their rides. One biker told us, “Went over 3K miles on one trip. I highly recommend this to pull behind a motorcycle…” The Mini’s light, durable frame also makes it ideal for pulling behind smaller vehicles, and its space-efficient size allows it to fit nicely in the back of the garage.
And More…
Utility trailer love spreads thick over other models as well. “This thing towed beautifully, solid sturdy and straight… What a great little trailer!” said one owner about his 870 lb. 40”x49” Utility Trailer (#42708).
Another shared this amazing story about the 950 lb. 4’x8’Foldable Utility Trailer (#42709): “Bought this trailer from the original owner who's had it approximately 20 years” (underline added).
I have to add, I was also impressed with the countless ways customers made use of their utility trailers: besides the methods already mentioned, I read about dump runs, moving furniture, picking up lumber, pulling behind a garden tractor; hauling lawn mowers, sod, refrigerators, wood pellets, mulch, scuba gear, dog kennels, building materials, race tires, jacks, tools, luggage, sheetrock, DJ gear-- even making campers out of them!
Last—and definitely not least—buyers couldn’t say enough about what a great value the HFT trailers are. Time and again, I kept seeing, “the best utility trailer for the price!” No argument here.
Harbor Freight Gets Prepper Props
In this country's growing Survivalist Nation there's a tribe known as the “Urbivalists”-- or “urban survivalists”—preppers who live in towns and cities, and have adapted their survivalist skills to more metro environments. One such urbivalist is Dan, a "self-proclaimed tenderfoot and city kid" who runs a survival-themed blog called The Daily Prep. Recently, Dan posted a video of a shopping trip he made to Harbor Freight--
--which included a tour of some of his favorite products. “It’s a man mall!” he proclaimed.
It’s no wonder HFT is popular with those who take survival preparation seriously. A renowned purveyor of hard-to-find and odd hardware-- plus, a huge selection of essential tools and supplies at extremely low prices-- it’s a no-brainer. (Brains? Zombies? Apocalypse? Harbor Freight!)
So, what were some of the products Dan thought fellow preppers should look into? The video does a good job showcasing generators, welders, tarps, car battery jump starters, jerry cans, rope, axes & hatchets, duct tape (“of every kind!”), magnesium fire starters, solar panel kits, knives, slingshots, safes, winches, flashlights and batteries-- and Harbor Freight’s low prices make preparation a lot more doable.
FYI, for those looking to prep their home for the garden variety emergency, HFT also carries towing supplies, trailer hitches, alarms & security products, jack stands, engines, head lamps, cast iron frying pans, face masks, space saver vacuum bags, air compressors… you get the point. Harbor Freight is the “go-to store” for your doomsday prepper needs.
The Daily Prep isn't alone when it comes to survivalist forums swapping favorite HFT products that they keep in their arsenals. Surf the 'net and you'll find tons of great ideas. And while you're at it, why don't you share yours with us?
A Marriage Made on Wheels
In the March/April 1939 issue of Popular Homecraft a story ran, along with detailed plans, for something that was dubbed the “Honeymoon House Trailer...”
...designed and built by Louis Rogers of Pasadena, California. He had literally saved his dimes and built this little gem back in the 30’s, to take his new bride on their wedding trip. The 8’x4’ floor plan was had tongue-and-groove flooring on a pine chassis, and Rogers used a Chevy front axle with 28” wheels and 1926 rear fenders. The odd little trailer slept two and had a raise-up deck lid for a rear kitchenette, with ice box and stove. A curtain-enclosure outside the starboard entry served at the “dressing room.” The teardrop trailer was born.
DIYers went crazy. They used Rogers’ plans, and soon added touches of their own. After World War II, the trailer evolved with models sporting Jeep wheels and exterior skins made from bombers’ wings. After the 50’s, their popularity started dropping when larger RVs appeared, but then returned with a vengeance. Today you can find a number of websites for plans (some free!), photo galleries, forums and clubs. Teardrop trailer enthusiasts believe that creating, renovating and modifying their own models are what give the little campers their timelessness—and the most rewarding way to own a teardrop!
I first noticed the teardrop trailer when surfing for a tent trailer to take on road trips. From time to time, “teardrop trailer” results would pop up, and eventually I started clicking on them. My first impressions: These critters are small… they’re cute… wow, they’re equipped… oh wow, they’re cool! The best of the bunch, IMHO, were the homemade models. They remind me of the Pinewood Derby race cars we made as kids—there were always a couple that hijacked the event, they were so amazing.
I also saw that the Harbor Freight utility trailer was a favorite for the frame, particularly the Haul-Master 1195 lb. 4’x8’ foldable trailer...
...and 1720 lb 4’x8’ Super Duty model.
There seems to be a controversy over whether or not a foldable utility trailer should be used, but as is shown in the above photo, they’ve proven to be very capable. This model--
--aptly named “Woody,” is a simple, classic example of the DIY teardrop trailer. When I asked Steve Edling, the site owner, to use a picture of Woody for this article, he graciously consented and added that a number of Harbor Freight tools were also used in its creation. Indeed, Kuffel Kreek, a provider of teardrop trailer plans, lists several must-have Harbor Freight tools one should get before starting, including a brad nailer, air shears and angle grinder.
Type in phrases like “teardrop trailer harbor freight” on Google and you’ll get tons of sites—including a few YouTube videos—that talk about using Harbor Freight’s utility trailers in their projects. This isn’t just because the trailers are inexpensive—it’s because they’re rugged, reliable, durable AND inexpensive. I mean, if you’re going to invest all that time, sweat, and money (and probably a pint or two of blood) in this labor of love, would you risk the integrity of its frame? Neither would I.
The American-born DIY teardrop trailer is more than just a cool, little camper. It’s a gratifying project of personal expression, something you can climb into and go to sleep knowing, you built this! It’s not an easy project—as noted on Kuffel Kreek, “Anything that bounces down the highway at 65 MPH isn't easy”—and if you’ve never built anything before, forget it (I should probably hone my skills a tad more before I attempt it), It also takes space and time. But the payoff is awesome, and your teardrop trailer will retain its value much longer than any other RV on the road.
Check out this great photo gallery which includes several teardrop trailers!
Harbor Freight Gets Up In Your Grill
Surfing for BBQ-ing tips the other day, I wandered into some chat forums where it’s “All-Barbecue, All the Time.” Make no mistake, those “Q-ers” are serious about cooking their meat. The best cuts, types of fuel, which wood for smoking, the tools, curing, venting, seasoning & preparing, temps and times. To them, grilling a steak is like customizing a car-- the body may be pretty, but it’s all about what goes under the hood.
Not happy with their out-of-the-box units, some guys retrofit their BBQ grills (as I said, like a car). For example, Phil Lee of Hawg Heaven Smokin’ Barbecue modified his smoker…
...with 10” air tires (#30900) to better deal with mobility on lawns, parks, campsites and such.
My favorite modification is the BBQ trailer: A Q-er will either remove the legs from their BBQ grill, and then bolt or weld them onto a utility trailer, or build one up from scratch--making them über-mobile! Here’s a great example of a customized, homemade barbecue trailer-- created by a fellow named Spankerchief-- on SmokingMeatForums.com…
...using the Haul-Master 1720 Lb. Capacity Super Duty 48" X 96" Utility Trailer with 12” Wheels (#94564). In fact, every BBQ forum I clicked on had at least one thread where an adventurous “trailer Q-er” incorporated a Haul-Master utility trailer from Harbor Freight. Several put their projects together using the popular & affordable Chicago Electric 90 Amp Flux Wire Welder (#68887).
The online BBQ cooks were all loaded for bear with gear that supported their grilling operations. The Propane Torch with Igniter (#91037) was a favorite-- for its turbo performance and for its great, low price. The Instant Read Digital Thermometer (#95382) was also popular, for its accuracy and, again, price. Also included were the Compact Food Slicer (#42787), Electric Meat Grinder (#99598) and plenty of protective wear like nitrile, PVC-dipped and/or welding gloves.
Needless to say, I was bitten by the BBQ bug and ended up getting a “barrel-style” barbecue grill with smoker side box, as well as the igniter and thermometer. I also picked up this pair of welding gloves, and, of course, a BBQ cookbook. I'll probably get the 10” wheels next (they look cool).
Now all I have to do is experiment on the meat and hope I don’t burn anything vital... like Sunday dinner.
Get Ready for Summer Road Trips!
Get ready for dragging the fam (or just yourself) cross country or cross town for some serious summer fun with the Harbor Freight Tools Aluminum Cargo Carrier paired with our Magnetic Trailer Light Kit. Both are on sale and in stock now!
Get Out Your Boats for Memorial Day!
Summer’s on its way—and there’s no better time to get out on the water than Memorial Day weekend! And if you’re wondering how you’re going to get that12-14’ boat, kayak or canoe over there, check out the sturdy, reliable, and best-selling Haul-Master 600-lb-capacity boat trailer at Harbor Freight.
This lightweight steel trailer can be moved and maneuvered single-handedly, making it easy to mount, get on the road or store away. It comes equipped with carpeted bunks and rollers and is suitable for flat and v-shaped hulls, and its light frame enables it to be pulled safely by a variety of family vehicles.
The Haul-Master boat trailer also comes with a quality light kit that connects to your vehicle’s taillights, enabling it to travel safely day or night.
At $399.99 the Haul-Master 600-lb-capacity boat trailer is a great deal that’ll give you years of service and enjoyment!
Transport a craft weighing up to 600 lbs with this boat trailer!
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