tools – Adam's Auto Advice

4 Tips for Shopping at Harbor Freight

harbor freight toolbox

Harbor Freight is a well known place among mechanics, carpenters, electricians, contractors, builders, do it-yourselfers, etc. Essentially anyone who needs a tool for something or likes working with their hands has gone to Harbor Freight at some point. If you don't know about Harbor Freight… just don't go! Seriously once you know about it it essentially impossible not to go there.

You won't believe some of the discounts and prices they have on tools there. Mostly everything is imported from China, but when you need a tool you need a tool. Harbor Freight is great if you need that tool only once or some spare odds and ends. You know like gloves, small flashlights, hammers, screwdrivers, pliers, etc. Here are my 4 Tips for Shopping at Harbor Freight.

Always use Coupons: Harbor Freight frequently circulates flyers, ads, and emails with coupons on many of their products. It would be stupid to not utilize them as much as possible. Paying regular prices for a lot of their product is too much for what you get. You can find 20% off coupons for any item in the store. Of course a lot of items are excluded for these 20% off coupons. Typically you can also find HF coupons in the back of magazines. You can also find coupons when you get items for Free, just for making a purchase. There are lots of mega threads for Harbor Freight coupons on forums all around the internet. Do a search and you can print some out. (I print them out in Black and White to save color toner.)
Make a List: Inevitably if you go to Harbor Freight without a list, you will spend more than you really want to. Obviously this is how they want it, but don't fall for this trap. Try to make a list of necessary tools, items, and equipment you need. Try not to get too distracted by things you don't need, since there will probably be a lot.
Pay with Cash: When I make a trip over to my local Harbor Freight in Parkville, I try to only pay with cash and what's on me. If I use my card, I would probably spend a ridiculous amount of money everytime I go. This allows me to say “I will only spend this much today. I can come back and get that later if needed.” It's easy to spend only a small amount of money for different and various items you need but easy to spend a lot on items you don't. If you are buying a larger item and expensive item, such as a toolbox, you can obviously break the rule and use a credit card as that would be easier (and safer) than bringing cash.
Check Reviews: If you look on a lot of forums and sites around the web you can find reviews of what you should and should not buy at Harbor Freight. I would recommend checking them out as I have found people have written reviews for almost anything there even down to small screwdrivers sets. This has made it so that I have made good buying decisions at Harbor Freight, like my toolbox, and avoided bad items there.

I know a lot of you have a love-hate relationship with Harbor Freight, like I do, but sometimes you just need to go there. It's a guy thing I guess! 🙂

If you think my list of tips is good, please leave a comment below and let me know. If you think something should be added about Harbor Freight also leave a comment.

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Adam’s 7 Tips for Winterizing Your Car

With the unusually warm weather in January, I felt a bit odd posting a list of tips for winterizing your car. Now that there is actually snow on the ground in Baltimore, and it is cold, it makes more sense posting this list. No sense in posting a list in the Spring!

“Adam's 7 Tips for Winterizing Your Car.”

Hey, Your Car is Dirty: This is something that is a good idea to do before it gets cold and there is snow on the ground. (Ok, maybe I should have posted this earlier.) It's good to clean your car of all the road grime and dirt, because during the winter cars tend to attract more dirt. Clean the interior of the car as well. If you don't have rubber floormats, I would consider buying them as it will help keep your car's interior cleaner. Most people don't clean their cars during the winter, so that is why I suggest this.
Ohh, My Battery Is Dead: It is a very good idea to get your battery checked or take a look yourself. Low temperatures make it hard for the chemical reactions inside your battery to operate normally, meaning it has reduced power to get your car started. Most auto parts stores do Free battery checks using specialized testers, and they can usually test your whole electrical system too. If you have had trouble starting your car in the past due to the battery going dead or it has given you problems, you probably should just get a new battery. If it is more than 3-4 years old, replace it.
Get Rid Of That Battery Corrosion: Even if your battery is not that old, servicing it might be a good idea. By that I mean making sure there is no corrosion on the terminals or cables. If you are comfortable cleaning the terminals and battery, it is a good idea to do that yourself. (Remember undo the negative cable first, then the positive cable.) A quick way to get all the corrosion off is to pour warm water on top of the battery, which quickly washes away all that white sulfate deposit. You can then take wire brush and clean the terminals and cables, ensuring you battery has a good connection.
Can You See The Light?: Having a Headlight or Taillight bulb out is an easy thing to miss. Hey, I understand! Since the days are shorter and the nights longer in winter, it is good to make sure they are functioning properly. Turn on your cars lights and walk around to make sure all are in working order. Don't forgot to check those blinkers too! If any are out or very dim, replace it. Then you don't need to worry about it later.
Keep Your Coolant: You want to make sure you have a 50:50 mix of anti-freeze and water inside your radiator. If there isn’t enough anti-freeze in the mix, it could potentially freeze in the cold weather. How do you know if you have a 50/50 coolant or anti-freeze mixture? There are test strips and special tools to test the mixture and pH level of coolant. I rarely see many shops using them, but you can buy them at auto parts stores. You might want to consider doing a coolant flush if you have never done it, or if it has been 4+ years since you have flushed your coolant. Don't forgot to also check your hoses. If they are bulging hard, brittle, deformed, squishy, or have hairline cracks, replace the hose.
Is Your Tread Dead?: When is the last time you checked you tire pressure? Mmm… better check it, since tires lose about 1psi for every 10 degree change in temperature. You gas mileage will improve and your car will handle better. Also make sure you have adequate tread and your tires are not worn-out. If you live in climate that gets heavy snow, switching to snow tires for the winter might not be bad idea.
Can You See the Road?: Wipers are very easy to overlook, but very important for inclement weather. Check your wipers are not streaking or has rubber falling off. If they are old and aren't doing the job, replace them. I recommend Bosch frame-less wipers, which last longer and work better. I have Bosch wipers installed on my Honda Accord. Remember to also make sure you have washer fluid.

I hope you enjoyed Adam's Auto Advice tips! If you have a suggestion or comment about winterizing your vehicle leave a comment below. Keep warm this winter and please drive safely. You never know what's on the road, so be prepared.

Best Floor Jack Ever, Arcan XL35R from Costco

Arcan Floor Jack (11) — Arcan Floor Jack

If you need a Floor Jack, look no further than Costco! I got this Arcan XL35R Floor Jack from Costco, when I bought my floormats. The price for the Arcan jack was $100, which was a great deal on a floor jack of this quality and weight capacity. (Actually we renewed our Costco membership just to get this jack, so in essence it was $150.) The Arcan Floor Jack is rated for 3.5 Tons or 7000 pounds.

So far I have only used the Arcan Floor Jack to lift-up my Mom's Chrysler van (aka the Crapler). However, I can already tell what a great jack this is. Lifting the van was like, “cutting through butter” as they say. It lifted the backside up with ease and little effort on my part. Even a lot of professional floor jacks I have used require a little muscle to get the vehicle up. It has a low lift height of 3.5 inches, and goes to almost 21 inches. The design also makes it easy to get under the rear tire of the van, where as most jacks might get stuck. I am extremely impressed with the quality of the Arcan.

Best part about it, if the floor jack ever breaks, you can return it to Costco for a refund or exchange. No Questions Asked! Even a few years later if it breaks, they will accept a return. Costco has has a great return policy and makes sure it's customers are happy with all purchases.

My only complaints are it is a bit heavy at a little over 100 pounds. I hurt my back getting it out of the car and out of the box. Of course, I would rather have a solid floor jack made from good metal and steel, rather than a cheap one.

I don't think I could have found a better floor jack, at a better price. Even with having to renew our Costco membership for $50, I still think it was worth that cost. If you are in the market for a floor jack, I highly recommend you buy an Arcan XL35R from Costco. If you know someone who needs a floor jack, this might make a great Christmas gift. Of course, you might have a difficult time getting it under the tree.

Recently at a car show I saw a company that sells professional equipment to auto repair shops selling the Arcan XL35, which is basically the same model, for $160. Most stores and retailers I have seen sell it for that price or a lot more. Kind of crazy Costco offers such a good price and return policy on a floor jack like the Arcan. I would even say the Arcan XL35R is the Best Floor Jack I have ever used and probably one the Best Deals in tools or equipment you will find out there.

Where to Buy Arcan Floor Jack

Amazon actually carries a few Arcan Floor Jack models with Prime Shipping if you prefer to have items delivered right to your house. There is the Arcan XL20 – 2 Ton Capacity Low Profile Floor Jack which seems like a great option if you don't have a Costco near your house and are already an Amazon Prime member. There is also two lightweight Aluminum Arcan Floor Jacks available on Amazon, the Arcan ALJ2T Aluminum Jack with a 2 Ton Capacity and for those with slightly larger cars the Arcan ALJ3T with a 3 Ton Capacity. (The Arcan ALJ3T Aluminum Floor Jack goes in and out of stock on Amazon.)

I should let people know I have not bought or used the Arcan XL20, Arcan ALJ3T, or the Arcan ALJ2T but I feel that the Arcan makes such a good products I wouldn't hesitate to buy any one of those jacks, site unseen. My Arcan XL35R is such a good floor jack for the price is still blows my mind.

If you have any questions about this Arcan XL35R Floor Jack I have, feel free to leave a comment below. I will any questions as quickly and the best way I can. Also if you found this post helpful please share it on your favorite auto or vehicle forum and share it on social media. This helps me continue to produce useful articles, videos, and audio content online.

Click Here to Order an Arcan Floor Jack

My Harbor Freight Toolbox

Last Wednesday I made a trek up to Harbor Freight to get something fun, the US General Harbor Freight Toolbox. This is actually my first toolbox I have ever bought.

I had looked around at all sorts of different options for toolboxes about everywhere you could think of besides Harbor Freight. I went to Sears and checked out the Craftsman line as well as the website extensively. They had nice setups, but most were too much for what I wanted to spend. I went to Lowes and Home Depot, poorly designed units that were waaay overpriced. I even checked online and tirelessly prowled Craigslist for months. I considered spending a good bit of money on Mac unit, using my 50% student discount. That probably would be worth it, but I don't have much money.

I kept coming back to the Harbor Freight Toolbox though. With 13-drawers and considering the quality… honestly for the money you can't beat it. Out the door, with tax, it came out to be around $370. It's not the best quality toolbox, but for home use and what I need it should be fine. It's sturdy, the slides on the drawers work well and have smooth action, and it holds a good amount of tools considering how much we loaded it with. I was just tired of having tools all around the garage unorganized and impossible to find. I'm pleased with it and I should get good use out of this Harbor Freight toolbox for years to come I believe.

Do you own a Harbor Freight Toolbox? What do you like or dislike about it? If you are consider getting this Harbor Freight toolbox leave a questions below if you have want to know something about it and how it has held-up.

Spring Carlisle, April 27th – May 1st

Spring is officially upon us, and that means the season for car shows is just getting started. For the gearhead, hot-rodder, car collector, tuner, and motorcyclist there is only one place to go during the Spring and Summer…. Carlisle, PA! The shows at Carlisle are like no other and people from all over the country (and other countries) go to attend the shows. At the upcoming Spring Carlisle Collector Car Swap Meet & Corral there will be plenty of good motoring fun. There will be vendors selling all sorts of parts, tools, equipment, accessories, and anything automotive. There will be car auctions, people selling cars, swap meets, competitions etc. To truly understand Carlisle…. you need to go there and experience it yourself! Definitely put this on your calendar.

Spring Carlisle, the opening to the season, got started today is coming up. If you are a car guy or gal and have never been… you really must go. You might even want to plan to go for more than one day. To walk everything, as in the all the infields and manufactures midway, it's about 15 miles. Not an easy 15 miles of walking either as it's crowded with people. You won't believe everything you will see and find. Maybe I will see you there if I get a chance to go.

Spring Carlisle Collector Car Swap Meet & Corral

April 27 – May 1

Adult Admission: Wednesday – Saturday $10, Sunday $5

Times: Wed-Sat 7am – 6pm, Sunday 7am – 3pm

http://www.carlisleevents.com/ce/events/spring-carlisle/