Im sure I'll take some xrap for this, buuuuuttttttt lol
I'm changing professions, being a mechanic and got out of the trucks, a lot of people Ive worked with swear by the tool-truck brands, and thats fine, for them. About 3 years ago I bought a 301 pc Harbor freight tool kit (45951), I have used it and a set of Tekton wrenches to take my Jeep from stock, to second place in the modified class at the Poison Spider Challenge in Casper Wyoming 2 years in a row. In those 3 years, I have chipped a 3/8 drive 1/2" socket (the rim where the ratchet goes in, still works perfectly) and I broke a torx bit changing a mirror. Its ok though, all HF hand tools have a lifetime warranty, you dont even need the reciept, just go in and exchange the broken tool for new, one of the easiest warranty programs in the country, about the same as Craftsman.
When I decided to mechanic for a living I hit ebay and started buying tools, I bought a lot of Craftsman, wanting what others have assured me is quality, they weigh less than my HF sockets and I cant read them, a least 5 of the 119 I bought a cut upside down, and the cuts are so shallow I have to roll it back and forth to read the size and catch the light just right.
I have since bought the big 44" roller and top box from HF, with the 7 drawer side cabnets, 2 of them, I have a total of $950 in that box, if you want to be very surprised,
read this review, I know I was and never thought twice about the box I was buying after that. I wouldnt begin to make any claims in comparison to tool-truck boxes of course, but the Snap-On version of my box is $27,000.00 (retail), and I'm at an age where I dont need the ego boost and I'm not destructively hard on tools or boxes.
Lastly, I have a freind in Colorado, he has bought nothing but tool-truck boxes and tools, for about 10 years he has had been a huge outspoken detractor of anything not tool-truck bought. He was laid off a year ago, he tells me next week they are coming to pick up his box and a lot of his tools, because the payments were easy, all his professional life he is making payments to the tool-truck, now they are taking the tools of his trade away. I have no interest in rental-tools, and thats all that comes down to. A guy in my shop thinks very little of my box, he of course has the 41" Snap-On, a very nice box, he says he can stand in his drawers, I dont have any 250 lb tools, and I dont have any desire for a $11,000 step-stool, evey month he makes that $450 payment on his box and another $150 on his tools, every other month he spends more than I have on my box, I could replace mine 4 time a year cheaper than one from the tool-truck.
I know all the arguements about buying made is the US, but the US doesnt understand that if they pay Burt & Bob and the union they cant stay competitive, and the union says they dont have to do a good job, they will get raises and keep their job doing as little as they can, that has become the American way and I cant in good concience support that philosophy. Before you decry me for that, remember your reading this on a screen made in tawian and translated to txt on a machine made in Japan, China and Malaysia, your clothes, your car, your appliances, your TV you were so proud of when you brought it home and set it up, all imports too.
In this economy, if you can afford tool-truck tools, they are great quality and mostly made in the US, but I would advise you to not get more than you can pay for.
