Advocate I
- 1,721
- First Name
- Josh
- Last Name
- Webb
- Member #
20332
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- NC4WD, WRTJ904
Better bought than built
- Thread starter jeepinjeepin
- Start date
Off-Road Ranger I
- 2,865
- First Name
- Donald
- Last Name
- Diehl
- Member #
0745
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- WRPN 506
I’ve several, seriously, several. But off the top of my head? Our ARB 64qt fridge freezer and our Engle 15 qt fridge freezer. The Engle is used as a freezer and is coming up on 11 years old. The ARB is right behind that at 7 years. Both operate flawlessly and use very little power.
Pathfinder III
Advocate I
- AluCab Shadow Awning -
In all my years living, working, and playing in the outdoors, I have rigged countless makeshift awnings and shelters. . . It's pricy but worth every penny for ease of deployment and sturdiness in heavy weather.
In all my years living, working, and playing in the outdoors, I have rigged countless makeshift awnings and shelters. . . It's pricy but worth every penny for ease of deployment and sturdiness in heavy weather.
Haven Ridge Adventures
Rank VI
Enthusiast III
- 3,285
- First Name
- Haven Ridge
- Last Name
- Adventures
- Service Branch
- Navy Retired
A good quality winch. This is an item that has to work when you need it.
On the other hand Bunker Ind. Traction boards are really great and cost about $70 a set on Amazon. I can't justify paying the Maxx Trax prices.
What is that one piece of gear that you have that the name brand/original product is worth buying over the copycat or diy?
this is a great question to ask...
i use a lot of knock-off items because most of the time it really doesnt matter. like buying the great value walmart brand corn chips opposed to frito lay corn chips...whats the worst than can happen?
i dont take that approach with electronics or safety/recovery gear. although most things are made in china, there is still better quality control with name brand items (usually).
take a solar controller, for example... i use renogy and they are made in china...however, there is quality control because the solder joints are much better than they are on the cheaper knock-off versions. also, a lot of the wiring is better. a lot of the cheaper knock-off electrical tools are notorious for using cheap wire and poor insulation on motor windings, so that dewalt knock off drill that was $70 cheaper will probably fail rather quickly and definitely will not hold up to any constant use. same thing for cheap winches...their motor windings will probably use a copper clad aluminium wire with poor insulation that will not hold up for very long, especially in a rough environment.
name brand is also better concerning safety/recovery gear. one great example is a shackle. i did a lot of rigging offshore and we always used the Crosby brand shackles. purchasing got the bright idea to cut cost by buying shackles with CHINA stamped on them. we started having failures offshore and the cheap knock-off shackles were failing way before reaching their stamped SWL. after a few mishaps, any shackle stamped CHINA was banned from offshore use.
i do have some harbor freight shackles, but i dont use them for anything important
this is a great question to ask...
i use a lot of knock-off items because most of the time it really doesnt matter. like buying the great value walmart brand corn chips opposed to frito lay corn chips...whats the worst than can happen?
i dont take that approach with electronics or safety/recovery gear. although most things are made in china, there is still better quality control with name brand items (usually).
take a solar controller, for example... i use renogy and they are made in china...however, there is quality control because the solder joints are much better than they are on the cheaper knock-off versions. also, a lot of the wiring is better. a lot of the cheaper knock-off electrical tools are notorious for using cheap wire and poor insulation on motor windings, so that dewalt knock off drill that was $70 cheaper will probably fail rather quickly and definitely will not hold up to any constant use. same thing for cheap winches...their motor windings will probably use a copper clad aluminium wire with poor insulation that will not hold up for very long, especially in a rough environment.
name brand is also better concerning safety/recovery gear. one great example is a shackle. i did a lot of rigging offshore and we always used the Crosby brand shackles. purchasing got the bright idea to cut cost by buying shackles with CHINA stamped on them. we started having failures offshore and the cheap knock-off shackles were failing way before reaching their stamped SWL. after a few mishaps, any shackle stamped CHINA was banned from offshore use.
i do have some harbor freight shackles, but i dont use them for anything important
Member III
That reminds me of something I have heard people say when its suggested they don't buy cheap important gear. "I've never had a problem!". Then when it fails they say "I've never seen that before!" and act surprised. One of the guys at work will only buy cheap tools and gear. His stuff fails all the time and he accepts that. He would rather spend $500 over time then spend $200 initially and not ever deal with it again.
Then there's the people who convince others to buy cheap gear. They tell everyone "OMG, this is the greatest ever and it works flawlessly". Then they're offended when I ask, "how many other brands have you compared this to and how many years has it "worked flawlessly?".
People buying "cheap" important items doesn't bother me until it effects me.
Then there's the people who convince others to buy cheap gear. They tell everyone "OMG, this is the greatest ever and it works flawlessly". Then they're offended when I ask, "how many other brands have you compared this to and how many years has it "worked flawlessly?".
People buying "cheap" important items doesn't bother me until it effects me.
-Leatherman.
-Victorinox Swiss Army Knife.
-Any of my old Craftsman tools. OLD ones, mind you.
-Buck Knife model 110.
-Ray-Ban polarized perscription sunglasses
-Trac Rac rack for the cap of my truck
...
-Victorinox Swiss Army Knife.
-Any of my old Craftsman tools. OLD ones, mind you.
-Buck Knife model 110.
-Ray-Ban polarized perscription sunglasses
-Trac Rac rack for the cap of my truck
...
Advocate I
Coming from within the defense industry, the funniest one to me is when people tout "Mil-Spec" as the end-all be-all to a component or device credentials.
The spec in question can be for something that has to survive the bitter cold or heat of space, the severe vibrations of a rocket ride, a dip down to the titanic and back, or the like. OR it may define the cheapest viable representation of functionality- and the DOD will not pay a cent more for anything they do not need it to do. Think toilet paper.
Mil-Spec = Suitable minimum specification for the intended use, as defined by the agency that wrote the spec. So "Mil-Spec" may or may not be worth bragging about.
The spec in question can be for something that has to survive the bitter cold or heat of space, the severe vibrations of a rocket ride, a dip down to the titanic and back, or the like. OR it may define the cheapest viable representation of functionality- and the DOD will not pay a cent more for anything they do not need it to do. Think toilet paper.
Mil-Spec = Suitable minimum specification for the intended use, as defined by the agency that wrote the spec. So "Mil-Spec" may or may not be worth bragging about.
Evernew 1.3L UL Pot + Sidewinder Ti-Tri Bundle
This Bundle contains the ECA253 pot and the full Sidewinder system including the Ti-Tri titanium cone custom sized to fit in this pot, the titanium GramCracker solid fuel kit, the lightweight aluminum Kojin stove with screw on lid, fuel bottle kit with measuring cup, Tyvek sleeve to protect your...
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I make all kinds of excellent alcohol stoves, but this kit is as impressive as my best stuff. And it also has an optional wood burner so I don't waste fuel.
Ultralight:
Caldera Keg-F Stove System
You can stop looking now!! The Caldera Keg is the lightest, most stable, wind resistant, and efficient cooking system you can buy. There is a good chance that the pot/stove/cone combination weighs less than your watch! With the reinforced beer can pot, 16 gram stove and a cone system that...
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