SUCKED IN by Cheap Chinese Crap!

[Pat Anderson]

So, for $109 on a Harbor Freight Tools coupon special (regular price $129), how could I NOT buy this generator?



This is an 800 watt 2-cycle engine jobbie, NOT for the boat, we have a Honda 2000i for that, but to charge the batteries on the 5th wheel when we are not at an RV park, say, in a Wally World parking lot or dry camping.

It candidly says it is not for electronic equipment, we will run that off the 12 volt sockets or an inverter. This is JUST to keep the batteries up.

I put some gas/oil mixture in the fuel tank, a couple of pulls, and viola, she starts. After a brief warm up, I plug in a lamp, and amazingly, it lights up!

So far, so good! Stay tuned, I fully expect it to crap out any minute, but the risk was so low and the potential benefit so great, this seemed like a worthwhile bet!

 

[Doryman]

Makes perfect sense. Chinese crap generator in the parking lot of the Chinese crap store. :lol:

But I am amazed that Wal-Mart lets campers run generators in their parking lots.

Warren

 

[JamesTXSD]

Most RV generators are contained within the RV - quiet and safe. Our last coach had a QD (Quiet Diesel) that put out 7.5kw and was so quiet that you could have a normal conversation while standing next to it. I don't recall seeing anyone parked in a W-M lot with an external generator running, but I don't see why it would be a problem... there are often tractor-trailer rigs parked in the lots with their engines or refers running.

We have occasionally stayed in Wal-Mart lots, but really prefer a real site with an electric hook-up. Use Passport America, and you can generally find sites reasonably priced and off the road; and, you won't have an 18 wheeler pull up next to you with their engine running all night. :wink:

There are some folks who think it is their "right" to stay in Wal-Mart parking lots, when, in fact, many local ordinances prohibit that. When we do stay in any parking lot, we check in with the store to make sure it is OK, we buy something in the store, we don't put down jacks, only use slide outs that are away from traffic, and don't put out grills, chairs, etc. Wal-Marts that allow overnights are NOT campgrounds. Abuse of that overnight privilege is what has made many Wal-Marts no longer allow it.

Family Motor Coach, Good Sam, and many other RV organizations have adopted this policy about Wal-Mart overnights:

http://blog.rv.net/2008/03/fmca-good-neighbor-policy/

Casinos are another free or low cost option. On our way to the Tetons, we overnighted in a casino lot that even had a few 15 amp electric hook-ups for free.



As with staying in a Wal-Mart lot, being a good neighbor, you should patronize the casino... we ate there, played for a bit, and won enough to pay for supper and put a few gallons of diesel in the truck. And didn't have to run the generator.

Best wishes,
Jim B.

One question, Pat: why can't you just move the Honda 2000i from the boat to the RV?

 

[Will-C]

The threads name seems to violate the just be nice idea. If I were Chinese I might be offended. Just think you might have helped pay for something for their rapidly expanding military build up.
D.D.

 

[lloyds]

I took the chance on Harbor Freight a couple times but the last time when I bought the dremel tool was the end. I will never buy anything there that has moving parts.

 

[Doryman]

Jim, is that a utility trailer hooked to the back of your 5th wheel? Backing up must be fun with that setup, not to mention hooking up! AFAIK the Mountain States (& Texas) are the only places that kind of rig is allowed. Certainly not in OR/WA.

Missing you and Joan here in the Broughtons, but undoubtedly better weather in the Tetons.

Warren

 

[Aurelia]

Let us know how it goes Pat. I only have one piece of power equipment from that store (polisher) but I do love it for cheap backup hand tools and other similar simple items I want to have for infrequent use.

 

[Pat Anderson]

Patty here. For the next couple of years the new little generator will live in Omak for those times we visit our daughter and can't find a space in the City Park. We had to stay at the Wal-mart once when we got over there late and the park was full, but then we moved into the park in the morning. The Honda 2000i is pretty heavy to be moving off and on the boat, and there were many generators being used outside the RVs the one night we stayed at Wallyworld. Just a little clarification.

 

[starcrafttom]

"cheap Chinese store"
Walmart the largest American owned company in the world. largest employer of Americans in the world. provider of low price products for Americans. you get what you pay for but lets face it a lot of folks can not pay the over priced items at mom and pop shops. Cloths for a example. I bought all of my and James cloths at walmart in Placerville ca because the same cloths at the "family owned shop" on main street was 4 times as much at best , often for the same cloths.

as far as the Chinese products? how is buying japans any better in the trade department???????????

on edit: sorry i see that you were calling harbor freight a cheap store. but again why pay more for basic stuff. I just bought a polishing pad at harbor freight for $9 bucks. harbor marine wanted $29 for the same product. same maker same bag same same. only difference was the price.

 

[Pat Anderson]

I see Patty got here first, what she said!

Walmarts:

There is an online directory of what Walmart stores allow and do not allow overnight parking. And Jim is 100% correct - it is overnight parking, not camping. Those who pull out awnings, lay down their plastic grass carpet and set up the BBQ and lawn chairs are seriously risking it for everybody. We also always buy something - not out of duty, but because we always need something!

We stayed in Walmart parking lots every night both ways traveling between Fall City and Lake Powell for the last three years. Saved us a TON of money, and if you pull in at 6 or 8 p.m. and are on the road by 7 or 8 a.m., it is quite tolerable. If you see 20 RVs lining the far edge of the parking lot, you can probably assume it is OK, they do all have a security guy who would chase you away if it were not. In Yakima, the security guy always comes over to say "hello" to his "boaterhomers"! There was one Walmart, in Nampa, ID, quite a ways off the freeway, where there were no RVs, so we did go in the store to check - they said OK, but we probably would not go back there!

As Patty said, in Omak, it was a one-nighter until a spot opened up at the RV Park at the Stampede Grounds. There were dozens of RVs and quite a few running external generators. If we had a land yacht like Jim's, we would opt for a Quiet Diesel too, but our 1991 Alpenlite fifth wheel ($4,500) and 1992 F-250 ($2,500) tow vehicle no doubt cost less combined than Jim's 7.5KW generator! Seriously, RVs park on the far edge of the parking lot, which is usually next to a busy city street, and nowhere close to residences, and the generators are probably drowned out by the general din.

"Cheap Chinese Crap":

Well, the truth is always a defense! That is what Harbor Freight Tools sells! I think Chinese Americans (or Canadians, or whatever) would probably not take issue with this statement! And since this generator has moving parts, I know I am taking a chance on it. So far so good. And Walmart too - and like Tom, (geez, you are making me confess) I just bought 2 pairs of shorts (@$14)and 5 teeshirts (@$4) at the Omak Walmart, for less than one pair of shorts would be at most other stores, or half of what one pair of shorts would cost at REI.

 

[rogerbum]

I see Patty got here first, what she said!

<stuff clipped> And Walmart too - and like Tom, (geez, you are making me confess) I just bought 2 pairs of shorts (@$14)and 5 teeshirts (@$4) at the Omak Walmart, for less than one pair of shorts would be at most other stores, or half of what one pair of shorts would cost at REI.

Pat - definitely shop at Walmart and not REI. I don't think any of us want to see you in just half a pair of shorts! :lol:

 

[chriscarrera]

Just say NO to Walmart and the mom and pops won't be 4 times as much.

 

[Anonymous]

but again why pay more for basic stuff.

Products that are made to last beyond a coupla uses, and made by people that aren't enslaved to a life of poverty will certainly cost more than the Wal-Mart junk. I think that the seemingly high cost of U.S.-made products is simply in contrast to the ultra-low pricing of the junk (until you figure out that you're gonna have to replace the junk four times over the next five years). Why pay more? Because I believe in us. I'm paying my neighbors, and their neighbors. I don't mind buying something imported from China as long as it's something intrinsically Chinese; they have a wonderful culture - some of which I enjoy. Why buy an automatic clothes washer from China when the maker's wife beat their family's clothing on a creekside rock? I don't like that picture. Globalization - like communism - is a great concept; I have yet to see it work for the people.

Stepping very carefully back down off the soapbox now... Not dumping on you personally, Tom; but I just had to chime in. All the best...

 

[JamesTXSD]

Jim, is that a utility trailer hooked to the back of your 5th wheel? Backing up must be fun with that setup, not to mention hooking up! AFAIK the Mountain States (& Texas) are the only places that kind of rig is allowed. Certainly not in OR/WA.

Missing you and Joan here in the Broughtons, but undoubtedly better weather in the Tetons.

Warren

Yes, Warren, that is a Featherlite cargo trailer that we tow behind our 5th wheel. It is the "garage" for my motorcycle, a couple kayaks, tools, and gear. You can double tow in most states that are "not along the east or west coast." You are absolutely right that we couldn't pull this rig in WA or OR; we are aware of where this is legal and travel accordingly.

Backing is less of an issue than you might think. If you are towing a car (4 wheels down) behind a motorhome, you can't back up with that rig, either. If we come to an RV park that doesn't have pull-through sites, I get close to the site, drop the cargo trailer, back in the 5th wheel, and park the cargo trailer next to us with the truck. It takes an extra couple of minutes.

I know you can't take it all with you all the time. In years passed, we hauled a sailboat that was 38' long on the trailer behind a 40' motorcoach. It started out as fun, but quickly became more work than reward... Joan would drive separate with a full-size SUV so we had a daily driver and an easy way to launch the sailboat. What we are doing right now works for the way we are traveling. I don't recommend it for everyone, and certainly not for those who will be traveling on either coast... those areas are more fun with our C-Dory, anyway. :wink:

Just this morning, we saw a 40' motorcoach pulling a full-size SUV with what looked like a 24 foot runabout behind the SUV, AND a full size 4 wheeler strapped on the swimstep! :shock: No doubt this set up was well over 80 feet long, but it would be easy to disconnect the SUV from the motorcoach and just have TWO long vehicles.

I've been reading about you guys having fun in the Broughtons. Maybe next summer Joan and I will be ready to spend a summer being non-productive members of society once again. I enjoy getting paid to drive the cruise boats, but I DO miss Wild Blue.

Best wishes,
Jim

(Who does make every effort to buy American when the option exists.)

 

[Leo Smith]

REI is one of my favorite stores, but I discovered that REI stands for "Real Expensive Items".

 

[seabeagle]

If it wasn't for cheap Chinese crap, I couldn't own a boat. Or a car or computer or cell phone. It's not that I don't want to buy US goods but, the UAW and other unions have driven up costs for the average American. I suppose the solution is to unionize everybody so we all make great money but, a burger would cost 12 buck at McDonalds and still suck.

 

[TyBoo]

Let's stop this right now. People get real tired of this crap.

 

[Pat Anderson]

Ditto. When we needed trekking poles, the REI pair - their cheap pair - was $80. The Walmart trekking poles at the Omak store were down to $12.99 a pair! We bought the REI ones because we have had a little experience (sorry R & T) with breaking the cheapies out on the trail. And if I ever need them to fend off a pit bull (Casey's thread), I DEFINITELY do no want them breaking on the first whack!

When you need to be able to count on quality, REI is your best bet!

REI is one of my favorite stores, but I discovered that REI stands for "Real Expensive Items".

 

[seabeagle]

I agree, let's stop bashing cheap Chinese crap.

 

[T.R. Bauer]

I'm not going to bash them. I wish we had one in Alaska as there needs to be some competition here as the low end stuff cost almost as much as the high end stuff.....

BTW, the best sawsall I have ever bought is a Chicago Electric from Harbor Freight.....for 19.95.... And to think I almost bought a Milwaukee......