Chinese Import looks interesting

[amphibious drew]

Looks cheep to me. If you watch, the back seat is about to fall off. I'm sure someone will say it's supposed to bounce up an down like that, but I don't think that's a sign of good construction.

[Beeman]

I looked into this about 2 years ago. That model was selling for $9200USD. Depending on the engineering inside and parts used, you could always dump another $2000 to fix whatever you thought could be "cheap" about it and probably make it comparable and still save some money - but then of course, that takes time. If you need something dependable out of the box maybe it's not a good way to go.

[MaxRules]

I have experience repairing the chinese made 4-wheelers in my shop. It really is amazing how cheap they are built and they are all total garbage. People buy them because they look pretty and seem like they will run fine. They do run fine, but only for a very short time. Electrical problems are the most common followed by parts simply falling off. I no longer even offer to repair these ATVs because parts are hard to find and another part breaks before you can get the last one fixed.

[whipper-ag]

It's nothing but JUNK!
I'm with Mike, end this Thread.

Whipper

[Robinhood02]

Hold on all you guys , the Chinese stuff is not all garbage, Every darn American mfg has a tie to chinese mfgs, nearly all american companys have some or all components made in china these days, it is simply to what quality standard it is being made, and where it is intended to be marketed, those chinese argo's are only 7500 bucks and that comes with an amphib trailer, but they have fiberglass tubs and tops, it is a PERFECT example of "you get what you pay for". even some Yamaha snowmobiles are made in china and you can't say those are junk, there is NOT one american made brg made any more, they are ALL made in china and brand names tend to be good and the generic not so good, but they are ALL made in china, you guys all talk up Peer Chain as if it is good chain ,well not one chain they sell is made in USA it is all made in china, thailand, korea or malaysia, If you want good stuff do your homework, and just because it says "Made In The USA" or "Made In Canada" does not guarentee quality , BUT i can say one thing, usually price gives one a good idea, and if you buy cheep then i'll give you one guess where it comes from, Anyways, you get what you pay for.

[Beeman]

Again with the closing thread thing... but than again - isn't this what forums are all about? If China sold a gold block for the going rate would you not buy it because it was from China? Would you not buy it if it were cheaper than the going rate - from China? Regardless of where it came from we all have to determine worth - what we pay for something compared to what we receive. Hopefully we don't determine that only from what we have been told from media or other sources- but also from that which we have experienced, or others close to us that we trust have experienced. IMO, there should be no shame in purchasing something that someone else has produced for cheaper and taking the chance that it may or not be of the expectation you are looking for. We all gamble to some regard - why throw the name of the casino into the mix?

[lewis]

I was going to respond to this thread.......but i decided not to.

Lewis
U.S.M.C
Enough said

[jerseybigfoot]

Channel Cat Outdoors Inc. was going to import them and posted some vids but can't be found with google. It would have be interesting to get their take on the unit.
Without dealers the purchase is still a risk.

[Robinhood02]

Well i actually looked into becoming a Dealer of them too, and it looked good till i asked them about parts availability? and the guy said "we don't sell parts seperatly yet" ,i asked where do i get parts to repair them then ?? he said "you'll have to make them" that is fine for the axles, chains, sprokets, etc. but what about engines, trans axles and other things that are specifically made for your machine? he said "he can not help me" so i said i will not become a dealer because i will not sell something to someone that can not be properly warrantied or seviced with factory parts. it is disapointing because that unit fully loaded would retail about 10k, but dont touch them or you won't get parts, and that comes from someone that actually spoke to them on the phone !!!!!!!

[hydromike]

While I had my head in the tub, I was stymied to see the China stamp in the lower inside tub just below the engine.

Noel, you saw this *ON* the plastic tub, or on the chain adjuster itself? I'll admit I haven't looked closely at things like throttle cables, levers or a bunch of the little plastic accessories like switches, etc., but the only thing I've seen a foreign stamp on so far is the Briggs Vanguard.

~m

[Noel Woods]

Its on the inside of the tub, lower hull to be specific, just below the engine. You can see the "China" stamp clearly on my 1999 Max2 near the left rear chain adjuster, you have to have your head inside the tub to see it, but its there. The lettering is about a 1/4" high, I suppose made small and somewhat hidden to obscure it from the average person's line of sight. I have never noticed it before, but this time the tub was cleaner than usual, and I was up close and personal fighting the chain adjuster when I saw the lettering. Needless to say, I was shocked. I guess even R.I. farms out certain things. Maybe the facility in New York is like an "Assembly Plant" more so than the factory. Its a sign of the times.

[jpswift1]

RI has all of their bodies and tubs made out of a place in Michigan if I remember correctly.

[hydromike]

RI has all of their bodies and tubs made out of a place in Michigan if I remember correctly.

Yeah, RI uses a facility in Michigan. The "factory" is basically an assembly plant. That's not to diminish what they do in any way; they just don't have the facilities to do everything there themselves. They get the vacuum formed bodies in a bit of a raw form, and do all of the formal cutting at Depot Street. T-20 casings are cast by SanCast in Coshocton, Ohio last I knew, then final-machined by Buffalo Gear in Sanborn, NY. I believe final assembly of the tranny is done down at RI (I think??). Most (all?) of the sprockets and axles come from G&G in Omaha. I don't really know who manufactures the frames; I never really asked.

I'd be shocked if your Max body was actually made overseas. Not disputing what you see, but rather the genesis of the stamp....

~m

[Noel Woods]

The stamp says China, could be the HDPE sheats came from China then were vacuum formed in Michigan???? I don't know. Maybe R.I. can clarify the issue.

[Robinhood02]

i'm just not completely convinced that it is a rip off, the driveline in that chinese unit is completely different to argo or max, it uses the driveline from those 3 wheeler small vehicles used in India that look like a 3 wheel peddle taxi , (hopefully you know what i'm saying) their engine trani and diff are all in a line like the 70s cars, i will dig up some pics again, as far as 6x6 or 8x8 goes they will all be relativly the same just due to the layout of the wheels, and as far as bodys go ,well, chev rips off ford and ford rips off dodge and dodge rips off chev (just look at the pickups we have today) (or the PT cruiser and the chev one), The tubs and tops are made of fibreglass ,one nice thing i saw about the chinese design was the power-take-off which was made possible due to the in-line design. Ill go get those pics of the drive-line