Haha well glad I could convey something in my mostly rambling incoherent posts.
Snorkel $190
- Thread starter diego355
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Not likely, ARB couldn't claim to make them in Australia if they weren't; they'd be in violation of customs law if they declared the point of origin incorrectly.
Just because the Chinese or Malaysian snorkel looks the same and has the oval on it doesn't mean it was made in the same place. There are plenty of knock-off Rolex watches for sale in China that have Rolex written on them - this doesn't mean that the real ones aren't made in Switzerland.
No I'm not comparing a plastic snorkel to a wrist watch but they are alike in that if you are going to knock something off you'd be wise to copy the most popular product as best you can, you'd be more likely to be able to pique someone's curiosity enough to buy it that way. You would be cashing in on the market's recognition of the brand.
I work for a company that sometimes has to reverse engineer parts to repair antiquated machinery, parts that are no longer produced where the OEM has decades ago gone out of business. Those parts are far more complicated than a plastic snorkel, are laser scanned, and a mold gets made by a CNC machine. You cannot tell the duplicated part, cast in metal and machined, from the original.
Someone or some company has probably has done this to an ARB snorkel, oval and all. The Chinese or Malaysians are certainly technologically sophisticated enough to do this, anyone can.
Rusty,
Shouldn't you be buying from a Canadian manufacturer? Wouldn't that be the "right" thing to do? (Not meant as a personal attack)
Don't get me wrong, I understand your reasoning however, prices either need to be competitive or the product needs to offer something that other companies cannot replicate.
In this case, it is a plastic mold......400 vs 100, to me, it is a no-brainer. If the price margins were close, I may consider, but in this case....China is fine with me.
FYI: It saved me enough money to order the overpriced ARB diff breather kit!
I would agree that if someone were to manufacture a snorkel for the 80 series in Canada that I liked I'd buy one. I suppose I could glue bits of Canadian made ABS pipe together but of course it would look like F#@%.
Failing that I decided that I'd buy an original Australian made snorkel before I'd buy the Chinese or Malaysian knock-off, especially since judging by the poster's earlier photo (although let's face it, we all knew it anyway), Australia has a far better track record on human rights. I don't mind spending the money and it was either the Safari or the TJM which makes a snorkel, of course it's priced comparably, to the ARB that is.
Admittedly it's getting increasingly hard to find things that aren't made in China, but I firmly believe that it shouldn't be a "race to the bottom" in a "Walmart Nation" fashion, sometimes these things aren't about the cost of the plastic mold. I don't think that the poor bastard that made the thing should starve or work 90 hours a week trying not to - just so I can feel like a thrifty shopper. It's not as if the Chinese or Malaysian worker who helps to make the $100 knock-off snorkel is going to see any of the profit, working in a country that most likely doesn't even have a minimum wage.
Expecting the "price margins" to get tighter means competing with the third world, which I'm willing to bet would be okay with some so long as it wasn't their wages that were getting rolled back (no Walmart pun intended), or their job that was getting exported.
It isn't even about price in many cases, take designer clothes, they are often made in Bangladesh or other South East Asian sweatshops and sold in so called "first world" countries for top dollar. Think that these companies can't make shirts and pants in America, pay workers a decent living wage and still turn a reasonable profit? They could at least invest enough money to build a structurally sound factory so that the workers they're exploiting don't have to get crushed to death.
My earlier comment wasn't meant to spark a political debate, but it seems to have partially gone there...
My rule of thumb with Chinese made stuff is I do my best to not allow it in my kitchen or anything that my life may depend on.
The latter was learned with a 1 ton come along from HF.
I've purchased 90% of my 80 stuff from vendors or members on mud but things like this and my $270 fridge/freezer would have been north of $1200 for a name brand. I would have never been able to justify that expense in my own mind and therefore never had them.
The latter was learned with a 1 ton come along from HF.
I've purchased 90% of my 80 stuff from vendors or members on mud but things like this and my $270 fridge/freezer would have been north of $1200 for a name brand. I would have never been able to justify that expense in my own mind and therefore never had them.
^^^ Wob has the answer. I would have never of gotten a snorkel if I'd of had to pay $400+
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084runnerltd
SILVER Star
I agree as well. In fact, it was never on my "to-do" list after I saw the price.
It was a coincidence that I happened to click on this thread and see how cheaply I could get it.
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It was a coincidence that I happened to click on this thread and see how cheaply I could get it.
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justbecause
perpetually lost.
I'm barely able to justify 100 bucks. No way I could or would spend 400+ for some molded hopedepo PVC.
...via IH8MUD app
...via IH8MUD app
084runnerltd
SILVER Star
...back on topic.
I was able to easily screw in the last to nuts by removing the antennae motor. I am sure it is already mentioned in the prior pages of the thread but...
Remove 1 bolt that holds the motor. Unscrew antennae. No special tools needed, I used a channel locks and wrapped a rag around it. No scratches and easily came off.
Definitely worth the 1 minute of labor to free up some needed space!
Sent from DynaTAC bag phone
I was able to easily screw in the last to nuts by removing the antennae motor. I am sure it is already mentioned in the prior pages of the thread but...
Remove 1 bolt that holds the motor. Unscrew antennae. No special tools needed, I used a channel locks and wrapped a rag around it. No scratches and easily came off.
Definitely worth the 1 minute of labor to free up some needed space!
Sent from DynaTAC bag phone
Check the camping section for a thread I started, they also had a 43qt for $202
Check the camping section for a thread I started, they also had a 43qt for $202
Came today and I gotta say, I'm pleased for $109 delivered, some initial pics, will post more later.
084runnerltd
SILVER Star
Is anyone doing any type of sealing/gasket between the snorkel and the body panel??
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Why would one need it?
084runnerltd
SILVER Star
I just figured the more that it is sealed up the better.
Help keep moisture/rain from sitting between the plastic snorkel and the body panel, reduce chance of oxidation, etc,,,
Obviously when using the snorkel for it's designed use, water will be inside the engine bay and a gasket will do nothing.
As for me, and probably a few others, the most water we will see in/around the snorkel will be rain/snow etc...just curious if any others have done this.
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As long as there is paint and you touched up the hole it should be fine. Most seals would actually hold water in there longer increasing chances of issues.
084runnerltd
SILVER Star
Make sure to paint over any raw metal from the drilling. Next wax extra heavy on the fender under the plastic and don't wipe it off. Install snorkel and wipe away excess wax then. This should help as well. Just a thought.