ARB Air Locker Copies

[ozbogwam]

An answer was given, whether you choose to believe it is another thing

[Kimber]

OK guys where`s the responses to Sams offer to tour the Kylsyth site? I`m located central Vic, count me in Sam, I don`t even expect sustenance to be supplied, I`m on a diet.

Leigh.

[Mace]

Yeah, Im up for it!

Cheers Sam.

[hookedon4wding]

Oops, wrong account.

[ARB 4X4 Accessories]

No worries guys, I'll start the ball rolling at this end re a tour of the factory. It might have to be a weeknight.

I'll start a new thread to garner interest once I've confirmed a date.

Also, just to clarify, ALL Air Lockers are made in Australia, we don't make any in the US, even for the US market.

Cheers, Sam.

[LJs GU]

And on that note, cue Snow the locksmith...

[theflyingbadger]

This thread (and the sales one) caused me to do a bit of searching on the subject of these chinese lockers.

I've not found anyone who's had one go bang on them. plenty of people seem to have fitted them (and why wouldn't you at $650 to your door), including in comp cars but no (admitted) failures yet.

food for thought...

[Bird]

This is totally incorrect. Air Lockers are and always have been made in Australia.

I'd be happy to arrange for a group of Victorian MySwag representatives to come out and do a tour of the factory one night to show you our extensive manufacturing facilities in Kilsyth, and in particular, where the Air Lockers are made.

I'll even supply a few pizzas for dinner

Cheers, Sam.

How about for a local 4wd club?? If you can do it, PM me.


We have done the tour before... its really good... and yea, Shit is made here, some is made overseas these days, what big companies dont do this in 4wding???

[Snow]

And on that note, cue Snow the locksmith...

No-one has lost an eye yet, and there is still some value in the exchanges with Sam so happy to keep it rolling.

But if it becomes an aimless circular tit 4 tat then yeah, it will time to move it on.

 

[Joff]

I don't see what's so hard to understand? You send container after container of product that was built from raw material straight to the container with no need to warehouse. Container freight is relatively cheap, especially out bound. Then look at that against 10% of that volume warehoused here, freighted all over Aus in ones and twozees then held by resellers on their shelves..? volume is everything. Most retailers in this country would be scraping turnovers touching $1m if they are lucky. How big are the retailers that sell these lockers cheap?? I dunno but it’s not inconceivable that one locker retailer in the US would move more ARB lockers through their doors than the entire Australian market.

Add to that the simple fact that Australian consumers do not offer the same competition domestically so we pay more for goods across the board than Americans do. There is 300+ million of the bastards.. Of course they can command better pricing.

And finally, if you think rec retail pricing on most consumer goods is linked to cost of production then you're living in a dream world. Rec retail is based on market pressure and product positioning. In Aus the ARB product is offered as a premium brand into a market still prepared to pay top dollar. If you want the premium product without the local top dollar price tag, buy it from the States. When enough people do it and the world becomes truly global then ARB lockers will be 30% cheaper.. But, don’t bitch when they are made in India coz if you want global pricing you have to accept global manufacturing..

[duggie]

Some time ago, long time before this post and the last post about ARB and Chinese lockers, there was a post asking if anyone had tried a Chinese locker. I can't find the original post but in that post someone had attached a test that ARB had done on their locker and as they called it a Chinese copy.
 
I have reposted the Youtube clip.

ARB Air Locker Comparison

The question that I have is this.
How many ARB lockers were tested before they were able to have such a high reading on their test machine, and how many Chinese lockers were tested before ARB was able to find one that failed at a lot lower test results?

[theflyingbadger]

surely you're not suggesting the clip is biased duggie?

Next you'll be telling me that Today Tonight isn't top drawer journalism

[Joff]

The question that I have is this.
How many ARB lockers were tested before they were able to have such a high reading on their test machine, and how many Chinese lockers were tested before ARB was able to find one that failed at a lot lower test results?

Really? How wildly do you think products like this vary in test like that?? I'm mean the same product.. Take 10 units all made from the same material with the same machining process and test them to distruction.. If you can't get almost 100% predicatability then your manufacturing process is rubbish. In fact I'd bet hard cash ARB can model the destruction of their locker on the computer to within 0.5% of actual. They will know which bit goes first and they will know what has to happen for it to go. From my experience with Chinese clones I put the same hard cash down that what you just saw was the very first time the chinese clone had been tested to destruction 

All that said, all that test is telling us is that the ARB unit is stronger than a Landcruiser axle and that the Chinese one isn't.. I guess that's ok if you plan to test the limits of your Landcruiser.. Personally I'd like to know how long that rubbish surface finish lasts before you wear it away, or how they heat treat the gears, or what sort of bearings are used. At the end of the day the longevity of the product is what we as consumers are most conserned about.

What did our dads always say? 'A poor man always pays twice'

[jetcrew]

Well after considering all the facts I could find and comparing the price difference I have just ordered and paid for my Genuine ARB locker from my local store.

Both the copy and the import option were considered, but the $$$ saving seemed a false econmy given the way ARB backs thier locker locally. I have used them many times before and been involved in a few little races where 60 trucks over 10 days could not break one. So that is a good enough reason for me to pay the little extra.and get the genuine item. 

Got the special deal a rear locker fitted  and air compressor (I fit) for $1688.00.

This includes a nation wide waranty.

Just my 2cents worth ,but a worthy thread as it gives people more info and allows them to make thier own decisions .

Jetcrew

[Squalo]

Congrats JC, you will love having it. Mine have been worked pretty hard in playtime at Glasshouse Mountains, and have been flawless - only issues I've had were a plug coming off the compressor which is under the front passenger seat, and the small fuse blowing (could not find a fault so replaced it and put a spare in the glovebox). I have a genuine airline repair kit in the spares box too, and have worked out how I could bypass relay/solenoids/pressure switch etc. if I ever have to - just in case, but it's those bits that would let you down before the lockers themselves failed.

[Campfire]

I've just read this entire thread......

Where is the panadol.

[maverick_sr71]

As promised, I've finally found time to get back to you on my Lockers.

Purchased front and rear ARB lockers and the little ARB air compressor when in the USA from Rocky Road Outfitters. All up savings over buying local, AU$850.

The ARB gear was all MADE IN AUSTRALIA, contry to the misinformation I had been previously given.

A savings of $400 per locker from a US supplier clearly demonstrates to me the real price of the lockers is at least half of what we are forced to pay here in Oz (and they aren't selling at a loss). Sure population in US are higher, and theirs greater competition. Given a world wide market this should show some dividens here in Oz also. Alas my disillusionment with ARB continues, probably more so then ever now.

On the up side I now have a set of the best manually operated lockers available and I payed the right price for them. I'll be buying most stuff from the US now given the cost savings and market forces obviously in play over there, especially any future ARB stuff.

Now, what savings can I make on a rear wheel carrier for my deluxe ARB bar in the US I wonder? *sigh*

[fuji]

Can I get a bullbar in the U.S. for half the price? I need one for my new Workmate. I wish I knew that before I had Toyota install a rear locker. Could have save 1500

[kiwipete]

What about ARB Fridge prices around the $1000.00 mark in Aus but under $800.00 in the US     hmmmm   do they manufacture them in the USA also?   I thought they were all made in China?

I spoke to a ARB rep in Vic a couple years ago and he was embarrassed to say that even he feels that ARB were making fools of us here in AU as he could not explain the price differences...

There was a show on the box a while ago talking about how on the East Coast a product could be sold for twice the price as on the West because on the east coast people were prepared to pay that figured (that Swedish Ikia stuff)   I expect ARB do the same we in Aus are happy to pay the inflated price so why drop it....

I will only ever buy ARB when there is nothing better out there for a price I am prepared to pay...   If they were more honest and changed their pricing to something more respectable then I would stop buying OS rubbish.. 

I do own a 46litre ARB Fridge and a ARB awning only because 2 years ago the options weren't there....     I feel that ARB catter for cashed up yuppies and there 4x4...  A bloke I see at work (IBM) bought a new 75 Series and I recon it went straight to ARB for a Bull Bar Warn winch, LR Tank, Roof Rack, Awning etc etc all ARB accessories...  Looks good but anyone can do that if they were cashed up....   see it all the time in Canberra....

[MDS69]

What about ARB Fridge prices around the $1000.00 mark in Aus but under $800.00 in the US     hmmmm   do they manufacture them in the USA also?   I thought they were all made in China?

I spoke to a ARB rep in Vic a couple years ago and he was embarrassed to say that even he feels that ARB were making fools of us here in AU as he could not explain the price differences...

There was a show on the box a while ago talking about how on the East Coast a product could be sold for twice the price as on the West because on the east coast people were prepared to pay that figured (that Swedish Ikia stuff)   I expect ARB do the same we in Aus are happy to pay the inflated price so why drop it....

I will only ever buy ARB when there is nothing better out there for a price I am prepared to pay...   If they were more honest and changed their pricing to something more respectable then I would stop buying OS rubbish.. 

I do own a 46litre ARB Fridge and a ARB awning only because 2 years ago the options weren't there....     I feel that ARB catter for cashed up yuppies and there 4x4...  A bloke I see at work (IBM) bought a new 75 Series and I recon it went straight to ARB for a Bull Bar Warn winch, LR Tank, Roof Rack, Awning etc etc all ARB accessories...  Looks good but anyone can do that if they were cashed up....   see it all the time in Canberra....

Yes but the ARB fridge is still cheaper than the other two quality alternatives ie Engel and Waeco.

[Moto Mech]

Im definately not a cashed up "yuppie", I simply choose ARB gear because its as good or better than anything else.
And as usual this is now way off topic.

[D4D]

I love you guys buying ARB gear 

[Redback]

Yes but the ARB fridge is still cheaper than the other two quality alternatives ie Engel and Waeco.

ARB fridges are now made by Waeco, (previously made by Engel) as is the Opposite Lock fridge

Baz.

[ARB 4X4 Accessories]

ARB fridges are now made by Waeco, (previously made by Engel) as is the Opposite Lock fridge

Baz.

G'day Baz, just to clarify, our fridges are actually manufactured by Dometic (Waeco is just one of their brands) to our specs. The only thing that's similar is the Danfoss compressor which is used in the majority of 12v fridges on the market. Everything else is unique to the ARB range.

Cheers, Sam.

P.S, I agree with Moto Mech, this is now getting off topic.

[Redback]

Thanks Sam for the clarification, got any Snorkles for the Amarok in stock yet

Baz.