Does Reese = Junk?
I have always been a pretty big fan of Reese products in the past. However, my confidence in them has somewhat been shaken...to the point where I am looking at other brands of towing products to fit...
Forum Discussion
BenK wrote:
Jeremiah, with the Internet, this type of 'change' is outed much sooner vs if ever
I've learned to pay heed to folks like you as my filters. There are others that
I'll not... ;)
An example is MOOG HD steering linkages/ball joints
Used to be my go to product, but after my last experience with them...found that
MOOG has been sold and the new owners cheapened their cost structure by going
off shore...China
Not to say the Chinese can't make it to the old spec...but the new owner's bean
counters also cheapened their spec
Betcha the fall out happens to line up, date wise, with them going
off shore...
Good to know and note that I'm going Blue Ox on my next WD Hitch system
Thank you for the kind words.. I do appreciate that.
I know from my studies (Masters program) that anytime a production facility is moved (off shore or down the street) close attention must be paid to QC. I know that "made in China" is the new "made in Japan" (remember the 70's and 80's when Japan = junk? Now Japanese made equals quality.
China can make very high quality stuff.. some of the things that come from China are fine examples of craftsmanship (Coach purses are an example). However, the company has to demand and pay for top quality production and talent. Even in China good talent is relatively expensive. So much so that some companies have found its cheaper to bring the production work back home to the states.
So, what you have is a company that buys into "Cheap Chinese Labor" and moves production over there. However, "Cheap Chinese Labor" can't keep up the quality just like "Cheap American Labor" can't keep up the quality. Quality work and pride in craftsmanship is expensive regardless of the country of origin.
AND... why did Reese move this stuff overseas? Why are their upper echelon hitches still $800-1300 and made in China? How can B&W produce a better product, manufactured in the USA for a cheaper price? Profit Margin is all I can think. B&W's overhead is likely much less than Cequent's.
CURT and HUSKY may be in the same boat I just haven't personally seen the failures described for them. Well, until this thread with the two broke Curt hitches.
Thanks!
Jeremiah
