Do you feel comfortable with "your" TRUMP expectations, from a prepping point of view...???

[sonya123]

Yeah, but in general USA made stuff will last much longer than anything made in China. Besides, I prefer to support American workers than communist slave labor. I don't mind paying a little more for quality made products.

Um....nope! Not always Bought a US made Polaris Ranger and it is THE biggest piece of junk ever !!!! ( see recalls if you don't believe me, but ours had other issues) . I wished we had bought something Japanese !! Don't even get me started...
All our other vehicles are made in the US , and relatively happy with them, but I am not spending $700 on shoes

There are no vehicles made in other countries that do what ours do for one. Only US makes something like a Suburban ( we have a Yukon XL same size) , or a 2500 large Dodge Ram with 8 ft bed. There are things made only in US
I think they should do whatever they can to support vehicle manufacturing here ( since they still have the facilities)

 

[Mountain trapper]

The Red Wings I wear to work are made in Cambodia. They are tough as nails but on my job no boots last more than two years. Even Whites will need to be rebuilt after two years. Railroad ballast is murder on boots. I get around 15-16 months from my Red Wings. They hold up great and then suddenly begin to let go. I'll be getting new ones next week.

The thing about Chinese products is, the Chinese are perfectly willing and able to make superb quality. But by the time you pay for that higher quality, you may as well buy American...

One thing about quality American made boots is, they can be rebuilt and resoled.
I've had too many bad experiences buying Chinese products on a large scale. For example much of the Chinese steel produced, such as oil field pipe, it comes with forged documents. When we ran our own tests on the steel we found that it was made from inferior metals. We had to reject miles of pipe. I made a policy that absolutely no Chinese products were to be purchased.

 

[Mountain trapper]

Um....nope! Not always Bought a US made Polaris Ranger and it is THE biggest piece of junk ever !!!! ( see recalls if you don't believe me, but ours had other issues) . I wished we had bought something Japanese !! Don't even get me started...
All our other vehicles are made in the US , and relatively happy with them, but I am not spending $700 on shoes

There are no vehicles made in other countries that do what ours do for one. Only US makes something like a Suburban ( we have a Yukon XL same size) , or a 2500 large Dodge Ram with 8 ft bed. There are things made only in US
I think they should do whatever they can to support vehicle manufacturing here ( since they still have the facilities)

I've had several Polaris ATV's and never had a problem with any of them. They were well built and I was happy with them. I take care of my equipment and never abuse it.
You don't have to spend $700 on quality made American boots, but you certainly can. I paid more than that for my Filson boots. All of my American made boots will outlast me. Seems like a bargain to me.

 

[Cabin Fever]

Buying quality is usually cheaper in the long run.

Did you ever look into a closet of someone who buys cheap Chinese junk? It's full of clothes and shoes that the owner rarely wears. Often these same people complain that they have too much junk in their houses and want to declutter. In reality, no one needs more that a few pair of quality shoes and a wardrobe half or less of the quantity they have now.

 

[Neb]

.... In reality, no one needs more that a few pair of quality shoes and a wardrobe half or less of the quantity they have now.

While I agree with that statement in general, I am not at liberty to enforce same in our house.

As per happy wife happy life rule.

Ben

 

[sonya123]

I've had several Polaris ATV's and never had a problem with any of them. They were well built and I was happy with them. I take care of my equipment and never abuse it.
You don't have to spend $700 on quality made American boots, but you certainly can. I paid more than that for my Filson boots. All of my American made boots will outlast me. Seems like a bargain to me.

you got lucky on the Polaris....what year is your newest one? We got ours in 2020 brand new
Find me some muck boots made in the US that don't cost hundreds of $ , I will buy them
One problem with shoes is you can't try them on if you buy them online, and the only actual store around here that sells boots are walmart , RK , and tractor supply and all those are made in China

 

[Mountain trapper]

you got lucky on the Polaris....what year is your newest one? We got ours in 2020 brand new
Find me some muck boots made in the US that don't cost hundreds of $ , I will buy them
One problem with shoes is you can't try them on if you buy them online, and the only actual store around here that sells boots are walmart , RK , and tractor supply and all those are made in China

I think our Polaris's were 2007 or 08. They may have outsourced a lot of the parts since then. We now have a couple Yamaha 4 wheelers and a CanAm side by side. Both of our Yamaha's are down right now due to electrical issues.
The nearest place that I know of that sells quality boots is about 200 miles from here. Like I said earlier, I doubt that I'll ever need to buy a new pair of boots again, unless I decide to get a pair of cowboy boots.

 

[UserNameTaken]

Am I comfortable with what is probably coming? Without getting political, no. Am I prepared for it? Probably not well enough. I already live like Obiwan Kenobi, in my "cave" in the Wastelands of AZ. But not out of reach of the evil empire.

The tariffs and stripping access to health care, if implemented as threatened will decimate the finances of millions. Jobs and production are not coming back. It would take decades. China can do fine providing goods, and medicine, to the rest of the world. They don't need us, but WE need them. And we made China what it is by letting our industry leave in the first place - and that is on both parties.

If anything AI, robotics and cheap H1B foreigners will be used by the corporate kleptocracy over American workers. It already is. The Supreme Court criminalized being homeless or sleeping in public. So when your job goes away and you lose your home, you go to the detention camps, they have already spoken of.

I think we are entering the most uncertain and dangerous time in 75 years, and the likelihood of history repeating itself is high. I'd say now is a good time to be prepared for anything.

My signature line is always on standby. I fear I may need to implement it in the coming months/years. And remember walls built to keep people out, can also keep people IN.

 

[Mountain trapper]

Trump hasn't even been sworn in yet and many people are already predicting doom and gloom. I see nothing but good times ahead for all of us. What the heck can be wrong with putting America first for once?

 

[Neb]

I have high hopes but low expectations.

It would be nice if the swamp gets drained and the budget brought under control. Trump will have to use veto threats to get the big stuff passed. But overriding his veto could stop Trump's plans.

Trump is just a man.

So I will not be selling off my preps.

Ben

 

[rice paddy daddy]

One thing about quality American made boots is, they can be rebuilt and resoled.

Where?
The corner shoe shop doesn’t exist anymore.

 

[Amish Heart]

Our Polaris Ranger is a 2018, it's been great. We maintain it regularly. Maybe you've got a lemon, Sonya. Bummer.
I knew alot of so called preppers that stopped prepping when Trump won the first time, and that was a dumb mistake.
I am constantly prepping, learning new things, adding more food. Just because Trump won doesn't make any difference to me, I don't know what the heck our govt is going to do next that'll affect me, there's no telling. Right now we're increasing our solar capabilities. I'm calling it "solar for old people". Why? I have to be able to manage it physically while husband researches it and tells me what to do. Gone are the days where I'm lugging around heavy old lead car batteries.

 

[sonya123]

Our Polaris Ranger is a 2018, it's been great. We maintain it regularly. Maybe you've got a lemon, Sonya. Bummer.

yes, we got a lemon. Do maintenance every year at the Polaris dealer, change oil regularly, hardly ever drive it off road in bad conditions. It has had a broken gear shifter ( it just broke off, had to replace half the frame ) , and a broken engine ( piece broke off , cam something, forgot exactly what it is called) . The dealer is rude and seems fairly incompetent but we have no choice , no other one withing reasonable driving distance
This is one of those things that are " bad luck" I suppose. It happens to some people way more often than others. But it might have just been because it was during covid. But we also bought a lemon tiller from Rural king that couldn't be put together ( made in China this one) but thankfully they took it back , but it was a huge hassle.

but a lot have been recalled too:
https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2024/P...es-Due-to-Fire-and-Crash-Hazards-Recall-Alert

 

[Hardcalibres]

Polaris products have a long term, bad reputation around our area.

Apart from breaking, they also are reported to be hard to work on. Once they are out of warranty period, it is hard to find a mechanic who will repair them. The work often takes longer than it should and it is hard to charge all the hours.

People seem to get a better run out of the Japanese quads (Kawasaki, Yamaha and Suzuki) and Kawasaki, Kubota and John Deere ATV/UTVs.

I assess that those that have had a good run with Polaris are probably still in the lower hour counts......or perhaps just got lucky.

But getting back to the subject of the thread, the Chinese brands are just starting to turn up.......they are very cheap.........but most people are scared of how short their service life might be.

 

[Spikedriver]

Where?
The corner shoe shop doesn’t exist anymore.

White's boots will completely resole and recondition their boots. That's part of the reason why they cost $600-700 new. You send them in and pay the cost, and you'll get them sent back totally rebuilt a few weeks later. They are super high quality but very heavy to wear and walk in. @Hooch don't you wear White's boots?

 

[elkhound]

just checked west coast....read this 19 months...they cant get help

 

[Mountain trapper]

Where?
The corner shoe shop doesn’t exist anymore.

It does here. I may have to drive 150 miles or so, but I do anyway to go shopping.

 

[sonya123]

Polaris products have a long term, bad reputation around our area.

Apart from breaking, they also are reported to be hard to work on. Once they are out of warranty period, it is hard to find a mechanic who will repair them. The work often takes longer than it should and it is hard to charge all the hours.

People seem to get a better run out of the Japanese quads (Kawasaki, Yamaha and Suzuki) and Kawasaki, Kubota and John Deere ATV/UTVs.

Yes!! you can't even get the spark plug out, and the cap where you check the oil broke first time husband checked it!!

We have a gazzillion year old ( 80s ) Honda ATV and it still runs , bought it used for $1000 and have not had it fixed

 

[joel]

I voted for him because I think he will do good things.
But in truth, if he is a total failure, he will be better than Harris.

I never thought of it before, but prepping for twenty years, then a fire turns everything to ashes, is something no one can prepare for.
A Spring house or root cellar may be protected, but that not much.

 

[Mountain trapper]

just checked west coast....read this 19 months...they cant get help


View attachment 171457

That's for custom orders. I've never had custom made boots before. I've always been able to find the ones I want off the shelf. Even my custom made draft horse harnesses didn't take that long.

 

[Sourdough]

There is what I want to believe.
There is already compelling evidence that is likely/probably deeply flawed.
I try (hard) to hold "BOTH".
I know soon "one" will evolve too be clearly dominant.
I have no attachment to either, I concentrate on being honest to me.

I am always ready to run or fight, (however both are a bitch at 78 o/y).

Foot Note: Trump is now much smarter than last dance. The "swamp" will terminate him if their survival is perceived. I am rooting for Team Trump. But I doubt anyone can go hard against Team Swamp.

America now exists to serve the swamps desires.
Not the American people.

 

[Hooch]

White's boots will completely resole and recondition their boots. That's part of the reason why they cost $600-700 new. You send them in and pay the cost, and you'll get them sent back totally rebuilt a few weeks later. They are super high quality but very heavy to wear and walk in. @Hooch don't you wear White's boots?

I had a pair of whites..they were a work snow or cold weather logger heal type boots..warm excellent fit and tread ..lasted a long time too.
But yes..only downside was how freaking heavy they were..omg..lol..

 

[Hooch]

I had Wesco logger heals too for when I did trails n wildland fires..awesome boots ONCE they are broke in. I slept in them many times too.
My heavy duty boot wearing days are over..my feet are trashed n tired..

 

[Sourdough]

Does anyone have any "Closet" fears or troubling "Reservations" reference Team Trump.

Or back to the boot discussion.

 

[Spikedriver]

Does anyone have any "Closet" fears or troubling "Reservations" reference Team Trump.

Or back to the boot discussion.

Mostly I'm just worried that Trump will say or do some dumb things that will really get him in trouble for real. The chaos would follow would be terrible for the country.

 

[Alaskajohn]

Um....nope! Not always Bought a US made Polaris Ranger and it is THE biggest piece of junk ever !!!! ( see recalls if you don't believe me, but ours had other issues) . I wished we had bought something Japanese !! Don't even get me started...
All our other vehicles are made in the US , and relatively happy with them, but I am not spending $700 on shoes

There are no vehicles made in other countries that do what ours do for one. Only US makes something like a Suburban ( we have a Yukon XL same size) , or a 2500 large Dodge Ram with 8 ft bed. There are things made only in US
I think they should do whatever they can to support vehicle manufacturing here ( since they still have the facilities)

I am sorry you have had problems with your Polaris. I have 4, a 2015 Sportsman and RZR, a 2023 Ranger and a 2024 RZR. All are used heavily and zero issues. Trade that lemon in!

 

[Cabin Fever]

We have two Polaris snowmobiles. They are great snow machines. The sleds are just over 30 years old. (daughter and SIL)

 

[UserNameTaken]

Does anyone have any "Closet" fears or troubling "Reservations" reference Team Trump.

Or back to the boot discussion.

I think the American people by a slim margin have made their choice, to the sound of thunderous applause. I guess we are all going to get what they asked for. Neither party represents me. I believe in liberty, justice, and equal rights for ALL. I am dissapointed with the direction the nation has chosen and I think we will all regret it. We are prepared as much as anyone can be heading into unknown territory.

But let's talk about important stuff, like boots.

 

[angie_nrs]

I'm cautiously optimistic (as Morgan said). I have high hopes but low expectations.

Harris was a mess! She wanted to tax 'unrealized gains'. That alone would have bankrupted many Americans, even the wealthy ones. It was completely absurd. Most people didn't even know about that and/or didn't realize what that meant. When I explained it to my mom, she didn't believe me.

I'm thinking something bad might happen between now and maybe mid-February. After that if nothing big and bad happens, I'll feel a little better. I'm not completely comfortable with the way the future might shake out, but it's gotta be better than what the alternative was. If Trump sets things back on the right path then there's probably going to be some financial pain, but at least there will be a good reason for it. That's better than the last 4 years when there was financial pain due to utter ignorance and incompetence with no relief in sight. I'm willing to take some pain to get back to real America for my kids' sake. As such, perhaps some new technologies (like a cancer cure) will make the process a whole lot easier to bear.

I like many of the people Trump has picked to oversee certain areas such as Patel, RFK Jr., Hegseth, etc. There are also some that I'm not so crazy about (including Elon) but are still better than what is there now or what would have been there with Harris. If Patel guts the FBI and shines a light on their shenannigans, that'd be great. If RFK Jr. sihines a light on Fakki, Gates, and Big Pharma, that'd be great. If Hegseth gets a good handle on gutting out the DEI rot in the MIL, then that'd be great. If Trump shines a light on all the money laundering that went on with Ukraine and other entities that the American people have been bankrolling for generations, then that'd be great. Maybe if all that money was not laundered and perhaps used to fund things for the citizens like SS, MC, and infrastructure then Americans wouldn't need to pay such high taxes.....yeah, that'd be great. IF DJT gets rid of the IRS like he said he wanted to, that'd be great too!

I don't necessarily think and expect all of those things to happen, but at least those people are talking about it and promising to do something about it. That already is far more than what was promised by the Dems. So, even if this admin does absolutely NOTHING, it's better than the alternative. Still, I think some of those things are going to get done and I do have high hopes but am prepared to be disappointed.

I see an opportunity to make things much better than they were, but DJT is only a man. He is not infallible, but he sure is better than what we have now or what we could have had. I will give Trump the benefit of the doubt but I will still maintain my own lifestyle the way I always have which means being prepared for an uncertain future. The will of Jesus will be done.....no matter what.

 

[morgaineotm]

Personally am afraid that we have slipped too far in the last 4 years, domestically and internationally, to expect an kind of change for the "better". Actually we just had that conversation as my husband has confidence while I feel a need to double down on my prepping