Richman
JC’s Resident Curmudgeon
Had my LW (actually called "Purty Neat" back then) for 15 years.
That's right, 15 years. Still rollin'.
THAT said, they don't make them like the used to. All of the replacement parts I've gotten for it in the past 10 years or so have been noticeably flimsier/thinner/less robust, soooo I don't know if you'd get the same out of a current version.
Mine has gone through 3 sets of wheels (easy), two handles (easy), numerous zipper pulls (easy), and two rear skid plates (harder). Been back to LW once, about 7 years ago, for frame straightening and zippers (~$90 + $20 shipping). It's getting ready to go back again because my local repair place will no longer do big zippers.
The replacement kick plate, especially, was a weak spot. The original lasted about 12 years of getting dragged over curbs and was THICK aluminum. Probably 1/8" thick. When I got the replacement part, which was MUCH thinner... I was like "this isn't going to last a year", and I was wrong....I got 10 months out of it.
I got yet another replacement, and decided to do a field mod that the lady at the Stop-over store in DTW recommended. I went to the hardware store and got a length of 1/8 aluminum L channel, and bolted it on the new kick panel before I put it on (with bolts, not rivets). So far, it's worked great.
So, a tentative thumbs up for the metal LW. IMHO, they aren't what they were, but they're still better than the rest.
Richman
That's right, 15 years. Still rollin'.
THAT said, they don't make them like the used to. All of the replacement parts I've gotten for it in the past 10 years or so have been noticeably flimsier/thinner/less robust, soooo I don't know if you'd get the same out of a current version.
Mine has gone through 3 sets of wheels (easy), two handles (easy), numerous zipper pulls (easy), and two rear skid plates (harder). Been back to LW once, about 7 years ago, for frame straightening and zippers (~$90 + $20 shipping). It's getting ready to go back again because my local repair place will no longer do big zippers.
The replacement kick plate, especially, was a weak spot. The original lasted about 12 years of getting dragged over curbs and was THICK aluminum. Probably 1/8" thick. When I got the replacement part, which was MUCH thinner... I was like "this isn't going to last a year", and I was wrong....I got 10 months out of it.
I got yet another replacement, and decided to do a field mod that the lady at the Stop-over store in DTW recommended. I went to the hardware store and got a length of 1/8 aluminum L channel, and bolted it on the new kick panel before I put it on (with bolts, not rivets). So far, it's worked great.
So, a tentative thumbs up for the metal LW. IMHO, they aren't what they were, but they're still better than the rest.
Richman