Let me tell you, this ground stand is a BEAST. When I first unboxed it, I was impressed by how solid the steel frame felt - no flimsy materials here. It easily handled my 18,000 BTU Mitsubishi unit without even flexing.

The UV coating seems durable after 6 months outdoors in Florida sun and rain. My favorite part? Being able to position it anywhere instead of being stuck with wall mounting limitations. That flexibility saved me during installation.

Now for the not-so-great parts... The included instructions might as well not exist. I spent a good hour trial-and-erroring the assembly (pro tip: take photos of all parts before starting). The anti-vibration pads are basically useless - I replaced them with rubber mats from Home Depot immediately.

One user mentioned replacing hardware with stainless steel - honestly not necessary unless you're in coastal areas. The zinc-plated bolts held up fine for me, though I did hit the welded joints with clear coat like another reviewer suggested.

Installation tip: Have a level handy! The stand doesn't compensate for uneven ground at all. I ended up using some composite shims under one leg to get it perfectly flat.

Final verdict? For the price, it's fantastic protection from floods/snow/debris if you're willing to put in some minor DIY work. Just budget extra for better vibration pads and maybe some weatherproofing spray if you're particular like me.