I have not heard anyone else have problems with a Benbo. Yes mine was faulty, but whether or not it was typical or a rogue sample, I can't say. I used to carry mine over my shoulder on 10 mile hikes and on trains and it should have survived. The Uniloc I have does seem better made than the Benbo Trekker.
Although I really like the Uniloc, it is rather heavy if carried over several miles with a full camera kit (body, couple of lenses, note book, films, right angle viewer, light meter blah blah).