Two stories I'm thinking of.
1) a MC that met the locals with flashing lights and honking horns and wowed 'em with hoopla and lots of BS.
2) (maybe the same story?) the MC had a bunch of mechanical parts and was able to create a compound where they had apartment building(s), running water, a sewer and a wind generator on a tall log tower. Had a revolt of the natives and the MC snuck back into the compound through the sewer, rescued the women, killed the antagonists and then moved the entire community south to a more benign climate.
Thanks for helping my memories.