The aftermarket hinges are very substantial and are constructed of steel or stainless vs the pot metal OEM hinges so they should be considered an upgrade.
FWIW, the OEM hinges on TJs are not pot metal. They're 6063 aluminum. I worked for the company that extruded the 2 rough profiles. We cut the extrusion to length and shipped to our customer, who heated the pieces and stamped them to the final net shape.
Functionally and structurally, the exogate is fantastic. The paint on mine started flaking/chipping off after a year and I have repainted them. Strong as hell though.
My only complaint with the Exogate is you will need additional spacers to snub the tire. They sell them or you can apparently use something called hockey pucks. Everyone talks about hockey pucks like they hang on trees. I have never seen one nor do I even know what hockey is, kinda like pro wrestling but on ice?
That is my only complaint, I love mine, I just think for the price it ought to come with some hockey pucks or whatever the hell they intended you to use as snubbers.
In any case, I love mine, would not trade it for a tire swing rattle trap.
That is what y'all keep saying. So, I asked them, they do not know what a hockey puck is either but offered me a supporter cup. Is that the same thing?
Some people hate swing outs. Yet they want to retain an OEM look. The Exogate is the only game in town. Look at this way, you are paying a real living economy price, not a made in Red China slave factory.
When we got married in 1980 we paid $300 for a vacuum cleaner at Sears. it lasted years, was made of metal, made in USA. It worked great and lasted forever and when it broke we sent it in and it was fixed good as new. Then it finally went TU. Since that time we have purchased a truck load of Chinese made vacs from Walmart, Target etc. that have added up to a huge amount, and no, there is no USA replacement for which I would gladly pay a proper price.
Point is, in the case of the Exogate you get a unique product, made in USA.
Maybe just consider purchasing new hinges or a used set of OEM hinges?
But if you are looking for hinges to support an oversized spare then like everyone else said, go with an Exogate.
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