I am very new to this forum and quite frankly Jeep Wranglers in general. My wife just recently purchased her first Wranger (JKU Sport) and of course has a laundry list of things she would like done with it. My question is if there is a general concensious on what brands to look at and which ones to avoid. I know this is a pretty vague question but we have been looking at things ranging from side rails, front bumpers, rear bumpers, and wenches. Smitty has been one I have seen a lot for but also saw reference to it being referred to as "shitty".
I couldn't find any specific threads that addressed this (maybe I did not look hard enoug) but was curious on which brands to consider and whether the price difference is worth it verses the quality.
I guess it really just comes down to looking a little closer at each individual's category and reading reviews. I just wasn't sure if there were any big "don't buys" or "must buys".
As a newbie JK owner...and a habitiual "blinger" in that I shop non-stop for how to accessorize my ride...I have ordered a ton of stuff for my Jeep and have yet to find any part that is defective or of poor quality. Instead of Grabars, I ordered the import (Wild Boar I think)...and they fit perfectly (compared to the horror stories about Grabars install issues). Just do your research and read online reviews...if a part is crap, there will be reviews from others saying it is crap. I always try to buy American, but if there is a big difference in price, and the reviews are positive, I will go with the import. After all...I work hard for my dollars, have a kid in college, a wife out of work, and a dog that likes his treats. Please no one flame me....
Again, online reviews will be your best friend when ordering parts, just use common sense when reading and realize that more is not better when it comes to negative reviews.
Again, online reviews will be your best friend when ordering parts, just use common sense when reading and realize that more is not better when it comes to negative reviews.
This is one of the things I don't care for on Quadratec's site, no customer reviews, which I always check out.
On the flip side of that coin, I try to remember anyone can create an account and offer great reviews , so I try to look for sites that identify certified buyers.
Bestop has a long tradition making replacement tops, upholstery and other parts for Jeeps. Quadratec and 4 Wheel Parts sell good quality products under their own private brands, including ProComp, Rubicon Express, Smittybilt, Quadratec, etc.
Warn is a legendary maker of winches, hubs and other off-road accessories; ARB is an Australian maker of high-end parts and accessories, including air lockers. And Eaton now owns Detroit Locker, a well reputed maker of auto lockers and TrueTrac limited slip differentials.
And there's a gazillion other fabricators like Teraflex, Currie and others making a living selling parts and accessories to Jeepers.
I browse these forums every morning - whilst drinking coffee. It can be an ADHD trip, b/c general consensus on items vary per person.
When acquiring a new Jeep - it's easy to have a laundry list of items. Some folks look at "the big picture" and start making significant modifications early on. Others, like myself, ease into the process, with little weekend projects/splurges here and there.
I think I can speak for most people here - whenever you upgrade your jeep, 3-6 months later, something newer/bigger/better/cheaper comes out. Like those major-brand LED headlights, or bumpers, or shocks that have significant rebates in the spring time, etc etc.
As for brands - there's a lot of brand loyalty on this forum. I sometimes see folks pair "paying a lot for something" with "it's the best" - not always true. Do your research, consider the source - and yes, you do get what you pay for.
And please.. don't even waste your time with that rugged ridge A-pillar switch pod. As I'm lowered into my grave, I will still be shaking my fist at that horrible, horrible product.
Here's my $.02
And please.. don't even waste your time with that rugged ridge A-pillar switch pod. As I'm lowered into my grave, I will still be shaking my fist at that horrible, horrible product.
I'll second your comment about the A-pillar pod. I do not have one of the RR A-pillar pods, but a friend of mine does in his Rubicon and it is one of the biggest POS parts I have seen on a Jeep. Fitment is awful, quality even worse.
you are looking for wenches? I'm sure there are few guys in here that will give you their wench, free!! Look at the vendors that are here, they are all good guys, yea some are better then others.
Again, thanks so much for the great feedback. This was exactly what I was looking for, plus some great advice with how to proceed with her new Wrangler. I can see how easy it would be to fall into the trap of dropping a lot of money up front to do the things you want to do. It's not even my Wrangler and I definitely see the appeal!
06040 & GKJK - Here's another question based from ignorance. What do Wrangler drivers usually use pillar pods to measure? We had not considering adding those yet but based on what they are typically used for that will help in determining if we even need one eventually.
Pillar Pods to measure what? Are you asking how to control accessories? If so, there are switch panels for the pillar and various other spots as well as more complete solutions like the SPod that has a under-hood relay bank terminals and you just bring into the cabin a simple switch panel. For me, I only have plans for one more light set in addition to the rear-facing ones I currently have so I am just mounting switches to the dash. It can be a bit concerning to take a drill to the dash for the first time but it seems worth it as I don't have any big plans for mine.
As for armor, most of the less expensive stuff comes from China and quality can be hit or miss. For any of the bumpers, sliders and so on I'd pay the extra for American-made in most cases. AEV products are made well and the fit is generally exceptional and that's why several of the special edition Wranglers have used AEV bumpers. I've done JCR for both of my bumpers. They're local to me and the quality is top-notch. I also closely considered Rock Hard. I have nothing bad to say about them, JCR being an hour away made things easier for me. And finally ARB is another brand I like even if they're not made in the US.
Best and worse depends on who owns it. Being new I was not sure what to buy, what to run from, but I did some searches on here and found a wealth of information. Some accessories have better quality than others, but quality also varies from the various brands parts, part A may be the best thing since sliced bread, but part B they sell is like flushing your money down the drain. Ask questions when you have a brand narrowed down, ask folks who drive Jeeps that happened to be at the same place as you are. Most are more than happy to tell you what they like/dislike about something they did to theirs.
I think a pretty reliable best/worst evaluation tool is where the item is made. If an item is made in USA it is more likely to be in the best group and if it is made in China is is more likely to be in the worst group.
Oh okay, pillar gauge pods. No, those aren't too common on Wranglers because as long as you get one with the Connectivity Package you can display just about all secondary information on the digital display below the gauges. What I was referring to were replacement trim panels that allow for the installation of switches to control lights and other accessories.
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