[SJ.]

I order a Smitty rear bumper. It looks nice and installed fairly decently, but seeing that box show up with MADE IN CHINA stamped all over it left a very bad taste in my mouth. That will be my last Smitty purchase until they start manufacturing back in the US. I had my eye on their rockers unit that, now I will be buying from a Made in the USA manufacturer only. This whole thread highlights their lack of oversight on their tolerances, and the fact that supporting our homegrown companies is where it's at.

 

[sprtplt11]

The Made In China thing has gotten ridiculous. Quality control simply does not exist in China, apparently.

 

[COwrangler4dr]

I have the same pair on my 2012 WSU. I was very disappointed to find out that SmittyBilt was made in China. I was going to wrap the jeep in SB until I found that out. The rock sliders went on easy for me. I strapped them to a motorcycle lift (big help) and ended up only needing to offset one hole on the drivers side bar. I do agree to start with the back first and do not tighten anything down until you have all four bolts in place. I do like the step and the way they look on the jeep.

 

[BFGJKU]

I installed mine yesterday. driver side went on fine, passenger side had to have the back bolt hole filed slightly. They look great. Took off the yellow stickers as soon as I was done. I used a piece of fishing line to take them off, then I have a can of bumper sticker remover that took off the remaining sticky foam easily.

 

[Rirydune]

Hey guys, got a quick question for anyone who installed the Smitty's themselves. Went to install mine today and ran into a problem (of course). Our bolt holes are aligned correctly (front and back) but the "U" shaped cuts aren't large enough to push the housing up enough to get the bolts through and threaded. As in, the two holes match up with where they should be with the bolts, but the "u" shaped cut doesn't.

Am I just being stupid and not placing it correctly? Should I dremel out the bolt holes symmetrically or just shave off a bit of that "u" shaped cut? Thanks for any advice you guys can give and sorry for being a newb!

 

[NFRs2000NYC]

Hey guys, got a quick question for anyone who installed the Smitty's themselves. Went to install mine today and ran into a problem (of course). Our bolt holes are aligned correctly (front and back) but the "U" shaped cuts aren't large enough to push the housing up enough to get the bolts through and threaded. As in, the two holes match up with where they should be with the bolts, but the "u" shaped cut doesn't.

Am I just being stupid and not placing it correctly? Should I dremel out the bolt holes symmetrically or just shave off a bit of that "u" shaped cut? Thanks for any advice you guys can give and sorry for being a newb!

95% you are doing something wrong, 5% Smittybilt has a new f*** up.

 

[scottbabu]

I installed the SRC rails this past Saturday with no problems. I remember sliding the rails on at an angle to get the "U" cut opening over the large washer. Then I pushed it up and it slid right over the two bolts. Loosely tighten the back end and then repeat on the front end. Go back and tighten everything up.

 

[Rirydune]

I can get it over the large washer no problem, it's whatever is above that that's blocking me. Thanks for the help guys, I'll be trying again tomorrow. Happy 4th

 

[Creepin__Jeeper]

I'm thinking about buying these side steps, they will be my first "mod" since getting the jeep a week ago. I'm on the fence about spending this much coin on steps that I know I'm gonna have to grind / dremel on just to get them mounted but they are just the best looking ones out there that will provide side protection as well as a step pad for my wife to climb up,

I have every tool under the sun and if its not in my tool box I can get it from work so I'm not worried about actually doing the work to get them on, I just want to know as did another poster here about how these are holding up over time.

I probably will not put these things the ringer as some Jeepers will, Yes I'll hit some trails but I wont be rock climbing or getting into anything to rough where I'll be laying these on rocks... well atleast until my jeep is a few years old...

Again for anyone who has had these how are they holding up? Other then these being a PITA to install are these pretty decent?

Thanks Drew.

 

[Rirydune]

Just wanted to say thanks again for the advice in this entire thread. I definitely had to grind some of the "U" cut a little bit, there was no way around it. Fortunately I only had to do it on one side and only one of the bolt holes as well. Overall it took maybe two hours, a 6 foot big brother, and a bunch of cursing. (Not to mention some goo gone for those horrible yellow stickers.)

 

[pluke the 2]

Their nickname "Shittybuilt" is appropriate.

 

[rundm]

I am looking at these also. When I called and talked to one of the customer service guys about whether or not they had fixed the problem, he told me that all the jeeps were different and that you just have to modify them to fit. I just wonder why they don't fix the jig that they are using to get the holes lined up right. It does make me think about going with ACE rails.

 

[Boltgun308]

I had one side fit just perfect. The other side did not line up at all. I had to do more grinding and work on this than I should have. Sent smitty bilt a nasty gram telling them to have China check their quality control or have them built in the USA.

 

[bcbud]

Anyone know the correct torque for the bolts?
Thanx!

 

[bcbud]

I called Smittybilt and they advised 40 lbs/ft