Smitty folks are there. Saw them this past Sun at KOH 2024.

 

Their website is still up, they are still listed on many aftermarket vendors (but no bumpers for JK on Quadratec). I have only had one of their products, a replacement soft top fabric on my TJ when I bought it. I was not pleased with how it did not hold up. They do have a nickname in the industry, simply replace the M in their name with an H.

Remember you may not always get the quality you pay for, but you always pay for the quality you get.

 

Smitty merged with 4 wheel parts (4wp.com)

 

Here’s a lot more info....

https://www.motortrend.com/news/wheel-pros-acquires-transamerican-auto-parts/

 

Here’s a lot more info....

https://www.motortrend.com/news/wheel-pros-acquires-transamerican-auto-parts/

This is one large conglomerate! Is there anyone 'not' owned by them? I dare say this will have an impact eventually on product quality across the board. It is inevitable when a small nitch company is purchased by a large entity, the product line suffers as the focus shifts to a 'number on a spreadsheet' instead of the product quality.

As I read through the list of companies under this umbrella, I remember when some started and the produced decent products and had decent reps, until they were acquired.

 

Yes Smittybilt is often associated with many bad names, one of them Chittybilt, i won't sugar coat it. I've/had a few parts from them despite their reputation, mostly cause their price is attractive to me and the durability of said items have been good in my application, so i can trust what i've used and abused from them.

I had the Smitty MOD front bumper in my first Jeep, ran it for 3 years and change, beat the crap out of that bumper on the trail and it never failed on me, the paint didn't flake and it didn't rust. i paid $200 back in 2015 if i remember for the thing brand new (on sale). Because of that experience it was repeat in 2021 when i bought my 2nd JKU. Almost 3 years later and i haven't have a single damn issue with it. no flakes no rust, nothing, install was a stupid breeze, and i put the winch AFTER i mounted the bumper, which i also knew was going to work based on my 1st experience with it. The scratches i have put in the bumper when i hit rocks with it will rust if i don't cover them with paint, what steel bumper wouldn't ? i paid $399 in 2021. How can i hate on this? Lol. Granted I would never tell anybody this bumper is better than something like a LOD or ARB or JCR, no way, but i'd only say it works for me and didn't break the bank and i haven't experienced any issues. I would never get any of the Smitty rock sliders though, i wouldn't get their bumper carriers, i do have Winches from them, always had and they have never failed me, currently a 9500K in the Jeep and a 12k comp in my truck. I also have a shovel from them , i also had their basic tire carrier twice now, almost 3 years in my first JK, and 1 year in my 2nd one, both times with 35's, no issues with anything, zero vibrations, now i have their hinge tire carrier one, 2 years with a 35 and not a single issue with it. Again, i'm not saying Smitty will be better than any of the stuff we get Made in USA but for the price, the few items i have from them, and i do use them in full, have performed without a single issue, fully functional and zero regrets here. If i had any issues with any of these items i'll be the first to vocalize them, I don't tend to sugar coat things.

 

I have Smittybilt winch and hinge tire carrier. Both have been perfect in the couple years on my jeep! Hard to beat the price and if they continue to hold up it was a bargin compared to some other very expensive brands.

 

From my experience, Smittybilt plate steel is good to go.
From my observation, Smittybilt tube bumpers are not good.

 

The Smittybilt warranty is a joke. We have had problems with a few Bumpers and Tire Carriers rusting out in a year. Then Smittybilt cant help out , because they dont have the inventory. Try big brands like anything from Real Truck, Nfab steps come with the 5 year warranty. For the price is not object , bumpers from Aev. Stay away from Westin steps, they rust out, but their Bumpers seem to hold up. Then there is the trusty Rough Country , most steps and bumpers have the 3 year warranty , and their power steps come with a 5 year. Just my 2 cents , here running a Jeep Accessories Shop

 

In my case they sent out the part right away, but screwed up the paperwork with the CBSA, which meant that I had to pay a ridiculous amount in duties because they did not denote that this was a warranty item (exempt from duties). I've emailed and called multiple times - they refuse to help and will not escalate the matter to someone who is able to decide how to handle it.

Junk products and even worse after-sales service.

 

The company that owns them is bankrupt. 4wheel parts is going out if business too, all owned by same company. Spyder jeep accesories too. Call 4wp and ask...

 

This is what I found

 

4 Wheel Parts - Sold by Wheel Pros / Hoonigan | S3 Magazine

 

I just got a free replacement part from them as I had a small complaint about the one that wore out on my JK. They are most definitely there and just as responsive as ever.

As for their reputation, and I have their stuff all over my rig, I can say the XRC stuff that bolts on is great but I tend to go with other brands for moving parts.

 

I don't see 4wp going anywhere. Wheel pros was the owner, but they've filed for Chapter 11 back in Sep 24, and they seem to have sold 4wp back to ORW, and also sold Poison Spyder to ARB.

 

I'm quite happy with my Smittybilt bumpers. They had the features I wanted on both and the prices were fantastic (both were on a sale at the seller's site). They both have the typical Chinese krinkle paint flaking and rusting. I have the same thing on the treads of my 4 post Chinese lift. Hey, if you expect it, it's not a big deal. I pull out the Harbor freight sand blasting fun and clean up the area and spray it with flat black and it's done. I don't tend to spend big money on anything to offroad.