Calgary Jeep Association
4x4 Related Groups => General Talk => Topic started by: EVOLUTION on December 23, 2010, 07:46:18 AM
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Just thinking ahead... what sorts of aftermarket products are you guys interested in putting on your Jeeps? :)
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Still waiting for a bolt on anti-gravity device.......
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Wheels
Tires
Bumpers
Armour
Winches
Lights (both aftermarket extras and OEM upgrades)
Tops (Hard and Soft)
Recovery gear (Jacks, Tree Savers, Straps, D Rings, Compressors)
Lift Kits/parts
Hard Parts
Decals (ok maybe that's just me)
Radio's and accessories
Performance parts (exhaust, air-filters, chips)
Snorkels
And Definitely the anti-gravity device :)
and on and on.
But it would seem to me that once I have most stuff then the need/want would be less .................... ahhh who am I kidding then I will just try new stuff.
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Clay you should design a weld in trail cage that mounts to the b piller. Like poly's or poison spyder's trail cage. An evo take on it would be awesome.
That and tube clamp high lift mounts.
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I've got a very simple thing....a leaf spring bolt that will NEVER seize up in the bushing!
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Body armor, bumpers, full cage, tires, wheels, lighting, recovery gear.
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Clay you should design a weld in trail cage that mounts to the b piller. Like poly's or poison spyder's trail cage. An evo take on it would be awesome.
That and tube clamp high lift mounts.
He's designed lots of weld-on cages that mount to the bpillar... at one time we had about 5 in stock & couldn't even give them away so he stopped making them... but we should still have the numbers, I'll take a look. The one at Poly looks like you would cut the existing Bpillar & then the new piece would fit into it & bolt on, while you weld the other front pieces to the side bars. is that correct?
The high lift mounts are pretty cool... maybe I could get Clay to see if he can machine/mill something like it.
Currently he is designing a pretty spiffy joint that will make cross over steering for the jeep a snap. When we get it in the Comanche & have some time to test it out I will post it up. He also designed some upper & lower control arms for the Comanche that are pretty cool & will allow for a 6" lift or so...
I'll let him know about the anti-gravity device... he is always up for a new challenge ;)
Thanks, keep 'em comin'.
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I've got a very simple thing....a leaf spring bolt that will NEVER seize up in the bushing!
We're already workin on it ;)
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Well, since you asked and you're a machine/fab shop...
If a machining place came up with a bracket that allowed us ZJ guys to upgrade their front brakes without swapping to WJ knuckles and steering, it would sell like hotcakes. ZJ brakes are pathetic single-piston things, and yet our only upgrade options are 1) WJ knuckle swap, requires some spacer welding, all new steering components from JKS, etc. Tough to do correctly for less than $700 or so, and you lose ABS so it's not great for DDs. 2) is the Vanco brake upgrade, which is a modified knuckle with a Vanco bracket that lets you mount WJ (big) or Cobra (smaller) calipers. Vanco absolutely will not sell the brackets separately, you can only buy them as part of the $1000 upgrade kit with knuckles, calipers, rotors, pads, etc. The knuckle modification is basically grinding off the caliper tabs and drill/tapping two extra holes in the knuckle for the bracket - not exactly rocket science.
Vanco kit:
(http://www.vancopbs.com/v/vspfiles/photos/DKJ1000-2.jpg)
In Australia there's a kit that uses a similar process to mount Corvette calipers. Probably overkill, WJ ones are more common and work just fine. That kit uses a different bracket again, but only requires the caliper tabs to be removed from the knuckle with no extra drilling/tapping as it uses all 3 hub bolts rather than the Vanco's 2+2.
This page has some good info on it, you can see the brackets in the picture of the kit and in the install photos.
http://go.jeep-xj.info/HowtoFordBAdiscs1.htm
So, yeah. If somebody made a bracket that allowed me to mount WJ calipers on my ZJ knuckle after grinding off the existing caliper mounts, even if I had to drill/tap a couple extra holes in the knuckle, I would buy it tomorrow. Design the caliper spacing for a rotor with matching bolt pattern (say, from a 2003ish Explorer Sport Trac) and it would be a brilliant brake upgrade for the notoriously budget-conscious ZJ community and likely sell like crazy.
That may not be the kind of answer you were looking for, but damnit that's the answer you're getting, haha.
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Aren't we missing the obvious here? JEep guys are into beer. And Bacon!
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Well, since you asked and you're a machine/fab shop...
If a machining place came up with a bracket that allowed us ZJ guys to upgrade their front brakes without swapping to WJ knuckles and steering, it would sell like hotcakes. ZJ brakes are pathetic single-piston things, and yet our only upgrade options are 1) WJ knuckle swap, requires some spacer welding, all new steering components from JKS, etc. Tough to do correctly for less than $700 or so, and you lose ABS so it's not great for DDs. 2) is the Vanco brake upgrade, which is a modified knuckle with a Vanco bracket that lets you mount WJ (big) or Cobra (smaller) calipers. Vanco absolutely will not sell the brackets separately, you can only buy them as part of the $1000 upgrade kit with knuckles, calipers, rotors, pads, etc. The knuckle modification is basically grinding off the caliper tabs and drill/tapping two extra holes in the knuckle for the bracket - not exactly rocket science.
Vanco kit:
(http://www.vancopbs.com/v/vspfiles/photos/DKJ1000-2.jpg)
In Australia there's a kit that uses a similar process to mount Corvette calipers. Probably overkill, WJ ones are more common and work just fine. That kit uses a different bracket again, but only requires the caliper tabs to be removed from the knuckle with no extra drilling/tapping as it uses all 3 hub bolts rather than the Vanco's 2+2.
This page has some good info on it, you can see the brackets in the picture of the kit and in the install photos.
http://go.jeep-xj.info/HowtoFordBAdiscs1.htm
So, yeah. If somebody made a bracket that allowed me to mount WJ calipers on my ZJ knuckle after grinding off the existing caliper mounts, even if I had to drill/tap a couple extra holes in the knuckle, I would buy it tomorrow. Design the caliper spacing for a rotor with matching bolt pattern (say, from a 2003ish Explorer Sport Trac) and it would be a brilliant brake upgrade for the notoriously budget-conscious ZJ community and likely sell like crazy.
That may not be the kind of answer you were looking for, but damnit that's the answer you're getting, haha.
This is actually great... new products that make our lives easier are what we're all about. I'll forward this to Clay and see what he thinks. Thanks for the input!!
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Glad I could help, I really hope you make that work. As a side note, since all the knuckle designs for D30s are identical, any bracket you make should work perfectly on ZJs, XJs, and TJs. I just speak from a ZJ perspective because I know how badly the stock brakes suck at stopping the heavier Jeeps.
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Any link to pics of the old trail cage? I had no idea evo did that. Advertising works people!
I'd be interested in a cage for sure. (Through dash to floor/frame mount)
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Any link to pics of the old trail cage? I had no idea evo did that. Advertising works people!
I'd be interested in a cage for sure. (Through dash to floor/frame mount)
We've done 100's of cages from simple DIY weld-on tubes to full on tube chassis. All the work here is 100%custom to the owners vehicle so usually we need your vehicle here in order to build something (however there is about a 6month+ waiting list right now due to 4-5 full builds we are working on). I'll see if I can come up with some pics of the trail cages we did before... we're rebuilding our forums so we've been going through a lot of old photos. You can check our forums for photos too... or the facebook page... we will be posting a lot more as we rebuild the threads.
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Cant wait for the bushwacker sale!! Any ideas when that will be? I will start counting my pennies....
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Ballpark price to build something like this out of .085 - .095 1-1/2 tube?
It's for a Polaris RZR
Obviously I would deliver the machine to your shop.
(http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e229/vinman02/RZRCAGEBUMPERPOPUP.jpg)
(http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e229/vinman02/RZRCAGEBUMPER3RDPICPOPUP.jpg)
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We've done 100's of cages from simple DIY weld-on tubes to full on tube chassis. All the work here is 100%custom to the owners vehicle so usually we need your vehicle here in order to build something (however there is about a 6month+ waiting list right now due to 4-5 full builds we are working on). I'll see if I can come up with some pics of the trail cages we did before... we're rebuilding our forums so we've been going through a lot of old photos. You can check our forums for photos too... or the facebook page... we will be posting a lot more as we rebuild the threads.
Thats why a DIY kit would be ideal. Just cut me tubes to length with the correct tube angles and Ill weld them in. Then you dont need my jeep and I dont have to wait 6 months.
Sounds like it might be easier to just order from psc.
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Cant wait for the bushwacker sale!! Any ideas when that will be? I will start counting my pennies....
Anytime you want it to be! I was waiting for January just because it's Xmas time and I'm not sure what the delivery schedule for our distributer is... but if you would like to put in an order anytime I can take it for you.
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Ballpark price to build something like this out of .085 - .095 1-1/2 tube?
It's for a Polaris RZR
Obviously I would deliver the machine to your shop.
(http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e229/vinman02/RZRCAGEBUMPERPOPUP.jpg)
(http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e229/vinman02/RZRCAGEBUMPER3RDPICPOPUP.jpg)
Usually we use .250 wall DOM... but something like that could be around $500-$800 depending on amount of material used, if you wanted it fully removable or completely welded in, coating etc....
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Sounds like it might be easier to just order from psc.
If you want a bolt in kit, then there's lots of companies for that. If you want a fully custom one of a kind cage, then that's what we normally do. It's all up to what the customer is looking for.
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If you want a bolt in kit, then there's lots of companies for that. If you want a fully custom one of a kind cage, then that's what we normally do. It's all up to what the customer is looking for.
Your the one asking us what we are looking for. LOTS of guys want DIY front cage kits. Hence the reason so many companies make them. Evo has wicked design and styling that why I thought they should be a contender.
The fact is, I wouldn't order something without seeing at minimum a couple pictures and without a price.
You wanted product idea's, I gave you one...just saying.
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Your the one asking us what we are looking for. LOTS of guys want DIY front cage kits. Hence the reason so many companies make them. Evo has wicked design and styling that why I thought they should be a contender.
The fact is, I wouldn't order something without seeing at minimum a couple pictures and without a price.
You wanted product idea's, I gave you one...just saying.
No problem, and I totally agree. DIY stuff is where it's at and getting something that is already bent & coped & ready for you to weld is much easier than waiting in line.
On another note, we can order in OR-Fab cages for the YJ, CJ, TJ and JKs. http://www.orfab.com/applications.php?Application=Jeep&Category=Sport-Cages&Active=Yes
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Stock lower control arm skid/strengthening brackets
D30 dyi truses and or bridges
axle flush mount bracket kit that raises uppers and lowers for geometry correction and clearence (big ticket item)
A good quality belly up
Affordable short bumpers and or winch plates
Steering box brace
Track bar brace
My favorite gussets that you guys always run out of ;)
Laslty we want Erins jeep to be finished so she can come wheel with the club again once in a while.
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hey Aaron just flat fender armour the sides. I have done full pivots on my fenders and all I did was scratch the paint off.
For the next project that I am collecting bits and pieces for nothing out of the box will bolt right up other than a ARB front bumper.
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Usually we use .250 wall DOM... but something like that could be around $500-$800 depending on amount of material used, if you wanted it fully removable or completely welded in, coating etc....
Ok, I'm definitely interested, but it's going on a machine that only ways about 1,ooo lbs so I want to keep it as light as possible and still retain appropriate strength. The consensus on the UTV forums is about .090 wall is plenty strong for these machines.
I'll be in contact in the next month or so.
Vince
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How about something completely different? A package that allows someone to run a Willys body onto a TJ running system. Merge the old school with the new school. Or less intensive, items to allow this type of swap to occur more easily, instead of completely DIY'ing the entire thing.
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I have one for you if you have a plasma table and a brake. building a DIY M101 Trailer. You cut and bend the 4 sides and bottom and it is our responsibility to build the frame, get an axe and have the inspection done.
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Bnine: I am a whizz on the plasma table now so I can cut you those brackets again. I can't remember the dimensions though so you'll have to refresh my memory.
Thanks again for all the suggestions.. there are some pretty cool ideas in here. I am a big Jeep fan... have always been, so I guess I sort of lean more towards Jeeps than anything else. The Comanche steering & control arm setup is almost finished. I cut the last of the brackets today. once it is all welded up, we'll test it & I'll post it up. The heim joint Clay designed for it is awesome.
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Aaahh DubbleJ...once again the peacemaker!! It was getting to be quite a heated debate!!
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I'm with waytec on the m101. That's a great idea!
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I'm with waytec on the m101. That's a great idea!
Wow..............I just finished surfing the web finding out all about M101's.................that is an awesome idea.
Christ just how many ways are there to spend money on this fine obsession :o
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Christ just how many ways are there to spend money on this fine obsession :o
More then you can imagine Mr Fox.
Just try to take your time and reduce the amount of trial and error you go through upgrading the same stuff repeatedly ;)
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Just try to take your time and reduce the amount of trial and error you go through upgrading the same stuff repeatedly ;)
Absolutely agree there.
I have my near term fully planned. Flat fenders, 35's, bumper, winch. After that I plan on spending some time getting to know my rig better and how it performs on the trail and what I want out of it. I only wheeled my 07 Rubicon 1/2 a dozen times and it was stock other than the bumper and winch and performed pretty damn good from my perspective.
Tons to learn and seems there are a few years of experience here at CJA.
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+1 on the M101!
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I have one for you if you have a plasma table and a brake. building a DIY M101 Trailer. You cut and bend the 4 sides and bottom and it is our responsibility to build the frame, get an axe and have the inspection done.
That is a cool idea & I do have a CNC plasma table so this could be something I designed in the computer if I can come up with some measurements. I like the ones that have the pop-up tents on them....
And there are 1000000's of ways to spend money on fabricating. That's why we're poor. :)
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I might have goofed here but I know some guys on here will know more about this then I do.
Canada called it the C101 ? in the US they called it a M116 this is a picture of it. A couple guys on here have them.
(http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn279/waytec/Other/trailer.jpg)
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I might have goofed here but I know some guys on here will know more about this then I do.
Canada called it the C101 ? in the US they called it a M116 this is a picture of it. A couple guys on here have them.
(http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn279/waytec/Other/trailer.jpg)
I don't think you goofed, when I did a search on the m101 it came up with exactly what you showed. Further searching revealed a couple of companies that make a similar type rig but if I recall correctly the pricing was a little insane ($4,000) for base model before any options added in.
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I think a homegrown ZJ bumper and rear bumper would be an awesome option to have since there are so few options.
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diy stuff clay. cruse the internet and look at whats out there. problem is, there is no canadian manufacturer/suplyer. i was fumed i had to buy my d44 hy-steer arm from the states, i couldnt believe you didnt have one clay. even though i have changed my plans for the commando, when i was serious about doing the links, again, there is nothing up here, for brackets, tabs, kits. i will still need all kinds of tabs or brackets on my build clay.
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(http://www.ajeepthing.com/images/offroadtrailer.gif)
I'll take one of these
or these:
(http://www.mopar.com/assets/images/accessories/jeep_camper_trailers.jpg)
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diy stuff clay. cruse the internet and look at whats out there. problem is, there is no canadian manufacturer/suplyer. i was fumed i had to buy my d44 hy-steer arm from the states, i couldnt believe you didnt have one clay. even though i have changed my plans for the commando, when i was serious about doing the links, again, there is nothing up here, for brackets, tabs, kits. i will still need all kinds of tabs or brackets on my build clay.
When did you call about the D44 arm? Clay does make them & has for some time now. He also makes a dana 60 arm. He doesn't usually have them in stock & makes them as he needs them... but sometimes there are some sitting on the shelf. They aren't as whizzy looking as some of the others out there, but they work. As for brackets/tabs etc... I have a CNC plasma and can cut them for you no problem, as long as you have some dimensions for me.
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(http://www.ajeepthing.com/images/offroadtrailer.gif)
I'll take one of these
or these:
(http://www.mopar.com/assets/images/accessories/jeep_camper_trailers.jpg)
Me too! :D
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When did you call about the D44 arm? Clay does make them & has for some time now. He also makes a dana 60 arm. He doesn't usually have them in stock & makes them as he needs them... but sometimes there are some sitting on the shelf. They aren't as whizzy looking as some of the others out there, but they work. As for brackets/tabs etc... I have a CNC plasma and can cut them for you no problem, as long as you have some dimensions for me.
Ya thats what I was told when I needed my D44 arms as well. "makes them as needed" Why not make a bunch and keep them in stock? I called off and on for 2 months when I was building my D44 to see if he'd made any then gave up and ordered some off the net.
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it would have been around '08 when i was looking for that arm. evo didnt have one, and the impresion i got was they wernt making them either.
i am a huge fan and supporter of evo and what clay does, so please take what i say as constructive and purley my opinion.
hoestly, i have no idea what evo's bussineus plan is. i visit the web site all the time and all i see are people looking for thier order. i see projects that are way behind. i then see a post asking what products jeep people are into.
so here is what i do know. evo is small, and kinda starting over at your new place. evo is short staffed, we all get that. clay is a great guy, who makes for an even better face for the company, and is a guy who took a look around and seen a lacking in some quality products for a small segment of a huge sport. so when i see a post such as this one, to me your looking for a way to make some money. find out what people want and make it. well............. what i want is to be able to buy pretty much is the standard builder crap that is allready out there. i dont want to take the time to dezign a basic bracket or tab, give you the dimensions, and then wait to have it built. i am sick of the fact its all done in the us. i found one canadian site, tmr customs, that sells what i am looking for , but all thier stuff is, for the most part, american. i even sent them an email and asked them why they sell a johnny joint, when there is a canadian joint that will blow it away. thier answer is because that is what people are asking for.
i have built enough of my own tabs and brackets to know what a huge time consumer it is. time i could be using for just building. plus it will look way better too.
i know evo is proud of the custom work it can do and has done, as it should be. it something that should be promoted. but if you have a plazma table now, man i really think you should be lookin at producing the mindless crap that is allready out there and have it on a shelf ready to go. something where i can plunk stuff into a cart, give you my credit card number, and be crazy happy when my builder products show up in the mail and i go weld my face off.
just thrown my two cents in erin. and by no means am i being negative towards what evo does or the quality, or your inovation. i feel this is you strong points. its great that you guys can do an amazing custom jeep cage. but not every one can drive in to your shop and plunk down down 2g and leave thier rig there for a month. to be honest, i had no idea evo had a jeep bolt in kit, and i am allway on the site. even now its kinda tough to see what you have and how much. is thier plans to have an online store?
just tryin to keep it real and i want to see this company thrive and prosper. 8)
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prime example of what i am talking about :) ;)
http://forum.calgaryjeep.com/index.php?topic=20672.0 (http://forum.calgaryjeep.com/index.php?topic=20672.0)
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it would have been around '08 when i was looking for that arm. evo didnt have one, and the impresion i got was they wernt making them either.
i am a huge fan and supporter of evo and what clay does, so please take what i say as constructive and purley my opinion.
hoestly, i have no idea what evo's bussineus plan is. i visit the web site all the time and all i see are people looking for thier order. i see projects that are way behind. i then see a post asking what products jeep people are into.
so here is what i do know. evo is small, and kinda starting over at your new place. evo is short staffed, we all get that. clay is a great guy, who makes for an even better face for the company, and is a guy who took a look around and seen a lacking in some quality products for a small segment of a huge sport. so when i see a post such as this one, to me your looking for a way to make some money. find out what people want and make it. well............. what i want is to be able to buy pretty much is the standard builder crap that is allready out there. i dont want to take the time to dezign a basic bracket or tab, give you the dimensions, and then wait to have it built. i am sick of the fact its all done in the us. i found one canadian site, tmr customs, that sells what i am looking for , but all thier stuff is, for the most part, american. i even sent them an email and asked them why they sell a johnny joint, when there is a canadian joint that will blow it away. thier answer is because that is what people are asking for.
i have built enough of my own tabs and brackets to know what a huge time consumer it is. time i could be using for just building. plus it will look way better too.
i know evo is proud of the custom work it can do and has done, as it should be. it something that should be promoted. but if you have a plazma table now, man i really think you should be lookin at producing the mindless crap that is allready out there and have it on a shelf ready to go. something where i can plunk stuff into a cart, give you my credit card number, and be crazy happy when my builder products show up in the mail and i go weld my face off.
just thrown my two cents in erin. and by no means am i being negative towards what evo does or the quality, or your inovation. i feel this is you strong points. its great that you guys can do an amazing custom jeep cage. but not every one can drive in to your shop and plunk down down 2g and leave thier rig there for a month. to be honest, i had no idea evo had a jeep bolt in kit, and i am allway on the site. even now its kinda tough to see what you have and how much. is thier plans to have an online store?
just tryin to keep it real and i want to see this company thrive and prosper. 8)
I totally appreciate your honesty. You raised points that I already knew about... so here's our story.
The machinist, millwright, fabricator, Engineer, builder, welder etc for Evolution is Clay. I quit my good paying oil job in May to come help him full time because he just couldn't keep up with the paperwork etc. I'm basically learning everything as I go as well. We have no staff because we can't afford to pay people, and also because it's hard to find someone who already has fabrication skill & we wouldn't need to fully train from scratch. Clay is a perfectionist & his works speaks for itself... but it also takes a long time. This is usually not because a suspension takes a long time to design persay... but because he has to do little jobs inbetween in order to pay the bills for the materials etc that we order... and everything is built by him. Joints, brackets, trusses, links etc etc.
I know he would be best off scrapping the custom fab, full builds etc... and stick to machining his heims, steering components, suspension components, brackets, Rockwell stuff and doing generic kits, bumpers, cages that you can order. We've spoken about this many times so he knows this is what I feel too.
In June I went to Reno to learn the Torchmate program so I could start using the plasma table. It was the best thing I did for myself... but like I mentioned, I am still learning everything. Every time I take Clay away from what he is doing to ask him to help me with something... it takes away from someone else's stuff that needs to be done. I have designed a ton of brackets that I have the files for and there's so many out there that I want to design... so that is what I'll do.
Anyhow... lets just say we concentrated on the heims & machined products. We just don't have the money to order all the material in and spend months machining to build up a huge inventory. When we get paid for heims, we put that money right back into the material & order more. It takes about 2 weeks to get heims in because we have to machine the bodies, the beans, the races, the rings, the jam nuts and the tube inserts... and then send them all up to Edmonton to be coated. We are getting better with inventory & are starting to build it up a little... but it's hard to keep up when it's only one guy.
I can go on about what our story is.. but hopefully you get the gist of it. I will take your constructive criticism and start working on designing brackets so we can keep them in stock. I will also take your words of wisdom & start working towards developing a DIY weld-in cage. I would like to help Clay out as much as possible & these are things I can be doing... mindless crap on the plasma table seems right up my alley ;) I think he just wants to do everything and finds it hard to give up one part of what he does. He has some amazing products that sell very well.. and would sell a lot better if they were in stock.
As for Evo's business plan... Clay would probably say it's to take on the world. :) I'll stop rambling now, but I do appreciate the posts. This is why I started this thread, to get an idea of what YOU guys want to see... so I can develop my own part of the company & help out. I may be just a girl, but I have a lot of faith in Clay & his vision... and I want to be there to watch him succeed. ;)
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prime example of what i am talking about :) ;)
http://forum.calgaryjeep.com/index.php?topic=20672.0 (http://forum.calgaryjeep.com/index.php?topic=20672.0)
I was just reading that yesterday actually. I have these in the computer already so I'll cut some more.
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Here's another:
http://forum.calgaryjeep.com/index.php?topic=20898.0
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I think he just wants to do everything and finds it hard to give up one part of what he does. He has some amazing products that sell very well.. and would sell a lot better if they were in stock.
And that right there, IMHO, will make or break the business. :-\
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well Erin....... thanks for taking it in the spirit it was meant to be. i know its easy to be the arm-chair quarterback, with out my money on the line. and all one has to do is read the shout box on evo's site to know how passionate clay is ;D and here is another cliche, you got to start out small and work your way up. that takes the most work from you guys to do that. next thing you know you will be able to pay a welder, then a machinist, and so on. the work you guys have to do is provide a product people want to buy, then get out there and sell it. if people dont know who you are or what you got, your in trouble. as far as i am concerned, clay doing the custom stuff, and the competitions with the wort hog goes towards that. i had the opportunity to go to tomken machine this fall while were on holidays there with the jeeps. i had broken the steering on the jeep and couldnt believe my fortune they were in town.i was expecting this huge wizzy place and to be told they had no time to help me. exactly the opposite. pretty much the exact same set up you guys have, size and all. there was two guys in the the shop and the wife up front. they wheeled me right in, pushing out a project jeep, and fixed me right up. but to pay the bills, they are floging crap on their Internet store.
any who, i digress, i dont allways have something going on, but when i do, i would love to be able to by Canadian, and buying local would be even better. i think you guys will make it, just get the ship pointed in the right direction and floor it. asking here, and where ever else you have is the right start.
one more example and then ill shut up. in the early 80's, we moved to a VERY small town in BC. this was during the recession, so my dad had no work, so when the video store came up for sale( the only 0ne in town) he bought it. this was before the chain stores really had a grip on this market, and the store had to buy the movies as they were released. my dad had to pick them, and ,well, he would pick what he liked. couldn't stand to buy the "junk" that most movies were...........in his eyes. that store eventually failed and we had to sell it.
ok, so more people chime in with what they would like to see available from evo :)
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I drive an xj so i need aj stuff
short arm , upper joint ,axle end and high misalignment joints that fits in the stock style aftermarket brackets on the arms
steerring box brace
track bar and support brace
control arms
axle trusses or internal support tubes for front diff that attach to
diff covers
ball joints that don,t break when you break a u joint
ujoints tht don,t break
bearings / spindle to replace unit bearings or a unit bearing with a grease nipple
internet site that shows pictures of all of your different manufactered
CANADIAN
made products
You go Erin and Clay
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i'll play. 8)
Reading this and other local Canadian jeep sites i find that the most often upgrades are the following:
front bumper
rear bumper with tire carrier
rock sliders
bolt/weld cages
If Evolution could produce these items with the signature of Clay and for this side of the operation, Erin building them, you would have the ears and wallets of Canadian jeepers. :)
Bumpers could be a big winner if you have them on your shelf.
Whether it be CJ, Y.J TJ, JK or XJ, keep the bumpers identical in design. This would keep costs down. Obviously different mounting points, length and brackets but overall the same.
The front bumpers need 2 spots for clevis attatchments and a universal winch mount would complete it nicely for most consumers.
The rear needs a tire carrier that doesn't rattle and stays closed.
If the items are lighter and strong, they could be an internet winner.
PRICEpoint is key. Lets say that you would accept an overall profit of only $??? after material and time have been calculated.
If you sold 10 single unit bumpers a month, thats xxxxx/yr extra income...not bad 8)
With Sliders and Bumpers on the shelf at a more competetive pricepoint than USA internet prices, you will be doing much more than 10 single units per month. When orders are placed, they are shipped immediately. This is the key to success.
The small custom pieces are not where the money is for Erin's side of the business. Realistically, of all the above mentioned ideas for arms, tabs, etc...how many units would be sold monthly? i honestly do not know but for Evolution to succeeed and not just survive, any 'on shelf' item must sell weekly.
:)Tk
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its kind of exciting when you think of the possibilities. here's a few more. with standens in town, no reason you couldn't collaborate on an evo lift kit line. and with clays incredible suspension knowledge, you could add his take to long arms or coil conversion kits........... also evo drive line conversion pieces. the ol 203 doubler thing is popular these days. i like the shock idea he has going on. i think that will sell. i also really like his take on hydro assist steering. i would totally buy that for my commando build. it takes care of the exact problems i had issues with doing it the traditional way.
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i'll play. 8)
Reading this and other local Canadian jeep sites i find that the most often upgrades are the following:
front bumper
rear bumper with tire carrier
rock sliders
bolt/weld cages
If Evolution could produce these items with the signature of Clay and for this side of the operation, Erin building them, you would have the ears and wallets of Canadian jeepers. :)
Bumpers could be a big winner if you have them on your shelf.
Whether it be CJ, Y.J TJ, JK or XJ, keep the bumpers identical in design. This would keep costs down. Obviously different mounting points, length and brackets but overall the same.
The front bumpers need 2 spots for clevis attatchments and a universal winch mount would complete it nicely for most consumers.
The rear needs a tire carrier that doesn't rattle and stays closed.
If the items are lighter and strong, they could be an internet winner.
PRICEpoint is key. Lets say that you would accept an overall profit of only $??? after material and time have been calculated.
If you sold 10 single unit bumpers a month, thats xxxxx/yr extra income...not bad 8)
With Sliders and Bumpers on the shelf at a more competetive pricepoint than USA internet prices, you will be doing much more than 10 single units per month. When orders are placed, they are shipped immediately. This is the key to success.
The small custom pieces are not where the money is for Erin's side of the business. Realistically, of all the above mentioned ideas for arms, tabs, etc...how many units would be sold monthly? i honestly do not know but for Evolution to succeeed and not just survive, any 'on shelf' item must sell weekly.
:)Tk
I would have to agree 100% with this approach. Being in the market for my second bumper and armed with quite a bit more information than the last time (just went down to jeep dealer and bought the Mopar one) I am frustrated at the broad range of products available but the lack of any local representation. It is a little difficult to get a feel for a product based on a couple of internet pictures. What ends up happening is you pick a few that you like and then you scour the various internet forums for people that have installed the product and get a feel for it.
I suspect there is a fairly large market for a good quality reasonable priced aftermarket bumper in Calgary, never mind within Western Canada. Shipping costs makes everything from Tires to Winches expensive to order from US markets especially when you start to factor in getting hosed by UPS on there brokerage and duty. Trying to figure out what your final price would be in getting stuff delivered from the US is a crapshoot at best. A perfect example is I was looking at a set of Crager soft 8's 5 rims, around $400 for the rims and $350 for shipping. Now you factor in the UPS Brokerage at ??? and duties at ??? and you are talking north of $1,000 for 5 steel rims that should retail at $80 bucks. Now I don't give that example to suggest you start carrying rims but more to show the frustration of the Canadian purchaser in this circumstance.
So now phase into the current suppliers that we can get in Canada and I would suggest that they are taking advantage of the the limited supply out there and that there prices have a fairly hefty amount of profit in them (well at least gross profit) I don't begin to suggest I have a full understanding of the overhead costs that they are managing or what their inventory carrying costs are. But by looking at there US counterparts it seems that there is a large disparity in the pricing structures. Used to be that you could right that off as a US$ vs CAD$ issue but that hasn't been the case for over a year now (closer to 2) so the whole currency disparity would have worked its way through the economics of most if not all suppliers yet there has been no real price reductions across the board.
If you look at the same two bumpers avail in US and Canada one is priced at $1,050 CAD and the same is offered in the US at $850USD. Now I would argue that the company is making a profit at the $850 mark in the US or they wouldn't be selling them, factor in that they are not the manufacturer but just a third party reseller and assuming a 15% profit margin (just for sake of argument) then the $850 bumper is running them $740 cost from the manufacturer. Assuming the manufacturer is in it to make money and has a significant facility employees etc etc we will give them a 20% margin (again just for arguments sake - Some of the aftermarket autoparts suppliers in the US and Canada are making in excess of 30%) then we are talking a cost of say $615. Now given that Evo is a much smaller shop than most of the aftermarket suppliers out there I would argue that your cost is further reduced (not knowing the mix of labour to materials lets just guess) by say a factor of an additional 15% putting your cost for the same product in at $540 for the same product. You have a base cost of $540 for a product that retails here in Canada at $1,050. So you make a comparable or better product and you price it aggressively at say $750. You are making a $210 profit margin or 39% markup not a bad profit margin for a product priced at 30% less than the competitors.
But and here is the but. I agree with Spinal...............when I order it online I should get an email within 24hrs letting me know my bumper has been shipped here is the tracking number and it should arrive all shiny and new within a few days of that. I don't want to have to fork out then wait for it to get fabricated over the course of the next few days or weeks. While there is a portion of us that will and do wait for these things largely we are an instant gratitude type of society and if it isn't in stock one place we are likely to want it enough to pay a little more somewhere that we can get it NOW.
Ok sorry about the extended ramble............comes with the territory as I am a finance professional :)
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This is probably going to be unpopular.. but oh well.
How many bumpers do you think the manufacturers sell? You seriously think someone is going to have them on the shelf so you can just walk in and grab one (or order online). The market for aftermarket jeep parts especially big dollar items like good suspensions or well built bumpers is relatively small. Most of the shops building the stuff we buy are small and can't afford to have a ton of cash tied up in inventory. I just don't think it would be viable for most of them to stock a ton of stuff.
The other thing I'd like to point out is, as Bnine has already said in his ever so delicate way... most jeepers are cheap assed to a fault. I buy and sell a fair amount of stuff... and the number of people who are "gonna be right over" to pick something up ... or "should have money" next week is astounding. I know it's part of the game but it really does get frustrating when people won't keep their commitments or try to talk you down on an already low priced item. I can only imagine how much worse it is for shops... guys that come in and talk and talk and talk ... and then don't buy anything. I know personally of guys who would rather not even sell their old parts cause its such a hassle... and other guys like Gearhead who take the "don't wast my time or squirt me off" approach. I'll probably keep buying and selling stuff cause the horse trading is kind of fun to me and I get a kick out of being able to help out a fellow club member get their junk back on the road. I don't how ever believe for a minute that Jeepers inherent cheapness and dreams bigger than their wallet mentality is going to change.
I would love to have a shop that had everything that I want on hand for instant delivery... but I realize that its probably just not practical.
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for what its worth:
i had something long winded typed then shortened it ;)
long arms for ZJ/XJ. some sort of tranny crosmember mount with a real three link instead of the radius arm things.
bracket kits for XJ/XJ.
belly/tummy tuck
these win my vote because after you've done the research stuff for them, you should be able to make a couple batches of bracket kits, long arm mounts etc for relatively cheap, then see how/if they sell. then go from there.
anyone who has wanted to long arm a ZJ/XJ will tell you how frustrating it is to see the price tags on some of the stuff in the US, and its not the greatest product or exactly what you want
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This is probably going to be unpopular.. but oh well.
How many bumpers do you think the manufacturers sell? You seriously think someone is going to have them on the shelf so you can just walk in and grab one (or order online). The market for aftermarket jeep parts especially big dollar items like good suspensions or well built bumpers is relatively small. Most of the shops building the stuff we buy are small and can't afford to have a ton of cash tied up in inventory. I just don't think it would be viable for most of them to stock a ton of stuff.
I don't think that bumpers is "The" answer, I think what I am trying to get at is that there is logic to stocking some things.............I am not talking a warehouse full. I don't for a second begin to think I understand Evolutions dilemmas in getting there business to where they want it. For all I know they are where they want to be. I was more providing an opinion with regard to stocking certain after market parts. Maybe bumpers isn't it, maybe its reselling something that has a higher turnover rate.
As for dreams are bigger than wallet...............hell you bet. I want a ton of stuff and I want it all now.........but unless my kids are planning on stopping eating for the next few months then I will have to take a slow approach to my desires. I don't think there is a need for a large amount of varied stock, hell that is how a lot of retailers (online or otherwise) get in trouble have a ton of cash tied up in inventory that then can't be used for other things (like paying employees for example). But there is a trade off as well depending on what the short, medium and long term plans of the business is. If you walk into a store and don't get what you wanted/need the first time then maybe you don't look there next time. If there is a desire for "the products Jeep guys are into" then there needs to be a certain capacity to provide those products. If the desire is just to be the best damn fabrication shop within a 1,000km radius well then that is a different issue as well. Each comes with its challenges in garnering what little money "cheap assed Jeepers" want to dole out.
However I will disagree on the cheap assed a little bit. The roads are full of Jeeps and a ton of them are modified. I think the cheap assed portion may be the gear heads and wheelers out there, why are they cheap assed...........cus we break crap. But I have seen more freakin' Lifted, low profiled tired, lit up, chrome gas capped, decaled Jeeps than I can shake a stick at...........and guess what they have money just to make it look like it is bad assed..... so getting some of that money may help for the other side of the business. Now you run into another dilemma, can you manage both sides of the industry or do you want to. Seems to me there is a delineation between "posers" and "Jeepers" (hopefully I am the latter ::) )and never the twain shall meet.
So being the shop that has everything on hand for instant delivery is not only probably not practical but I would suggest it is not possible. However, being the go to for that one or two or ten items that are generally wanted and having them accessible is a different thing entirely.
All in all this is just my opinion and not knowing what the business owners really want or need or have the capacity to do makes it just more internet flotsum.............my apologies for the HiJack so back to the point at hand.
I would still love to see an M-101 type "kit" ;D of course I want it in stock and I only want to pay $99.99 delivered ::)
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I can't speak about what products are in need as I am just new and this and quite clueless. From a business perspective though, I have to agree with Fug. I think it is very unrealistic to ask small shops to carry inventory. Unless they have an ultimate business plan to go BIG with full feature online shopping and a big showroom to display the product and have very aggressive advertising it just won't fly. I also don't think that is what people are looking for in this community, otherwise everyone would just be shopping at Quadratec...
Now that being said, I don't think the value of a well setup website to showcase your existing products should be overlooked. In this day and age, I think a good website can propel a company to the next level. Make sure there are lots of pictures (Good professional pictures) of the product itself, but also applied to its application (ie: bumper mounted to a jeep). If you don't have the vehicles yourselves to do it with, I'm sure one of your many supporters would let you strap on a bumper to take some shots of it. But people want to be able to see what the end result will be before they fork over the cash.
So again, without a lot of knowledge on the products that people need/want most often, in a general statement I would say use some of the ideas people on here have given you, design something that works and keep that blueprint on hand. Then when an order comes it, its a simple process of cutting the parts on the plasma table and having them welded/put together. I think the key here is to make things that you can duplicate easily. Doing custom for every customer is way too time consuming. Streamline the process and you will be able to get more product out quicker.
Hope that doesn't sound like I'm talking out my a$$ too much. Sounds like the company has a lot of respect from people from this club/forum. Definitely a good base to build from.
Oh, and since it is up in the discussion...I would like to see a nice simple stubby bumper with welded d-ring mounts and ready for a winch...it isn't something that is going on right away, but its on my wishlist. I know there are a pile of them available out there...would just prefer to buy local.
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This is probably going to be unpopular.. but oh well.
How many bumpers do you think the manufacturers sell? You seriously think someone is going to have them on the shelf so you can just walk in and grab one (or order online). The market for aftermarket jeep parts especially big dollar items like good suspensions or well built bumpers is relatively small. Most of the shops building the stuff we buy are small and can't afford to have a ton of cash tied up in inventory. I just don't think it would be viable for most of them to stock a ton of stuff.
The other thing I'd like to point out is, as Bnine has already said in his ever so delicate way... most jeepers are cheap assed to a fault. I buy and sell a fair amount of stuff... and the number of people who are "gonna be right over" to pick something up ... or "should have money" next week is astounding. I know it's part of the game but it really does get frustrating when people won't keep their commitments or try to talk you down on an already low priced item. I can only imagine how much worse it is for shops... guys that come in and talk and talk and talk ... and then don't buy anything. I know personally of guys who would rather not even sell their old parts cause its such a hassle... and other guys like Gearhead who take the "don't wast my time or squirt me off" approach. I'll probably keep buying and selling stuff cause the horse trading is kind of fun to me and I get a kick out of being able to help out a fellow club member get their junk back on the road. I don't how ever believe for a minute that Jeepers inherent cheapness and dreams bigger than their wallet mentality is going to change.
I would love to have a shop that had everything that I want on hand for instant delivery... but I realize that its probably just not practical.
you must own a business! I can't tell you how many times I've been duped into ordering something for a customer who begged me they would pay for it because they really need it NOW... and then here I am stuck with it in the shop and money out of my pocket gone. That is why I only accept payment for aftermarket products before I order... I dont care anymore how much in a hurry someone is because it bites me every time. And yes, I have to say having the money to have inventory is very hard. That's why we don't have inventory and I think that's why Clay went to the custom approach, because he could build it as needed. It's not like he LOVES to do custom work... some days he absolutely despises it... and 99% of the time it doesn't make you any money after you're finished.... it sure looks cool though ;)
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Well, I'll have another go here at this seeing the direction this thread has taken.
I can understand the frustration of people trying to order something intangible because it is either in the States, months away, or just a picture on the net or in a catalog.
I can also understand not being able to store that much inventory. Anyone who has ever worked for any business should be able to give in to that too.
In my brief years being around the different forums here in Alberta, one thing remains the same, over and over again. The majority of guys who get into fabricating on the side don't do it for long. They design something, the starving (and I literally mean starving) crowd of custom-parts-deprived jeep junkies jump all over it, orders start flying, product gets out, it's cheap, it looks good, it works, more orders, and then........it all comes crashing down.
None of these poor guys can keep up with the demands of what is being asked for. They get completely overwhelmed. What seemed to be a good idea doing a few jobs on the side turned into a "fulltime and 6 month backorder now". But what does this show?
If you can produce a good product, you will sell it here. Take some of these guys overall points and combine it with the cauti ous points about inventory, and you have a problem you should be able to solve. Produce a good set of standard parts like bumpers, tow points, and sliders, and BE ABLE TO PRODUCE THEM. REGULARLY. That's the bread and butter that will grow your business.
Design something simple - functional - bolt on - cheap to make - easy to build - strong as hell - utilitarian (we call it good looking). Something that anyone dumber than a monkey can weld, and you'd have to be to break it. Nothing fancy or complicated. Maybe a simple but sharp logo for Evolution that you could cut out on each piece without too much extra cost or time.
The when it's running, hire some welders to build those things for you and take the time to do the fancy stuff.
Once you get going,
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The when it's running, hire some welders to build those things for you and take the time to do the fancy stuff.
Once you get going,
Darcy, this is a Jeep site. Please take your common sens and clear thinking elsewhere. It is not wanted here!
;D
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good points... Clay has been building his business for 8 years so he isn't just starting up. Hiring welders sounds easy.... however, we don't just need welders. We need people who have an artistic eye, can measure & bend tube, know the insides & outsides of design & how things work... it's hard. Also in Alberta, people are demanding rediculous amounts of money. $30/hr+ with no experience, full benefits, paid time off etc etc. That's why we can't afford to hire people. Hell, we dont even pay ourselves or have benefits or get time off.... but it's what you have to do to run a business sometimes. Of course, if an employee makes you enough money to cover these things, that wouldn't be a problem.
Evolution heims are amazing... they are sold worldwide & are literally THE strongest on the market. He has made a huge name for himself based on the heims alone and is very respected in all the different communities such as Baja, Monster Trucks, regular trucks, mud boggers etc etc.
Anyhow, I shouldn't be speaking on behalf of Clay... I've been trying to get him to come on & post but he gets all flustered & doesn't know what to say. lol.
As for my sides of things... we can order a lot of aftermarket parts & were wanting to offer good pricing deals to the CJA because it has been a long standing organization in Calgary/Alberta and you guys are the ones who go out there & do cleanups and donate your time to making the trails better for all of us. To reward you for your efforts, we think the least we can do is offer special pricing on things you might want to order. So if you want anything NOT made by us... please dont hesitate to ask.
Now the thread has taken a different turn & opened my eyes as to what WE can make that would help YOU guys out even more. If it's DIY stuff you guys want... I'm all over it. Plate bumpers, tube bumpers, cages, brackets etc... ok I can start getting to work. M101 trailer DIY kits... hell yeah, I'm on it. I would like to do my share for this company and let Clay concentrate on taking over the world with his heims & steering components. lol
Thank you again for every word that has been said in here I will take everything into consideration & start getting you what you want.
onward-ho!
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Well I for one will keep an eye on what's coming out of your shop...Like I said, I'm just new to this but I am pretty sure I'm going to enjoy it and I've already got a wishlist of things I would like to do.
Maybe I will volunteer some welding at some point for a discount ;) Been a while since I've welded though...might need some practice :-\
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If you're looking to pick up some extra revenue without backlogging your shop into the next millenium pick a few simple products you can easily mass produce, and try to keep them in stock. Look at what people are ordering every day, pick one or two items and make your own version. It doesn't have to be complicated, just cheap and bolt on, that's what 85% of the market is looking for. Oh and in stock. I know trying to keep 50+ items when everything fits differently is not reasonable but that's why I said keep it simple. Make a list of 5-10 and start off with 1 or 2.
I'm lazy and when I go to buy crap I just look around until I find somewhere I can just go pick it up. I don't wanna go and put a down payment on it, then have to wait x amount of weeks to have it show up THEN install it. I just wanna go get it and bolt it on as soon as I'm home. I think the majority of the market will agree with me. Also while I am fairly mechanically inclined stuff that just fits the first time with a couple bolts will sell in much higher volumes then DIY stuff. Don't get me wrong being able to get quality DIY stuff is awesome but I think you're already well into that and it's time consuming to make.
-Tow points! There is someone on here almost daily looking for them. TJ, XJ and JK would be a good start, then go for the niche markets, ZJ, KJ etc. Make them simple to install and easily availible and every soccer dad wannabe wheeler is going to be buying them. Hell take the 5 minutes to write up a little install guide and include a cheap drill bit if you have to drill anything. An all included kit for the bozos. One. Stop. Shopping. You see what I'm getting at?
-Windshield light brackets. Hella cheap, easy to make (bend one plate and then weld a little bracket on at an angle, drill some holes and bob's your uncle) and a lot of people buy them. I had to wait two weeks to get mine ordered in which seemed odd as they are a popular item.
-Rock sliders/rocker armour wont be as easy to make a simple bolt on as all the kits I've seen require screws through the body but these are an easy seller, especially if availible locally.
Kick some ideas around and pick one item you can make easy and will sell a bunch of to get revenue for your other projects. Once you get the ball rolling then bring someone in just to make that one thing for you so you can focus your talents on what you're known for: quality custom work.
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I for one will take the time to buy local and support a small business when it makes sense to do so.
The reason that some of the shops in town are losing business to Northridge is that they are charging more, requiring payment up front, and end up delivering three months after you order.
If you make it yourself, and you have it in stock, I'll buy from you before I order from Northridge. Stan is great and his prices are solid...but I'd rather buy a made in Caglary product than one that is imported from the states...or made overseas.
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The bushings are going west on my upper short arms on the axle housing . Do not need them right a way but with in a month or so . So how much for a high flex joint that is just remove and replace ? Factory style rubber joints in there now .
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The bushings are going west on my upper short arms on the axle housing . Do not need them right a way but with in a month or so . So how much for a high flex joint that is just remove and replace ? Factory style rubber joints in there now .
Do you know what shank size is in there right now?
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Do not know the size of the through bolt . It is the stock bolt with the torx head .
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If you dont want to carry alot of stock the DIY kits are perfect because you dont have to burn them until you have an order. The same sheet of metal will make any bumper/bracket order. Just have the designs ready to go and when you get an internet order, have the machine cut it out and voila it can be shipped within a couple days with no dead stock. The key is only offering what you already have designs for so people dont have to wait.
To be honest I can build most of what I need, if I have the time. However I never have any time so I would be all over DIY kits.
I used to own my own 6 bay auto shop, I HATED IT, so I closed it. So I can appreciate where you are coming from. Best of luck to you and Clay.
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Evolution heims are amazing... they are sold worldwide & are literally THE strongest on the market. He has made a huge name for himself based on the heims alone and is very respected in all the different communities such as Baja, Monster Trucks, regular trucks, mud boggers etc etc.
I have to say that the heims are amazing! I have had some in my Jeep for numerous HRC Challenges and no issues, I did bend a steering end but I think anything factory or even aftermarket would of snapped,.. props to a good product!
Thank's Erin for keeping us updated and asking for new products :)
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Oh I meant to mention. Some sort of brake upgrade kit for the front end. I think someone already mentioned it but I'll willing to bet you wouldnt be able to keep up with the orders. I've looked around for a way to put larger rotors in the front and haven't found anything.
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For christ sakes
http://www.burnsvilleoffroad.com/Articles/01_02.aspx
http://www.4x4wire.com/jeep/tech/brakes/xj_wjbrakes03/knuckles/
http://www.quadratec.com/products/12700_4300.htm
http://www.vancopbs.com/category_s/121.htm
http://www.reidracing.biz/DANA30.php
http://www.jeepsunlimited.com/forums/showthread.php?t=451197&highlight=hybrid+30%2F44+cj+knuckles
Thats WJ big brakes, AEV big brakes, Vanco big brakes, Chevy big brakes, and Ford big brakes. All on a TJ, XJ, MJ, ZJ, LJ d30.
Start reading
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http://www.acmejeepparts.com/products/image_zoom.php?img=%2FAssets%2FImages%2F37349%2F37349-lg.jpg
This is the bushing that I need on my xj cherokee but with a heim joint . I think the throughbolt is 7/16 It is on the axle end upper bushings , short control arm , one on each side. It presses in with a hammer. Pretty much all xj , tj , wj , etc use this style bushing . How much ?
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For christ sakes
http://www.burnsvilleoffroad.com/Articles/01_02.aspx
http://www.4x4wire.com/jeep/tech/brakes/xj_wjbrakes03/knuckles/
http://www.quadratec.com/products/12700_4300.htm
http://www.vancopbs.com/category_s/121.htm
http://www.reidracing.biz/DANA30.php
http://www.jeepsunlimited.com/forums/showthread.php?t=451197&highlight=hybrid+30%2F44+cj+knuckles
Thats WJ big brakes, AEV big brakes, Vanco big brakes, Chevy big brakes, and Ford big brakes. All on a TJ, XJ, MJ, ZJ, LJ d30.
Oops sorry I meant to mention for 15" rims, but it looks like the Vanco will cover that nicely thanks! After reading that second one it looks like the WJ conversion just barely fits too if you do some grinding (looks a bit tight though)...
For someone wanting to stay with 5x4.5 how hard is it to redrill the rotors to the proper pattern? I suppose it wouldnt cost much to have a machine/wheel shop do a couple sets and you'd be good for years.
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Just use Ford Explorer SportTrac rotors. They have the correct bolt pattern.
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Sweet, thanks for the info! I should probably stop hijacking Evos thread tho...
I know a bunch of people make them but what about a steering/tie rod kit? Or do you already offer one?
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Sweet, thanks for the info! I should probably stop hijacking Evos thread tho...
I know a bunch of people make them but what about a steering/tie rod kit? Or do you already offer one?
we make our own drag links/ tie rods to the length needed & rebuildable/greaseable tie rod ends with a "standard" chevy taper and the Rockwell 2.5 ton tie rod ends. We also make our own small & large double ended rams, ball sockets etc.
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This may be a long shot, but I think if you made more accessories for stock bumbers (TJ) that would be a huge hit! I know several guys who want all the add ones that you get with an aftermarket bumber but with out the price tag. For myself I would like a Jerry Can and Hi-Lift mounting system that attacheds the the stock spare tire mount.
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This may be a long shot, but I think if you made more accessories for stock bumbers (TJ) that would be a huge hit! I know several guys who want all the add ones that you get with an aftermarket bumber but with out the price tag. For myself I would like a Jerry Can and Hi-Lift mounting system that attacheds the the stock spare tire mount.
you would want all that weight on your rear door??
I would think it would be a little on the heavy side, especially if you go with larger, heavier tires.
that is one reason for the swing outs, just my 2 cents.
I have heard the light brackets for jk's and tj's(sounds simple and small to keep in stock),
some good cb ant. mounts maybe(again simple and easy to stock),
sliders, front and rear bumpers(with swing outs, hi-lift mounts, jerry cans.), steering stuff is good.
maybe some decent control arms that are adjustable(I had looked into them, just didn't get that far.
that all being said, the jeep is getting written off so I don't need jeep stuff anymore.
I like how you ask what we want, got to like that in a business :)
keep up the good work, I had a look at your website and you have some nice looking builds.
oh ya, the lowest price for the best product ::), for me depending on what the stuff is, I don't mind paying for quality, especially if it is a safety thing.
for the xj, it was not pretty, but it drove ok after I redid the entire front end steering stuff and unit bearings.
steve
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I have mentioned this to a few people and they said the same thing about the weight issue... Does anyone know exaclty how much weight stock TJ tailgate can hold? if it doesnt hold that much maybe include upgraded door hinges that will hold more weight. I would imagine that all this would be less expensive then a whole new pumper....I could be wrong though! I have been before ::)
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I have mentioned this to a few people and they said the same thing about the weight issue... Does anyone know exaclty how much weight stock TJ tailgate can hold? if it doesnt hold that much maybe include upgraded door hinges that will hold more weight. I would imagine that all this would be less expensive then a whole new pumper....I could be wrong though! I have been before ::)
Just save up for a new bumper with a tire carrier. There are probably many good reasons why no one has come up with a kit to hold the extra weight off the tail gate since 1997. Those engineers are fairly smart. And the stock bumpers are too flimsy to do anything with.
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Just save up for a new bumper with a tire carrier. There are probably many good reasons why no one has come up with a kit to hold the extra weight off the tail gate since 1997. Those engineers are fairly smart. And the stock bumpers are too flimsy to do anything with.
*ahem* Bestop tire carrier
(http://www.oramagazine.com/images/0411-nov/041103t-tire-carrier/07step11.jpg)
Holds up to a 37" tire and opens with the tail gate. I love mine
Here's an article on the install here (http://www.oramagazine.com/pastissues/0411-issue/041103t-tire-carrier.html)
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not too bad, still not on the tail gate so its not the hinges that hold the weight, but not that bad of an option.
I would still want a better bumper anyway :)
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Im new to the site and all - but coming from Houston, where I can hit ten shops when I throw a rock, and don't get hit with ridiculous custom fees..
Shops I have been to in Canada sell full retail +markup on states prices. This means you could turn a profit on common items if the price was comparable. Inventory is key, and this is the problem. Jeep folks are cheap - and have no patience. Parts are expensive to fabricate without having inventory.
If you look at the industry trends - the manufactures are moving to a smaller product line, and pushing more to a distributor set up. This is typical in a recession.
That being said - Clay already has a single world known product. That is his bread and butter. It is one of the best. The problem with that product is there is 2-dozen cheaper methods for 95% of that market..
So - find another niche product no-one else has. (or limited/inferior competition)
- The 231/D300 doubler is a prime example. Stupid simple - but the companies that make them cant build them fast enough. Material for the shaft is the difficult part. (that and the splining)
- If you rounded up TJ windshield hinges, drilled out the pin and made it removable, they would sell like hotcakes. (I think someone sold the pins at one time)
- DIY Highline kit. Theres only a few doing these as complete kits, none as DIY I am aware of. DIY is a smaller market, but shipping is cheaper.
I have dozens of ideas. I have been doing this for too long.
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By the way, the 1/4 ton trailer idea is not a bad one.. (Yes I have one of those also)
Its a close nit market - but I dont believe anyone is making the tub in DIY pieces (It would have to be this way to save on shipping.)
Typically referred to as the M-416 style. The trailer on the other page is a Canadian M-101 (Not to be confused with the US M-101) This is my M-100. (Older than M416's and CDN M-101's)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_MaUs4cQ2cKc/SQPm2202JqI/AAAAAAAAFO4/aK3EQq-1EA8/s640/101708.jpg)
Wife's Rubicon on Engineer Pass in CO with the M-100.
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_MaUs4cQ2cKc/THFJ-GrffiI/AAAAAAAASAE/RolZ65Ti6fg/s640/081710%20%28176%29.jpg)