Why no love for Smittybilt?

I bought my sliders before I knew the difference. I have had the full weight of the Jeep on them and they are bent. They are crap and I have to watch how I wheel because they suck. They actually dented the tub slightly and are permanently bowed up. They will be the first thing I replace when I have the money. I will be putting the EVO sliders on because I know they are quality!
 
piginajeep said:
Pure shit on the sliders. My JK-8 had the sliders installed when I bought it. On one side the tube rubbed the paint off and dented in the side of the rocker. On the other side it dented the pinch seem up.

The jeep was never been wheeled. Bad fitment. Had I wheeled this and hit the slider it would have damaged the tub. Anyone that wheels with these and think they are protecting their jeeps are insane or don't really wheel.

Needless to say it was the first thing removed my jk8.

Piece of shit
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Practically everything Smittybuilt manufactures reminds me of the chrome rollbars that people use to install in truck beds in the 80-90's. They were actually more accurately known as "showbars", never intended to protect you from anything. Smittybuilt should label all of their exterior parts (bumpers, sliders, fenders, etc) "For Appearance Only, Not Intended For Actual Use". It's funny that at any of the Ultra4 races when you look at the GenRight, Poison Spyder or EVO race teams the race cars actually are running the parts you can buy off the shelf. The Smittybuilt (4 Wheel Parts) race car doesn't run anything sold in their catalog.
 
GCM 2 said:
Practically everything Smittybuilt manufactures reminds me of the chrome rollbars that people use to install in truck beds in the 80-90's. They were actually more accurately known as "showbars", never intended to protect you from anything. Smittybuilt should label all of their exterior parts (bumpers, sliders, fenders, etc) "For Appearance Only, Not Intended For Actual Use". It's funny that at any of the Ultra4 races when you look at the GenRight, Poison Spyder or EVO race teams the race cars actually are running the parts you can buy off the shelf. The Smittybuilt (4 Wheel Parts) race car doesn't run anything sold in their catalog.
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How funny that they don't run anything from the catalog. I need to look for some pictures.
 
I use their grab handles and a tow strap. The tow strap has performed well the four times I've used it to pull others out. The grab handles have worked great over the last 5 years...my wife has used her's a lot.

I will not buy anything they make out of metal. It looks, feels and sounds (when knocking on it) flimsy when I looked at their stuff 3 years ago before I bought my ShrockWorks stuff.
 
GCM 2 said:
Practically everything Smittybuilt manufactures reminds me of the chrome rollbars that people use to install in truck beds in the 80-90's. They were actually more accurately known as "showbars", never intended to protect you from anything. Smittybuilt should label all of their exterior parts (bumpers, sliders, fenders, etc) "For Appearance Only, Not Intended For Actual Use". It's funny that at any of the Ultra4 races when you look at the GenRight, Poison Spyder or EVO race teams the race cars actually are running the parts you can buy off the shelf. The Smittybuilt (4 Wheel Parts) race car doesn't run anything sold in their catalog.
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Yup, even the rock crawling comp rigs run a modified procomp lift.
 
I copied this from the "what do you all think of the Quadratec parts?" thread as this comment is applicable to both.

I would also want to comment on how these companies are selling us their inexpensive but failure prone products. But I want to ask that everyone not lose sight of the bigger picture. The bigger economic picture.

Every time you buy one of these products based SOLELY on PRICE, you are not only cutting yourself off at the knees, but also your neighbors, friends, family members, etc. It is simple, when you do not support your local economy and your money goes overseas, the United States suffers. Think about it, the Chinese are worried that their economic growth is not as high as expected, GDP down to 7.3% from 7.4%. REALLY??!?! The US growth rate as GDP has been around 3.47 to 3.91% the last 4 years. So China has a growth rate TWICE what ours is.

So keep buying that Chinese crap. Go to Walmart and support the "new normal" with lowered employee benefits and pay. Buy products from companies that outsource their customer service to India. Because it all trickles down. Soon you will all be out of a job.
 
I've got one Smittybilt product on my JK....rear XRC Atlas bumper/hitch and carrier unit.
What do I like -
1. It fitted - a lot of people have issues with the fit of Smittybilt products, but this bumper and carrier went on the JK without having to modify any mountings.
2. It does the job I wanted - I had specific requirements and this combination met them well.
3. Price - at approximately 1/3rd the price of some other locally built bumper/carrier combinations (with twin Jerry can racks), it was very good value.
4. No problems with it so far.....doesn't rattle.

What isn't good -
1. There are some tips and tricks to a successful fitting first time - research the net for threads.
2. Poor design in that the LH side of the gate/carrier obscures the licence plate mount when it doesn't have to. I've modified mine so the LH side of the gate is shorter and the plate is not obstructed - still carries both Jerry cans and my Hi-Lift, no problem. I assume Smittybilt designed it this way for a balanced look, but they should have thought about it first.
3. Powdercoat is OK.....but thats the best you could say about it - I've had better, and I've seen worse.
4. Its quite heavy - if your offroading involves a lot of rock jumping, hill climbing, then I would not fit this bar/carrier combination. For my touring type use, it works fine.

Would I buy other Smittybilt items? Possibly, but I'd have to research them for each item as the reputation is spotty at best. :naw:

There you have it - some Smittybilt feed back, I admit that its very part specific, though.
 
Me and my best friend have JKU's, his a '12 and mine a '14. I have taken the slow and steady route (my wife would not agree) of modding and have used Parts from Evo, ARB, Poison Spyder, JCR, and Rock krawler. His rig is Rough Country and Smittybilt.

A few observations...
My RK suspension has allowed me to dial in the ride and is amazing on a DD. His, in situations, could rattle your brain from your head.

My Evo, JCR, and PS bumpers rails, and fenders can take a beating and have with only powder being scrapped off. His Smittybilt rails flex into the Jeep when touched and you can see a noticeable bend that is permanant. His front bumper is fine and has held up well, back bumper has faded after a year in Texas.

My warn zeon 12 has recovered me and 2 others in 3 difference scenarios and hasn't skipped a beat. His Smittybilt winch gives us heartburn over how it's designed and we check it every time we go through water since the electronics are front and center which don't seem to be as water friendly.

He has the seat covers which he's removed the bottoms because he was slipping all over and they were starting to fade after a few months.

All in all, he doesn't wheel hard and his stuff has held up okay. The biggest concerns are the rails and winch. His might be fine for a while but we'll be progressing through harder stuff and he's the one worried about things breaking. I've built mine to wheel hard (relatively speaking) and feel comfortable that things won't break and I'll be driving home from the trail just fine. I don't have the same confidence in his. I've probably spent 4x more money but I'm one to do things right the first time vs. doing them time and time again.

If you see something from Smittybilt you want, go for it. Just be prepared for worst case scenario. When you get it, check the welds, check the powder, ect. Also, I'd recommend looking into 4wd parts scratch and dent. Got his front bumper for $75. Won't be nearly as bad after paying $75 if it starts heading down hill vs. the $300-400 it is normally.
 
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Personally...my Smittybilt products have been great! I have the XRC MOD front bumper and the flat flares. Both bolted up perfectly and my front bumper has taken a beating. I hit the corners on rocks and yes some of the bedliner has come off. Rear ended a town and country...ended up totalling her car with no scratches on my bumper. That's just my experienced. I have stayed away from there Sliders and winches because of reviews I have read
 
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hhunter050 said:
Personally...my Smittybilt products have been great! I have the XRC MOD front bumper and the flat flares. Both bolted up perfectly and my front bumper has taken a beating. I hit the corners on rocks and yes some of the bedliner has come off. Rear ended a town and country...ended up totalling her car with no scratches on my bumper. That's just my experienced. I have stayed away from there Sliders and winches because of reviews I have read
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If you're happy, that's all that matters
 
I have the Smittybilt mod front bumper, first mod that I got and I was too impatient to look around. It's held up well (minus powder coat which is awful, bedliner every spot now and then for Michigan winters). Would I buy it again, No, there are definitely better. It holds a Warn Zeon and has pulled myself and many others out of deep sticky mud without falling off or showing any issues. I'll remove it and repaint it sometime, but for now its a beater on the front. My friend has their air pump where I have the Viair 300 and speed wise they are comparable, but I wouldn't trust its reliability. Other armor will be Evo sliders and protek etc, buy it once and don't look back.
 
I feel like 4wheelparts has become what the cycle gear has become in the motorcycle world, always pushing their subpar gear. 4 wheel parts from what I've heard owns smithy built and procomp. I'm way more new to off roading than motorcycles but I learned the hard way in both vehicles. I have a smittybuilt bumper tire carrier for my xj, it works great on the road... After a day of wheeling, it's loose, quick turns of the wrenches and all good. I feel like most these guys have budgets that far exceeded mine but for the money, I'm happy with what I have. But it will be replaced when I get more jeep funds
 
Duds0311 said:
I feel like 4wheelparts has become what the cycle gear has become in the motorcycle world, always pushing their subpar gear. 4 wheel parts from what I've heard owns smithy built and procomp. I'm way more new to off roading than motorcycles but I learned the hard way in both vehicles. I have a smittybuilt bumper tire carrier for my xj, it works great on the road... After a day of wheeling, it's loose, quick turns of the wrenches and all good. I feel like most these guys have budgets that far exceeded mine but for the money, I'm happy with what I have. But it will be replaced when I get more jeep funds
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This is a perfect way to put it. All though both companies do sell quality things for the most part its just the lower quality products that they have there on hand.
 
There are better options out there for sure, that said, i'm also happy with my Smittybilt XRC mod front bumper, i bought the bumper 2-3 weeks ago, and i only have had my Jeep for a couple months tops, so i may say i didn't know better, but considering i only paid $350 for the thing brand new at my local 4wp shop with a discount i had, came powercoated black, and i didn't have much issues installing it, i'd say, i don't give a $hit if it's Chinesse or French, it fitted the bill at the time i needed it.

Wife has already tested the bumper learning how to offroad/playing hanging a tire on top of a boulder, so asides from some scuffed powercoating, easily fixed with black rustoleum, i haven't have any issues with the thing, i didn't buy the bumper to win best powercoating job at car shows, or to pulverize rhinos with one hit of the JK nose if i can paint it black when i hit the bumper by mistake or out of necessity without bending/melting or hammering the crap out of the damn thing, it was a good buy for me, if i need to buy something different later on because this one crapped out, it's going to be my loss, really no big deal.

That said, the Smittybilt bumper has been ok so far, i may buy something with more quality for the rear, assuming i can get it at a GOOD price, but if it gets love or no lover from others, i'm really not sweating that part as long as i'm the one forking out the money to pay for it. if somebody wants to be my sponsor, i'll be more than happy to spend somebody else money buying whatever they want/think is good for my vehicle.
 
I have the smittybuilt src front bumper on mine I wanted a stubby but there's a lot of deer up here in maine so I wanted something with a little fender protection it fit great and the textured powder coat has held up really well so far I've had it a couple years now and they salt the road heavily here
 
I have an XRC front bumper, it's actually the second one I've owned (had one on a previous JK). I bought it used, for a screaming deal, but sort of knew what I was in for--I was prepared for poor fitment at install and made adjustments! For what I require of it--a stubby piece of metal where I can mount my winch, and smash into rocks, it's fine. My powder coat has held up fine but I live in UT and keep it garaged. I'd say the bottom line is this: be prepared and realistic, and you won't be disappointed. For some of us younger guys, jeep builds are still pricey! I can look forward to spending $4k on front and rear bumpers when I'm a bit older. As long as you know you're buying stuff that's made in china, you should be fine. Just don't expect USA quality :)
 
finrodfelagund said:
I have an XRC front bumper, it's actually the second one I've owned (had one on a previous JK). I bought it used, for a screaming deal, but sort of knew what I was in for--I was prepared for poor fitment at install and made adjustments! For what I require of it--a stubby piece of metal where I can mount my winch, and smash into rocks, it's fine. My powder coat has held up fine but I live in UT and keep it garaged. I'd say the bottom line is this: be prepared and realistic, and you won't be disappointed. For some of us younger guys, jeep builds are still pricey! I can look forward to spending $4k on front and rear bumpers when I'm a bit older. As long as you know you're buying stuff that's made in china, you should be fine. Just don't expect USA quality :)
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This is the truth.... I see all these awesome builds and just wish I had the money to break my bank lol.

I run the Gear Covers and they aren't terrible. Faded fast.
 
finrodfelagund said:
I have an XRC front bumper, it's actually the second one I've owned (had one on a previous JK). I bought it used, for a screaming deal, but sort of knew what I was in for--I was prepared for poor fitment at install and made adjustments! For what I require of it--a stubby piece of metal where I can mount my winch, and smash into rocks, it's fine. My powder coat has held up fine but I live in UT and keep it garaged. I'd say the bottom line is this: be prepared and realistic, and you won't be disappointed. For some of us younger guys, jeep builds are still pricey! I can look forward to spending $4k on front and rear bumpers when I'm a bit older. As long as you know you're buying stuff that's made in china, you should be fine. Just don't expect USA quality :)
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Wow, 4k in bumpers? I'm old and only spent $650 in bumpers. And it's made in the USA. :)
 
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