Are there any reputable suppliers out there?

[Timmmmmy]

So I have been looking at putting a 3" lift kit on my 89 Metric Ton 4X4.

 

I ordered a Motion Offroad kit, waited a few months, found out they went bust. Terrible experience. Visa will bail me out but the lost time and lies from Motion really chapped my @$$. I didn't thoroughly check into the company before buying, paid the price.

 

After looking into the companies that sell lifts and components it seems they are all a little questionable. Rough Country, Rocky Road, Rusty's, Hells Creek, seems like people have negative/possitive things to say about all of them. Some worse than others but it's a big purchase, been burned once, would like to have the next purchase go smoother when I'm ready to buy.

 

Here are the kits I'm looking at, if they don't have track bars, sway bar links or control arms I will be buying those too:

 

Rusty's 3" Lift:

http://www.rustysoffroad.com/jeep-suspe ... f-kit.html

 

Rough Country 3" Lift:

http://www.roughcountry.com/jeep_mj_3.html

 

Hells Creek 3" Lift:

http://www.hellcreeksuspensions.com/ Can't link to the kit but it's the 3" coils and add-a-leaf

 

Old Man Emu Kit: (Rocky Road has best prices)

OME coils, shocks, Rough Country add-a-leafs, misc parts to complete lift.

http://www.rocky-road.com/xjome.html

 

BDS 3" Comanche lift: (Most complete kit, not much info about company reviews)

http://bds-suspension.com/product?kid=440H

 

So what do you all think? I know add-a-leafs arn't ideal but this is a daily driver that will not be seeing serious off roading, logging roads and getting into camp/fishing spots only. I just want a reliable lift, timely delivery, and decent customer service... Too much to ask for?

 

Thanks for the input, Ryan.

[AMCJeepMJ]

Just wanted to toss out there that I have ordered from Rocky Road a few times and have never had a problem. Orders were received within a week of being placed and items received work just fine.

 

My $.02.

[shelbyluvv]

I can say that Rocky Road is garbage and the owner (Glenn Wakefield) is a crook. Stay away from them at all costs.

 

If you can afford it BDS is about the best kit on the market for an out of the box lift.

 

I personally prefer to build my own lift kits from different vendors.

[Timmmmmy]

Alright thanks for the input. I have a bit of time to save up and do some research. After talking to some people on here is sounds like add-a-leafs really are not a good option. I have heard good things about BDS, but the comanche kit is an add a leaf none the less.

 

I really just need to be able to fit my 31"s on the truck. It was suggested that buying new New Metric Ton leaf springs and adding the teraflex shackles I should be able to achieve the lift I need in the rear and avoid using add-a-leafs.

 

Anyway, when i do purchase a lift and have a good experience I'll try and post about it. You really only hear about the bad experiences.

[Blue88Comanche]

I bought the Metric Ton springs from Hell Creek and they gave me about 3 inches of lift, and plenty of room for my 31x10.5 tires. the thing with Hell creek is they make their springs, so if they need to put an order in for some steel then you will be waiting a few weeks, but at least you know for sure they are only days old when you get them.

[Incommando]

Unfortunately our sport is rife with people trying to rip us off and who provide crappy customer service. This is far worse in the 4x world than in the drag racing world, for example. Before I do business with anyone anymore I google their rep. "XXXXXX reviews" or "xxxxxx sucks" searches often turn up interesting info.

 

Rocky Road has a pretty spotty history with far too many reports of rip-off's and really crappy customer service if anything goes wrong for me to do business with them. I know one person who has been in a nearly $1K dispute with them for years and have talked to others burnt by them.

 

Hellcreek is a upstanding company. I like them. But they only make rear springs. The rest of their kits are drop shipped from Rough Country and, if they are messed up, guess who you have to deal with? Ask me how I know this....

 

Rough Country has such poor customer service that the best thing their cheerleaders can say is that they give you free stuff to make up for their mess ups. Not in my case. I ordered one of their kits through Hellcreek and parts were missing. They would not deal with Hellcreek when they tried to help me on this and I had to do it direct. They said they no longer include those parts despite the ad saying they were included. I think that is BS but apparently I did it wrong because I got no free stuff to make up for them being, to me, liars in their ad. Many people joke that their springs are aptly named for their ride : "Rough". That was true of the 4.5" MJ kit I got from them

 

Old Man Emu products have a fantastic rep but you have to be careful who you order your stuff through...see above stories.

 

Did not use Performance Off Road Center/PORC/ Cheap off road parts /discount offroad parts. They are all the same guy and mainly they do business on Ebay. Tens of thousands of $$$ in reported thefts from them and they got thrown off of Pirate for it. They make Motion look upstanding. Ballistic Fabrication is another group who promises everything and deliver almost nothing.

 

These people http://www.trailquest.com have treated me very well over the years and I try to use them whenever I can.

 

Morris4x4 has also been good to me. Yes, they REALLY messed up an order one time but they bent over backwards to make it right including free expedited shipping on the correct items and paying to ship the wrong stuff back.

 

http://www.ok4wd.com has many satisfied customers on some boards I frequent but I have never used them myself.

 

4wd.com, 4wdhardware, 4wd parts,etc... are all the same company ( Transamerican Auto Parts) and they specialize in buying established brands and then replacing the quality parts with cheap chinese knock-offs. Customer service reports are spotty.

 

Don't forget to check larger non-4x4 specific sites Jegs and Summit Racing as they carry some off-road items and universal performance parts and they are generally cheaper along with cheap shipping. They both seem pretty good for rims, for example.

 

31's are not hard to fit on an MJ. Rear shackles and front puck spacers will get it done for cheap while retaining whatever ride you have now.

[jakeWI]

I don't like the idea of AAL kits. Had one, sucked because you need to have good leafs to begin with.

 

Rocky Road has a terrible string of customer service and I heard high shipping like Rustys.

 

Rough Country has had parts issues but always willing to make it right.

 

BDS has nice parts.

 

I have a set of Metric Ton Springs, but I don't know if I want to ship to Canada.

[knever3]

I have Hell Creek rear leafs and BDS shocks. I called BDS to get info on their line for the Comanche and they were VERY knowledgeable and helpful to get me the right parts. They have a Comanche specific 3" system, full rear leaf packs, front springs and 4 shocks. They also have a you break it and they replace it for life policy. I'm very happy with their parts and service.

 

 

[Timmmmmy]

Awesome! Thanks so much for taking the time to post all the info and pics, all of you. I will be taking note of these companies and putting a lift together. Its scary placing orders worth almost $1000 dollars when your only options are questionable companies. You guys have eased my mind a little.

 

I am now thinking of going new Metric Ton Leafs and tera-flex shackles for the rear, BDS 3" coils for the front, BDS shocks, Track bar, LC Arms etc from Hells creek with the MT Leafs order.

 

I'm exited, feeling confident this is a good way to go.

 

For shocks I have heard good things about Blisteen. Any one feel strongly about them over BDS?

 

Thanks, Ryan

[xjrev10]

My front suspension is Iron Rock Offroad parts. Coils, LCAs, Double Shear Track Bar.

 

Rear leafs from Hell Creek. I waited 6 weeks for them, but the wait was definately worth it. Just make sure you paint them as soon as you take delivery. I used the 3" lift springs.

[ODrab88Mj]

I totally agree on the Rocky Road Lift. I paid 1 grand waited for 2 1/2 months for the complete kit, parts were missing. And after numerous calls they kept telling me waiting on parts I call bs. Finally decided to return the kit after I have called several times to get the last part to complete the kit. Its was a friggin brakeline extension thats all I needed and they told me I should've purchased one locally....really?!?! Why the hell would I pay that much money for a kit I can't install due to one missing part. Seriously avoid the hassle if you can. I am just gonna fab and piece together my own kit. :headpop:

[skidoo_j]

 

4wd.com, 4wdhardware, 4wd parts,etc... are all the same company ( Transamerican Auto Parts) and they specialize in buying established brands and then replacing the quality parts with cheap chinese knock-offs. Customer service reports are spotty.

 

You're saying they commit fraud by substituting counterfeit parts and selling them as the originals?

 

 

 

I've ordered from rusty's in the past. Between two vehicles and a few orders there was one mis-shipped item, they corrected it with a bit of discussion and argument over who was paying for shipment of wrong part sent and correct part, I did win after I threatened to let my Credit card debate payment. I've been happy with their products, they've seemed well built and hold up fine. My brother has been running a rusty's setup for 5+ yrs. I however think their shipping prices are crazy and if you shop around alot of times their shipping price makes them more expensive then jks or bds. I've seen they now sell comanche specific lift kits, I'd be cautious of their rear leaf packs, they seem like they may not be made well, when i called to find out specs they couldn't provide them at the time.

 

I've ordered from quadratec, nothing but praise. Ruffstuffspecialities again praise.

And most recently 4wd.com. Their shipping was free, I received a discount, purchased JKS arms (after shipping less than rusty's), i received 90% in 3 days and did receive communication regarding status of the remaining.

 

I ordered parts from JCR and they were drilled incorrectly, I contacted them and sent dozens of photos to illustrate the incorrect holes, was told "we sell 100's of those a day and you're the first to tell us they have problems, maybe a comanche is different" I modified them my self and made them work then later found 4 other people who had the same issue, they however never contacted JCR. So i took the liberty and wrote them again with the order numbers of the friends who had same issue and never heard back. It's possible their jig had shifted since it was originally laid out.

 

I would not have a problem ordering from any of the companies in my past personal purchase history. They've made a few errors, but they did correct them. I'm just persistent.

[mountainman]

anyone have experience with "brown_family_sales" on ebay?

He only has one negative feedback so i thought i was safe.

 

He shows a nice steel 2 inch spacer and super heavy duty shackle for the rear and the price is very good.

So i payed for it on 6-18 and its been a nightmare to get him to communicate.

He replied and said he had a family issue. I still don't have my parts and he said hed ship within 5 days. THEN had the family issue. So I'm being patient but... dude why post $#!& for sale if you don't either have it ready to ship or don't plan on working on it for... a MONTH? and then take 5-10 days at a time before replying?

Just write me and refund my money.

[HOrnbrod]

Just open a case against the seller and report him. If you don't get your $$ or your item from the seller within seven days Ebay will refund your money.

[mountainman]

Thats the only issue. He gave a delivery date of aug 3-5.Claiming he has to "make" the part.

So i emailed right when i payed and said... is that for real? or do you usually get em done quicker.

He said... 5 days it will ship.

 

BUT by ebay rules he has until those dates to deliver.

Yet.... i think that puts me past the resolution center date? never had this issue before so I'm feelin like a newb.

Just don't want to get juked. I'm sure ebay will stand by my side if i don't get my parts, but... i don't know.

[HOrnbrod]

You have up to 45 days after the sale to open a case.

[Automan2164]

I've gotten dicked by eBay. Buyer beware. I had a seller not communicate, or ship... Had to wait x number of days, then x number of days for them to respond, then another email... Long story short, it took me near a couple months, and when eBay finally got their $#!& together, the seller had closed their account that the paypal was attached to, and they couldn't get my money back. Even bigger joke was trying to call them. 2-3 hours on hold, never talking to a person.

 

Rob

[mountainman]

Filed a case today. BENT. he says hes still having "major" family issues. I understand, thats fine. But you don't allow your fam issues to affect your buyers. You refund their money. Which he says he can't do now... WTF?

So we shall see how it plays out.

[HOrnbrod]

Sounds like you ran into a tool BS seller. It happens, just as it does in real life. As long as the seller responds to the Ebay emails related to the case it could go on ad nauseaum. 99% of the Ebay sellers, especially with a close to 100% number of positive feedbacks are honorable. Hopefully you checked this out before you made your purchase. I've had no probs like yours in the 12+ years I've been buying and selling on Ebay. Lucky I guess. :eek:

[mountainman]

Me either. Same here... no issues till now. He has ONE bad feedback out of like 50 sales. Figured that was solid.