Brands brands and more brands

[Warthog]

So was thinking, yes dangerous round here. Anyway back in the day everyone wanted ranch stuff, skyjacker was popular then super lift and procomp, rough country was the rage for a spell. Now there’s several new companies ect. I’ve noticed the older brands tend to get slammed as each new brand comes out. Got a cousin with superlift another with skyjacker, brother had rough country on his gladiator and I used rough country on a commander. Using rubico now only because they were the only company I could find where I can piece mill my kits. Do have rough country on the yj but rub on mj and xj. Asked my cousin who’s been a jeeper since the 70’s who makes the best or who is good. His reply was all of em now are. I get some are brand loyal, some like to brag about how much their kit cost which tends to make me think they are dumbass’. I know every company will have a dud product depending on if John, Jain or Han was workin the machines. Rub was being touted as one of the best but have noticed it’s beginners to get slammed like rc. Personally I think rc is as good as any. Big difference is what shocks are being used. Mono vs dual tube, nitrogen vs whatever is popular at the moment. I do believe the add leaf kits are sub par compared to full leafs. A lot of the stuff in each company’s kits are manufactured by other sources which means many kits have the same components just a different badge. The cut this topic some I wanted to know your favorite brands and why. Also why you dislike what brands. I also would like first hand knowledge not I heard from a guy who heard from a guy ect. No hearsay. And no slamming just to slam or because it’s cheap. Back in the day cheap guitars were junk and you couldn’t play em cause the action was impossible wouldn’t stay in tune ect. Now there are tons of cheap guitars that are awesome! Was a professional musician for years and years and would use cheaper guitars in rough joints as I wasn’t gonna take $5000 guitars into some place they could get broken. Thanks

[schardein]

I see ads on FB slamming Rancho shocks.

 

I put brand new Rancho 2.5" lift springs and RS9000 adjustable shocks on my CJ7 back in 1998.  It rode and flexed great, comparable to the Old Man Emu YJ swap that gets so many raves now, except it was a much easier install and cheaper to boot.  I've now switched to OME springs, and they flex slightly better, but the ride isn't any better.  The Rancho CJ springs were excellent.  I still run Rancho 9000 shocks.

 

Rancho also used to make a 1" lift replacement spring for early CJ5s (55-71) and, I believe, flat fender Jeeps.  They no longer make them, which is to bad.  I see wanted ads every once in a while, people are still looking for them.  I have a set on my 67 CJ5.

 

These days, if someone asks about CJ suspension, Rancho doesn't even come up.

 

But I don't know if the quality of a spring today will match what it was 25-30 years ago, even from the same company.  They are resellers, they don't manufacture springs, and their supplier has probably changed over the decades.

 

It also reminds me of Smittybilt, which used to be a respected company.  They mainly produced one piece, completely welded roll bars (also tube bumpers, cage kits, tow bars, etc).  You could get a roll bar with a triple main hoop and double down tubes for full size trucks.  Yeah it was an 80s thing, but they were well made.   I had a catalog back in the 80s and wish I still had it, to see if they had applications for Comanches.  I put a double/single Smittybilt roll bar in my 78 Chevy back in 1986. These days, I'm not sure if Smittybilt is still considered a top tier company.