Let me first state why I wanted to create this thread. Then I want to plead with everyone to keep it civil. Also I think this thread should be front and center in the forum under "Modified JK Tech" this is were we look to get information about how to modify our Jeeps and what to buy.

The Web has made it so much simpler for people who enjoy our hobby to find, buy, and discuss our selection of after-market products. It has also made it easier for companies who produce the products to quickly design and build everything we need/want. In this environment there are some companies who are literally stealing popular products and re-manufacturing them as their own. This practice is just WRONG.

Now that I have said it, lets understand why this subject is difficult. For many this is an emotional topic that effects us where it counts, in the wallet. I am sure that most people making informed decisions about what products to choose would appreciate more information on this topic. Also I think the vendors on this forum could help us to understand how difficult it is when their hard work is compromised by unscrupulous manufacturers. Personally I want to know how others are affected by what I buy, and I take comfort in being able to support companies that I like. But sometimes we don't have the luxury of choosing what is RIGHT, either because of $ or circumstance. This is where the difficulties reside.

Over the weekend I was commenting on a particular product that I liked and was quickly criticized because there are actually 2 vendors who make virtually the same product and one of them is much cheaper than the other. The item I was talking about is made in USA by a company that we all recognize. The other, cheaper item, is also a vendor we all recognize but it's products are made in China. The statement made was that anyone who would buy the more expensive item must be an idiot (paraphrased). Although I can understand the reason for the comment, I believe that most of us would at least try to support the vendor who originally designed the product and we would shy away from buying anything from the other vendor.

Nobody wants to be called names, and I will not do the same. I would ask that anyone posting here also respect the opinions of others and make your comments without being derogatory. If you have a post to make, please provide some evidence as to why you are calling out a particular vendor. Or just simply ask a question about a product that you are interested in.

My next post will ID some of the products I am talking about.

 

TeraFlex Tire Carrier.

I spoke with the folks at TeraFlex and specifically asked about this product. I know that TF was the first to market with the product and soon a couple other vendors were producing the exact/almost exact same thing. I put in a request to Smittybuilt about their product and never got a reply.

 

Tuffy Concealed Carry under seat drawer.

I think I was one of the first to buy this product for my Jeep back in 2010. It was exactly what I needed. Much to my dismay, about a year later another vendor started producing the same product for less $. Tuffy seems to be the original and the others are just making copies of their work.

 

I get where you are coming from. Truly.

But, like many others, I have to deal with the fact that I need $14,000 in parts and have $10,000 available to get it done with. So, as I started my bill of materials for the 2016 upgrade job (currently going on my garage) and I built that dream sheet... I saw things falling apart pretty quickly. Pretty soon I came to realize that to get where I want to be, corners need cut and dollars need saved.

So then the search goes out again, the phone calls happen again, and I try hard to stay at reasonable quality levels while cutting as much fat from the list as far as prices go as can be done. I know that what fat can't be cut, has to be surgically and forcefully removed by eliminating items that were originally on my build sheet of items needed.

So now I am really effecting the overall completeness and quality of the job. So, I start looking at DIY methods, lower priced brands, used parts, import parts. Whatever I can do to get 14 lbs of shit to fit into a 10 lb bag.

When every dollar counts, sometimes you just flat out don't have the money to stay at the top of field. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, I honestly don't care much what decisions other folks have made. But I get what your saying, and I would love to be able to steer straight to the top and buy all the best, original, most durable Jeep Junk on earth. But then I wouldn't have the baby monster that I'm putting together today!

I'm at the end of my run and it looks like I am about $1000 shy of getting the Jeep back on the tires and ready to go. So I've been selling things that I really didn't want to sell to try and fill this hole.

 

Vision X light cannons. Pretty much have to go with the ripoffs because 850$ for a set of off road lights is rediclous and even if they are not as good if you can get the rip offs for 150$ or less and if they are 75% as good its still a much better deal.

Some times you really want to buy the good stuff but the prices gets crazy on somethings.

 

Interesting thread. I try to buy American made, and do reward the creator of a unique and useful original design --- it is tough and expensive to bring a new product to market. You weigh this up to a point, often the economics are too distorted

I bought a 12" Rigid Lightbar when they first came out for $500, and now see (and bought for a budget truck) a no-name 52" Lightbar for $200 (versus $1000 for a named 52" lightbar). Crazy price difference for similar performance.


I'll suggest : Maxtrax traction recovery boards VS the cheaper imitators.

The https://maxtrax.com.au/maxtrax-mkii/ are the original creation costing $300, and there's now a few imitators out there for half the price ~$150.

and the copy-cats are :

Smittybilt Element Ramps @ Element Ramps - Smittybilt

Maxsa Innovations Escaper Buddy @ Maxsa Innovations Escaper Buddy (Emergency Preparedness) - Walmart.com

 

I completely agree and always try to support the original product designer if possible and I understand that the r&d costs as well as production state side is going to cost me more and I'm cool with that. The only exception to this rule is what I consider price gouging. If a company is first to market with a product and takes advantage by initially setting a crazy high price then I have 0 problem waiting for and purchasing the knockoff once it becomes inevitably available.

 

Dana ultimate 60's are pretty much a rip off of dynatrac.

 

This is a tough one. I agree that it sucks to have a product ripped off. I have a Teraflex tire carrier on my JK and had one on my last JK also. When I bought the first one, there were no other options really for that exact product. I purchased another one a few weeks ago and was happy to see other companies coming out with similar (copy-cat) products. The difference was a few hundred dollars.

Smittybilt has one now that looks like a better option at the adjustable part that holds the tire, for about $500. Tactic (no idea where this company came from) has one similar that is a dollar less. I didn't really look into the tactik carrier because it seems like everything this company has is a rip off of something else, like their front bumper is a rip off of the 10a, rubi x, hardrock bumper and so on.

To be honest it is a good thing for other companies to make similar products. There is always room for improvement and other companies can take a design and improve what needed to be improved and market it. For me the adjustable piece of the Teraflex tire carrier has always been not so great, and the smittybilt 3 bolt way seems better (just from looking at the pics).
Should the teraflex tire carrier cost $700? No way. but they had the market by the balls for a while.
There were other options for hinges before but after reading up on the quality, it seemed like a no brainer to go with the Teraflex before.

In the end you can't say don't build a similar product because something was done first. There would be no options for anything. The first person to invent the pen doesn't own the rights to be the only person to make pens. Same with any other product. Will Teraflex lower the price of the tire carrier now? Probably not, the can lean on the "we were the first and best" for a while. But I have a feeling people are going to look at two very similar products and choose the one that's $200 and does the exact same thing.

Just my 2 cents.

 

I don't believe many set out looking for/wanting to buy knock-off or inferior products. I think it's when they start really searching and find out they either can't afford what they've been wanting or see a similar product for much less that they do buy the alternative product. Many people, much like myself, are impatient; especially when it comes to jeep parts. That being said I have a product I believe is extremely overpriced, mainly because they are the only ones (that I know of) to offer the product: The pandemic Flush mount Tail light kit. Even the resistor they sell to stop the fast-blinking is outrageous. They sell it for $20 and it's the exact same one I just bought from Amazon for $4.

Edit: I forgot to add that I've reached out to a local fab shop that's been around for a while but has just started gaining popularity due to social media and he said he will producing them soon. He was amazed at how much the price was compared to the materials and ease of production.
The fab shop I'm referring to is named
FMJ Offroad. I'm not exactly fond of a lot of their style, but they do awesome work and have some pretty good skills.