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My Experience With CBI Offroad

Discussion in 'Vendor Reviews' started by fullsend604, Sep 22, 2022.

  1. Oct 12, 2022 at 6:30 AM
    #141
    Off Topic Guy

    Off Topic Guy 2023 Trophy Points - Runner Up

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    If the option is on the table for a full refund/replacement at no cost to you, I'd do that; mainly, because I don't think you'll ever be happy with them, and at the end of the day, thats okay. If it were me, I'd crawl my fat ass under my truck with a 12mm, 14mm, and 3/4" wrenches and make the minor adjustments needed to "probably" fix your issues. I can't see under your truck, so I can't confirm, but 'most' sliders that are mass produced typically have elongated vertical holes for adjustability, as you can see in the picture you shared earlier. I know you have tons of trust in your shop, and thats fine too. Some of us however tend to think that if you want things done right, you do it yourself. I understand thats not always possible, but if you have any understanding of how a wrench works, I'd highly recommend loosening all nuts (not completely) and seeing if there's any adjustment/wiggle that you can squeeze out of them to get that front off the pinch weld. Pic attached is reference to those elongated mounting holes I was talking about; disregard the missing parts circled in red.
    [​IMG]
     
    JoeCOVA likes this.
  2. Oct 19, 2022 at 4:19 PM
    #142
    fullsend604

    fullsend604 [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2018
    Member:
    #275855
    Messages:
    193
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tacoma TRD Sport 4x4 DCLB
    Yukon 5.29 gears, Eaton ELocker, 315/70R17 Falken Wildpeak AT3W, Bilstein 6112/5160, Icon RXT leaf pack, OVTune 5.29/reg tune
    Update: After a lot of emails, photos and videos, CBI is going to send out a replacement free of charge because their welders looked and confirmed it is defective. They also said for whatever reason if the replacement is unsatisfactory I will be getting a full refund and I do not have to pay to return the defective product. I made sure I had this in writing so they can’t pull a fast one on me.

    Originally they were going to make me wait but I told them I already waited 8 weeks initially to receive the defective product and another 2 weeks from the installs due to the missing hardware and fitment issues so if it’s going to be another month I’d rather just do the return/refund because I’m not comfortable rock crawling my truck without sliders especially when it’s a long bed with only 2” lift on 33s. I can pick up a set from a local company for $500 less and no shipping charge. They claim they are giving me another customer’s unit (can’t confirm if this is true or not) to speed up the process.

    It seems like they really want me to keep these and are going go make this right after all the fuss and rightly so, I think it’s fair for customer to ask for none defective product. At this point I have nothing to lose since I can still get a refund if it doesn’t work out.

    TLDR: don’t bend over and take it dry from these companies when they make mistakes they should restore the buyer’s confidence on their dime, not yours.
     
    Last edited: Oct 19, 2022
  3. Oct 19, 2022 at 4:27 PM
    #143
    fullsend604

    fullsend604 [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2018
    Member:
    #275855
    Messages:
    193
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tacoma TRD Sport 4x4 DCLB
    Yukon 5.29 gears, Eaton ELocker, 315/70R17 Falken Wildpeak AT3W, Bilstein 6112/5160, Icon RXT leaf pack, OVTune 5.29/reg tune
    I tried adjusting them to lower the front however the problem with this was that it creates a gap at the front between the slider frame and the bottom of the truck frame. Also there is one 14mm bolt that needs to be tightened at the bottom which goes up into the cross member. When tightening this 14mm bolt, it pushes the slider up against the truck frame therefore pushing up the front into the pinch weld again. I had a very mechanically inclined friend help me with this and after 2 hours and 6 pack of beer the only way we can get it to clear is to not tighten the 14mm bolt at the bottom and leaving the slider hang lower. I don’t think it’s wise to leave that bolt loose because it secures the driver’s side cross member and it would probably fall out over time if left loose.

    The passenger side doesn’t have this issue. Torqued the bottom 14mm bolt tight and it still clears with plenty of room. CBI’s welders looked at the photos/videos I provided and confirmed it is defective and they will be making me a new one so now it’s back to the waiting game. I will be installing the replacement myself and my friend is willing to let me borrow his garage and tools.
     
    Last edited: Oct 19, 2022
  4. Oct 19, 2022 at 4:32 PM
    #144
    JoeCOVA

    JoeCOVA Well-Known Member

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    Glad to see it’s close to resolution.
     
    fullsend604[OP] likes this.
  5. Oct 19, 2022 at 4:34 PM
    #145
    Mark77

    Mark77 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
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    2021 White TRD Off-road
    Nothing yet
    My cali rased came perfect, all hardware included. Check em.

    Also, i actually USE my sliders, as rock sliders, good to go.
     
    MGMDesertTaco[QUOTED] likes this.
  6. Oct 19, 2022 at 4:52 PM
    #146
    fullsend604

    fullsend604 [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2018
    Member:
    #275855
    Messages:
    193
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tacoma TRD Sport 4x4 DCLB
    Yukon 5.29 gears, Eaton ELocker, 315/70R17 Falken Wildpeak AT3W, Bilstein 6112/5160, Icon RXT leaf pack, OVTune 5.29/reg tune
    I should also mention I was credited the amount I had to pay the shop for the install due to the missing hardware after showing receipt. I wasn’t even going to mention it but I feel that credit should be given where it’s due.

    They didn’t have to but they just went the extra mile. Money is still money regardless which way you look at it and by them doing so they have restored my buying confidence and this time I dealt with their warranty manager instead of some random guy who just ignored me before.

    All in all, lessons were learned. Don’t be like me and check all hardware and do the work yourself if you have access to garage and tools but most importantly don’t bend over to take it dry from companies when they make mistakes! Hopefully the replacement will be solid because they are pretty nice looking.
     
  7. Oct 19, 2022 at 5:01 PM
    #147
    fullsend604

    fullsend604 [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2018
    Member:
    #275855
    Messages:
    193
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tacoma TRD Sport 4x4 DCLB
    Yukon 5.29 gears, Eaton ELocker, 315/70R17 Falken Wildpeak AT3W, Bilstein 6112/5160, Icon RXT leaf pack, OVTune 5.29/reg tune
    I actually like the Cali Raised design the best, shame I didn’t choose them in the first place because I found out about them after.

    When the slider frame is one solid piece if it doesn’t sit flush with the truck frame it can cause fitment issues since the Tacoma frame is not perfectly flat. Their slider frame is not 1 solid piece from front to back and only contacts where it needs to so there is more room for adjustment and I like how their step plate is not welded on but screwed on so it is interchangeable and they offer a grippy material for it for wet/snow seasons.
     
    CaliRaisedLed likes this.
  8. Oct 19, 2022 at 5:04 PM
    #148
    Ross4x4

    Ross4x4 Well-Known Member

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    Mesa , Az
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    2014 DCSB Silver TRD Offroad
    Don't have time to read this shitstorm but I've had bad personal experiences with customer service with CBI. When I was first ordering parts I recognized them as a reputable company but wanted to rip my hair out and return everything by the time I was done. Ive been watching them give parts to their buddies and doing give aways while they have absurd lead times and just kinda makes me crack up. 2nd gen DCSB 0 degree sliders also hit the pinch weld but on both sides and was given the same "resolutions" lol.
     
  9. Oct 19, 2022 at 6:26 PM
    #149
    fullsend604

    fullsend604 [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2018
    Member:
    #275855
    Messages:
    193
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tacoma TRD Sport 4x4 DCLB
    Yukon 5.29 gears, Eaton ELocker, 315/70R17 Falken Wildpeak AT3W, Bilstein 6112/5160, Icon RXT leaf pack, OVTune 5.29/reg tune
    Sorry to hear you had a similar buying experience. I find with companies like these you really have to press them in order to get what you want. It’s not like Amazon where I press a button and within a minute a representative is ringing my phone trying to resolve the issue. Things are finally close to resolution after dealing with warranty manager because she was “not in the office” at first.

    That being said it was 3 weeks worth of hassle and dicking around on top of 8 weeks I waited to get the sliders in the first place and now waiting again for the replacement they are sending out due to defective product.

    Overall not a pleasant experience but just glad I came out not having to take the loss. The buyer should never have to take the loss if the mistake is on the seller’s behalf. That’s why if I am usually buying from a local shop I will leave a deposit and I won’t pay the remaining balance until all boxes are ticked but in this case I bought directly from CBI.

    If I really wanted to be a dick I can still get a refund after I receive the replacement if I am not satisfied with fitment and I have that in writing from CBI.

    Just don’t bend when they try to offer you “their solutions” at first because they will most likely take the most cost effective way out to benefit them from a business perspective and not you.
     
  10. Oct 20, 2022 at 6:11 AM
    #150
    Off Topic Guy

    Off Topic Guy 2023 Trophy Points - Runner Up

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    Sounds like its all been resolved to your satisfaction, pending new set fitment being okay. Glad to hear!
     
    fullsend604[OP] likes this.
  11. Oct 20, 2022 at 6:33 AM
    #151
    Merling

    Merling Well-Known Member

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    NH
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    2021 Black Tacoma TRD OR
    RCI IFS Skid Eibach Stage 2 Explore Overland Sliders
    Seems to be the trend in all aspects lately. Rude being the norm socially, sadly.

    I had similar with the "premiere new england shop" which just adds to consumer mistrust towards mechanics
     
  12. Nov 9, 2022 at 7:18 PM
    #152
    fullsend604

    fullsend604 [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2018
    Member:
    #275855
    Messages:
    193
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tacoma TRD Sport 4x4 DCLB
    Yukon 5.29 gears, Eaton ELocker, 315/70R17 Falken Wildpeak AT3W, Bilstein 6112/5160, Icon RXT leaf pack, OVTune 5.29/reg tune
    November 9th, 2022 Update: Well guys I thought the 3rd time would be the charm but unfortunately my time was wasted again. Received the replacement unit but it has the same issue as before, front of slider pushes into the pinch weld no matter how we try to adjust it. The replacement has worse fitment than the original because it hits the pinch weld before I even tighten the 14mm bolt all the way to push it upward into the truck frame and is more off angle vs the original unit..

    CBI's email advised me they were going to make me a brand new adjusted one in order to fit but it turns out they just sent me another guy's order so it's the exact same as the first if not worse. The rattle against the pinch weld on every bump is annoying and I've decided I don't want to beat it back with a hammer because I don't see a reason to as my previous 2 Tacomas didn't have this issue.

    I have dropped them off to be shipped back to CBI for a full refund because after all the tries I'm just over it at this point and would like to try a different brand, really hoped it would work out but it is what it is. Grateful they are at least refunding me the money. Mods may please close this thread, thank you TW for all the helpful responses.

    Driver's side
    [​IMG]

    Passenger side
    [​IMG]
     
    Merling likes this.
  13. Nov 10, 2022 at 7:50 AM
    #153
    Merling

    Merling Well-Known Member

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    NH
    Vehicle:
    2021 Black Tacoma TRD OR
    RCI IFS Skid Eibach Stage 2 Explore Overland Sliders
    What a bummer:/
     
  14. Nov 10, 2022 at 9:32 AM
    #154
    TacoTyusday

    TacoTyusday Well-Known Member

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    San Diego
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    That's really unfortunate to have spent all that time and effort for it not to work out, sorry man :( maybe they adjusted it in the wrong direction lol. Hopefully the next company works out.
     
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