~Official Southern Style Offroad Group Buy~

I'm a little behind all you happy folks but... "Your product has begun fabrication and is currently in the hands of our talented welders. After welding is finished, it will go to a grinding stage where it will be cleaned and polished ready for shipment or powder coat"

 

The eagle has landed.

 

WHAT !!!!!

 

He's #8 on the list

 

I'm #88. Original post said 10-12 weeks. It's week 13 and #8 just received their bumper. They must be backed up.

 

Semi-pro tip:

These are on sale (and will lower your swears per minute ratio for winch installation).
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-1...rench-Set-SAE-6-Piece-H100DRW6PCSAE/206034120

 

Do you need a spline drive for the winch installation ?

 

The 5/8 ratcheting wrench helps a ton. Other than that you need beer, patience, and tiny hands would be helpful.

 

Need beer.

 

Bored today so I tried to prototype how I'm going to attach my front plate. Don't really like the idea of the flip up holders and think this might be at least semi-legal. I'll use some bar stock without pre-drilled holes and paint it up before the final install. Anyone else try something like this?

 

Was order #13, got my bumper delivered yesterday. Looks great so far. Will install this week.

 

For those looking for a winch, eBay has the Smittybilts for pretty cheap.

https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/233262799297

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Smittybilt...a=0&pg=2332490&_trksid=p2332490.c100889.m5204

 

Oh my God. I’m so ready!
It’s on its way!

 

Just saw you guys talking about the smittybilt 98510 and here it is on eBay I just paid $431 shipped.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Smittybilt-X2O-10-GEN2-Comp-Series-Winch-98510/183992184255?epid=1030925337

 

Check your hardware when it arrives. I'm currently waiting on my second delivery of replacements for incorrect parts...

 

I just installed mine and had to use factory nuts and bolts because everything was the wrong pitch and I was worried I would break those studs off of the truck. The fender supports were also two different sizes where they bolt to the bumper and the instructions show two of the same size bolt. So I also need to get new bolts to go through the fenders because I used those to mount the supports. Kinda frustrating but it's on!

 

This is pretty much exactly what I dealt with. I've been trying to keep composure and not go online throwing a fit but I am extremely frustrated. So the following rant is AFTER I've calmed down:

Unfortunately, I was not as smart as you. When I initially removed the flange bolts from the frame studs they were very tight and took some work, even with the impact wrench. So, I just assumed that they were also difficult to put on and used the impact wrench and then had to use a torque wrench to get the inside bolts tight. Then I started having trouble with the outside nuts and ended with one stripped and one broken. I should have stopped and realized the thread pitch was off but I didn't think the hardware would be incorrect and, again, the original nuts were very difficult to get off.

I inquired via email (12/27) with lots of pictures and they said it was incorrect hardware, apologized, and sent replacement. I asked about replacing all 6 frame bolts since the threads were probably ruined (and I wouldn't feel comfortable using a winch with them) and also about how I was supposed to weld in new bolts, which i wouldn't be able to do on my own. The president, Kevin, replied that it would be very simple to break the factory bolts free by hitting them back and forth and that the new bolts would not need to be welded.

While I waited for my new hardware and stressed out about this, I stopped by a local 4x4/Offroad shop and explained the situation. They gave me an estimate of 6 hours @ $125/hour to replace all 6 bolts.

Received a new bag of hardware (including 11 replacement frame bolts and 6 mismatched washers and random extra nuts) on 1/31.
Spent a full day "very easily" beating the shit out of 5 of the bolts and using a Dremel and drill to remove the broken one. This was awful. By the time they were all removed the frame plate was nowhere near flat. Installing the bumper to the new, unsecured, bolts was a whole other ordeal. Luckily the frame plate on the inside was bent the least so I was able to attach the bumper to those 2 bolts. The outside bolts were not so easy but eventually it worked out and all 6 bolts were secured and the frame plate was straightened out flush.

I think this whole ordeal is finally over and the last thing I had to do was add the fender support brackets... Well, one of those is incorrect as well. I sent another email reply to our thread (1/2). I didn't go into the above part, just sent more pictures and explanation of another incorrect part.

The reply from Lee: "Will get those out tomorrow to you"

Nothing else. Then I get a Fed-Ex shipping notification for 1/8 by 8pm.

I reply with a screenshot of the Fed-ex: "Is it a problem to drive on the highway without the brackets? (If I'm replacing parts for the second time for a customer that's in the middle of installing I would have probably sent priority...I probably would have made a little more effort apologizing too, but I guess that's just me.)"

Reply (now Margen): "That label was actually express 2-day. So we were trying to send it priority, but since that was not up to you standard, I have made a new label for overnight. It leaves out today."

That's it.
By the way, that tracking says delivery by 1/6 at 8pm.

Pics to follow.



*I want to be clear, this bumper is awesome. I did extensive research before purchasing (and installing...). The GB price was great. Supporting a smaller company, great. Seemed like they had excellent customer service--there's a bunch of posts on one of the threads here where someone's bull bar was just a little off and they recalled his and everyone else's made from that jig. I've read a lot of good things about their products and customer service--but I'm certainly not impressed with the handling of my situation. If my bumper wasn't already cut, this would be going back.

 

Pics:


Incorrect nut and broken bolt.


Stripped frame bolt.


factory vs new w/incorrect thread



frame plate after breaking 2/3 bolts


other side





Incorrect fender bracket

 

Yeah that's lame. That's a ton more work than it should have been. I'm not trying to victim blame here or anything, but please never install anything with an impact gun again! Always hand thread stuff on!

 

The time is nigh. Tomorrow, we see if it bolts up.