CRS RockRail install party

dog_party · **Posted:** Mon Apr 03, 2006 2:59 pm

Carolina Rock Shop (CRS) RockRail install party, Charlotte, NC, Saturday, April 1, 2006

5 LOST KJs descended on the CRS headquarters from the surrounding hills this past Saturday (April 1st, 2006). The three from the north (Uvalax, Ugg, and me) gathered at a Waffle House outside Raleigh, NC at 7AM...you know, to gas up before the trip. ;-)

During the 2 hour convoy, we battled a fuel stop (where finding the automotive diesel nozzle was like looking for Waldo), Uvalax's randomly cooperative speedometer, and a little bit of traffic (yes mother, riding that guy's bumper DID make me feel better).

Through it all, we endured the horrible hardships of driving 2 hours in glorious 70 degree weather, and finally made it to the CRS building in Charlotte, NC (had to whip through traffic to get turned acrss South Blvd, but we all had out of state tags, so nobody batted an eye).

We pulled in on the wrong side of the building though, so we got a little off-roading in over the curb to go around to, what we like to call, "The Correct Side" of the building. Thanks for the spotting Richard. :-)

I have to say, the guys at Carolina Rock Shop couldn't be nicer. The shop is an incredible space filled with CJs, ZJs, XKs, custom buggies, axle/tire combos that had us all drooling, enough source steel to build a skyscraper, welders, grinders, and, for the day, our LOST KJs.

Lou checked it all out and made sure everything was well sniffed. After he ensured that there weren't any stray pieces of food laying around, he proceeded to make friends with everyone at the place. I was worried about having to keep him outside and out of everyone's way, but everyone loved him. I think everyone took at least one moment to bend down and pet little Lou and make him feel welcome. Thanks for making Lou feel so welcome everybody!

Lou checking out a row of CRS KJ RockRails (with slider bars).

Fireman and Benmar were already there when our VA gang arrived (Waffle House took longer than we planned...what can ya do?) Their trucks were already done, so my KJ went on the rack as soon as we got there.

While my truck was still on the rack, they started welding Uvalax's rails on.

And as soon as the welds were done, Ugg's went onto the rack.

When the day was done the VA crew went to the restaurant recommended by the CRS guys. It was just down the road and, IIRC they called it a "Yuppie biker bar." There were a bunch of bikes there, and a bunch of yuppies, so I think they really hit the nail on the head. It was actually a BBQ joint called Mac's. The BBQ was good and the atmosphere was like any good BBQ joint ya go to. In other words the wooden chairs, tables and floors weren't distressed by an architectural artist with a chain, but by a thousand customers coming and going and maybe a few biker fights. The CRS guys ended up taking the table right next to ours, so we had another chance to chat with them and then another chance to say goodbye when they left just before us.

It wasn't until after they left that our waitress came up and said, "You all know you're all taken care of...right? Those guys paid for you."

Props, kudos, blessings, tidings, and good forture to all the guys at CRS. They welcomed the LOST KJ gang in with smiles and great hospitality. They put our rails on in an amazingly short time and without complaint (and without any anti-KJ slander). After it was all done, they pointed us to their favorite watering hole and then topped the whole day off by paying for our lunch. Great group of guys. I will be going back.

After filling our bellies once again, we all headed home.

All in all, I think everyone had a good time. It was officially an unofficial Carolina LOST meet & greet and it was a BLAST! I really enjoyed meeting you Ben, Allen, Richard, Mike and Linda (or whatever she's calling herself today. ;-)

). And Lou enjoyed meeting everyone too!

The CRS RockRails (with slider bars)

The CRS RockRails installed

krazz1e · **Posted:** Mon Apr 03, 2006 3:16 pm

they look very clean and hd.

BTW that's a nice rack!!

snowsport · **Joined:** Tue Oct 18, 2005 11:52 pm **Posts:** 1211

That's a great story! Thanks for the pics. Those look like very beefy rails. Get 'em dirty!

fireman1028 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 03, 2006 3:26 pm

Dog,
Sorry I couldn't hang around any longer than I did, but you got to go when business calls.

I enjoyed meeting everyone and can't wait for this weekend to try out my new (blue) rails in Uwharrie.

Have fun on your honeymoon and I look forward to seeing everyone in the very near future (Coal Creek).

Allen

dog_party · **Posted:** Mon Apr 03, 2006 3:53 pm

It's all good Allen. You and Ben need to go back and have a bite at Mac's though, if you have never had their food. That was an experience!

I forgot to mention in the original post that both Benmar and Fireman had a HD paint applied to their rails. It was supposed to turn out grey, but it was a bit bluish...it was still grey...kinda. Unfortunately, I stupidly didn't take any picts of those rails on either of their trucks.

That is Uvalax's nice rack. ;-)

He just got it for his birthday. The HiLift isn't mounted up there yet, but it's going to be soon. As a testimony to the rack's strength, Richard climbed up into the rack there and stood in the middle of the rack.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Mon Apr 03, 2006 4:39 pm

Those are some awsome pics! Looks like someone had a great time! How much were those rails? Why were they welding? I didnt think you were supposed to weld to the libbys frame?

Looks like someones jeep needs a lift! In that first pic, is the the jeep in the middle the only one with a lift?

CaKJFreedom · **Posted:** Mon Apr 03, 2006 5:48 pm

Excellent story and pictures, thanks! It's so great to hear of shops being so welcoming and friendly.

uvalax236 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 03, 2006 7:43 pm

Jeepjeepster wrote:

Those are some awsome pics! Looks like someone had a great time! How much were those rails? Why were they welding? I didnt think you were supposed to weld to the libbys frame?

Looks like someones jeep needs a lift! In that first pic, is the the jeep in the middle the only one with a lift?

We had a group buy (6 sets of rails) at $225 a set. I desided to weld them on because I did not want to worry about having to check the bolts all the time. With how many times my KJ desides to have something break or go wrong (every single trip!), the bolts on my sliders are the last thing I need to worry about. If the rails do bend (and I mean IF, these things are HD to the MAX!) then I will deffinately be making the 5+ hour drive to Charlotte, NC to have Andy and the boys at Carolina Rock Shop fix it for me. These guys do INSANE work and I HIGHLY reccomend them to anyone who is on the East Coast for any KJ work. If you want to get intouch with CRS their website is on the windows of my KJ. www.carolinarockshop.com

Brady, when am I going to see this video!?!?!?!?

PitViper · **Posted:** Mon Apr 03, 2006 8:56 pm

Nice. Glad to see you guys had fun.

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Mon Apr 03, 2006 9:01 pm

Did you tell them to check out our website and forum? Have them post in the Vendors section, if they haven't already.

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Mon Apr 03, 2006 9:04 pm

Great story. Gotta love those KJ friendly shops!

benmar2000 · **Posted:** Tue Apr 04, 2006 3:33 am

I toned done my "blueish" rails down with some black grip tape.. My daughter was trying to use them as a step.. I will take a pic and post it here.. But.. I was standing on it and bouncing... As Brady knows, I am no small guy... These things are very heavy duty and I see years and years and years of them being there... I had a blast meeting everyone...

Ben

dog_party · **Posted:** Tue Apr 04, 2006 7:47 am

Jeepjeepster - The only Jeep in that first pict without a lift is the one on the left, or, as I like to call it, the Dog Wagon (mine). The one in the middle is Richard's (Uvalax) and the one on the right is Mike's (Ugg). My lift is in the mail from AllJ's and it will soon be the same height as Ugg's. Richard's is the only one with aftermarket tires and a bit higher lift (Ugg went with the 1.5/2 Daystar lift and I ordered the same). Ugg and I are trying to burn the tread off our stockers to substantiate the purchase(s) of better/larger tires. Shouldn't take too long though, 'cause we both have the CRD.

The other thing that makes my KJ look super low is the fact that I had a few hundred extra pounds loaded in the back. I had a big box full of my Mopar skids, another big box with my front end receiver, a whole big pile of tools, and a weekend worth of clothes and dog food. We had the crazy idea that we might try to put my new skids and receiver on while we were there at CRS, but we had too much fun hanging out, so they're still in the boxes. We all joked about taking my truck offroad and then taking it back damaged and telling DC that their skid plates don't work. "Why'd my truck break! I HAD the skids!"

"Umm, sir...you're supposed to put them ON the truck...not IN the truck."

"Oh."

Richard - The video isn't all that spectacular, but I'll get it to you somehow. It's just a little 17 second 11.1MB vid of that tall guy in camo overalls (whose name I never got) welding your driver's side rails on. Nothing special...I was just playing with the vid function of the camera that my fiancee got me for Christmas (THANKS sweetie!).

I was checking the vertical load-bearing capacity of these things too Ben. It's hard not to 'cause the sliders are in a perfect location as a short step. I got on it and the truck moved...the bars didn't. Very nice. I wanna go drive over stuff now. :twisted:

The CRS guys know all about LOST now. I talked with a couple of them about getting more presence here. I'll be calling them back up and reminding them. I'll be returning to their shop too. I wonder what kind of underbelly protection they could make for me??? I'll bet it'd be a monster! Maybe I'll sell those Mopar skids.... :lol:

uvalax236 · **Posted:** Tue Apr 04, 2006 9:11 am

Brady, Im thinking that we both order some SkidRow skids from them and have them beef em up a little bit!

benmar2000 · **Posted:** Tue Apr 04, 2006 9:54 am

Yeah.. I was talking to Andy about doing some work on my YJ.. He quoted me a killer price on regearing and some other things... So in a couple months I will be driving it up there and let them do their thing.. As for the KJ protection, I agree about the underbelly protection.. It would probably be bazooka proof.. LOL..

Ben

benmar2000 · **Posted:** Tue Apr 04, 2006 6:54 pm

Here are pics of mine with the grip tape...

What do you think? Toned them down some.. I really like them now..

Ben

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Tue Apr 04, 2006 7:05 pm

Did you paint it silver?

benmar2000 · **Posted:** Tue Apr 04, 2006 10:30 pm

No.. I didn't.. Fireman did.. But it wasn't supposed to be that color.. We thought it was going to be a nice light grey.. The pics don't do it any justice.. It is more of a bluish grey color.. But like all rails.. In the end they will turn brown..

Ben

NU ARTY BOY · **Posted:** Wed Apr 05, 2006 3:44 am

I wonder how much that winch mount that CRS came up with costs. Any ideas? Charlotte is not far from Ft. Bragg....

LoganSix · **Posted:** Wed Apr 05, 2006 7:39 am

NU ARTY BOY wrote:

I wonder how much that winch mount that CRS came up with costs. Any ideas? Charlotte is not far from Ft. Bragg....

If you are talking about the winch mount to the standard KJ bumper, it's not a good idea. The guy who got that mount ended up tearing off the winch on the 2nd time out in Uwharrie. The winch really needs to be placed higher, which is why he ended up getting an ARB front bumper and putting the winch on it.

CRS RockRail install party

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