KJ Aftermarket Suppliers Not Yet Into the KK

MtnLuvr · **Posted:** Fri Apr 17, 2009 11:21 pm

Ok, I've been meaning to post this info for a couple months....

Since late January, I've been contacting via email a variety of aftermarket part manufacturers that produce(d) parts for the KJ (2002-2007) Liberty, and some other Jeeps, to inquire about their plans for parts for the KK (2008+) Liberty. As you know, we've got a pretty good sticky thread of KK Aftermarket Parts/Suppliers, so I've been trying to see whom else is currently, or planning to, support the growing KK market.

Below is a summary of my findings thus far (some of which are now a couple months old) in alphabetical order:

1. AEV-American Expedition Vehicles (maker of a variety of Wrangler parts) - who advised the following:

Quote:

Thanks for your interest in our company and products but there is nothing on the drawing board for the Liberty. Sorry about that.

2. All J Products (maker of a variety of KJ aftermarket parts) - See this thread which in addition to their response to me shows they're interested in developing some KK parts if only we could help them get their hands on one:

Quote:

At some point in the near future we should have one (ed. lift) released.

3. ARB (maker of a variety of off-road parts for a variety of vehicles, including a winch bumper for the KJ) - see this thread and this thread which makes it seem pretty clear ARB isn't going to come to the KK aftermarket very soon -- if ever.

4. Detours USA (maker of KJ Backbone (winch mount) Bumper System) - See this thread where they claimed to have made and installed their winch mount "Backbone Bumper System" on multiple KKs. If my original post in that thread looks odd (or a little less detailed than normal), it is because Detours had a fit that I posted his email message (without permission) in a public thread and he subsequently had a board moderator or admin significantly alter the posting. I have since apologized for posting his email message without permission, but that was insufficient. Even though Detours claimed to have installed their "Backbone Bumper System" on multiple KK Libertys, they were unable to produce a single photo of a completed installation. Seems odd, or at least disinterested, to me.

5. Gibson RM (maker of Airflow snorkel for the KJ) - See their response below:

Quote:

We are going to Make the KK. We don't have a local vehicle which is one of the biggest problems. We are still compiling the information needed. Your nearest dealer for our produt is dpg off road. We are still looking for photo's of under the hood of the LHD models in the US.

Where they're referring to U.S. distributor DPG Offroad (whose site is currently down or gone) who responded with the below quote:

Quote:

I've had a customer install one of our snorkels on a newer Liberty. The KK is the next model after the KJ, right?

I remember him saying that he needed to be careful about mounting the A-pillar bracket, as the bolts would contact the windshield if not carefully installed. Otherwise, as I recall- it fit fine.

Quote:

I don't have any pics of that snorkel installed on the newer liberty's. I would think someone on LOST would have it...

6. Go Rhino! Products (maker of grille guards/bull bars and side steps for other vehicles) - who advised the following:

Quote:

We don’t have any plans right now for the 2009 (Liberty). If something comes up I will let you know. Have a great day!

7. Omix-Ada (maker of Rugged Ridge Wrangler bumpers) - who advised the following:

Quote:

As for now our products for the KJ are limited, we do not have any bumper projects in development for the Liberty and it is hard to say if we will take on any heavy duty projects for this vehicle in the future. Thanks for your interest,

8. Rocky Road Outfitters (maker of all types of KJ aftermarket parts) - See this thread which eventually led to LOST user "alfmoonspace" volunteering his KK to be a test bed vehicle. No word yet on parts for the KK, but hopefully RRO will soon start to market some parts for the KK. Note, as I write this, it appears their website has been recently updated with some KK info.

9. Tomken Machine (maker of various KJ parts) - After some confusion about the KJ versus KK, they advised they do not make any parts for the KK.

10. TrailReady (maker of steel bumpers for the KJ) - who advised the following:

Quote:

Sorry, we will most likely not be designing a bumper for the new Liberty.

Quote:

the liberty was not a popular product

And the following did not respond to my inquiry emails regarding interest or plans for the KK Liberty market:

a. Manik (which made tail-light guards for the KJ and makes bull bars and other products for other vehicles)

b. Rusty's Offroad Products (which markets products to all types of off-road vehicles)

c. Sundance Customs Offroad (which makes/made a custom KJ steel bumper)

d. TrailQuest (which no longer appears to carry a KJ Liberty bumper which I think was the TrailReady already listed above)

e. Westin Automotive (which makes bull bar and side steps for the KK so I was inquiring about tail-light guards for the KK)

And the others kinda currently in limbo....

f. Rock Lizard Fabrications (maker of a variety of aftermarket products for the KJ Liberty) - Although they advised the below fairly recently:

Quote:

Thank you for your interest. I am hoping to have those full length rocker sliders going in the next few months, so keep an eye on the LOSTKJ board as well as the website.

RL posted this thread describing some of his recent challenges. Reading this and other posts on LOST, I'm concerned it will be quite some time before RL will be able to really get into KK aftermarket parts. I find that really unfortunate.

That's it. At least we have the aftermarket parts/suppliers in our sticky currently supporting the growing KK enthusiast market. I'm grateful for JBA that I just ordered my 2.5" lift from.

Does anyone have any different or additional information? If so, please post info.

In my opinion, we need to keep pinging the aftermarket suppliers so they know there is a KK enthusiast community and a demand for modifying KK Libertys with aftermarket products.

That's my $0.02

vmf · **Posted:** Sat Apr 18, 2009 11:08 am

its a shame that so many of them dont participate. i love my KK the way it is but i do see some upgrades along the road. nevertheless, good job man and thank you very much!

Diggerfreek · **Posted:** Sat Apr 18, 2009 1:31 pm

Well ARB just told me nothing yet :roll:

I'm waiting for an email back from Detours because I have an idea

I'll get the RRO info updated in just a few

Rusty's does have a lift... well sort of .. If you like to drill and make holes bigger, go for it

Sundance, give him till late summer to try and get his business going again :wink:

As far as RL, I think I will let him make a post about the subject

MtnLuvr · **Posted:** Sat Apr 18, 2009 1:43 pm

Diggerfreek wrote:

We ARB just to me nothing yet :roll:

Hunh? I don't understand what you're trying to convey Digger.

Diggerfreek · **Posted:** Sat Apr 18, 2009 3:24 pm

Thats what happens when you are 7/8th still asleep

any way, ARB told me nothing yet

Diggerfreek · **Posted:** Sat Apr 18, 2009 3:25 pm

ok first post fixed :lol:

KKommando · **Posted:** Sat Apr 18, 2009 11:06 pm

ive contacted everyone you have posted plus every lift kit manufacturer known to man fabtech, skyjacker, superlift and a few others that slip my mind they all said not at this time i think thats pretty much the way to tell us kk owners to leave them alone so they can work on the new ram and f150 that was before i decided to get the jba 4 tho so by now its somthing else lol

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sat Apr 18, 2009 11:13 pm

KKommando wrote:

ive contacted everyone you have posted plus every lift kit manufacturer known to man fabtech, skyjacker, superlift and a few others that slip my mind they all said not at this time i think thats pretty much the way to tell us kk owners to leave them alone so they can work on the new ram and f150 that was before i decided to get the jba 4 tho so by now its somthing else lol

Don't hold your breath for the "main stream" lift builders for a KK lift,us KJ guys are still waiting on that 4" SuperLift that was on the original Liberator.basically it will never happen,they make to much money of large volume lift kits(TJ/JK,FJ Cruiser,H2/H3,and pickups) to even mess with a low volume lift such as the KJ/KK.Basically they will focus on lifts that they will sell about 50-100+ per month then 2-3 a year.

Just look at how many JBA 2.5" and 4" KK lifts sold in the last year,not even close to enough to cover R&D cost and that is why the kits are still alot of $$$.Sorry to say but the demand is just not there,same goes for the KJ.

E2 · **Posted:** Sun Apr 19, 2009 12:51 am

tjkj2002 wrote:

KKommando wrote:

ive contacted everyone you have posted plus every lift kit manufacturer known to man fabtech, skyjacker, superlift and a few others that slip my mind they all said not at this time i think thats pretty much the way to tell us kk owners to leave them alone so they can work on the new ram and f150 that was before i decided to get the jba 4 tho so by now its somthing else lol

Don't hold your breath for the "main stream" lift builders for a KK lift,us KJ guys are still waiting on that 4" SuperLift that was on the original Liberator.basically it will never happen,they make to much money of large volume lift kits(TJ/JK,FJ Cruiser,H2/H3,and pickups) to even mess with a low volume lift such as the KJ/KK.Basically they will focus on lifts that they will sell about 50-100+ per month then 2-3 a year.

Just look at how many JBA 2.5" and 4" KK lifts sold in the last year,not even close to enough to cover R&D cost and that is why the kits are still alot of $$$.Sorry to say but the demand is just not there,same goes for the KJ.

Yeah it is sad, but it makes it that much more fun for us.

unclejjg · **Posted:** Sun Apr 19, 2009 10:38 am

tjkj2002 wrote:

KKommando wrote:

ive contacted everyone you have posted plus every lift kit manufacturer known to man fabtech, skyjacker, superlift and a few others that slip my mind they all said not at this time i think thats pretty much the way to tell us kk owners to leave them alone so they can work on the new ram and f150 that was before i decided to get the jba 4 tho so by now its somthing else lol

Don't hold your breath for the "main stream" lift builders for a KK lift,us KJ guys are still waiting on that 4" SuperLift that was on the original Liberator.basically it will never happen,they make to much money of large volume lift kits(TJ/JK,FJ Cruiser,H2/H3,and pickups) to even mess with a low volume lift such as the KJ/KK.Basically they will focus on lifts that they will sell about 50-100+ per month then 2-3 a year.

Just look at how many JBA 2.5" and 4" KK lifts sold in the last year,not even close to enough to cover R&D cost and that is why the kits are still alot of $$$.Sorry to say but the demand is just not there,same goes for the KJ.

I agree with you on one hand, but if you were to look at how many JBA's have sold in the last two months (4...5? including those on order), and how many are talking about the product....then it looks like a better deal. Especially, when like JBA, there was already existing framework from the KJ. What did he really have to change...it was just a matter of test fitting on Digger (4") and my (2.5") Jeep. How is this kit a monster investment? Besides his A-arms, isn't he just finding the correct parts to make a quality kit?

I think the same can be said for Rocky Roads...basically the Rockfather is the same thing for the KJ as the KK...maybe a few alterations.

And if that logic works for these two companies with their lifts, how much engineering would really be needed for the other guys that supported the KJ to jump on board? It isn't as if they need to carry a massive inventory that is pre-made.

R&D is costly as hell, but tweaking an existing product is not....hence "freshened" versions of the same platform instead of brand new models in the vehicle industry. I think a lot of them are either being lazy, or holding out until the economy gets back on track.

South of the Wrangler, are there really that many vehicles that accessorized themselves with off-road aftermarket support as the KJ? So don't tell me "it wasn't a popular model", which is the line a lot of these guys are feeding us.

The weather is getting better for adventuring (how much was really available last spring?), and I'm sure their will be a spike in sales on the items that are provided to us.

MtnLuvr · **Posted:** Sun Apr 19, 2009 1:10 pm

I hear ya uncle.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sun Apr 19, 2009 8:20 pm

unclejjg wrote:

tjkj2002 wrote:

KKommando wrote:

ive contacted everyone you have posted plus every lift kit manufacturer known to man fabtech, skyjacker, superlift and a few others that slip my mind they all said not at this time i think thats pretty much the way to tell us kk owners to leave them alone so they can work on the new ram and f150 that was before i decided to get the jba 4 tho so by now its somthing else lol

Don't hold your breath for the "main stream" lift builders for a KK lift,us KJ guys are still waiting on that 4" SuperLift that was on the original Liberator.basically it will never happen,they make to much money of large volume lift kits(TJ/JK,FJ Cruiser,H2/H3,and pickups) to even mess with a low volume lift such as the KJ/KK.Basically they will focus on lifts that they will sell about 50-100+ per month then 2-3 a year.

Just look at how many JBA 2.5" and 4" KK lifts sold in the last year,not even close to enough to cover R&D cost and that is why the kits are still alot of $$$.Sorry to say but the demand is just not there,same goes for the KJ.

I agree with you on one hand, but if you were to look at how many JBA's have sold in the last two months (4...5? including those on order), and how many are talking about the product....then it looks like a better deal. Especially, when like JBA, there was already existing framework from the KJ. What did he really have to change...it was just a matter of test fitting on Digger (4") and my (2.5") Jeep. How is this kit a monster investment? Besides his A-arms, isn't he just finding the correct parts to make a quality kit?

I think the same can be said for Rocky Roads...basically the Rockfather is the same thing for the KJ as the KK...maybe a few alterations.

And if that logic works for these two companies with their lifts, how much engineering would really be needed for the other guys that supported the KJ to jump on board? It isn't as if they need to carry a massive inventory that is pre-made.

R&D is costly as hell, but tweaking an existing product is not....hence "freshened" versions of the same platform instead of brand new models in the vehicle industry. I think a lot of them are either being lazy, or holding out until the economy gets back on track.

South of the Wrangler, are there really that many vehicles that accessorized themselves with off-road aftermarket support as the KJ? So don't tell me "it wasn't a popular model", which is the line a lot of these guys are feeding us.

The weather is getting better for adventuring (how much was really available last spring?), and I'm sure their will be a spike in sales on the items that are provided to us.

The KJ lifts are different from the KK's,plus JBA is the only place to get a spring(not spacer)lift for a KK right now so yeah it's going to sell.

KKeith · **Joined:** Thu Oct 09, 2008 3:06 am **Posts:** 58

Hi All.

I have done a little emailing to suspension companies here in Australia and have been answered by a few and are still waiting on some others to answer. The interesting response was one I got from TJM a 4x4 accessories and suspension manufacturer from Queenland Australia. The Email said that development work is scheduled for the third quarter this year for the Jeep KK Cherokee. No other details are avaliable at the moment.

nightdrv · **Posted:** Sun May 03, 2009 11:30 am

unclejjg wrote:

South of the Wrangler, are there really that many vehicles that accessorized themselves with off-road aftermarket support as the KJ? So don't tell me "it wasn't a popular model", which is the line a lot of these guys are feeding us.

Right on.

KJ Aftermarket Suppliers Not Yet Into the KK

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