ANYBODY ???

elephantrider · **Posted:** Wed Nov 26, 2008 8:47 am

anybody get their rock lizard front bumper for
the 05 and up kj's ?

been searching for some pics to see how they
came out but cant find any.

and im not lookin for any of the prototype pics,
ive seen those.

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Wed Nov 26, 2008 9:19 am

They are not completed yet

riptricket · **Posted:** Wed Nov 26, 2008 11:46 am

give him time... trust me the wait is worth it!!!

elephantrider · **Posted:** Wed Nov 26, 2008 2:48 pm

riptricket wrote:

give him time... trust me the wait is worth it!!!

time ?

two years isnt enough time ?

i ordered one two years ago.
figured that those would have been
out already with the other stuff thats
being pushed out that wasnt even in
developement yet.

either way, just wanted to see if anybody got
one mounted yet.

Inc · **Posted:** Wed Nov 26, 2008 3:14 pm

2 years????

You didn't have to pay did you? I got tired of waiting and did my own bumper for my 05. I know the RL bumper will look nice if it ever comes out, but after 2 years, I'd move on.

jeepmedic46 · **Posted:** Wed Nov 26, 2008 5:01 pm

Think I'm going to go with the detours backbone and skip getting a new bumper at this time.

elephantrider · **Posted:** Thu Nov 27, 2008 9:48 am

incubusmike wrote:

2 years????

You didn't have to pay did you? I got tired of waiting and did my own bumper for my 05. I know the RL bumper will look nice if it ever comes out, but after 2 years, I'd move on.

oh no, i canceled my order the second time the
eta for the bumper was pushed out.

i was just looking to see if anyone ever got one.
guess the answer would be negative.

see you guys.

Signcutter21 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 28, 2008 9:58 pm

I have to say I agree with JasonK's point here. It has been alooooooonng time since they premiered. Been a while too since an update. I however will wait for them. I love the rear bumper. It has taken many good hits and handled it well. I can ('t) wait to have one on my KJ.

What amazes me is how everybody was jumping Sundance for not coming out with his bumper like promised. There were treats flying left and right. Calling the post office to file claims etc. Yet no one was saying the same for RL.

just my random thoughts on the subject. off for thirds of turkey dinner.

InCommando · **Posted:** Fri Nov 28, 2008 11:00 pm

That may be a lesson in the fact that it is not always WHAT happens, but HOW it is handled. Taking a powder & ignoring people whose money you hold is bad business.

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Fri Nov 28, 2008 11:16 pm

Marty has thrown messages out on here regarding the bumper. I am sure he has contacted people through PM's that have asked through PM or email. He is not obligated to those that have not given their money but he has thrown messages out on here.

Inc · **Posted:** Sat Nov 29, 2008 12:37 am

I find it weird too and would be interested to hear if people have received updates or what. I would assume they do because no one is hooting and hollering like they did about the rock star.

Guest · **Posted:** Sat Nov 29, 2008 12:41 am

Not a slam against anybody

But I've had to deal with waiting for a one-off part to be made enough times...I'm kind of tired of it. If I buy something, for the KJ or not, I'm going to buy something IN-STOCK...

But, maybe that's just me.

InCommando · **Posted:** Sat Nov 29, 2008 12:55 am

Tokyojoe wrote:

Marty has thrown messages out on here regarding the bumper. I am sure he has contacted people through PM's that have asked through PM or email. He is not obligated to those that have not given their money but he has thrown messages out on here.

And that is probably why no one is knocking him right & left. Communication & different business practices.

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Sat Nov 29, 2008 1:27 am

I agree with Thunderbird for the most part. It’s not just built parts, but look at what happened with the 4:10 gears. :twisted:

I could have (should have) bought 4:10’s several months ago with no problems, now I am screwed because the company selling them went out of business. :twisted:

Now who knows how long I'll have to wait. :twisted:

I’ll probably have to buy front and rear differentials out of a wrecked 4 cylinder KJ to get my 4:10’s. As far as custom built parts, most of it depends on what you’re wanting. I wanted a front bumper that could house a winch. The ARB front bumper was my only choice. Fortunately an ARB bumper is nothing more than picking up the phone and ordering it. On the other hand, I wanted a rear bumper with carriers. RL is the only one who makes a rear bumper with carriers so I have no choice but to wait. And trust me, I have no problems waiting for a RL bumper.

For those who are needing rock rails, RL can have them fabbed up pretty quick. I think he had mine finished within a week or so of ordering. :shock:

As a matter of fact, I just had them installed a few weeks ago.

Like I’ve said before and I will say it again, the best thing to do is call, ask, and get a time-frame on what your wanting to see built or what you are wanting to purchase.
The Lizard - (719) 360-7414

Guest · **Posted:** Sat Nov 29, 2008 2:09 am

dieselenthusiast wrote:

I’ll probably have to buy front and rear differentials out of a wrecked 4 cylinder KJ to get my 4:10’s.

.

I don't think the KJ needs deeper gears...just a lot more torque. Any other 4x4 with these gears has a lot more motor to turn the rubber;)
But, I've considered doing that myself, since I'd just snag the rear from an '03+ with discs

Hmm.

3.55s in a 4700 lb (mine is knocking on the door of 4600 with my 250 lb booty in it) 4.7 KJ with 31s should get about the same fuel economy as a stock 3.7 KJ on stock rubber

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Sat Nov 29, 2008 4:00 am

ThunderbirdJunkie wrote:

dieselenthusiast wrote:

I’ll probably have to buy front and rear differentials out of a wrecked 4 cylinder KJ to get my 4:10’s.

.

I don't think the KJ needs deeper gears...just a lot more torque. Any other 4x4 with these gears has a lot more motor to turn the rubber;)
But, I've considered doing that myself, since I'd just snag the rear from an '03+ with discs

Hmm.

3.55s in a 4700 lb (mine is knocking on the door of 4600 with my 250 lb @$#% in it) 4.7 KJ with 31s should get about the same fuel economy as a stock 3.7 KJ on stock rubber

Do I hear an engine swap?

Inc · **Posted:** Sat Nov 29, 2008 4:18 am

dieselenthusiast wrote:

I agree with Thunderbird for the most part. It’s not just built parts, but look at what happened with the 4:10 gears. :twisted:

I could have (should have) bought 4:10’s several months ago with no problems, now I am screwed because the company selling them went out of business. :twisted:

Now who knows how long I'll have to wait. :twisted:

I’ll probably have to buy front and rear differentials out of a wrecked 4 cylinder KJ to get my 4:10’s. As far as custom built parts, most of it depends on what you’re wanting. I wanted a front bumper that could house a winch. The ARB front bumper was my only choice. Fortunately an ARB bumper is nothing more than picking up the phone and ordering it. On the other hand, I wanted a rear bumper with carriers. RL is the only one who makes a rear bumper with carriers so I have no choice but to wait. And trust me, I have no problems waiting for a RL bumper.

For those who are needing rock rails, RL can have them fabbed up pretty quick. I think he had mine finished within a week or so of ordering. :shock:

As a matter of fact, I just had them installed a few weeks ago.

Like I’ve said before and I will say it again, the best thing to do is call, ask, and get a time-frame on what your wanting to see built or what you are wanting to purchase.
The Lizard - (719) 360-7414

If he can fab up rails so quick why the year long wait on rear bumpers and the 2 year "coming soon" front bumper? I'm not doubting he can, just wonder why the wait on everything else. The guy I am having make my rear bumper can bang it in a few weeks, won't ask for money on a product not completed and is local. I would avoid anyone that says that I would have to wait a year or more for a product, isn't local and I didn't know on a somewhat personal basis, regardless of how good the work is. I'm lucky because my guy can also build it in under the amount of $$$ RL is asking for his rear bumper, light or heavy duty and I can customize the crap out of it and it will be a one of a kind. No brainer. Now I just need to finish the design and what exactly I want for features.

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Sat Nov 29, 2008 4:40 am

incubusmike wrote:

If he can fab up rails so quick why the year long wait on rear bumpers and the 2 year "coming soon" front bumper? I'm not doubting he can, just wonder why the wait on everything else. The guy I am having make my rear bumper can bang it in a few weeks, won't ask for money on a product not completed and is local. I would avoid anyone that says that I would have to wait a year or more for a product, isn't local and I didn't know on a somewhat personal basis, regardless of how good the work is. I'm lucky because my guy can also build it in under the amount of $$$ RL is asking for his rear bumper, light or heavy duty and I can customize the crap out of it and it will be a one of a kind. No brainer. Now I just need to finish the design and what exactly I want for features.

For obvious reasons, RL isn’t going to build front bumpers when he has pending orders for rear bumpers and sliders. Heck, I was like number 14 on his bumper waiting list at the end of summer. :shock:

I think if he had the choice, he would have had those front bumpers out over a year ago, but due to supply and demand on current products, his demand for rear bumpers and sliders exceeds his time. :lol:

To answer your question, I don’t think RL has to order “pre-cut” metal to build sliders. Bumpers, on the other hand, are a different story and require a little more steps. He has recently transitioned from one metal supplier to a new supplier (jeepinbyal) and that transition process might take some time. As far as prepayment is concerned, sometimes a small business (such as rock lizard fabrications) still needs some upfront support so he can buy metal in bulk and send the savings back down to the buyer. :wink:

Just to clarify, I’m not sure if RL built my sliders in one week or if he already had them built and a customer canceled his/her order?? Hmmmm, I know at one point he had a customer cancel and it moved me up on the list.

If I know I’m going to spend money on the bumper, I don’t mind paying up front if it will help RL buy metal in bulk and keep the cost of bumpers down for others. :wink:

I think that’s great that you can find someone locally who can customize what you want. RL has exactly what I want so I don’t need any more customizing other than the RV connector that he’s installing in the rear bumper. Either way, I'm ready for my rear bumper!

Inc · **Posted:** Sat Nov 29, 2008 4:45 am

Makes sense.

I didn't know about my guy until I started looking and I found a few, but his work is excellent and really reasonably priced so I'd encourage people to check around and see what people nearby can do for them. No sense in watching the grass grow, especially if it might be greener somewhere else.

tommudd · **Posted:** Sat Nov 29, 2008 8:32 am

For me when I get ready for a rear bumper it will be RL for several reasons
one his bumpers look great and work the same
are resonable to buy cost wise
lots of prefab work went into them before he produced them
I have went the "local" builder route before with a one off and ended up a year later still trying to get it right, well never did and it was out of a "respected" 4 wheel shop.
RL has always been up front in letting everyone know whats happening and why the longer waits at times unlike some others who come on with a grand plan to use your money to finance their dreams.
Running your own business and doing all the work yourself , you are going to produce what is selling the best with any down time working on other "new" products. Thats the reason the front is taking longer I am sure.
To cobble up say a bumper just to make it work is not what I want or most others, I want to know when I hit something or something hits me it will hold up so ROCK LIZARD ALL THE WAY for a rear bumper for me :wink:

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