What's Up with Potential New Products

In response to several inquires I agree I have been remiss in not communicating here on the plans and status of our R/D projects. Of course we hesitate doing so, because it then comes to pass that perspective customers get anxious and the email messages of "when" start pouring in. Be that as it may we have always tried to be as open and forthright as possible relative to all aspects of our business, be they "good" news or "bad". That said, here is the latest (and hopefully at least in some eyes the greatest).

During our five years of trying to develop a front swaybar disconnect system we have encountered many, many setbacks. And at the brink of success we are again faced with a setback. There are two underlying issues on this potential product: 1) the extreme forces on the swaybar link, which I would argue are in the "extreme" catagory (if there is such a ranking?), and 2) the tendency of the unibody construction to transmit any suspension noise to the cabin of the vehicle. Many of us have found that both OEM AND aftermarket (Superlift, BDS) links start failing after a relatively short period of time, the result of which is frontend noise. Our current problem is that we finally found a setup that performs well as a disconnect, but in doing so has enough internal "looseness" that irritating noises are generated. Recently we conquered the "looseness"/noise issue only to be confronted with a potential product that is not user friendly--i.e. it is too tight for easy removal in order to disconnect. That is where we are right now: trying to find a compromise or other solution to this dilemma.

Related to the disconnect system we have also looked atreplacment (non-disconnect) swaybar links, and have recently decided on a package of components that can be used for 0 to 5 inches of lift, mounted either front or rear, and incorporate much stronger bushings as well as Heim joints to increase longevity and decrease suspension noise. These should be available very soon.

It took us longer than expected but the Commander version of our popular Side Guard 2 will be out very soon. Production is now completed and all that needs to be done is a final fit check (first batch and all!) before we can start notifying those on our list of potential buyers and shipping.

Last but not least is the replacement product for our Rear Guard, which we recently discontinued. This product will be available for both the Grand and Commander, but it will not be a skid plate per se. We will call it the Rear Guard Slider, and as the name implies it is designed for carrying the full weight of the vehicle as it might slide down off a rock ledge, provide an increased level of protection for the rear fascia corners of the vehicle during this and similar situations, and allow installation of D-Rings/Bow shackles (by which one could conceivably lift the vehicle with a HiLift jack). With relatively minor modification the previous Rear Guards will be compatible with the Slider, a combination which would offer the ultimate in protection and as well as rugged, offroad good looks. We will likely also re-design the Rear Guard for those not having one or not wants to do the "modification".

That's it for now--let the emails begin :)

I’d give the WK a 9.5 (“on my scale there ain’t no 10’s, you know”)

Having just returned home from a 2,965 mile RT road trip from Denver (cold) to Brownsville, TX (warmer) I thought it a good time to post—again—an “I love my WK” comment.

My WK is a CRD and I averaged a calculated 12.97 mpg pulling a 28 ft travel trailer on all but about 200 of those miles (now with the Bully Dog setup about 2 mpg better than I got pulling the trailer to Canada last summer). Equally important IMO was the comfort/convenience we were afforded, from the all important auto-dimming headlights to the auto wipers to the wonderful navigation system (loaded with 1800 of our favorite tunes). Due to an unexpected family matter we had to return quickly and I drove 1300 miles in two very long days. I have NEVER had a vehicle where I could drive 10-12 hours straight without extreme fatigue—until my 2005 and now this 2008. Obviously this would not hold true for everyone, but I find the seat, sitting position, quiet cabin, and ride to be near perfect. Lastly, the final few hundred miles across western Kansas and eastern Colorado were fairly treacherous early Saturday morning. The road was snow packed and icy; there were numerous accidents involving tractor-trailer rigs, SUVs, etc. It was not the best time to be pulling a trailer to say the least. But QDII performed as advertised and kept me on the straight and narrow without slipping even once.

Yes there have been, and perhaps continue to be, quality issues that are frustrating, but I continue to be impressed with the WKs versatility, comfort, performance and value. Not a perfect 10 to be sure, but a darn nice rig IMO.

New Website Launched

With a great deal of pride and satisfaction, but with unfortunately little fanfare, our new website was launched on January 17, 2010. It represents the culmination of a great deal of time and effort on the part of my two sons, Lance and Mike; I did little but try to stay out of the way. I am extremely proud of the many accomplishments of my sons. I suppose many can say that but I feel it is more accurate and honest in my particular circumstance. From the time they were youngsters until today they have given their mother and I very little cause for concern and tons of pleasant memories to carry with us during the waning years of our life. No father can ask more than to sincerely feel their sons (or daughters, for that matter) are leading productive and apparently happy lives, and becoming more each passing day the kind of father and husband that I hoped they would become one day. It is easy to say it is the parents that set the foundation, and that of course is true to some degree. But in this day and age I feel there are so many distractions and negative pressures that the heart and soul of each person is what most dictates the kind of person they ultimately become in life. Irrespective of the reasons they are fine men, and I thank them from my "heart and soul" for doing such a great job of me on this new website.