riffman,
I believe this possible supplier may not be aware of some Explorer history and the potential market. A year and a half ago NOTHING was available to us. Even to this day, it is still striking to consider the amount of ignorance amongst manufacturers that have yet to recognize this market.
Back then, I approached MANY aftermarket fourwheeling manufacturers -- I don't know, twenty or two dozen, something like that -- begging them to simply offer an extended shackle, and the ONLY response I got was from Warrior (a Jeep company without a single Explorer product). After a period of time and much discussion and design, they agreed to produce fifteen sets of shackles as a test, and only one Warrior distributor nationwide (Desert Rat) took the trouble to order the stock. Here's the original thread reference after I finally got them to produce a run:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=13143
I think you now know "the rest of the story". That original run sold out immediately before they could even produce it. I noticed a post not long ago from yet another Explorer owner that stated when he ordered them from Desert Rat, he was told that the Warrior shackles was a "best seller" in their entire inventory. Our Ford Explorer shackles are now a permanent staple item in Warrior's nationwide distributor catalog and stand out in stark contrast amongst all of their other aftermarket offerings offered soley to Jeeps irrespective of other brands. In an odd way it is kind of interesting to note that our product doesn't fit neatly into their supplier catalog. Your English teacher that you hated in high school would be very hard pressed to figure out how to diagram our entry into the whole outline.
To borrow a movie line, "
build it and they will come". This manufacturer you are corresponding with has no clue of the market he is looking at. There are
millions more of our vehicles on the road than anything else, and yes, "some" are being used offroad now. In my simple accountant's mind, "some" of several million equals "a LOT".
Rick has made the point that very soon old model Explorers will be the best deal in the used 4x4 market since most haven't been off the pavement. Most early Broncos have been beaten to death. This manufacturer has the chance to gain early entry into an exploding market. Not only old models but especially new models. We new model owners have NO front locker or limited slip available for our front 4wd axles, so we are open diffied up front. That makes rear traction worth its weight in gold. Flex gives us that traction, and this product is designed to provide that. No matter what year Explorer, whether old or new model, this would be a HIGHLY desirable modification, and we are about to welcome our 4,000th member soon to look at it.
If you are uncomfortable corresponding with this company to try to convince them, allow me to help. I
will convince them. Heck, I'll buy an entire run and stock them myself for members of this board (I have a business dba that was set up originally as an aftermarket parts supplier).
I'll spell that out if it wasn't clear enough. You just asked for response to show them there is an interest ("
but if he doesn't feel like there is enough of a market for them, he won't produce them. So im thinkin we need to get more interested voices!! keep em coming!!") . I just volunteered to buy a couple dozen sets immediately. How's that for a start?
I'll qualify that last statement with a very important caveat. This product
cannot be junk. If they can produce a beta set in time for me to test it in Moab next May, and it can stand up to the challenge, I'll distribute them myself (we'll sell them to support this site and I will work out with Rick the details pending his approval).
If this company has enough confidence in their product to stand behind it holding up 5,000lb+ vehicles on hard trails, they'll not only sell way more than enough to offset toolup costs but also provide a generous profit for years to come. If they don't have that confidence in their product, then we're barking up the wrong tree and we need to move on to someone else.
Just throwing my same ol' extry peso in for food for thought. They'll never know what they missed if they ignore us.
[Edited by GJarrett on 12-16-2000 at 08:39 AM]
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