Slick new AEV company history video: "Behind the Brand: American Expedition Vehicles"

[Ratbert]

I didn't realize that his first conversion project was stretching a 2 door.

Sponsored

 

[COJeeper]

Very cool video! It's cool to learn the history of companies. Thanks for sharing!

 

[jack bauer]

My AEV lift and SS is good enough in my book.
Will never win any flex competitions, but it's great on road (think 500 miles freeway driving to get the remote trails I enjoy), zero maintenance, carries heavy loads well, and good enough for what I do off-road.

 

[sstuner]

Great success story.

 

[The J)eepstate]

Like the JL dualsport suspension package they sell as a combo with Bawarrion parts over here, but bumper-wise I don't get the company-hype at all:
While they seem well designed regarding their looks, features & claim to stay within OEM specs, the practical implementation of it all really made me wonder: Did they just use whatever lay around in the workshop to complete, mount and shim the prototype and then somehow ended up calling it the final product? Twice?

 

[Ratbert]

Like the JL dualsport suspension package they sell as a combo with Bawarrion parts over here, but bumper-wise I don't get the company-hype at all:
While they seem well designed regarding their looks, features & claim to stay within OEM specs, the practical implementation of it all really made me wonder: Did they just use whatever lay around in the workshop to complete, mount and shim the prototype and then somehow ended up calling it the final product? Twice?

Have you seen their bumpers in person and touched them? Zero visible welds. Hot stamped boron steel that's incredibly strong, thin, and light. Nice little touches like rubber pads for your knees when working in the engine compartment.

The rear bumper has an awesome levering mechanism where opening the tailgate doesn't require moving the spare first. You just open the tailgate with one action. Nice little touches like a place to slide a shovel between the spare and tailgate and a platform up top to mount various equipment (e.g. follow lights, a dune-running flag, antenna, etc.).

They definitely don't have the feel of typical aftermarket bumpers.

Yes, I'm incredibly impressed with their bumpers. Fortunately my AEV JL370 went directly to them from the factory, so I didn't have to do the painful install.

They make extremely high quality stuff, but, of course, at very high prices.

 

[mrtm1970]

I kick myself EVERYDAY as I had the opportunity to work for AEV in 2005 as a Mechanical/Design Engineer. Made a choice to decline based on the relationship I was in at the time (fiancé’ who is white and I am Asian and we did not want to deal with more racism living in Montana at the time as we dealt with it pretty bad living in AZ and of course NOW not with her anymore).

I still of course had the privilege to have the first “production” TJ 5.7L Hemi Rubicon to a customer and acted as the in field feedback/modification tester to nail down the right components for the conversion.

Lost touch with Dave Harrington around 2008 when the economy crashed and I was no longer going to SEMA and hanging out with him and his brother there.

I know some think AEV is overpriced and so on and so on…I can personally tell you this, AEV is anal to EVERY DETAIL they can be AND Dave Harrington and his brother are amazing people, down to earth and just all around great guys!

 

[The J)eepstate]

Have you seen their bumpers in person and touched them? Zero visible welds. Hot stamped boron steel that's incredibly strong, thin, and light. Nice little touches like rubber pads for your knees when working in the engine compartment.

The rear bumper has an awesome levering mechanism where opening the tailgate doesn't require moving the spare first. You just open the tailgate with one action. Nice little touches like a place to slide a shovel between the spare and tailgate and a platform up top to mount various equipment (e.g. follow lights, a dune-running flag, antenna, etc.).

They definitely don't have the feel of typical aftermarket bumpers.

Yes, I'm incredibly impressed with their bumpers. Fortunately my AEV JL370 went directly to them from the factory, so I didn't have to do the painful install.

They make extremely high quality stuff, but, of course, at very high prices.

I have, the JK rear one I have mounted myself. And I agree that it looked and felt very premium... Once it's on and as long as you don't know how it got there.
Both myself and my old man, an actual mechanic, found ourselves swearing and scratching our heads most of the time mounting the rear one. That's where my statement is coming from. Was so fed up after, that we kept the 10th anniversary one for the front.

 

[The Last Cowboy]

I like a lot about AEV, their products are OEM quality. However, the design is another story. I feel that the current JL front bumper has a hoop/upright that is too massive. It's an odd proportion. It looks huge on a lifted 4 door, and too big on a non lifted Jeep or a 2 door. Also, I have a concern about how much air flow may be getting blocked by it.

Side note, I have experience in the automotive aftermarket, working for a major bumper replacement manufacturer in the 90s. However, when I worked there we were focused on pickups. I worked with their designers to implement and facilitate the fitment of the product on new trucks. I did the majority of installs while I was there as well.

 

[Gunfighter]

Saving up for the AEV 2.5".....

 

[Ratbert]

Saving up for the AEV 2.5".....

Consider saving up a few more coins for the Bilstein 8100s. They're not tunable, but AEV has already done extensive testing to dial them in as perfectly as possible.

 

[AnnDee4444]

There's one of these that lives in my area... it's awesome.

Sponsored