Whaler27
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Alex
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2020
- Threads
- 48
- Messages
- 1,921
- Reaction score
- 3,788
- Location
- Oregon
- Vehicle(s)
- 2019 JL, 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Altitude Ecodiesel, 2005 Mustang GT, 2018 Ford Raptor, 2018 BMW R1200GSA, 2020 Honda Monkeybikes (2), 1972 Honda CT-70, 1980 Honda CT-70,
- Occupation
- Saving the world :-)
I ordered the Gen-3s with the lights, door off kit, and additional armor this summer. The boxes were deposited in my driveway by FedEx about three weeks ago, so I found them when I got home from work. Yesterday was my first chance to do the installation.
First, the box containing the armor says āGen-2ā on it, and my steps are Gen-3, so I donāt plan to open that box unless/until I can confirm that the Gen-2 armor fits the Gen-3 steps.
Next, the driverās side step was well packed, with multiple high-density foam collars surrounding the steps in several locations, all held in place with plastic wrapping. The box was a bit beat, but the step and bumper strap were fine. The passenger side box contained no foam collars at all. Instead, the step and the strap were loosely packed with a massive amount of brown packing paper, and nothing else. Since the step is extremely heavy, and the paper wasnāt sufficient to secure it, the step and strap were able to slam back and forth during shipping. The step pulverized the box. (See photos below).
The step punched through the box, and there was some abrasion and paint loss, but returning an item that size is a HUGE pain in the ass, and I figured nothing FedEx could have done to it would equal even 5% of the abuse the step would take under the weight of the jeep, so I decided to straighten the bent strap and install the step as it was. Now, after reading this thread, Iām convinced the passenger side step was somebody elseās returnā¦
I couldn't install the wiring, as the module and wiring harness were not included, but since Iād set aside the morning to install the steps I decided to do what I could. I started with the strap repair. It took me about 40 minutes with a vice and adjustable wrenches to get the strap reasonably straight, but itās spine was vertically stressed to an extent I couldn't fully correctā¦ It works, but it doesn't look right, so Iām going to request a replacement strap and hope the strap adhesive is as faulty as the packing job.
The installation was a pain in the ass. There was insufficient room between the bolt-heads and the washers. No amount of prying or hammering in drivers or wedges would pry open space without striking the bolts hard enough to risk a break or bend in the bolts, so the bolts had to be fully removed and pounded in the vice to create space. There were lots of ways for that to go bad, but it worked and I eventually got the steps on. So far, so bad.
The passenger side step isnāt fully retracted. I dont know if powering it up and cycling the step will fix that, as I have no way to power it up, and no way to open the step.
I sent RSE an email over the weekend and another more detailed email with photos today. Iām hopeful, as their reputation for service is great, but the list of troubles here is so long it will be hard to ever have confidence in the product.
I had intended to get rid of my stock Rubicon rails and the add-on armor, but now Iāll have to keep all that. These rails are too expensive to have this level of hassle and uncertainty.
First, the box containing the armor says āGen-2ā on it, and my steps are Gen-3, so I donāt plan to open that box unless/until I can confirm that the Gen-2 armor fits the Gen-3 steps.
Next, the driverās side step was well packed, with multiple high-density foam collars surrounding the steps in several locations, all held in place with plastic wrapping. The box was a bit beat, but the step and bumper strap were fine. The passenger side box contained no foam collars at all. Instead, the step and the strap were loosely packed with a massive amount of brown packing paper, and nothing else. Since the step is extremely heavy, and the paper wasnāt sufficient to secure it, the step and strap were able to slam back and forth during shipping. The step pulverized the box. (See photos below).
The step punched through the box, and there was some abrasion and paint loss, but returning an item that size is a HUGE pain in the ass, and I figured nothing FedEx could have done to it would equal even 5% of the abuse the step would take under the weight of the jeep, so I decided to straighten the bent strap and install the step as it was. Now, after reading this thread, Iām convinced the passenger side step was somebody elseās returnā¦
I couldn't install the wiring, as the module and wiring harness were not included, but since Iād set aside the morning to install the steps I decided to do what I could. I started with the strap repair. It took me about 40 minutes with a vice and adjustable wrenches to get the strap reasonably straight, but itās spine was vertically stressed to an extent I couldn't fully correctā¦ It works, but it doesn't look right, so Iām going to request a replacement strap and hope the strap adhesive is as faulty as the packing job.
The installation was a pain in the ass. There was insufficient room between the bolt-heads and the washers. No amount of prying or hammering in drivers or wedges would pry open space without striking the bolts hard enough to risk a break or bend in the bolts, so the bolts had to be fully removed and pounded in the vice to create space. There were lots of ways for that to go bad, but it worked and I eventually got the steps on. So far, so bad.
The passenger side step isnāt fully retracted. I dont know if powering it up and cycling the step will fix that, as I have no way to power it up, and no way to open the step.
I sent RSE an email over the weekend and another more detailed email with photos today. Iām hopeful, as their reputation for service is great, but the list of troubles here is so long it will be hard to ever have confidence in the product.
I had intended to get rid of my stock Rubicon rails and the add-on armor, but now Iāll have to keep all that. These rails are too expensive to have this level of hassle and uncertainty.
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