Wheelsfeels pro or con?

[Gruffid]

Hello fellow Jeepers. For any of you who’ve had great service from forum sponsor @wheelsfeels, I really wanted to be one of you who had good things to say. Their marketing looks like they make good platforms that are well made and can convert the area behind the front seats to a nice sleeping platform when needed, and still use the back seats when the platform isn’t needed. It’s perfect!!!

In May my wife decided she was going to buy me the platform as my Father’s Day gift. Nice huh? This thing cost over $800! I know, lifts, lights, wheels, bumpers, all the other stuff cost way more than $800. But the thought was very sweet of her.

So, on 4 May I sent them a message via the messaging function on this site. And it took them until 28 May to actually answer the questions I had. I placed the order and requested to take advantage of their advertised option to have them install it at their shop. I only live a few hours away, so why not? On 28 May we exchanged emails about a custom order for which I sent them the measurements and photos of what I was looking for. They told me they could do the custom drawer I wanted on 29 May. They also said it would take 25-30 business days to complete (that was stated in the order confirmation email/receipt).

I thought that was reasonable. However, a couple of weeks had gone by and I was curious about the progress and on 9 June I emailed, asking for an update and to see if we were still on-track for completion at the end of June. No response.

17 June comes around. I sent them another email. No response.

28 June. I called their number. The number goes to voicemail, but the voicemail is generic and doesn’t say anything about it being a business or that the business is WheelsFeels. But I got a text message from “Anton” thanking me for contacting wheelsfeels and if there is anything they can help me with. I replied that I was trying to get an update on my order. He said “Hey there. Sure thing! I'm going to check on that immediately. I'll update you within the hour.”

I didn’t get an update within the hour. 3.5 hours later I re-texted trying to get the update. No response. 1 July, I re-texted to prompt them for an update. No response. 2 July I called them (no answer) and re-texted for an update I also sent them another email requesting a status update.

I called on 3 July - no answer.

While the Email didn’t get a response, I did get a response via text on 3 July:

“ Hello! We've made the drawer according to your order. You can pick it up yourself or we can send it to you. As mentioned earlier, the right side of the drawer will attach to the pre-existing holes. For the left side, you'll need to decide; it's likely best to make a hole in the floor and attach it that way. You'll need to make that decision. Also, due to the holiday, we won't have someone available to hand you the product, but we can ship it to you. If you prefer to pick it up yourself, Monday works for us.”

Fantastic! I thought. I asked if they could call me. They said “Sure! I think it's best to speak with our tech team who worked on your order so you can ask them questions about your product. Could you please clarify what specific questions you have so we can provide you with accurate answers?”

The request was reasonable. So I responded the same day “I wanted to make sure there is still a platform for the left side when I remove the fridge. Also, we can't make it this weekend, but possibly next weekend. ”

Then nothing. I texted on 10 July - no reply. I texted on 13 July - No reply. Then 15 July - each time asking for the address and if I can come pick up the platform on the nearest weekend.

I got a response: “Hi! Could you swing by on one of the odd days next week?”. I have no idea what an “odd day” is. So I asked “What's an odd day?”. Also, like most folks, I work Monday through Friday, and since it’s a 3-4 hour drive, I can’t make it during the work week and told them that in another text.

I also called them and left a voicemail. No response.

I happened to be checking out my junk email folder… to my surprise, there were auto-replies to the emails I’ve sent them. All returned for ABUSE!!!

This really annoyed me. I sent them a text “
Hello. Your email server is rejecting my attempts to communicate, you don't answer your phone, you won't call me, and you do not respond to text message in a reasonable timeline. I have paid over $800 for the product you said you have completed. I would like to think it is a good quality product and I am trying not to be offended by your failure to communicate effectively.

My patience is running out and I have been disappointed thus far with your lack of communication. Please make every effort - including successfully calling me (meaning you actually talk to me, not just leaving a voicemail) - to make this right and deliver unto me the product I ordered and you said you would install into my vehicle.

I look forward to your response.”

I ended my text with my name and order number.


I haven’t had any further communication. I’m afraid I’ve lost the funds and I don’t have a platform I was really excited about, and my wife is upset because it was supposed to be my Father’s Day gift.

If you’ve had good results/experiences with @wheelsfeels, please let me know.

Sponsored

 

[digimark]

CC: @wheelsfeels

So this will be my review of the 4xe cargo drawer I just received from them. I ordered it May 8th and received it late last week. Like @Gruffid I had tons of difficulties getting updates on status, shipping, etc. Their email and phone situation is atrocious and they *really* need to work on their business processes. Pinging them on Instagram was mildly successful and I had success using their website chat function, Anton answered promptly every time I tried. Their office is in the middle of the Houston hurricane storm affected areas so I know that didn't help.

Leaving aside the communications failures, the product seems fine. A few issues --

1. I thought I was supposed to get a cargo net with mine that attaches to the drawer lid. I didn't, have to ask them about that.

2. I requested the black painted surfaces -- I wasn't sure that it was supposed to be black paint or bedlining. It was straight black paint and was still a little tacky out of the box, which was fine. I picked up a spray can of clear water-based spar urethane and sprayed down all the surfaces with four light coats, it feels better and more resilient now. I don't see that as a problem though, it was easy.

3. All the M4 0.7 x 12mm small screws that attach the hinges are black oxide flat screws that have a countersink bevel underneath the head -- I didn't really understand why these were chosen as the holes weren't countersunk, so they stick up and can snag on things pushed across them. I Amazon'd some button-head stainless steel screws to replace them, they work much better. I noticed that the hinges were mounted upside down to match the way the lids flip, and the other side of the hinges have countersunk holes, so that may be why. They really need to switch to button head screws though.

4. The drawer components arrived well packed. I had asked them before they shipped about this since someone else had reported problems with broken bits in shipping, so they must have addressed it.

5. The right side flap that goes against my subwoofer grille is really tight, and I will need to sand it down a bit to fit better, but that's also minor.

I'm pretty happy with the result, and with the forum discount it seems pretty reasonable, considering the raw materials would have been at least a quarter to a third of the total cost if I had tried to do it myself and it wouldn't have come out as well. They just have to work on their business processes - not getting timely responses to inquiries makes you think something's scammy and that's going to hurt them.

EDIT: Forgot to mention that the flip-up hatch behind the drawer that bridges the drawer to the rear seats when folded was the perfect place where I could stash the pair of 4AWG Anderson-connected power lines I had run from the engine compartment.

 

[Bulletbill]

Hello fellow Jeepers. For any of you who’ve had great service from forum sponsor @wheelsfeels, I really wanted to be one of you who had good things to say. Their marketing looks like they make good platforms that are well made and can convert the area behind the front seats to a nice sleeping platform when needed, and still use the back seats when the platform isn’t needed. It’s perfect!!!

In May my wife decided she was going to buy me the platform as my Father’s Day gift. Nice huh? This thing cost over $800! I know, lifts, lights, wheels, bumpers, all the other stuff cost way more than $800. But the thought was very sweet of her.

So, on 4 May I sent them a message via the messaging function on this site. And it took them until 28 May to actually answer the questions I had. I placed the order and requested to take advantage of their advertised option to have them install it at their shop. I only live a few hours away, so why not? On 28 May we exchanged emails about a custom order for which I sent them the measurements and photos of what I was looking for. They told me they could do the custom drawer I wanted on 29 May. They also said it would take 25-30 business days to complete (that was stated in the order confirmation email/receipt).

I thought that was reasonable. However, a couple of weeks had gone by and I was curious about the progress and on 9 June I emailed, asking for an update and to see if we were still on-track for completion at the end of June. No response.

17 June comes around. I sent them another email. No response.

28 June. I called their number. The number goes to voicemail, but the voicemail is generic and doesn’t say anything about it being a business or that the business is WheelsFeels. But I got a text message from “Anton” thanking me for contacting wheelsfeels and if there is anything they can help me with. I replied that I was trying to get an update on my order. He said “Hey there. Sure thing! I'm going to check on that immediately. I'll update you within the hour.”

I didn’t get an update within the hour. 3.5 hours later I re-texted trying to get the update. No response. 1 July, I re-texted to prompt them for an update. No response. 2 July I called them (no answer) and re-texted for an update I also sent them another email requesting a status update.

I called on 3 July - no answer.

While the Email didn’t get a response, I did get a response via text on 3 July:

“ Hello! We've made the drawer according to your order. You can pick it up yourself or we can send it to you. As mentioned earlier, the right side of the drawer will attach to the pre-existing holes. For the left side, you'll need to decide; it's likely best to make a hole in the floor and attach it that way. You'll need to make that decision. Also, due to the holiday, we won't have someone available to hand you the product, but we can ship it to you. If you prefer to pick it up yourself, Monday works for us.”

Fantastic! I thought. I asked if they could call me. They said “Sure! I think it's best to speak with our tech team who worked on your order so you can ask them questions about your product. Could you please clarify what specific questions you have so we can provide you with accurate answers?”

The request was reasonable. So I responded the same day “I wanted to make sure there is still a platform for the left side when I remove the fridge. Also, we can't make it this weekend, but possibly next weekend. ”

Then nothing. I texted on 10 July - no reply. I texted on 13 July - No reply. Then 15 July - each time asking for the address and if I can come pick up the platform on the nearest weekend.

I got a response: “Hi! Could you swing by on one of the odd days next week?”. I have no idea what an “odd day” is. So I asked “What's an odd day?”. Also, like most folks, I work Monday through Friday, and since it’s a 3-4 hour drive, I can’t make it during the work week and told them that in another text.

I also called them and left a voicemail. No response.

I happened to be checking out my junk email folder… to my surprise, there were auto-replies to the emails I’ve sent them. All returned for ABUSE!!!

This really annoyed me. I sent them a text “
Hello. Your email server is rejecting my attempts to communicate, you don't answer your phone, you won't call me, and you do not respond to text message in a reasonable timeline. I have paid over $800 for the product you said you have completed. I would like to think it is a good quality product and I am trying not to be offended by your failure to communicate effectively.

My patience is running out and I have been disappointed thus far with your lack of communication. Please make every effort - including successfully calling me (meaning you actually talk to me, not just leaving a voicemail) - to make this right and deliver unto me the product I ordered and you said you would install into my vehicle.

I look forward to your response.”

I ended my text with my name and order number.


I haven’t had any further communication. I’m afraid I’ve lost the funds and I don’t have a platform I was really excited about, and my wife is upset because it was supposed to be my Father’s Day gift.

If you’ve had good results/experiences with @wheelsfeels, please let me know.

They just posted on the Forum. You should ask them about your order.
https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...rgo-drawer-every-jeep-jlu-owner-needs.133764/

 

[Gruffid]

I’ll have an update for y’all soon.

 

[OminousSkitter]

I’ve had difficulties contacting them, but I’ve only been at it for a month. Seems like this is their number one area they should improve.

 

[SaintNick]

Cheap product. Returned mine.

 

[Gruffid]

Update: I finally got my system

Bottom Line: If you want what they have on their website, it’s fine.

The company is owned by a husband and wife team. They actually rent or buy vehicles to measure and engineer these platform solutions for lots of different vehicles. The concept is pretty good. Their staff - from my observations - seem to work really hard to get these systems built.

What I wanted.
1. An expandable platform I could sleep on when I camped, but could “fold up” or otherwise make the rear seats usable for passengers.
2. A platform that didn’t span the entire width of the cargo area because my fridge won’t fit on top of a platform longitudinally due to the rear seats’ position (the distance between the rear seats and the tailgate/back window gets shorter the closer to the top of the seat, and the fridge won’t fit).
3. I didn’t want to sleep on the ground or in a roof top tent. I want to sleep in the vehicle, and I’m 6’ tall. This platform - as is - accommodates about 74”.

There are a lot of other platform solutions out there, but I don’t think there are any other platforms that do all of those three things. But this one is not without its issues.
1. To deploy the sleeping platform, the front seats must be moved to their extreme forward and forward leaning (seat back) positions.
2. Then, you have to insert support brackets into the bottom of the sleeping platform. They are not labeled, and they are different sizes/shapes but this is mostly intuitive.
3. With the platform deployed, be aware that the cup-holders from the arm-rest are not accessible.

My story... Continued:
Right after I posted the original post, I received an email. I arranged to visit the shop on 10 August. However, communications were still unreliable and we went to the shop not knowing if we were going to actually meet someone. On 10 August, my family and I drove to Houston to get the platform installed. But when we got there, the platform was not ready to install. In fact, they had more measuring and “engineering work” to do in order to get the order finished.

So, we arranged to make another trip to Houston on 16 August. The owner’s wife was very helpful and communicated well between the two trips to ensure everything was on track. When we arrived the platform still wasn’t ready for install. They thought it would only take an hour, but when the product didn’t quite do what we agreed upon, they let me know that they thought I was changing the requirement and I could tell they weren’t very happy about it. As a result, it ended up taking over 4 hours and still wasn’t “right” despite their lead builder staying late (I paid him for his time).

What I received: Essentially I received half of the normal rear platform, despite paying for an entire rear platform, plus two hours extra time to their lead builder. I trusted the owner (the engineer) to design an elegant solution that did what he said it would do (See the 3 requirements above). In the first visit, I even suggested that perhaps the base of the platform should extend the entire width and that the left (driver’s) side would be sort of an open box that I mount my fridge slide on. But I didn’t get that.

Here are the photos:

 

[Gruffid]

Continued:

Some notes:
1. To accommodate my fridge, they hinged the left cargo area top to the side of the box that the drawer sits in. It folds over the right side when the fridge is installed. Unfortunately, this prevents the drawer lid from opening unless the left side is either raised vertically or the fridge is removed and is folded flat - level with the right side. Usually, this is not a big deal, but this is the only way to get into the cubby under the drawer. This would have been mitigated if they had merely attached the hinge to the drawer top instead of the box. I had to do that myself.

2. You may be able to observe this in one of Wheels Feels’ videos, but the platforms that go over the rear seats *can* be stored above the roll bars/below the top. This works even with the SOT top. But it’s not a great solution, as the platforms move around as you drive, then they kind of fall to the back and scratch up the plastic. So, they need to be secured with bungee or other strap to keep them in place - particularly if you’re actually using the rear seats for passengers. If you aren’t using the rear seats for passengers, then you could keep the platforms on the rear seats (propped in the rear-seat floor board area), but they’ll still need to be secured from moving around, as they make an annoying “clacking” noise when they move and bounce around while driving.

3. If you’re looking for a “quick” camping solution for you and possibly a partner, this isn’t the solution you’re looking for. You can’t keep the platforms in-place (as a platform) while you drive unless you’re really short and like hugging the steering wheel. If you want quick, get a roof-top tent. Deploying the platforms takes probably 5 minutes, and you have to open all four doors (plus the tailgate and glass) to do so. Which means if it’s raining, you’re going to get wet. Here’s the process:

A. Open both front doors and position the front seats fully forward, then make sure the seat-back is fully forward too. (You can close these now, unless you need to put stuff that was in or under the back seats into the front seats, so you can fold the back seats down).

B. get the platforms from where they are stored (potentially above the roll-bars, so you’ll need to open the tailgate and rear glass

C. Open the rear doors, position the middle platform piece to the rear cargo platform, then install the supports underneath it.

D. Position the side platform pieces to the cargo platform and the middle rear-seat platform, then install the supports into the side pieces.

E. Close the doors. You can likely set up your inflatable mattress while you’re inside the vehicle, but it’s probably easier to position stuff on the platform from outside the vehicle.

F. Disassembly is reverse… and takes just about as long to accomplish.

 

[Gruffid]

My modifications:

I’ve already changed how the left-side lid attaches, as I described above. I have also already bought and cut a piece of 1/2” ply to be the ”bottom of the box” and it will get bolted into where the D-rings were (I didn’t have the trail-rails).

I will be cutting the left-side and back pieces to support the left-side top part that hinges over - essentially becoming the side and back of the ”box.” I’ll attach them with 90* brackets to make sure they’re well-supported and then screw the fridge slide to the “bottom of the box.”

I’ll likely also trim down the platforms that go over the rear seats to make room for the front seats to be at a comfortable driving/sitting (for the front passenger) position. I realize that this effectively shortens the available sleeping area, but it seems that I’ll have to figure out some way to accommodate that too.

 

[Gruffid]

Final thoughts:

If you want to sleep in your Jeep - for whatever reason (don’t want to sleep in a ground tent, RTT, travel trailer, take the MPG hit from the RTT or travel trailer, think it’ll be “stealth camping,” etc.). This *can* work for you. But you might have to modify it to *make it work* for you. And if you do have to “make it work” for you, it might (if you’re handy and have the tools/time) be better for you just to make it yourself (I’ll get back to this in a minute).

The things this system has going for it:
It costs less than almost every roof top tent, and definitely any travel trailer that isn’t given to you.

YOU don’t have to figure it out. They’ve done the measuring, cutting, and depending on if you have it shipped to you, or if you go to Houston for them to install it, you don’t really have to build it either.

It’s fairly light, offers some nice organizational benefits, very likely has zero effect on your fuel economy (if you care about that sort of thing), has minimal center of gravity effect, can help secure your cargo, and won’t snag on trees or other overhangs. Your jeep will look the same on the outside as it did without it.

So, can you make your own? Yes. And I almost did. But my wife wanted to get this for me as a Father’s Day gift so I wouldn’t *have* to build my own.

Bottom line again… I am happy with the product and it saves me from buying all of the raw materials and having to build my own storage system. The ingenuity they put into the design, the tolerances of the cuts, and care in assembly are really good. I want to give kudos to their operations manager and the assemblers, they all work really hard and they’re skilled with many years of experience in their respective specialties. The owner is an engineer and it shows in the product specifications and design thoughtfulness. I’m very proud of having supported a small business that is just starting out and am excited to see how their brand and their product line evolves.

 

[wheelsfeels]

CC: @wheelsfeels

So this will be my review of the 4xe cargo drawer I just received from them. I ordered it May 8th and received it late last week. Like @Gruffid I had tons of difficulties getting updates on status, shipping, etc. Their email and phone situation is atrocious and they *really* need to work on their business processes. Pinging them on Instagram was mildly successful and I had success using their website chat function, Anton answered promptly every time I tried. Their office is in the middle of the Houston hurricane storm affected areas so I know that didn't help.

Leaving aside the communications failures, the product seems fine. A few issues --

1. I thought I was supposed to get a cargo net with mine that attaches to the drawer lid. I didn't, have to ask them about that.

2. I requested the black painted surfaces -- I wasn't sure that it was supposed to be black paint or bedlining. It was straight black paint and was still a little tacky out of the box, which was fine. I picked up a spray can of clear water-based spar urethane and sprayed down all the surfaces with four light coats, it feels better and more resilient now. I don't see that as a problem though, it was easy.

3. All the M4 0.7 x 12mm small screws that attach the hinges are black oxide flat screws that have a countersink bevel underneath the head -- I didn't really understand why these were chosen as the holes weren't countersunk, so they stick up and can snag on things pushed across them. I Amazon'd some button-head stainless steel screws to replace them, they work much better. I noticed that the hinges were mounted upside down to match the way the lids flip, and the other side of the hinges have countersunk holes, so that may be why. They really need to switch to button head screws though.

4. The drawer components arrived well packed. I had asked them before they shipped about this since someone else had reported problems with broken bits in shipping, so they must have addressed it.

5. The right side flap that goes against my subwoofer grille is really tight, and I will need to sand it down a bit to fit better, but that's also minor.

I'm pretty happy with the result, and with the forum discount it seems pretty reasonable, considering the raw materials would have been at least a quarter to a third of the total cost if I had tried to do it myself and it wouldn't have come out as well. They just have to work on their business processes - not getting timely responses to inquiries makes you think something's scammy and that's going to hurt them.

EDIT: Forgot to mention that the flip-up hatch behind the drawer that bridges the drawer to the rear seats when folded was the perfect place where I could stash the pair of 4AWG Anderson-connected power lines I had run from the engine compartment.

Hello! Thank you so much for your feedback. We truly value input from customers of all experience levels.

You're right; we had some issues with our mail and phone systems being blocked multiple times, and we're sorry for any inconvenience this caused.

It sounds like the mesh might have been accidentally left out during assembly. If you still need it, please let us know, and we'll send it right away.

Regarding the bedliner coating, we experimented with it but found that despite its durability, it tends to scratch or chip easily. We've since decided to discontinue painting it black and now only use varnish and/or carpets, which offer a waterproof and durable finish. The varnish you applied should serve you well for a long time.

As for the screws, we're in the process of switching to a different variant. The ones we used were specifically chosen to fit hinges with shallow holes from one of our suppliers, but we've since found a better solution.

We appreciate your kind words about the packaging - we put a lot of effort into it!

We've also addressed the issues with the covers. Manufacturers sometimes make unexpected changes, and while we strive to keep up, we didn't catch this one in time. However, it's now been resolved.

Thanks again for sharing your thoughts, and we hope you enjoy using your product!

 

[wheelsfeels]

I’ve had difficulties contacting them, but I’ve only been at it for a month. Seems like this is their number one area they should improve.

We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused by the issues with our mail and phone systems being blocked multiple times. We're working hard to ensure this doesn't happen again. Thank you for your understanding and patience.

 

[wheelsfeels]

Cheap product. Returned mine.

We sincerely apologize and want you to know that we are constantly working to improve our product. As a small local company, feedback from customers like you is invaluable in helping us enhance our processes and product quality. We understand how frustrating it can be and we're doing everything we can to address the situation. We're also expanding our staff to better serve you. Sorry again and thank you.

 

[wheelsfeels]

Final thoughts:

If you want to sleep in your Jeep - for whatever reason (don’t want to sleep in a ground tent, RTT, travel trailer, take the MPG hit from the RTT or travel trailer, think it’ll be “stealth camping,” etc.). This *can* work for you. But you might have to modify it to *make it work* for you. And if you do have to “make it work” for you, it might (if you’re handy and have the tools/time) be better for you just to make it yourself (I’ll get back to this in a minute).

The things this system has going for it:
It costs less than almost every roof top tent, and definitely any travel trailer that isn’t given to you.

YOU don’t have to figure it out. They’ve done the measuring, cutting, and depending on if you have it shipped to you, or if you go to Houston for them to install it, you don’t really have to build it either.

It’s fairly light, offers some nice organizational benefits, very likely has zero effect on your fuel economy (if you care about that sort of thing), has minimal center of gravity effect, can help secure your cargo, and won’t snag on trees or other overhangs. Your jeep will look the same on the outside as it did without it.

So, can you make your own? Yes. And I almost did. But my wife wanted to get this for me as a Father’s Day gift so I wouldn’t *have* to build my own.

Bottom line again… I am happy with the product and it saves me from buying all of the raw materials and having to build my own storage system. The ingenuity they put into the design, the tolerances of the cuts, and care in assembly are really good. I want to give kudos to their operations manager and the assemblers, they all work really hard and they’re skilled with many years of experience in their respective specialties. The owner is an engineer and it shows in the product specifications and design thoughtfulness. I’m very proud of having supported a small business that is just starting out and am excited to see how their brand and their product line evolves.

Hello!
Thank you for your feedback. We sincerely apologize for any frustration this experience may have caused. Our goal is always to provide the best service possible, and we truly appreciate the opportunity to work with you on this project.

To clarify, we followed the original specification you provided, which did not include details like hinges or tilting. As a company specializing in pre-designed, bolt-to-bolt products, we explained upfront that custom setups would be your responsibility. When you visited us, we took the time to try it on and ensure everything fit well, but we understand that it required some adjustments due to the custom nature of the project.

We also communicated that the unit would need to be attached to the floor by yourself as we discussed at the beginning. Our pricing reflects the pre-made nature of our products, and custom work generally comes at a higher cost. That said, we were happy to take on this challenge, even though custom work is not our usual scope.

We truly value your feedback and hope the end result meets your expectations.

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