Who Makes QUALITY Shackle / Clevis Mounts / Bumper Tabs?

jaymar

Member
These things go by a bunch of names, and I'm finding almost zero online. Here's a photo of a discontinued item; this is the kind of BOLT-ON thing I'm looking for, but high-quality all around, welds included. I'm aware of the Trail Tailor version, but would prefer the bolts to be farther apart, as here. The only other things I've seen are cheapies on Amazon etc. Thanks for any help!

Shackle Mount.jpg
 

jaymar

Member
Rugged Ridge sells on Amazon and sells that item thru dealers, too. Amazon isn't the "deselector" it used to be as many makers use it as their retail front. There is also the pernicious issue of paid influencers hawking goods they "tested" when i reality it takes 6-18 months to really see performance. But, no, they have another list of goods posted within weeks.

Material thickness, weld quality and alloy aren't easy to pull out of specs, we are often left with buying from older brands with a reputation of quality, as there aren't many who actually test it. The internet was filled with that ten years ago, most gave it up. All this assumes the bumper itself is 1/4" plate minimum and the bracket is also attached to the frame brackets allowing direct pull on the chassis.

At best, we just keep looking to see what others use - who have actually used them. So much of this is now decor for the suburban crowd it's become questionable. As pictured above, I wouldn't take the owner's endorsement at all. A used shackle has worn paint and the rubber bumper was destroyed long ago, it's just a noise damper for the daily driver. I agree that wider spaced bolts are usually an indicator of spreading the stress, but attached to the chassis brackets behind, it adds leverage which "might" cause more bending. What sometimes appears as an engineering feature is often copied for sales rather than fully understood, as those of us who survived the muscle car era, then lifted 4WD trucks, have come to understand. There is always a negative offset to a feature which merchandisers never explain, and it's upon us to discern what they are leaving out. Like Navy SEAL knives, a lot of off road equipment is sold for looks, not used, and a lot of equipment that is in the media is often shiny new, not beat on daily the way a wrecker driver will. Buyer be aware.
Thanks for the scoop. Rugged Ridge. Not seeing it on their website. I've seen a photo of theirs before, but the welds are absolutely impossible to see with whatever that coating is, and their prices on other things make me wonder. Anyone have experience with theirs? Any other companies out there? I mean, SOMEbody's gotta be making these things... :)
 

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