"Truck Hero" buys Omix-Ada |
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Joe Friday
Moderator Group Sponsor Member x 2 Joined: 26 Dec. 2010 Location: Jeep Central Status: Offline Points: 3654 |
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Posted: 18 Oct. 2017 at 5:21am |
For those of you that may not receive mailings from SEMA, Truck Hero is headquartered in Ann Arbor Michigan.
This either opens the door to better parts for vintage Jeeps, or reduces or eliminates the supply completely. It's too early to tell.
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berettajeep
Member Sponsor Member Joined: 03 Feb. 2009 Location: Astoria OR Status: Offline Points: 4304 |
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Interesting read as I have never heard of Truck Hero before.
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Rick G
Member Joined: 17 May 2015 Location: Amarillo, TX Status: Offline Points: 1467 |
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Interesting news, Keith. How does this play into/with the Polaris/TAP acquisition? I know that TAP owns and controls a large portion of the offroad aftermarket (maybe all of it essentially?). Is there any affiliation or whollly-owned subsidiary ties between Truck Hero/Omix-ADA/TAP/Polaris? To me, there seems to be the appearance of a lot of "customer options" out there that really aren't. These products are produced by only a few manufacturers and sold through several "different" companies that are actually owned by just one or two corporate holding companies, e.g. TAP.
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Mark W.
Member Sponsor Member Joined: 09 Nov. 2014 Location: Silverton, OR Status: Offline Points: 7986 |
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How does one US company buying another US company lead one to think the parts made off shore will improve in quality? Sure it might happen but there's nothing to make me think the parts sources will change.
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Chug A Lug
1948 2A Body Customized 1949 3A W/S 1957 CJ5 Frame Modified Late 50's 134L 9.25"clutch T90A D18 (1.25") D44/30 flanged E-Locker D25 5.38 Since 1962 |
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Joe Friday
Moderator Group Sponsor Member x 2 Joined: 26 Dec. 2010 Location: Jeep Central Status: Offline Points: 3654 |
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Mark,
I understand your skepticism. Especially considering the skills you have demonstrated in designing and fabricating your own parts. This isn't just two companies. It's one company that was a sole proprietor since inception being sold to another larger company with a different viewpoint. Omix made a decision years ago not to invest in the quality of parts for the vintage vehicles, (they don't have the expertise) and it had a limited affect on their sales of the higher profit accessories for newer vehicles. One industry insider told me that the profit from floormats, lights, and bumpers supports all the other parts. I'm just suggesting this may be a chance for some new influence. I think when it comes to the collector market it is going to be play or go home. |
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RICKG
Member Joined: 08 Jan. 2015 Location: so idaho Status: Offline Points: 1941 |
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Hmmmm, wonder what happens to the Omix Jeep collection??
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I never met a mule I didn't like!
MC51986 "OD MULE" DOD 01-52 '50 CJ3A "Bucksnort". Keep 'em Rollin' |
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Stev
Member Sponsor Member Joined: 27 July 2016 Location: Cincinnati Status: Offline Points: 2391 |
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Joe, - I hope the big company ownership does not decide to stop producing the low volume parts that don't have a lot of profit for them. Easy for some accountant to just kill the slow movers.
We will hope for the best.
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Stev
1946 CJ2A Trail Jeep (The Saint), 1948 CJ2A Lefty Restored |
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rocnroll
Member Sponsor Member Joined: 20 July 2005 Location: Tuscumbia, AL Status: Offline Points: 13585 |
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But that might just open the door to some enterprising young company to make those parts for us or would it?
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'47 CJ2A PU
'48 CJ2A Lefty "Common sense is not that common" |
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Willy M
Member Joined: 18 July 2017 Location: Dyer, TN Status: Offline Points: 233 |
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That's my hope. Usually a vacuum gets filled.
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Bob3b
Member Joined: 08 Mar. 2010 Location: Akron, Ohio Status: Offline Points: 3097 |
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I remember discussing this issue heavily on the way to Alaska this summer. The problem with making parts is the upfront cost.
I used brake pedals as an example. You have to design and make the molds for the pedal, which takes a lot of time and money, then how many brake pedals do you make at one time? 200, 500? How long is it until you sell enough of them to start making money on the venture? Now multiply that by all of the parts you'd like to see made! If I had the money, I would certainly go down this road, making quality parts for guys who need them, but sadly, until that big lottery win comes through... |
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1946 CJ2A #23881
1953 CJ3b, nice! 1949 Jeepster 1947 Empire Model 90 1985 CJ10A Spen "S" Utility trailer Kubota l3400 |
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russnj
Admin Webmaster Joined: 20 July 2005 Location: W. Windsor, NJ Status: Offline Points: 3943 |
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I've heard of a company in Ramsey, IL. He makes great quality parts, but the owner has taken to traveling and enjoying the jeep life! |
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43 MB, 48 CJ2A, 50 CJ3A, 55 M38A1, 56 CJ5, 79 M151A2, M100 ,65 M416 |
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SE Kansas 46 CJ-2A
Member Sponsor Member x 3 Joined: 22 Jan. 2016 Location: S.E. Kansas Status: Offline Points: 3191 |
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Then there is the issue of pricing parts. If you are producing a high quality U.S. made OEM duplicate drag link kit, for example, you can market it for say $30.00 at suggested list . The China made kit sells for $20.00 at list and really doesn't come close to OEM specs and half the parts aren't usable because they don't fit. How do you convince the buyer that yours is a better deal? Or perhaps, the real question is how do you convince the distributors like Walck's, Kaiser-Willys, et al, that your drag link kit is a better deal. Without distributors that will buy from you then you are on your own and advertising will eat you alive. It isn't easy to be a small U.S. based manufacturer producing high quality parts for a very limited market. (How many drag link kits that fit 46 to 71 CJ's and M models are needed each year?) Most of us have complained about quality issues of Omix-ADA and MD Juan parts, but would enough of us be willing to pay the extra that it requires to have U.S. built high quality exact duplicate OEM parts? I'm not sure...it's either and opportunity or there is too much involved in getting a start-up going... |
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46 CJ-2A #64462 "Ol' Red" (bought April 1969)(second owner)(12 V, 11" brakes, M-38 frame, MD Juan tub)
U.S. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer(ret.) U.S. Army Vietnam veteran and damned proud of it. |
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Oilleaker1
Member Joined: 06 Sep. 2011 Location: Black Hills, SD Status: Offline Points: 4412 |
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Joe's Motor Pool, and Ron Fitzpatrick are already upgrading things. Their prices amaze me with how they can offer so reasonable. Lots of competition in the Old Willys Parts business. You also wonder how long they will stay around. I'm glad they are there. John
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Green Disease, Jeeps, Old Iron!
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Joe Friday
Moderator Group Sponsor Member x 2 Joined: 26 Dec. 2010 Location: Jeep Central Status: Offline Points: 3654 |
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As usual Oilly you beat me to it.
I was going to say three words. Joes - Motor-Pool. Parts made from the original specs.
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rocnroll
Member Sponsor Member Joined: 20 July 2005 Location: Tuscumbia, AL Status: Offline Points: 13585 |
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That's actually the enterprising young company I had in mind....I hope it works out.
Quality travels by word of mouth very well among enthusiasts. |
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'47 CJ2A PU
'48 CJ2A Lefty "Common sense is not that common" |
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SE Kansas 46 CJ-2A
Member Sponsor Member x 3 Joined: 22 Jan. 2016 Location: S.E. Kansas Status: Offline Points: 3191 |
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The manufacture of SAE standard parts on metric based metal working equipment like the Chinese are trying to do leaves a lot of problems with fits and tolerances for the end user. (us!) Some parts have close enough operating tolerances that even if the metric based part is close, it isn't close enough. I personally have had to rework many parts that should have just simply fit. I have the capabilities, but I shouldn't have to, and that isn't going to help the person that doesn't have the equipment to make small "adjustments" to Chinese parts. Omix-ADA's sale could be a good thing, or it could turn out to be a dead end...we will have to see. ...as Willy M said "Usually a vacuum gets filled." We can only hope that it gets filled with someone who is interested in quality parts production. |
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46 CJ-2A #64462 "Ol' Red" (bought April 1969)(second owner)(12 V, 11" brakes, M-38 frame, MD Juan tub)
U.S. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer(ret.) U.S. Army Vietnam veteran and damned proud of it. |
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SE Kansas 46 CJ-2A
Member Sponsor Member x 3 Joined: 22 Jan. 2016 Location: S.E. Kansas Status: Offline Points: 3191 |
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46 CJ-2A #64462 "Ol' Red" (bought April 1969)(second owner)(12 V, 11" brakes, M-38 frame, MD Juan tub)
U.S. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer(ret.) U.S. Army Vietnam veteran and damned proud of it. |
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wadoyado
Member Sponsor Member Joined: 29 Sep. 2016 Location: Mi. Status: Offline Points: 728 |
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"It's unbelievable how much you don't know about the jeep you've been driving all your life" (Mickey Mantle paraphrase)
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