Old news but in case there are any doubters - TeraFlex Tire Carrier Break

Just saw you edit this, but I figured it out. That Lee In Denver dude posted up a link to your debate on the Crawlorado Jeepers Facebook page


Ah, that explains it. I wonder why he left. I mean, was I supposed to lose my temper at him or something? :thinking: :idontknow:

I can understand the argument that the carrier is good for the majority of those with Jeeps due to them either not wheeling hard - most certainly not as hard as Eddie - or who run 33"s or even 35"s but its the fact that TF advertises them to be strong enough to a level that they clearly weren't for. I still don't get why people take it as Eddie backstabbing TF when all he's doing is going, "Hey, look what happened."

The Force will be with you.... always

Honestly, I'm not so sure I could understand spending over $700 for something the factory tire carrier already does BETTER. To this day, I have never seen a factory tailgate hinge fail - NOT ONE. While I have seen spot welds fail on the sheet metal and even a tire carrier crack, both were the result of no isolators being present and the spare tire jiggling around. Not that I would even recommend wheeling with a big spare like that but, the fact remains, this "heavy duty" tire carrier, something that's supposed to be an improvement over stock has clearly shown itself to be anything but. As you have pointed out, I have simply pointed it out and for what I believe is a good reason.

Wow....thanks for posting! :Wide Eyed and Scare: We are looking into an upgrade but not Teraflex. Does anyone know were their stuff is made?

Edit: found out on the other forum. Needless to say, I'm not surprised. I had a coffee grinder two months ago (used only once) that caught FIRE and melted my drapes. I went out that day and bought a 100yr old cast iron manual wall mounted one. That thing will probably outlive the house :D

The sad truth is, this is just one part that they've made that has seen breaks. The others have been their front track bar and long arm brackets.

http://wayalife.com/showthread.php?5169-TeraFlex-Front-Track-Bar-Breaks

http://wayalife.com/showthread.php?4743-TeraFlex-Long-Arm-Bracket-Break&highlight=teraflex+breaks

Again, I just can't make this stuff up.
 
To be clear, we're talking about a $700 for a tire carrier that's sold as being necessary and stronger than stock. To this day, I have yet to see a stock hinges fail or a tire carrier break so long as the spare was isolated properly. I just don't get why I'm the bad guy for informing people of this very real problem and not TeraFlex for keeping things quite and replacing a part they know to be faulty ONLY IF you are concerned enough to contact them about it.

You're the bad guy because you pointed it out. When someone is wrong they need to point the blame at someone else. Lol
 
All I can say is wow! I've got a different setup but will be keeping a damn close eye on mine. Got me thinking about a safety leash mod for my warn crawler bumper w 37 on the carrier.
 
I would be interested to know at what point will stores like qtec, northridge, etc stop selling this product? I know its a hot item for them, but I would have trouble selling customer a product I know can be dangerous. Maybe is stores stopped selling them it would force Teraflex to recall them.

I asked Northridge before I purchased sighting this forum. They told me they had no issues/complaints and they have been running them on their rigs as well. We discussed other options but they had no reservation with the Teraflex solution.

I would agree that if this is a defective dangerous product Northridge, Quadratec, etc...would not sell it. Why do they? I'll call them tomorrow.

By the way, the reason I thought it necessary to beef up the tailgate is that my bike carrier w/ Tri bike caused tailgate issues on my 13.
 
I asked Northridge before I purchased sighting this forum. They told me they had no issues/complaints and they have been running them on their rigs as well. We discussed other options but they had no reservation with the Teraflex solution.

I would agree that if this is a defective dangerous product Northridge, Quadratec, etc...would not sell it. Why do they? I'll call them tomorrow.

Really? Why wouldn't they sell it? It's called supply and demand. TeraFlex still makes it and people like you still demand it in spite of what you've seen. They're just giving you, the customer, what you want.

By the way, the reason I thought it necessary to beef up the tailgate is that my bike carrier w/ Tri bike caused tailgate issues on my 13.

What kind of issues? Did the rack attach to the spare? How was your spare setup? While I personally wouldn't hang bikes or anything off my spare, did you at least make sure to have the isolators pressing firmly against it? You can't just say you had issues without giving specifics - the devil is always in the details.
 
I asked Northridge before I purchased sighting this forum. They told me they had no issues/complaints and they have been running them on their rigs as well. We discussed other options but they had no reservation with the Teraflex solution.

:shock: Not! You are seriously surprised? Tell you what, when you call them tomorrow why don't you also ask them about sleeving your axle.

Northridge is in the business to sell shit. Do you really think they are going to turn your money away? In my experience, they will jump at the chance to sell you stuff that you don't need or that doesn't work.
 
Really? Why wouldn't they sell it? It's called supply and demand. TeraFlex still makes it and people like you still demand it in spite of what you've seen. They're just giving you, the customer, what you want.





What kind of issues? Did the rack attach to the spare? How was your spare setup? While I personally wouldn't hang bikes or anything off my spare, did you at least make sure to have the isolators pressing firmly against it? You can't just say you had issues without giving specifics - the devil is always in the details.

There is some strong acquisitions here that Teraflex and vendors are knowingly selling an extremely dangerous product. Furthermore anyone that runs the carrier is irresponsible.

Why wouldn't they recommend another? I didn't ask for the Teraflex. I asked for a recommendation and brought up others like LOD and Poison Spyder. I could have bought a new bumper and carrier. They could have up sold me but didn't. We went this route because I could do the bumpers later. It's a valid question to the vendors if this is a dangerous product. Lifetime customers are created with honesty and trust. At this point I believe if Northridge felt there was a problem they would have steered me away from the Teraflex. Again I asked them point blank referencing what I've seen on this forum and if I should get something else. Maybe I should take my business elsewhere. I will invite them, now a sponsor, to post what they think.
Stock Rubicon wheel, tire, and carrier; not one modification. The Tri bike weights 17 pounds. The rack actually has a steel plate that is sandwiched between the carrier and wheel. You just talked up high great the stock carrier is at carrying a 37" Nitto on a ATX Slab and there is no reason to replace it other than you wouldn't keep the tire on the tailgate.

I didn't come on here telling you you're full of crap. I don't think I have been disrespectful. Yet you start implying I'm stupid. Why don't you save that until you get to know me at least. I have 2 Jeeps and want the best stuff but at the same time don't want a bunch of misinformation; the devil IS always in the details as you say. I value peoples opinions and tastes, we all have Jeeps in common. Why wouldn't we all want to help each other out the best we can?
 
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:shock: Not! You are seriously surprised? Tell you what, when you call them tomorrow why don't you also ask them about sleeving your axle.

Northridge is in the business to sell shit. Do you really think they are going to turn your money away? In my experience, they will jump at the chance to sell you stuff that you don't need or that doesn't work.

Actually in my experience with them they told me stuff I didn't need to spend money on. Tell you what, I'll definitely ask them:cheesy: I'll get back to you with all the stuff you don't need or will fall off.
 
^^^ huh? You might want to fix your previous post instead of making it seem like Eddie is the one saying some of that dribble.
 
Actually in my experience with them they told me stuff I didn't need to spend money on. Tell you what, I'll definitely ask them:cheesy: I'll get back to you with all the stuff you don't need or will fall off.

Or they steered you towards stuff they had in stock. Just a thought.
 
The sad truth is, this is just one part that they've made that has seen breaks. The others have been their front track bar and long arm brackets.

http://wayalife.com/showthread.php?5169-TeraFlex-Front-Track-Bar-Breaks

http://wayalife.com/showthread.php?4743-TeraFlex-Long-Arm-Bracket-Break&highlight=teraflex+breaks

Again, I just can't make this stuff up.

Holy cow man!! That is just a crying shame :Wide Eyed and Scare We have been looking into upgrades and I have to tell you we are trying to stear clear of after market stuff made in China. No flame war intended but, good grief that is just plain scary. We have had other experiences with materials made in China that solidify that opinion --lights that fall apart as soon as you turn them on, nails that break in half with your fingers, coffee pots that turn on by themselves...I fully expected that tire bracket to implode and start dripping mercury. Even if you can find a decent company in China that is dedicated to making quality equipment, can they even trust where they are getting their parts from?

There is a RearTire bracket we are looking into by AEV, apparently it's the only after market carrier that is Crash Test USA rated. MADE IN USA and only 59.00 more than the Teraflex one.

If anyone has any experience with these brackets we could definitely use your opinions! :D

http://www.quadratec.com/products/12049_201X_PG.htm

bumper.jpg
 
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Holy cow man!! That is just a crying shame :Wide Eyed and Scare We have been looking into upgrades and I have to tell you we are trying to stear clear of after market stuff made in China. No flame war intended but, good grief that is just plain scary.

There is a RearTire bracket we are looking into by AEV, apparently it's the only after market carrier that is Crash Test USA rated. MADE IN USA and only 59.00 more than the Teraflex one.

While I think certifications and tests are nice, I think they are more about a manufacturer's willingness to pay for them than the difficulty of passing. (At least in this case.)

After all, the stock Tuperware bumper and carrier passed the minimum crash safety requirements too.
 
While I think certifications and tests are nice, I think they are more about a manufacturer's willingness to pay for them than the difficulty of passing. (At least in this case.)

After all, the stock Tuperware bumper and carrier passed the minimum crash safety requirements too.

The crash test rating isn't the only reason we are looking into the bracket. But in fairness to the product it is the only after market bracket that is. It also looks pretty solid, great reviews and its made in the USA. I realize many people will say "made in the USA" isn't the only reason you should be looking at something...but it certainly is a start. That and I'd prefer to support companies that try to keep employment active in the states.

If you have any experience with the AEV bracket we would definitely appreciate your opinion :D :D

Edited: from bumper to bracket..apologies
 
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The crash test rating isn't the only reason we are looking into the bracket. But in fairness to the product it is the only after market bracket that is. It also looks pretty solid, great reviews and its made in the USA. I realize many people will say "made in the USA" isn't the only reason you should be looking at something...but it certainly is a start. That and I'd prefer to support companies that try to keep employment active in the states.

If you have any experience with the AEV bracket we would definitely appreciate your opinion :D :D

Edited: from bumper to bracket..apologies

No experience with it personally but it's more than just a bracket. You mount it to your bumper. You will need to either modify your stock bumper to accept it ( I believe I've seen people do it not 100% though) or buy the AEV rear bumper.
 
It would be interesting to know how many TF ticking time bomb carriers are out there.

Sorry, but in this day and age one would expect a responsible company to perform a recall, not just pass the buck as "installer error".

I'm not a TF Tire Carrier owner but the original thread has had me watching my long arms and bump stops like a hawk. I don't need a crazy expensive break ruining my fun :brows:
 
There is some strong acquisitions here that Teraflex and vendors are knowingly selling an extremely dangerous product. Furthermore anyone that runs the carrier is irresponsible.

"Acquisitions"? I'll assume you meant "accusations" and to that, all I can do is show you PROOF of what others and I have seen. Clearly, TeraFlex is aware of it enough that they have since modified their bracket and offer it to those concerned enough to contact them and request one. As far as vendors go, again, they are just supplying you with what you've demanded. Certainly, you have faith in what you got. I just hope you'll take the time to keep an eye on it just in case - for the sake of everyone on the road.

Why wouldn't they recommend another? I didn't ask for the Teraflex. I asked for a recommendation and brought up others like LOD and Poison Spyder. I could have bought a new bumper and carrier. They could have up sold me but didn't. We went this route because I could do the bumpers later.

LOL!!! Honestly, I can't say for sure if this was the case with Northridge but, you're kidding yourself if you don't know that vendors try to push products that they have in stock and/or get the most profit on. TeraFlex makes all their stuff in China and the profit margin on them is high so stocking their products is a no brainer. Companies like LoD and Poison Spyder are made in the USA and are typically 4-6 weeks out on anything they make. In other words, even if you wanted a new bumper, they probably wouldn't have been able to sell it to you at that time.

It's a valid question to the vendors if this is a dangerous product. Lifetime customers are created with honesty and trust. At this point I believe if Northridge felt there was a problem they would have steered me away from the Teraflex.

You're right, it is a valid question and maybe they just didn't think my post about it was enough to warrant concern. Maybe they knew that TeraFlex would replace the mount if it broke and felt confident that would be enough to keep a guy like you happy. I'm not them and so I can't say for sure but, you're more than welcome to believe what you want and put your faith in whatever vendor you want. Me, I'm just trying to get the word out that this tire carrier has BROKEN on multiple occasions and that if you own one, to PLEASE keep an eye on it just in case. Of course the guys who started this thread just confirmed that I was right but, you can disregard that as being heresy.

I asked them point blank referencing what I've seen on this forum and if I should get something else. Maybe I should take my business elsewhere. I will invite them, now a sponsor, to post what they think.

:cheesy: If I didn't know any better, I would have to say that was some kind of threat! I suppose this is the part where I'm supposed to get scared :yawn37:

Like all our advertisers, Northridge does help to make this forum available to guys like you to use 100% free of charge and for that, I am grateful. If they really want to stop supporting what we've got going here based on FACTS that I have posted up, all I can say is that it's their money and they can choose to spend it wherever they like.

Stock Rubicon wheel, tire, and carrier; not one modification. The Tri bike weights 17 pounds.

To be clear, this 17 lbs. is essentially cantilevered off the back of the spare. A spare that is designed to bolt up to a mount where the weight of it is most evenly distributed. Nah, this extra bouncing around weight won't have any effect on the tailgate. Of course, you still haven't even said what issue apparently occurred to cause you to spend $730 to replace what you had.

The rack actually has a steel plate that is sandwiched between the carrier and wheel.

Meaning what? How would this make things stronger or better for the tailgate? :idontknow:

You just talked up high great the stock carrier is at carrying a 37" Nitto on a ATX Slab and there is no reason to replace it other than you wouldn't keep the tire on the tailgate.

First off, I personally would never carry a spare of that size on my tailgate due to the fact that on the trail, it can catch a ledge and trash the tailgate and or rear glass. This is something I have seen many times. Second, what I said is that I have NEVER seen a factory hinge fail - this is one of the things that your $730 replaced. What I also said is that when installed properly with isolators that press firmly against the sidewall of the spare to prevent jiggling, I have yet to see a factory tire mount fail - this is another thing that your $730 got you. In a nutshell, I personally wouldn't waste my money on a $730 tire carrier that has been PROVEN to break whereas the factory one will not so long as the spare is properly isolated.

I didn't come on here telling you you're full of crap. I don't think I have been disrespectful. Yet you start implying I'm stupid. Why don't you save that until you get to know me at least.

Funny, all I did was ask a few questions and you got all that from it? :naw:

I have 2 Jeeps and want the best stuff but at the same time don't want a bunch of misinformation; the devil IS always in the details as you say.

I make no money off of you and yet, the PROOF I've presented here is somehow to be seen as misinformation. Clearly, you should put your faith wherever you see fit :thumb:

I value peoples opinions and tastes, we all have Jeeps in common. Why wouldn't we all want to help each other out the best we can?

Funny, I thought I was trying to help others the best I could. Guess you're the kind of guy that values opinions over FACTS :idontknow:
 
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