Rubicon express CLOSED?????

[Rockken]

AFAIK, RE is currently shut down for 30 days...they are fixing the bushing issues and to do it right, they had to shut down to focus 100% on this major problem.

It isn't a money issues, bankruptcy or new management.

That's the craziest thing I've ever heard. I own a business and I have an issue with one part, so I'm going to shut down my whole operation, just to fix this one thing.

I think if that was the case, they would put a hold on the parts that were directly effected by the defective bushings and continue to sell all their other parts.

 

[aparke4]

good deal - they are the first company that comes to mind that made quality aftermarket Jeep lift kits and have been around from the beginning! Yeah they have sold out to the major 4wd distributors but I still feel you pay for what you get for and they are a good model for the benchmark for parts that get used on and off road...

 

[XJNOOB93]

I think they'll be back personally... the way they worded things on their site, makes me think they are being sold.

 

[YELLAHEEP]

Yeah, not likely a problem with bushings. They're gonna take a big hit shutting everything down over such a small issue.

I see it being a re-structuring, buy-out or shift in power players.

 

[jdogg4]

Yeah, not likely a problem with bushings. They're gonna take a big hit shutting everything down over such a small issue.

I see it being a re-structuring, buy-out or shift in power players.

X2 ya a company that size doesn't shut down 100% operations because of bushings.

 

[Stang5lgt]

From what my parts guy told RE is done. Not coming back from this one. Real bummer cause I just installed two of there lifts last month and quality was great on them. I wondered what was going cause when I ordered the lifts some of the parts were slow to show up. I thought maybe it was normal but now I think it was cause what was coming. I hope my parts guy is wrong but he told me no more RE stuff ever.

 

[YELLAHEEP]

Yeah, I hope they're not gone for good either. But I just can't see that being the case. Too many good products, good consumer base. Even if production costs were getting high, they could recover from that.

Last year, they dumped me (BIGoffroad) as a vendor. They were pushing for BIG accounts, businesses that could turn high volume. I gave it a little while, then called and spoke to a sales manager of some sort and told them BOR's account had been around for well over 10 years and it'd be a shame for them to cancel low sales vendor accounts..... afterall, some orders are better than no orders at all right? They reinstated BOR, but put me at the same level as their on-line prices..... so I'd have to cheat people in order to make a buck. So, I go through other avenues to get RE stuff now.

I'm thinking they just sold out, we'll see this stuff again, maybe not as Rubicon Express, but the name has value, so I think they'll come back, just under new ownership.

 

[DJManche]

Hopefully this doesn't turn out like Smittybuilt , bought out from one company , sold the design to the next company type thing to the point that they demolish the quality of the original product .

What about most of us that have RE kits ? Are we just left in the wind here or are we going to be able to find replacement bushings ? Kinda messed up that they just drop the ball on the people who already paid top dollar on
a kit we thought would be around for a while . Aren't they liable to accept warranty for a while , I don't know the laws
on this stuff but in my industry I have to warranty parts and labor for the contracted amount of time after the sale even if I close production and file chapter . Usually they find a competitor company to send warranty work through ...

 

[Beezle]

So what happens if a company like this goes under as far as getting replacement parts for normal wear items such as bushings, superflex replacement parts, and the like?

Will another company pick up those type of things to make a buck off of their demise?
I would really hate to have to buy new control arms just because I can't rebuild them.

 

[jimgrms]

Pretty sure with the amount of re stuff some one will sell replacement parts, Re probably was out sourcing all there bushing ect if the part has a number something can be found

 

[Rockken]

Yeah, like Jim said, they probably EOM'ed the wear parts anyways. You may have to do some searching to find replacements. More than likely the numbers on the parts will cross reference the to original manufacturer.

 

[MelloYello]

Seems to me that a smaller company could do very well if they started making parts like bushings and sold / marketed them as direct RE replacements? Maybe a cool local company like Big Offroad?

 

[MelloYello]

hint: I am currently in need of some leaf spring bushings to replace my RE bushings. They were sh!t and already falling apart after two years. I would hate to have to go through RE to get replacements now.

 

[jimgrms]

proably stock one will fit

 

[MelloYello]

: ) I know I could probably find one to fit. The point is no company I know of has come out and said "better than direct replacement part" for RE. I just think there is a good opportunity for a company to make a lot of money in these times. Especially since RE bushings are crap and with the amount of them out there in the market.

 

[bcmaxx]

I have a poly alternative for the rear bushings (1.5") if you like, working on a front alternative as we speak

 

[O-Gauge Steamer]

For what it is worth...

I have just heard that one of the two cousins that owns RE is buying out the other due to a major falling out. Family, go figure. According to the Lawyers and Accountants, in order to process the change of ownership all transactions have to be suspended in order to accurately rate the worth of the company.

 

[YELLAHEEP]

Yep, heard the same (told to me to be brothers, but family at any rate).

They'll be back. But the damage to their vendors has already been done. Spoke to one of our sponsors the other day about this and it's gonna cost HIM to do all the credit card refunds on the ordered items that RE will not ship now. Kept telling him things were on back-order and would be in soon...... after 30 days, the fees to do CC refunds fall on the vendor. Total shitty deal.

 

[A/C guy]

im kinda pissed!! the whole purchace experience sucked for me. I bought a 5.5 long arm kit about 5 months ago. well put in the order 5 months ago. and it took about 3.5 months to get all the parts. i kept getting one excuse after the other. Granted the quality is awesome, but dont you think if someone is willing to fork out close to 3 grand for parts you would at least get them in a timely mannor? RE gets a D- for there effort

 

[LBC970]

Thats a bummer. I have a RE lift I was needing parts for!