Biggest waste of money (let's learn something)

[TDGarage]

Sometimes we learn more from our mistakes.

What's the worst accessory or product that didn't deliver or wasn't worth the money for you?

I probably have many...

Poison Spyder hood vent for my jeep (doesn't reduce my engine temps at all)
REI Quarter Dome tent (rainfly window came out completely leaving a huge hole)
Flowmaster HP2 exhaust (way too loud and droned on the highway, droned everywhere)

 

[Mad Garden Gnome]

Were you experiencing overheating? In regards to the PS hood vent.

 

[TDGarage]

in hindsight it appears these Jeeps just run hot. 219-229 degrees in the summer seems to be the norm. I thought I can get the truck to run cooler by venting the hood....wrong. Coolant temp didn't change at all (using a digital temp gauge)

 

[Mad Garden Gnome]

I could see it reducing under hood temps. Would you consider adding an auxiliary electric fan?

 

[TDGarage]

That was my logic but it didn't work out that way.

I'd consider it but at this point I've accepted that this is the normal temp range for this engine.

 

[Mad Garden Gnome]

I went to electrics for the extra airflow during low engine speed / low vehicle speed crawling, not due to any overheating issues.

 

[vegasjeepguy]

in hindsight it appears these Jeeps just run hot. 219-229 degrees in the summer seems to be the norm. I thought I can get the truck to run cooler by venting the hood....wrong. Coolant temp didn't change at all (using a digital temp gauge)

My TJ never goes over 210. The only time I had an issue was in direct desert sun with air temps above 115 driving slower than 20 mph for a prolonged period of time.

 

[boehml]

15" wheels. Not only did I have to grind the front calipers, but I ended up replacing them with 17" wheels a year and a half later. I originally went with 15's because the tires were cheaper, in the long run it was more expensive, lol.

 

[vegasjeepguy]

With my first Jeep TJ I went cheap on a rear cargo rack that bolted directly to the tailgate. Primarily I wanted to haul extra fuel in Jerry cans and the rack had a place on each side to hold a 5 gallon can. Rather than spending $600-$1000 or more on a swingout tire carrier that allowed you to carry cans I spent $300 on the cargo rack. The main issue is it put a lot of stress on the tailgate and one of the bolts pulled through the sheet metal. I learned my lesson and after that Jeep was totaled, I ponied up the money to put a proper swing out tire carrier bumper on my new Jeep.

 

[Anders0nic]

I'd say my biggest mistake was putting 35's on my old 67 FJ40. I couldn't stand the on road manners and sold it off about a year later. I know if I had kept the 33's I'd probably still have it to this day.


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[Nick74]

Mine was a very expensive bad product. A 2008 Nissan Patrol CRD Manual. Cost me mid $30k to buy and in the three years I owned it I spent about $17k repairing it. Not modifying it or servicing it............. just was a total pile of you know what

 

[Cory1139]

With my first Jeep TJ I went cheap on a rear cargo rack that bolted directly to the tailgate. Primarily I wanted to haul extra fuel in Jerry cans and the rack had a place on each side to hold a 5 gallon can. Rather than spending $600-$1000 or more on a swingout tire carrier that allowed you to carry cans I spent $300 on the cargo rack. The main issue is it put a lot of stress on the tailgate and one of the bolts pulled through the sheet metal. I learned my lesson and after that Jeep was totaled, I ponied up the money to put a proper swing out tire carrier bumper on my new Jeep.

Are you talking about the warrior products adventure rack?

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[ColoradoPacific]

Purchased a plate steel rear bumper, and within 3 months, realized I should have bought the high clearance option. I had avoided that because I was nervous about chopping body panels on a new truck. Instead, I ended up doing it anyway, AND getting a high clearance bumper.

Lesson: don't ever settle for a less ideal mod that you'll end up replacing later. Do it right the first time!

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[mountainkatt]

A cheap lift. It's very, very springy.

We purchased the Zone 3" lift because it came in sub $700 for us with disconnects, gave us room for bigger tires and flex-space to play. A couple years down the road now, its very soft on corners and with the tent open in high winds I feel like I'm sleeping on a boat. However, it's in.... so the idea of pulling it out on top of spending another minimum $1200-1300 for a better lift... not going to happen just yet.

 

[boehml]

A cheap lift. It's very, very springy.

We purchased the Zone 3" lift because it came in sub $700 for us with disconnects, gave us room for bigger tires and flex-space to play. A couple years down the road now, its very soft on corners and with the tent open in high winds I feel like I'm sleeping on a boat. However, it's in.... so the idea of pulling it out on top of spending another minimum $1200-1300 for a better lift... not going to happen just yet.

That's one thing I made sure I went with a reputable name, especially for shocks. I spent more coin on my shocks than I did on my lift, $1000 lift $1500 shocks, lol.

 

[armymgdude]

I have probably wasted thousands on cheap gear over the years, only to have to replace it with better equipment after the cheap crap failed. The latest I can remember were Smittybilt tire deflators. They didn't even make it through one deflation on my power wagon. Bought ARB as soon as we got back. It was the same price. For me, I will NEVER buy anything from Smittybilt ever again. To each their own, I know lots of people like their stuff.

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[9Mike2]

I got my 285/70R 17's KO2 to fit my stock Jeep and within three months got the OME lift and could have gotten the 315/70's. Now I have to wait till I wear them out..

 

[NV.Recon]

K&N "CAI". Didn't notice a difference in anything except the increased amount of dirt that it sucked in.

OB 3319

 

[NV.Recon]

I got my 285/70R 17's KO2 to fit my stock Jeep and within three months got the OME lift and could have gotten the 315/70's. Now I have to wait till I wear them out..

Just did the same thing on my Tundra. Only 5k on them and I cant wait to wear em out. My wife would kill me if I got rid of them already

OB 3319

 

[Mad Garden Gnome]

My TJ never goes over 210. The only time I had an issue was in direct desert sun with air temps above 115 driving slower than 20 mph for a prolonged period of time.

Automatic vs manual transmissions?