I agree that it's important. That's why I posted it. But there is more than one way to skin the cat. I'm exploring those, and some have offered great ideas here. Pays to hear what they have to say also. Not just the self-anointed "experts of everything Jeep".
To those with knowledge who frequent these forums to help others, I tip my hat. But there are some who merely drop into posts like mine to insult the choices other people make by diminishing otherwise perfectly good products as cheap, inferior, and that the buyer is somehow deficient in not choosing their own preferred brand. While I realize the know-it-alls exist in all forms of activity, it only serves to turn fresh new enthusiasts away from such forums like this when they are treated as some lesser life form for making the choices they made. The distinct insinuation is that their choice was ignorant in nature, and not thought through with potential options. I've seen it way too many times before here and in that "other" forum by the same people. It's not helping.Might make them feel superior to bully others for their choices, but doesn't help.
Being here to educate others with existing knowledge gained from experience is a good thing. Educate, don't denigrate and chastise others for their choices. As I stated before, there is a point at which spending 4-5X as much for a product, simply because most of its components aren't made in China, is not a choice I would make. Potentially, others feel even more strongly about it than that, and have plenty of money to throw around. Not everyone shares that view, and has to make choices on somewhat different criteria. I also recognize fully that goupthink can take over and anoint certain brands as untouchable and beyond reproach. That's also not necessarily wise as a selection criteria. I happen to know Ray Currie. Great products. Great guy. Have some of his products on my Jeeps. Don't genuflect at his feet and automatically shell out all my hard-earned cash for his product across the board, because the level of product they build is not necessarily critical for my application. I also used to know Sammy Chu, part owner of Viair. I do currently have his compressor mounted on my Jeep as my onboard air choice. Also a good guy. I don't necessarily like Sammy any more than I like Ray. I just happen to believe his product delivers solid quality for the money. I know the Thomas compressor lineup quite well, as I spent many years applying them in various industrial and medical applications. I don't use Thomas either. What most people don't understand is that these companies who offer an "American made" product actually source many components and materials worldwide. Including China. The whole thing doesn't have to be sourced here to say it's "an American made product". I'd guess many of the components in the Trucklite product are sourced in China, Malaysia, Taiwan, and elsewhere.
I'm not running a race team here, where the cost is no object. I've done that. Don't need to do it here. I just want a solid, reliable Jeep with reasonable quality and reliable results. The calculus of others may be different. That's fine, I have no issue whatsoever with that. But the moment someone with knowledge drops in and belittles my choice because it's not what they consider the only acceptable option, they lose their status with me as a reliable source. They are here for the wrong reasons. They want to be worshipped, not here to help out other people. My purpose for starting topics is partly to learn, and partly to help other people who may end up in the same spot a week from now, or a year from now. Not to dominate the conversation with my choice of the popular brands and simple conventional wisdom. If you read thru lots of Jeep threads (as well as other vehicles), there are plenty of people who have had the same issue with all brands of LED lights. Not just WHDZ or Trucklite. Speaker, KC, a dozen others have the same issue, and it's why they are all offering heated LED lights. If not now, then soon.
My 2 cents. Your mileage may vary. Listen to whoever you want. It's YOUR Jeep. Not mine.