Quadratec

[Travis]

So as most of you know, I installed a Smittybilt 3" tube bumper with hoop, from Quadratec. I have had this bumper for just over a month. Now that my Jeep is dirty and hasn't been washed in awhile, I noticed a problem with the bumper. On the passenger side, where the hoop meets the first tube, the weld is not complete. There is a chunk missing & its starting to rust. My question is, do I call and/or email QT? I went to their site and looked at the bumper to see if it noted any warranty, it did not. Is it possible that this is road damage? It looks like a spotty weld job to me. I worked on the welded steel pipe industry for 10 years as a weld inspector & I think Smittybilt's machine made a bad weld. I guess in my haste to install it, I over looked an important step. Always inspect your equipment, where was my military mind at! I think Smittbilt should exchange me, or QT. The damn thing has only been on the Jeep for 34 days for God's sake.

The driver's side has a full weld.

 

[TJ4Jim]

Hard to see where the weld is incomplete. Keep in mind the Smittybilt is all Chinese crap and it is made to a price point so it is what it is. I would just touch it up.

 

[Travis]

I would rather just touch it up than deal with any bullshit. What would I use to do that and stop the rust spot? I know it's Chinese junk but the price was right. You get what you pay for, in EVERY single instance.

 

[TJ4Jim]

What actually works hood in these situations is the little bottles of appliance touch-up enamel usually sold at Home Depot.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Get yourself a rattle can of satin black paint from Krylon or Rustoleum for touchups. I have grown to prefer Krylon, it seems to go on more easily without as much tendency to run.

And X2 on Smittybilt... the cheapest possible products that only look good at first.

 

[Ricardo Monsalve]

Save some $$$, buy a rattle can of Krylon or Rustoleum satin black and spray your headlight bezels yourself after removing them with a phillips head screwdriver. Personally, I'd skip the grill inserts. That QT was out of stock may have been a good thing.

I did this to mine yesterday with Plasti dip, they look very good.

 

[Stinger]

So what did Quardatec say where you called the them?

 

[Serbonze]

I would rather just touch it up than deal with any bullshit. What would I use to do that and stop the rust spot? I know it's Chinese junk but the price was right. You get what you pay for, in EVERY single instance.

Hit it with a rust inhibitor spray from Krylon or Rustoleum before you do a touch up with any other paint.

 

[Quadratec]

Hi there,

Very sorry to see this. Please PM me your order number and info. I will get a new bumper out to you and have this one picked up.

Thank you & have a great weekend!

-Rick

 

[Jerry Bransford]

It's not worth the effort on anyone's part, in my personal opinion, to bother to ship and install a replacement. It takes seconds to take care of rust as it happens with a brush & rattle-can paint. Not to mention it would just happen again on a replacement Smittybilt bumper.

 

[Travis]

Hi there,

Very sorry to see this. Please PM me your order number and info. I will get a new bumper out to you and have this one picked up.

Thank you & have a great weekend!

-Rick

PM sent

 

[Serbonze]

I agree with Jerry. Also, while that is EXCELLENTLY customer service by Rick on behalf of Quadratec, I fail to see how this is Quadratec's problem at all and they shouldn't have to eat the cost of a new bumper and shipping for a $5 fix.

 

[Travis]

So what did Quardatec say where you called the them?

I never did call Frank, I was just planning to touch it up as @TJ4Jim recommended. Rick @Quadratec responded to this post without me messaging him first. I also agree that it would be alot of time and effort, when I could paint it up in a couple minutes.

 

[Stinger]

I never did call Frank, I was just planning to touch it up as @TJ4Jim recommended. Rick @Quadratec responded to this post without me messaging him first. I also agree that it would be alot of time and effort, when I could paint it up in a couple minutes.

Well okay then. In my experience, little as it may be, they are very responsive to their customers.

 

[Stockli]

I was annoyed with quadratec on my last order. Only because their shipping emails and various shipping locations drove me nuts. Good prices and good service but it would just be nice to have everything arrive at once and not have crazy emails that are hard to tell what was shipped from what was back ordered.

 

[Serbonze]

I've never had one issue with Quadratec in all the years I've been ordering from them.

 

[Travis]

The first order I placed with QT, I actually had to call and cancel a couple back-ordered items. The were cordial and polite about the cancellation. Also, with Rick @Quadratec responding to this post, I agree their customer service is excellent. I have no complaints about that. I do however agree with @Stockli, their e-mails are hard to understand. I should have saved for a better brand tube bumper. I seen one made by Olympic, how is the quality of their products?

 

[MexiJeeper]

If all else fails I would spray or brush the rusty area with POR-15 rust proofing paint. That paint really works.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

I should have saved for a better brand tube bumper. I seen one made by Olympic, how is the quality of their products?

I had two Olympic bumpers on my previous TJ and their quality was very good. But check out Dirt Worx bumpers. They are manufactured here in SOCAL, are inexpensive, and their quality/strength is outstanding.

 

[Travis]

I had two Olympic bumpers on my previous TJ and their quality was very good. But check out Dirt Worx bumpers. They are manufactured here in SOCAL, are inexpensive, and their quality/strength is outstanding.

Thanks @Jerry Bransford, I will certainly check those out.