25 Ways To Make Your Jeep Better - SEMA 2015
We walked every aisle and visited every booth at the 2015 SEMA Show to find 25 of the best new products for your Jeep
Bruce W. SmithPhotographer
25 Ways To Make Your Jeep Better - SEMA 2015
We walked every aisle and visited every booth at the 2015 SEMA Show to find 25 of the best new products for your Jeep
Bruce W. SmithPhotographer
Thousands of new automotive products roll out at the Specialty Equipment Marketing Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas every November before making their way to brick-and-mortar stores and Internet sales sites. We spend a week walking miles and miles of isles during the SEMA Show looking for hot products that make your 4x4 more agile, faster, stronger, versatile, reliable, safer, or just make customizing easier. Jeeps were by far the most popular of customized 4x4s on display this year. Here are the 25 new products for Jeeps we saw that most caught our interest and made us say, “Wow, I want that.” We think you will too.
Hot and Spicy Axle
Here’s a heavy-duty direct bolt-in Dana 44 replacement Dana Spicer for ’07-current JKs. It’s built with 5/16-inch tubes, heavier brackets, chromoly axleshafts, an electric-actuating locker, Spicer SPL 1350 premium U-joints, a high-strength nodular iron performance diff cover, genuine Spicer gearing (available ratios: 3.73 to 5.38), and optimized pinion and caster angles for lifted Jeeps.
Dana Spicer Parts
800/621-8084
spicerparts.com
Radflo Bypass Shock Kit
Radflo Suspension Technology’s OE replacement dual-tube bypass shocks allow JK owners to easily adjust the suspension for the ride and control they need. These state-of-the-art front and rear 2 1/2-inch-diameter bypass shocks utilize the same technology as Radflo’s race bypass shocks.
Radflo Suspension Technology
714/965-7828
radflo.com
Tigerlights LED Crossfire Light Bar
These waterproof and dustproof lightbars are claimed to be brighter and more efficient than standard LED versions because they feature a patented side-emitting reflector design that maximizes light output. Sizes are available from 8 to 50 inches. Made in the USA.
Tigerlights
877/928-1646
tigerlights.com
TeraFlex Rzeppa High Angle Driveline
Eliminate driveshaft angle problems with the TeraFlex high-angle Rzeppa CV driveline that combines the smooth torque transfer of a true CV joint with the high-angle misalignment of a traditional U-joint.
TeraFlex
801/713-3314
teraflex.com
Rampage Frameless Folding Soft Top
This Frameless Plus Trail Top Kit from Rampage folds back on itself to provide an open sunroof along with other unique features and enhanced functionality compared to factory soft tops. Fits both two- and four-door JKs. Easy to install and includes overhead window storage.
Rampage Products
800/241-7219
rampageproducts.com
Dynatrack ProGrip II Brake System
The new ProGrip II Brake System from Dynatrac gives owners of ’07-current Jeep Wranglers improved braking performance with more brake torque than the stock system, while also delivering better brake-pedal feel and reduced pedal travel. The ProGrip II expands the Dynatrac brake system offerings for the Jeep JK, building on the success of the ProGrip introduced just a year ago.
Dynatrac
714/596-4461
dynatrac.com
Painless CJ Wiring Harness
Rewiring a ’76 to ’86 CJ? This complete Jeep harness from Painless Performance features a fully integrated ground circuit with a charging system capable of handling up to 100-amp alternators and multiple connections. Includes 140-plus-page manual full of color schematics, photos, and step-by-step instructions.
Painless Performance Products
888/350-6588
painlessperformance.com
N-Fab Removable Rocker Rail Steps
N-Fab’s dual-tube rocker rails have easily removable steps that bolt to special brackets welded between them. The removable steps are a great option for wheelers who want maximum clearance on the trail and easy ingress on the street.
N-Fab
866/806-6322
n-fab.com
Rock-Slide Transfer Case Brace
Rock-Slide Engineering’s Transfer Case Brace is designed to stiffen and minimize flexing and movement during severe off-road use. It can also protect the Jeep JK transfer case and help lessen the chance of a driveline failure due to bending and twisting of the connection between it and the drivelines. Powdercoated in textured black and constructed from 3/16-inch steel.
Rock-Slide Engineering
435/752-4580
rockslideengineering.com
Miller 125 Hobby Welder
Miller Electric Manufacturing introduced its new Millermatic 125 Hobby. Weighing less than 50 pounds, the Hobby is designed for use around the home garage for light fabrication applications. The MIG and flux-cored-capable Millermatic 125 Hobby works on standard 115-volt household power, MIG welds 24 gauge to 1/8-inch-thick steel and welds 18 gauge to 3/16-inch steel with flux-cored wire in a single pass.
Miller Electric Mfg.
920/734-9821
millerwelds.com
CR High-Performance OE Upgrade Radiator
Engine cooling in extreme conditions isn’t a problem with this High Performance OE Fit Radiator from C&R Racing. It’s designed for street and/or extreme off-road use. Close-tube center core technology offers unequalled cooling performance.
C&R Racing
704/799-0955
crracing.com
Steer Smarts Yeti
Steer Smarts’ heavy-duty Yeti Series steering linkage is claimed to be the strongest, most-durable non-custom linkage ever built for the Wrangler JK. Engineered from the ground up with detail to every component and inch of the product, the Yeti is an easy bolt-on upgrade JK owners will really appreciate.
Steer Smarts
734/748-5603
steersmarts.com
Zombieflage Seat Covers
Seat Covers Unlimited Zombieflage Jeep seat covers have a camo pattern line designed to feed the impending need of zombie enthusiasts, hunters, preppers, and anyone looking to survive in style. We like the optional molle tactical system, as well as the apoca-kit bug-out bag options.
Seat Covers Unlimited
888/410-5050,
seatcoversunlimited.com
Rubicon Express Coilover Conversion Kit
Rubicon Express now offers a coilover conversion kit featuring Fox shocks for the Jeep JK Wrangler. The race-inspired conversion is built around the Rubicon Express long-arm kit and is available for both two-door JK and four-door JK Unlimited Wranglers. Each coilover shock can be tuned for optimized damping and load-carrying capacity to suit your specific needs.
Rubicon Express
800/776-0767
rubiconexpress.com
Rugged Ridge JK Tire Carrier
This heavy-duty tire carrier from Rugged Ridge is a one-piece design that allows for easy access to cargo area and rigidly links the wheel mount to the reinforced section of the rear quarter panel of the Jeep JK Wrangler. Handles 37-inch wheel/tire combos, and a third brake light relocation-bracket is included.
Rugged Ridge
770/614-6101
ruggedridge.com
TJ Air Compressor Mount
The new air compressor mount from M.O.R.E. allows the high-capacity ARB CKMTA12 and CKMTA24 twin on-board compressors to be securely located under the hood of a Jeep TJ, providing an instant onboard air source for inflating tires, rafts, or other on-the-trail needs.
Mountain Off Road Enterprises
877/533-7229
mountainoffroad.com
Mopar Seven-Inch JK Wrangler LED Headlights
Mopar Parts has jumped in to the Jeep accessory market more than ever this year and is offering a full line of Jeep products. The newest addition to the Mopar catalog is the high-intensity 7-inch LED replacement headlights designed and engineered specifically for Wrangler JKs.
Mopar Parts
mopar.com
MBRP Off Camber Tire Carrier
MBRP has expanded its line of Jeep accessories with this Off Camber Fabrications Fold Out Tire Carrier that fits ’07-’14 Wranglers. A simple bolt-on with no cutting required, the new spare tire carrier from MBRP can make hauling and retrieving that spare for your Jeep convenient and easy.
MBRP Automotive
888/636-7223
mbrpautomotive.com
Bestop Sunrider for Hardtop JK Wranglers
Bestop can deliver all the luxury, security, insulation, and quiet of your Jeep JK Wrangler factory hardtop with some of the convenience and outdoor feel of a soft top. How? Glad you asked. The company’s new Bestop Sunrider For Hardtop fits ’07 to ’16 Jeep JKs and replaces those bulky factory Freedom Panels, and its folding design is easy to operate.
Bestop
800/845-3567
bestop.com
JKS Flex-Connect Sway Bar Link
The JKS Flex-Connect Sway Bar System is a tunable, spring-loaded replacement sway bar link that converts your Jeep’s sway bar into a high-performance component capable of extending and compressing under load to fit the driving conditions or terrains you expect to encounter on- or off-road.
JKS Manufacturing
517/278-1226
jksmfg.com
LS Conversion Radiator For Jeep TJ
The new LS Conversion performance radiators from Flex-a-Lite for the Jeep TJ are dual-pass design with the inlet and outlet on the passenger side tank. It includes a 1/4-inch NPT bung to make connecting a steam tube to the LS engine easy, and the radiator comes with the electric fan premounted to the radiator.
Flex-a-Lite
253/922-2700
flex-a-lite.com
ARB Bypass Lifted
ARB 4x4 Accessories introduced its new 4-inch suspension kit with OME BP-51 high-performance adjustable internal bypass shock absorbers for the Jeep JK Wrangler. The kit provides front and rear linear-rate coils made from X5K high-grade steel. The BP-51 bypass shocks are easily adjustable across a wide range for rebound and compression, allowing users to adjust vehicle ride performance for different road conditions and vehicle loading.
ARB 4x4 Accessories
866/293-9078
arbusa.com
J.W. Speaker LED Auxiliary Lights
J.W. Speaker’s new series of LED auxiliary off-road lights includes these 7-inch-round, 2-inch-deep TS4000 models. The new TS4000 LED light shines bright with 3,300 lumens to illuminate any trail you traverse during the dark hours of off-road adventures.
J.W. Speaker
800/558-7288
jwspeaker.com
Rear-Door Mounted Titan Fuel Tank
The new Titan Fuel Tanks Trail Trekker auxiliary fuel tank mounts between the spare tire and the rear door of your JK, TJ, or YJ, and allows you to carry 12 extra gallons of fuel in its military-grade cross-linked polymer construction. The kit-included mounting fixture will also support a spare tire up to 37 inches tall with a 15-inch or larger wheel.
Titan Fuel Tanks
800/728-4982
titanfueltanks.com
Skyjacker Fox-Shocked Coilover Suspension
One of the top off-road racers of all time, Curt LeDuc, has teamed up with Skyjacker to create a bolt-on coilover suspension system for Jeep JK Wranglers. The new kit features Fox 2-inch remote-reservoir coilover shocks, allows for adjustability from 3 1/2 to 6 inches of lift, and delivers increased wheel travel while retaining the factory electronic-disconnect sway bars and exhaust system.
Skyjacker Suspensions
318/388-0816
skyjacker.com