Is anybody running the Metal Fusion tube fenders for TJ's? I don't have access to a tube bender or welder to build my own (I know... I'm kinda useless aren't I:rolleyes: ) But, I have no problems chopping up the body with a sawzall :D

Anyhow, if anyone is running a set of these can you comment on the quality of the product and how they have been holding up. I really like the design of the removable panels. Seems like easy to work on if need be, and reducts the metal/metal contact like on the PSC style flatties.

Metal Fusion Tube Fenders (http://metalfusionfab.com/tj_tube_fenders.htm)

Thanks!

What is a PSC style flatty? I dont have a set of those fenders, but I do make a set out of similar materials. Based on the pics they have on their site, they look to be built well. You will not have a problem with them holding up, they will be super tough! Price does not seem out of line either......

Sorry, PSC = Poison Spyder Customs

http://www.spydercustoms.com

They retain part of the top of the old fender and dont' have the removable panels.

Only thing I know about that company is David Lepp owns it.

Didnt know they built that kind of stuff.

Originally posted by HYRIDEJEEP
hell for that price they should come painted to your choice of color:rolleyes:

Well bend me up a set and paint them red. If it is that easy to build why dont you have a yellow star and an add for them.

I like the fenders I am in the process of building a set and wish I had used the old inner fender. Makes it a pain to build a new inner fender.



Toddy

Go here http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=219074 he did it in a couple hours

Toddy, forget the inner fender!
hell for that price they should come painted to your choice of color Sure....you build a set, buy the welder, tube bender, plasma cutter, materials.......Then you tell me how much they are worth.
he did it in a couple hours Sorry, that is BS!

Originally posted by Keith
Toddy, forget the inner fender!
Sure....you build a set, buy the welder, tube bender, plasma cutter, materials.......Then you tell me how much they are worth.
Sorry, that is BS!

Ya not to mention the extra tooling required to actually do production runs... jigs, drill guides n such, can get pretty spendy. Then you gotta sit there and build a crapload of them to pay for it all :flipoff2:

Glad to see not too many people are jumpin all over me for thinking about buying something that "bolts on" to my jeep! Even if it does still requite cutting the shit out of the sheet metal of a fairly new jeep:p

My tools are mostly destructive in nature:evil:

But, back to the question... anyone running these and have some comments?

Thanks!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Keith
[B]Toddy, forget the inner fender!


In TN is is not a good idea to run no inner fender with all the electrical stuff under there. Not gonna be to elaborate but I am gonna put some kinda innner fender in it. Might even enter UROC so innner fender is not an option.



Toddy

I don't have a set b/c I don't have a TJ but I've seen these fenders and they are top notch in quality and are very stout. Everything David Lepp builds is perfect or it doesn't leave his shop, period.

Agreed, David Lepp is an outstanding fabricator. I am sure that the tube fenders he sells are top notch. I have one of his diff guards and I am very pleased with it, I have the tendency to run into large rocks at high speeds and it doesent do anything but lose paint.

Originally posted by Briscolab
Is anybody running the Metal Fusion tube fenders for TJ's? I don't have access to a tube bender or welder to build my own (I know... I'm kinda useless aren't I:rolleyes: ) But, I have no problems chopping up the body with a sawzall :D

Anyhow, if anyone is running a set of these can you comment on the quality of the product and how they have been holding up. I really like the design of the removable panels. Seems like easy to work on if need be, and reducts the metal/metal contact like on the PSC style flatties.

Metal Fusion Tube Fenders (http://metalfusionfab.com/tj_tube_fenders.htm)

Thanks!

I don't have a TJ, but I have held, oogled, fondled, tweaked, etc. these fenders and *I* am pretty impressed by them :)

Personally, the front light panel is *my* favorite aspect and why I think they look better than others on the market.

http://www.metalfusionfab.com/images/products/Tube_Fenders/TJ/tj_tube_painted37.jpg

Oh, and I understand he is coming out with a lower priced "bare bones" tube kit version soon. YOu may wanna call or email him and find out when those will be availavle (if price is your concern).

Originally posted by Toddy
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Keith
[B]Toddy, forget the inner fender!


In TN is is not a good idea to run no inner fender with all the electrical stuff under there. Not gonna be to elaborate but I am gonna put some kinda innner fender in it. Might even enter UROC so innner fender is not an option.



Toddy You dont think there is mud out here? I have had mine burried to the rockers in soup(I wont do that again), I was suprised how much mud did NOT get in the motor compartment.

Those fenders do rock! I did a group buy for my club and I'm pleased all the way. They are kinda of pricey... but shit when I saw them in person I could see paying full price. Great craftmanship. Easy install too!

Originally posted by Keith
You dont think there is mud out here? I have had mine burried to the rockers in soup(I wont do that again), I was suprised how much mud did NOT get in the motor compartment.


Mud in the south on a trail run can mean mud and water up to the top of the hood. Then you get out of the mud and get back onto the dry (er) part of the trail and rocks and mud get flund into there with some force when you're gettin it. Inner fenders down here are a really good idea, even if it does mean the engine runs a little warmer. ;)

They look nice and good work costs $$$. You want cheap then buy cheap or build it yourself and work for free. Like Keith said the equipment costs $$$ in order to build these so it isn't a simple matter of $40 in steel sold for $325.

Originally posted by 66CJdean
They look nice and good work costs $$$. You want cheap then buy cheap or build it yourself and work for free. Like Keith said the equipment costs $$$ in order to build these so it isn't a simple matter of $40 in steel sold for $325. Tell em Dean, tell em!;)

Originally posted by 66CJdean
They look nice and good work costs $$$. You want cheap then buy cheap or build it yourself and work for free. Like Keith said the equipment costs $$$ in order to build these so it isn't a simple matter of $40 in steel sold for $325.

I have seen the jigs that MetalFusion uses for their fenders - and the amout of time it must have taken to work all of that out is NUTS :eek:

I am a cheap bastard fo-sho, but I finally figured out my time is NOT free and sometimes it *is* better to pay someone else for items that I would be better served putting in 5 more hours at the office to pay them instead of 40 hours in the shop just to say "I reinvented the wheel" ;)

Originally posted by DRM


I have seen the jigs that MetalFusion uses for their fenders - and the amout of time it must have taken to work all of that out is NUTS :eek:

I am a cheap bastard fo-sho, but I finally figured out my time is NOT free and sometimes it *is* better to pay someone else for items that I would be better served putting in 5 more hours at the office to pay them instead of 40 hours in the shop just to say "I reinvented the wheel" ;)

Exactly!

I have a business with a friend and we are making tube fenders for YJ's (TJ's and CJ's soon)

It killes me to see all these guys come out and say, "oh I'll just fab something up in a few hours"

There is a difference between one offs and production stuff. It takes soo much time and money to get this stuff rolling its insane. The worst is the "I have a friend with a bender"

My first set of tube fenders had 22 hours of time in them and they were still not up to what I was hopeing for. The set I have now are still close to that amount of time but they are much more indepth.
Just like the dude that says my buddy got an RC 60 for $150 at the junkyard. I don't doubt that but does that mean RC60's are now going for $150. Right.

Originally posted by CA_YJ
The worst is the "I have a friend with a bender"

Hell, *I* have the bender :p

hey..I have a few friends with benders...actually all of my friends have benders:idea:

Bottom line...

I see a lot of talk on boards about fenders. People are always saying that they are overpriced. If you only knew how many thousands of dollars it takes to design a product and start production most of them would just shut up. Being in the industry I have a totally new perspective on pricing.

Originally posted by Briscolab
Glad to see not too many people are jumpin all over me for thinking about buying something that "bolts on" to my jeep! Even if it does still requite cutting the shit out of the sheet metal of a fairly new jeep:p

My tools are mostly destructive in nature:evil:

But, back to the question... anyone running these and have some comments?

Thanks!

I was checking these out at Dixie Run this year they seem pretty beefy. The guy at the kiosk (I think he was the owner) was telling people to put there weight on them and try to bend them and stuff.

Originally posted by DRM

Oh, and I understand he is coming out with a lower priced "bare bones" tube kit version soon. YOu may wanna call or email him and find out when those will be availavle (if price is your concern).

So he is gonna come out with it in "kit" form,.....if that would have been done in the first place, I would have gotten mine from him, but at the time, the PSC ones were better priced.

I did drool a bit over these when I first saw them at the Dixie Run,....they are solidly built.

Originally posted by InfantryYJ
So he is gonna come out with it in "kit" form,.....if that would have been done in the first place, I would have gotten mine from him, but at the time, the PSC ones were better priced.

I did drool a bit over these when I first saw them at the Dixie Run,....they are solidly built.


Yes, it took some sales, and talking to customers to see that there is interest in a bare-bones form of the fender that people can get for a lower price, and customize to their liking.

Well, enough waiting...

Placed my order after lunch today through rubicon4x4.com. They had a fantastic price on them (about $40 cheaper than they were listed at a couple days ago?) and of course they are a sponsor. I'll be sure to take pics of the prep/install for any interested.

Thanks for all of the comments on the quality of this company's work! Can't wait to start cutting sheet metal:evil:

Originally posted by Briscolab
Well, enough waiting...

Placed my order after lunch today through rubicon4x4.com. They had a fantastic price on them (about $40 cheaper than they were listed at a couple days ago?) and of course they are a sponsor. I'll be sure to take pics of the prep/install for any interested.

Thanks for all of the comments on the quality of this company's work! Can't wait to start cutting sheet metal:evil:

Be sure you post some pics once you have them installed :)