What mod do you hate but won't (or can't) get rid of?

[Darth Rubicon]

Mine is a soft topper, so comes completely off in 5 minutes without a crane. Maybe switch to that?

I had a soft topper on my last truck and they are great. When I go on camping trips I run a rooftop tent. Also having the option for paddle boards, kayaks and my roam box on top is what made it worth while for me. Just don’t need it all the time and also like the look without it.

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[WILDHOBO]

I had a soft topper on my last truck and they are great. When I go on camping trips I run a rooftop tent. Also having the option for paddle boards, kayaks and my roam box on top is what made it worth while for me. Just don’t need it all the time and also like the look without it.

Mine has had it one almost every day for 5 years. I had to take everything off to get the bed repaired. Now I’m liking the look. But functionally it’s way better with the topper.

 

[drexotic]

Well that sucks!! I have 2 brand new ones to install in each Jeep. Not sure if they're different but mine are the G900 tripro. I noticed your post said tripro 9000. Maybe it's a different model.

I love mine. I had a minor wiring problem (my fault), but functionally is great.

 

[Alpine Warthog]

My mod that I hate, but need, is the topper. I love how it looks as a truck, and would much prefer a tonneau. But it’s just so useful to be able to put dogs or large items in back without weather exposure or anything falling or blowing out.

I’ve been having second thoughts on my topper too but when I’m camping or it’s raining it’s very nice to have. I’ve been considering buying a gantry crane to pull it off and on when needed.

Mine is a soft topper, so comes completely off in 5 minutes without a crane. Maybe switch to that?

I've got the same love/hate with my camper shell too. I run it in the winter but take it off in the spring. I might sell it this summer. Not decided yet. It's great for keeping most things dry but since I installed the decked drawer system, it's not needed as much. And since the deck is so high, I can't put as much big stuff back there. And I've been drooling on the Maximus-3 Sport Bar ever since it was on the Honcho Concept Gladiator from '25.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I've got the same love/hate with my camper shell too. I run it in the winter but take it off in the spring. I might sell it this summer. Not decided yet. It's great for keeping most things dry but since I installed the decked drawer system, it's not needed as much. And since the deck is so high, I can't put as much big stuff back there. And I've been drooling on the Maximus-3 Sport Bar ever since it was on the Honcho Concept Gladiator from '25.

If I didn’t want the privacy of hauling things out of sight, I might take it off more often. It’s super easy to take off. I think it just doesn’t occur to me. Functionally I love it. It’s a cosmetic thing for me.

 

[CKayaks]

On the topic, the mod I love/hate is the Deck System I put in early on. Very well built. I keep tools, repair gear, small parts in the bins that came with it. When camping, the drawer works great for the stove and other flat-ish gear. The platform is beefy, with tie-downs. Makes it easy to stack gear bins up inside the camper shell.

But the setup kills a lot of space in an already small truck bed. Plus it weighs a couple hundred pounds. Thinking of taking it out and just going all gear bins like I do with my other rigs.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

On the topic, the mod I love/hate is the Deck System I put in early on. Very well built. I keep tools, repair gear, small parts in the bins that came with it. When camping, the drawer works great for the stove and other flat-ish gear. The platform is beefy, with tie-downs. Makes it easy to stack gear bins up inside the camper shell.

But the setup kills a lot of space in an already small truck bed. Plus it weighs a couple hundred pounds. Thinking of taking it out and just going all gear bins like I do with my other rigs.

Wish I could find a half LENGTH 2 drawer system to use. Leave the front half of the bed for an aux fuel system and a couple house batteries. I was thinking fridge slides with storage bins but those slides are pricey. Might have to figure out how to build my own.

 

[WILDHOBO]

On the topic, the mod I love/hate is the Deck System I put in early on. Very well built. I keep tools, repair gear, small parts in the bins that came with it. When camping, the drawer works great for the stove and other flat-ish gear. The platform is beefy, with tie-downs. Makes it easy to stack gear bins up inside the camper shell.

But the setup kills a lot of space in an already small truck bed. Plus it weighs a couple hundred pounds. Thinking of taking it out and just going all gear bins like I do with my other rigs.

I can understand that for sure. Pluses and minuses. I use Milwaukee Packout for the tools and recovery gear. It works great while they’re in, but they’re heavy to take out and put in.

 

[Freems]

I think I have one that qualifies technically it can be removed but it’s such a pain I’ve only given a couple half heated efforts at it. Rear swing arm spare tire carrier on a steel bumper. I bought the truck with it and it seemed like a cool idea at first. Then I noticed how crazy unstable the tire looked just driving on a gravel road. No matter how many adjustments or tricks I tried it always resulted in me watching for tire movement out the rear window. Now the tire is off but the empty swing arm is still there. They made the cap to the internals to take it apart a nightmare to get into, with a proprietary wrench that will make your hands bleed. Eventually I’ll get it off but it may require more tools I don’t currently have.

I bought a new steel rear bumper with a swing out tire carrier last year, I feel your pain about tire movement…my solution was to go back and re-welded Everything on the swing arm, the OEM IMO did a shitty job of stitch welding it. While I had it apart I also gave some additional reinforcement to the pivot base underneath the main bumper. Putting everything back together I used red thread lock on all fasteners. Now, with my 35x12.50 spare attached almost Zero movement in the rearview mirror even when I’m flying down my favorite tank trap road in the desert catching some air.

 

[Darth Rubicon]

I bought a new steel rear bumper with a swing out tire carrier last year, I feel your pain about tire movement…my solution was to go back and re-welded Everything on the swing arm, the OEM IMO did a shitty job of stitch welding it. While I had it apart I also gave some additional reinforcement to the pivot base underneath the main bumper. Putting everything back together I used red thread lock on all fasteners. Now, with my 35x12.50 spare attached almost Zero movement in the rearview mirror even when I’m flying down my favorite tank trap road in the desert catching some air.

I had a 37X13.5 on mine and even though JCR says it’s fine I think it was probably built for 35’s and below. The swing arm latch is in rough shape too and they want like $130 just for a replacement latch.

 

[Falcor]

the rear camera needs to be unplugged and plugged back in once in a while to make it work but 90% of the time it works.

Ok, so mine is not the only one with this issue. I used to unplug and plug the rear camera in to fix, bit now I turn the mirror off and back on. That fixes it as well. Weird it is only the rear camera and not the front bumper camera as well. I don't have the cold issue for the rear since mine is attached to the inside. The front has never had an issue and it gets the brunt of weather being in the grill.

On a side note, my wife hates it and I have to remove it if she drives. Her 2025 forester has a flippable mirror that goes to rear camera mode and she doesn't like that either.

 

[XraytecH]

DECKED Drawer System

Most of the year it's great cuz I got sh!t back there and it keeps my stuff from sliding around. But once Travel Baseball season comes around, I'm cursing it.

 

[BuzzBee]

I had a 37X13.5 on mine and even though JCR says it’s fine I think it was probably built for 35’s and below. The swing arm latch is in rough shape too and they want like $130 just for a replacement latch.

100%. Same swing gate, same problem, even cracked the steel where the pivot goes through the bumper.

You nailed it on 35-inch as max, otherwise the tire covers the tail light....

I welded in a plate on the back side, plus flat bar vertical reinforcement plus a gusset on the arm that connects to the pivot. Still have to try that out.
Also adding a "foot" on the bumper, so the swing gate rests on it in the center, instead of just relying on the pivot as the only support for the gate.
Nice "beginning" of a design, needs some more support on execution.
Yes - I expected problems, just not this much.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

100%. Same swing gate, same problem, even cracked the steel where the pivot goes through the bumper.

Be VeRY careful of this!!!!! This is exactly what happened to the shmitty bilt unit I saw launch the tire carrier over the Jeep on a JKU a few years back. It was improperly welded on both sides and it failed creating a sand dune. A 35” tires connected to a swing arm flying through the air can make you rethink purchase decisions with a quickness. Nobody got hurt in this instance but it was a real close thing. Absolutely unacceptable!!!

 

[BuzzBee]

Be VeRY careful of this!!!!! This is exactly what happened to the shmitty bilt unit I saw launch the tire carrier over the Jeep on a JKU a few years back. It was improperly welded on both sides and it failed creating a sand dune. A 35” tires connected to a swing arm flying through the air can make you rethink purchase decisions with a quickness. Nobody got hurt in this instance but it was a real close thing. Absolutely unacceptable!!!

Agreed!
Exactly why it is not currently mounted and major reinforcing / design improvements are under way.

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