Alldogs Offroad UCA

[Sundy]

I found these when looking at different UCA options, they aren't on the market yet but seem intriguing, especially at their pricepoint.

Hopefully these make it to the market, seems like a great budget friendly option, thoughts? We'll see if they do though, looks like they have a long ways to go on their crowd funding goal.

(I have zero interest in these other than seeing cheaper UCA's on the market, FYI)

Alldogs Offroad Coop. Alldogs Offroad Forged Steel Upper Control Arms - 4Runner, FJ Cruiser, and Lexus GX

American-Made Forged Steel Upper Control Arms | Indiegogo

 

[AlldogsOffroad]

We've been summoned! We do have a long ways to go yet on the crowdfunding portion but we do have a $27k grant from our home state and our own funds that we're using to help push the project forward. We're currently working through CAD drawing revisions which we hope to be able to share soon.

 

[Jetboy]

Is there a reason to make them in forged steel? The upper arms experience very limited forces. The big issue is the alignment and the ball joint angle. Possibly just stamping out an OEM style arm that has a different ball joint position and orientation would solve the issue for almost everyone.

I generally like forged parts - but in this instance it might be overkill if a stamped form is cheaper and easier.

Good luck with the project!

 

[AlldogsOffroad]

Thanks! You're correct, the UCA for the most part is just a guide for the spindle and doesn't experience the same amount of force that the LCA would experience. It's a good question - a stamping would be just as suitable and just as cost-effective. In some OE applications forged arms are still being used, I wouldn't necessarily agree that the process is overkill. For the most part, we have more familiarity with the forging process and contacts in that industry to lean on.

 

[llDemonll]

You're buying a product that doesn't exist yet. You think Gobi lead times are bad? wait until this lol.

They have a kickstarter going to fund product development, which means they're only doing design work and they're relying on pre-orders to fund the actual purchase of the product, versus making their product, purchasing inventory, and then selling off that inventory.

They make be great people, may be a great product, but why not spend another hundred or two and buy from an established company for such a critical component?

 

[AlldogsOffroad]

A little bit yes and a little bit no. We're using Indiegogo in order to raise the capital necessary to cover the tooling cost in combination with our grant award and our own funds. Indiegogo acts as an escrow - if we don't hit the goal all funds are returned to the user. The user can also back out and receive a refund at any time before the goal deadline. Tooling is a one-time fee, once it's out of the way we will be able to produce at quantity with minimal lead time (beside the initial lead time to have tooling machined).

There is risk involved and skepticism is warranted. I'd encourage reading on our project - the forge we're working with has been manufacturing control arms for OEM's since the 1960's. If you need arms asap we encourage you to buy something that's already on the shelf. If you can wait and want to help us make this a reality, chip in. Even buying a sticker helps.

 

[Sundy]

You're buying a product that doesn't exist yet. You think Gobi lead times are bad? wait until this lol.

They have a kickstarter going to fund product development, which means they're only doing design work and they're relying on pre-orders to fund the actual purchase of the product, versus making their product, purchasing inventory, and then selling off that inventory.

They make be great people, may be a great product, but why not spend another hundred or two and buy from an established company for such a critical component?

I agree with you on this, especially if I needed UCA's right now. But if your in a case like me, where I'm planning to install my lift once it shows up this month and see how things go before making a UCA purchase, a July/August purchase of UCA's might not be unreasonable. I do like the idea of having options / lower priced UCA's on the market, as some of them get to be pretty expensive, and then factor in one set of their specialty replacement ball joints and you're VERY expense.

I hope these guys can keep from having a backlog/lead time issue, if it turns out to be a Gobi style wait I don't see this product doing very well.

Tooling is a one-time fee, once it's out of the way we will be able to produce at quantity with minimal lead time (beside the initial lead time to have tooling machined).

Are there plans to get the arms manufactured as tooling is developed, or are you going to get all of your tooling developed before starting any manufacturing? Just curious as to the likely-hood of arms being ready for installation this summer.

 

[AlldogsOffroad]

Production cannot be started until dies are manufactured (tooling). These dies are used in powered hammers to form the arms from heated steel bar. Here's a video from an overseas forge manufacturing what appears to be a lower control arm (beware of the mic feedback at 56 seconds). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOHBG2I4X0w We will be working with a forge in the USA that uses a mix of American and Canadian steel.

If we can hit our goal we will be working to deliver to doorstep in early July.

 

[AMLOR]

Production cannot be started until dies are manufactured (tooling). These dies are used in powered hammers to form the arms from heated steel bar. Here's a video from an overseas forge manufacturing what appears to be a lower control arm (beware of the mic feedback at 56 seconds). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOHBG2I4X0w We will be working with a forge in the USA that uses a mix of American and Canadian steel.

If we can hit our goal we will be working to deliver to doorstep in early July.

Congratulations gentlemen! I strongly urge you to continue your pursuit of the retail price point of $350.00. IF, you are able to make this a reality, you will really have something to crow about.
For me, perhaps you were a bit early on the pronouncements of what you are working on, (failure to meet your goals will lead to negative press); BUT, make this work and you will upset the apple cart of the $500 + market for UCA's.
Godspeed AllDogsOffroad!
AMLOR