Story by Budd Stanley, Bryan Irons & Perry Mack, Photos by Budd Stanley and the Manufacturers
4WDrive’s Editors Top 10 Best New Products of SEMA
While it is easy to get carried away and distracted with all the bright shiny objects - aka, show vehicles - at SEMA, this show is really is all about aftermarket parts. All the over-the-top builds are simply there to showcase what the sum of all these great parts can create when they all get bolted together. This year there was a lot of great trucks, and therefore, a ton of ingenious new parts on display.
Almost 2,500 parts and accessories were on display in the Product Showcase at the back of the Upper South Hall. It must be said that there was a lot of unimaginative, and blatant cloning of already successful products on display. There were some rather painful looking and useless accessories, but there was also a fair amount of proper “that’s a good idea” products that made us do a double take as we scanned through the mountains of new goods on display.
With that, all three editors had a little sit down on the flight home and hammered out our top 10 best new products for 2015. It was a hard choice to narrow it down to just 10, and I won’t lie, there was some hard debating, some name-calling, some feelings hurt and the odd tear shed. However, by the time we landed back in the Great White North, we had our top ten.
So here you have it, in no particular order, the 4WDrive Editors Top Picks from the 2014 SEMA Show.
Aeroklas Aggressor Tonneau Cover
Aeroklas Aggressor Electric Lift Hard Tonneau Cover
Not only does it lock to keep your gear and tools safe, but this cover is built for the Canadian environment with a rubber seal that locks out hard driving rain and melting snow pack. It’s a bolt on system for easy installation and the cover tilts for easy access at the tailgate or goes to the full horizontal lift for access from the sides with enough clearance to protect a bevy of beach-clad beauties. And it does it all with the push of a button.
Trail-Gear Adapter
(Budd’s Top Pick) Trail-Gear Verso T-Case Adapter
This particular product was not officially launched by the time SEMA started, but we liked it so much that we couldn’t leave it out. Trail-Gears Verso Adapter will allow Tacoma, 4Runner and FJ Cruiser owners the ability to ditch the weak chain-driven t-case and insert a gear-driven adapter. Along with the added strength, the Verso is also clocked for better clearance and allows the use of Dana 44 and 60 axles, more aftermarket gearing options and can be implemented as either a single or dual transfer case configuration.
Bubba Rope Shackle
Bubba Rope Gator-Jaw Soft Shackle
Lighter, stronger, doesn’t rust like steel shackles, doesn’t bang around and make a bunch of noise - and they float (honestly, the bloody things float) so you’re less likely to lose them during water/mud recoveries – what’s not to like?
Ramsey Winch
(Bryan’s Top Pick) Ramsey Sierra Series Winch
Ramsey is launching a new series of winches dubbed the Sierra Series. These new weather tight winches feature a 3-stage planetary gear drive, dynamic mechanical brake located in the gear end rather than in the drum to reduce heat, and a remote activated semi-automatic clutch. A Thermal Limiting Module monitors temperatures and will automatically cut power supply when danger limits are reached. The winch can also be controlled by a hand-held controller or wirelessly.
Snow Performance injection
Snow Performance MPG Max Ram 3.0L EcoDiesel water-methanol injection
The Ecodiesel from Chrysler is an incredible addition to the power plant line-up for Ram. Given how hard we Canadians work and play, better fuel mileage and more horsepower is a welcome addition to an already useful and efficient light duty truck. The MPG Max water-methanol injection system injects water/methanol into the intake charge throughout the entire power curve to increase power without increasing fuel rate, and increasing fuel efficiency by 10%-15%.
Sprintex Supercharger
(Perry’s Top Pick) Sprintex Supercharger for Jeep JK
Few off-roaders would argue against the fact that Wranglers are chronically underpowered. In the case of the 3.8L, it’s just painful. A bolt on supercharger is dollar for dollar the cheapest way to get a significant boost in torque and horsepower and that’s what Sprintex delivers here. No cutting or welding, it fits under your hood, and doesn’t require any additional upgrades making it completely reversible. So, whether you need more power to haul your tent trailer through the Rockies or more torque for crawling in low gears through the Canadian heartland, it’s an awesome engine upgrade.
ProComp Suspension Kit
ProComp Tundra Long Travel Suspension Kit
ProComp builds some pretty cool products, but providing 2007-2015 Toyota Tundra’s with 14-in of travel up front and 12-in in the rear is just damn impressive. The new kit makes use of 2.75-in adjustable coil-over Internal Bypass System (IBS) shocks, completely new steel upper and cast-iron lower A-arms, and new CV shaft assemblies. It also makes the front track 5-in wider for improved stability.
Titan Liquid Transfer Tank
Titan 90 Gallon L-shaped liquid transfer tank
It might not be a sexy way to spend your dollars but anyone working a few hours or twenty) north of the 49th can appreciate the need for a bigger fuel tank. Titan’s military grade, cross-linked polyethylene construction is better than aluminum at withstanding the extremes of heat and cold that we experience. The L-shape design allows you to drop it into your truck bed and set your locking toolbox on top so you get great range without costing you too much space.
Dynatrac ProRock XD60
Dynatrac ProRock XD60
Aluminum is all the rage these days, and who knew you’d soon find third members created from the stuff. The new Dynatrac ProRock XD60 is the natural evolution from the regular 60, making use of aluminum in the third member and can be ordered with aluminum 1550 LT wheel ends. The move from steel to military-grade aluminum has created front and rear axles that are stronger, more durable and much lighter. The XD60 has an axle rating of 4,500 lb despite being up to 68 lb less in overall weight than today’s ProRock 60. The wheel ends have also been designed to allow the removal of the axle shafts without removing the knuckle, making service quicker and easier.
Aeromotive Fuel System
Aeromotive Dual Phantom Stealth Fuel System
The Aeromotive Dual Phantom Stealth Fuel System is a drop-in fuel system that places two performance fuel pumps and baffling into almost any fuel tank including cells with bladders. The modular design is cut-to-height for any size tank and provides fuel slosh control and venting. The innovative design allows the twin pumps to be run independently or in parallel to fuel high horsepower applications.