At Kentrol, we've been doing our best to make quality stainless steel products since 1980. Because of this time period of 40+ years, we have had the time (and the good fortune!) to be able to establish ourselves among a community of fellow dedicated Jeep lovers.
Overall, we couldn't be more grateful for the faith placed in our company and our products, which has crossed even between the generational gap by now.
Thank you for your continued support!
The annual SEMA show in Las Vegas is technically an automotive trade event but has evolved into a no-holds-barred display of tuning and customization genius. There are always hundreds of lifted trucks, slammed imports, and engine-swapped muscle cars. Yet there's far more to the show than that—the parties, the celebrities, the high-octane demos, the excess of it all.
Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) of the automobile aftermarket was formed in 1963. The first SEMA Show was held in 1967 in the basement of Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, before moving to the new Anaheim Stadium in 1974.
In 1998, the SEMA Show broke the 500,000-foot mark with 502,912 net square feet of rented space. Each year since then, the Show has set new records of some sort. It now occupies more than one million net square feet, draws more than 3,000 media, and has a buyer attendance in excess of 60,000.
If you are looking for one location to experience anything and everything that can be done to car, truck, jeep or anything with wheels, SEMA is the place for you! Sensory overload has to be the only way to explain the vast amount of space at the Las Vegas Convention Center that puts on the second largest show in Vegas behind the annual electronics show in January!
The 2017 SEMA Show brought with it many “firsts” for the Kentrol Team. It was the first time we shared a booth with our sister company, Fishbone Offroad. It was the first time we had a vehicle on display in our booth, and it was the first time we used our new video wall, made up of nine large TVs.
To say our setup was eye-catching would be an understatement. Not only did we have a 10’ x 6’ screen displaying products and event footage, we also had a one-of-a-kind Jeep JK-8 Police Interceptor build, complete with lights and sirens, sitting in our booth. Needless to say, we were busy!
The Jeep JK-8 Police Interceptor was built by our friends at Code3IT, an IT and system integration company based in Mojave, California. Being experts in vehicle upfitting, the guys at Code3IT had no problem installing a long list of bolt-on bumpers, armor, and stainless-steel accessories from Kentrol, Fishbone Offroad, and many other manufacturers. The Jeep’s unique combination of tech, off-road capability and attractive design set the stage for a great show where we were able to connect with many new and existing customers.
For the second year in a row, Kentrol made their presence known in the New Products Display. This year we showed off our brand-new Backside Tailgate License Plate Mount with LEDs for the 2007 to 2009 Jeep Wrangler JK.
Since the first SEMA Show debuted in 1967, the annual event has served as the leading venue bringing together manufacturers and buyers within the automotive specialty equipment industry. Products featured at the SEMA Show include those that enhance the styling, functionality, comfort, convenience and safety of cars and trucks. We were lucky to experience what it's like to attend the craziest show on the automotive calendar and that was awesome! Till next year…
One of the Leading providers of aftermarket Jeep parts and accessories, 4WD, was holding its 40th Anniversary Jeep Jamboree in Columbiana, Ohio last weekend.
Admission to the event was free! There were plenty of activities for jeepers including trail rides and an obstacle course, over 80 onsite vendors, a Show-n-Shine and lots of 4x4 aftermarket product giveaways. Obstacles included concrete culvert pipe, boulders, telephone poles and holes dug by bulldozers. And, of course, there was water and mud hazards. Anything a true, wild, open air Jeep driver could possibly encounter had been included in the obstacle course.
The weather for this year’s event was also a nice treat with temperatures in the upper 80’s and 90’s and sunny all weekend led to a record turnout of Jeepers on both Saturday and Sunday! If you have never been to this event it is definitely one you don’t want to miss with every type and style of Jeep product that you can get your hands on! And the best part is being able to walk right into the 4WD showroom and warehouse that is stocked with everything under the sun so you can buy all of your Kentrol products right there and take it home with you!
Overall it was a great Jeeping time! 4WD Jamboree has become well known for putting on an awesome, Well Organized and Fun Filled event, and this one was no different! Looking forward to the next year!
This month’s blog was written by our newest team member, Scott, who is our inside sales representative.
We had a lot of fun last weekend at Topless for TATAs. This fundraising trail ride started in 2009 to help promote awareness and raise money for breast cancer research. The event is held at Rausch Creek Offroad Park each year for a weekend of four-wheeling, camping and fun with friends. All proceeds for the event are donated straight to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
Being relatively new to the Jeeping community, I did not know what to expect of off-roading! I found the experience at Rausch Creek extremely exciting and at times exhilarating! Although a lot of the trails were slow going across rocks and water holes, the course was continually dotted with very difficult and challenging hills and obstacles making the experience that much more hair raising! I often found myself clutching the grab handles of Roy’s Jeep (Our Chauffeur for the weekend)!
The best part of the weekend was how quickly our trail group took us in and instantly made us feel like part of their “Jeep Family”. They truly know how to take care of each other whether it means changing a tire on the trail or even having to tow “Pickle’s” Jeep back to camp because of a burned up clutch, both of which happened to us during the course of the weekend! Everyone took an active part in helping out and making sure everyone got back on the trails safely!
Having made some great friendships at Rausch Creek, I am definitely looking forward to meeting up with that group again next year!
If you’re a true Jeep lover, the PA Jeeps All Breeds Jeep Show is the show for you! Since the first show in 1995, it has become one of the longest running and largest Jeep shows around!
PA Jeeps was established in July of 1992 by a small group of friends. Now the club has over 115 members, and continues to grow. PA Jeeps is a club full of true Jeep enthusiasts, many of which stopped by our booth and thanked us for coming to support the show. The PA Jeeps All Breeds Jeep Show offers a variety of family-oriented activities, from an on-site Obstacle Course and Show-N-Shine to Vendor Displays and Games.
Kentrol set up as a vendor at the show and shared booth space with Fishbone Offroad. Fishbone is a great industry partner to Kentrol, and we share a Jeep to showcase products during the show. The show was very busy! We spoke to a lot of customers about the features and benefits of Kentrol products and how they can improve the look and enjoyment of their Jeep. One of our nightly activities included getting together with the Quadratec Team. We challenged them to a game of Cornhole after learning on social media that they practiced the previous night. We won game 1, and Quadratec won game 2 before we called it a night. Team Green was lucky that we hadn’t established a 3-game series, as we would have left York, PA with the championship. We later learned that our loss came from the owner of the cornhole boards, which is a challengeable offense in the official rules.
As usual great food was being served up, the swap meet was buzzing with activity, and many drivers and their Jeeps were testing their abilities in the obstacle course area.
It was an awesome Jeeping time!
The Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival has become one of the premier Jeep events in the country and is certainly one of the largest in the East. It’s known as the Birthplace of the Jeep and this event brings thousands of Jeepers out to celebrate the heritage of their Jeep.
It takes place at the Cooper’s Lake Campground, a few miles northwest of Butler, near the intersection of Interstate 79 and State Route 422. Cooper’s Lake Campground is a great venue. They had 135 vendors offering everything from vintage used parts to the newest and most trick aftermarket stuff, the Jeep History Exhibit, a big show ’n’ shine field, and plenty of good food.
We attended the 2017 Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival again this year. Overall, we had a great weekend with really good weather. We saw thousands of customers and had an opportunity to showcase all of our new products to them. The weekend goes quickly because there is always a Jeep enthusiast standing in the booth that’s curious about Kentrol products.
For an event, Bantam offers the customer a lot. The Event kicks off Friday with an obstacle course, offsite trails, historic Jeep tours and a Jeep invasion on Friday night in downtown Butler PA. Saturday and Sunday offer tons of activities for the customer to participate in. One thing that we specifically enjoy is the WWII encampment. There are vintage Jeeps with tents setup just like they would have been during WWII with fully dressed participants, tents and support vehicles. It’s like going back in time.
The mission of the Friends of the Bantam Jeep Association Inc. is to educate the public about the history of the Bantam jeep’s creation in Butler, Pennsylvania through the annual Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival and to support charitable endeavors, including through contributions to other 501(c)(3) organizations.
There's something very fitting about a Jeep event in Butler, Pennsylvania. After all, it’s where the Jeep began.
We are excited to show you the first look at the production interior of the 2018 Jeep Wrangler JL!
Like previous Wranglers, it seems from these photos that the all-new 2018 model will have a shallow, largely vertical dashboard. This kind of design goes back to the flat metal dash of the earliest military and civilian Jeeps, and helps maintain a minimalist air in what is, admittedly, becoming a more and more luxurious 4x4.
You can see the large central infotainment screen, likely Fiat-Chrysler's UConnect system that handles navigation, music and heated seats, and displays information on vehicle settings and climate control.
Below the infotainment screen is a new grouping of buttons for the audio controls, HVAC and powertrain. Three knobs control the audio volume, infotainment screen actions and HVAC, which are joined by buttons for the traction control, heated steering wheel, front axle disconnect, auto-start stop and parking sensors, among more. The roof includes integrated garage door opener buttons, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and a manual release lever for the folding roof.
Among the most important portion of the interior spy photo involves the control buttons along the bottom of the center console. The series of buttons reveal several important options that could make their way into production.
And to top it off, a stick shift is seen in this prototype, so there is a good chance that consumers will still be able to bring home a manual transmission. Powertrain options are expected to include a 3.6-liter V6, a 3.0-liter diesel and a small turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
Overall, it appears to be a more pleasant place to spend time while you’re doing extreme off-roading. There’s no reason the modern Wrangler can’t be tough and still nicer inside than the last one.
Do you spot any interesting details from these photos?
A redesigned Jeep Wrangler will be unveiled later this year. it is exciting to see what it could be. We can have a sneak peek by the photos were posted on JL Wrangler Forums, whose sources claim it’s legit.
The first thing that Jeep fans will be happy to see is that the Wrangler continues to use a solid frame with a removable roof and doors. The overall look hasn’t changed much, but there’s a longer hood, a more prominent front bumper, vents behind the front fenders, and a character line running under what appear to be taller windows. It also looks like the window surrounds will be more recessed. Up front, the grille is canted rearward at the top, the fog lights move to the ends of the bumper, the turn signals move to the front of the fender, and the hood latches are pushed forward a bit. The windshield appears to be a bit more upright and less curved than the current model.
At the rear, we can see new taillights, a side-hinged tailgate with hinges on the opposite side, an indentation in the rear bumper where a spare tire would fit, and steps carved into the corners of that bumper.
It finally confirms that the doors and roof are fully removable, a feature that some feared would disappear with the new model. It looks like a fixed roll cage will help strengthen the Wrangler and protect occupants in the case of an accident. Hinges up front mean the windshield is still able to fold forward as well.
Also, we love the new fender flares...looks much better and allows larger tires. Grille looks like a TJ grille, which is a nice change.
Jeep is supposed to reveal the car at the LA auto show in November, and release the car in January. So, until then, we will just have to wait patiently for more (ideally official) information.
Kentrol is proud to announce that we are now Salt Spray Testing all of our products. This test helps us determine material flaws or issues before customers receive the product. In the picture below you’ll see TJ/YJ Hardtop Liftgate Hinges, TJ Hood Hinges and YJ/CJ Hood Catches taking a salty bath for a week.
At the end of the week we pull the products out of the machine and inspect the finish. Why do we salt spray test? We want to ensure that you can daily drive your Jeep behind a salt truck without rust issues. If your thing is parking near the beach during heavy storms with ocean spray, you can do so with assurance that your Kentrol products will look flawless. The Jeep might not look that great, but the Kentrol products will outlast your Jeep. Kentrol tests, inspects and builds our stainless accessories to last a lifetime and we back them with a lifetime warranty.
Does your YJ have full steel doors with goofy looking plastic mirrors mounted on it?
If so you can update your mirrors with Kentrols TJ style Mirror Kit and a set of Kentrol door hinges. This takes a little work, but it’s a relatively easy installation and the improvement to the look of your Jeep is worth the work.
To start you need to order the following parts.
-#50475 Mirror Kit
-#50420 Hardtop Door Hinge Set
-¼ - 20 tap and drill set
-Silicone Sealant
Once you have all the parts you need, start by removing the factory door hinges and replacing them with the Kentrol #50420 Hardtop Door Hinge Set. Once installed take the 1/4"-20 drill bit and CAREFULLY drill 3 holes into the door through the holes shown below. If you don’t drill these holes the mirror bolts will bottom out. Once drilled, take the ¼-20 tap to add the threads needed for the bolts.
Now install the #50475 Mirror Kit onto the new hinges using the silicone sealant on the threads of the bolts. This will insure that its totally sealed. Lastly adjust the mirror to your liking and enjoy your updated look. All of the Kentrol products you just installed on your Jeep are made from 304 Grade Stainless steel and will look great on the Jeep for years and years!
Kentrol had a great year at the 2016 SEMA Show with the release of 4 exciting new products. SEMA offers Kentrol an opportunity to meet with existing and new customers, SEMA also offers an opportunity to showcase items we spent a lot of time developing and manufacturing. The 4 new Jeep products we released at the show are #80706 Shackle Mounted License Plate Bracket, #80703 BackSide License Plate Mount with LED’s, #80704 and #80705 Mechanical Hood Catch Kits and the #80702 Heritage Tail Light Guards. For Kentrol, this was the first year that we showcased new products in the new products showcase. To Kentrol… it was a big deal and it was nice to see all of our hard work sitting inside of the case.
Each year at SEMA you see celebrities from the automotive world, late night TV shows and reality TV. This year Juan Ibarra from the hit show Gold Rush stopped by the Kentrol booth to view a few products, apparently one of his family members is a Jeeper. It was interesting to speak with him about the show and he also showed us a $10,000 gold bar that his father called the “Chocolate Bar”.
The last day of the show offers something unique and fun to watch. SEMA Ignited which showcases all the vehicles of SEMA driving down the street in Las Vegas. You’ll see everything from Trophy Trucks, ridiculous Jeeps, Race Cars and Super Cars that you could only dream of owning. Kentrol spent some time taking in the sights and sounds before dinner on Friday night. It’s too crazy not to stop and watch.
The SEMA show takes place in Las Vegas and because of its location you have a few late nights with customers. The rule states that you can’t talk about what happens in Vegas, but one event is too fun not to share. On Friday night we had our Kentrol company dinner with all employees, after dinner we hopped in a cab to go back to the hotel and an Audi R8 supercar happened to be lined up with us a red light. We won’t mention names, but one of our employees talked the cab driver into racing the R8. The cabby is lurching the car forward at the light, revving the cab and waiting anxiously for the light to change. During this our employee is talking a little friendly trash to the driver of the R8 out the window. The light changes and the Cabby floors it… we hop out on the R8 because he didn’t think we were serious, then to prove a point the R8 easily passed us. It depends on who you talk to… but in the 60 foot we had him!
SEMA 2016 is one week away and the excitement for the show is building. Kentrol is working on all the final details for our booth and setup to make sure it’s a flawless show this year. If you’ve never been to the SEMA show, you need to add it to your bucket list. It’s an unbelievable experience and perfect for any Jeep or Car enthusiast with over a million square feet of vehicles, new products, displays and anything car related you can image. If you’re attending the show for the first time, map out what you want to see or you will be overwhelmed by the size and scale of the show. Kentrol has been attending the SEMA show since 1991 and there is always something big that happens at SEMA. Each year we question if it can be bigger than the last and it never fails to increase in both size, wow factor or excitement. SEMA for Kentrol is an opportunity to showcase new products and build brand recognition with existing customers. If you are in Las Vegas November 1st – 4th make time to go to the Las Vegas Convention Center. SEMA is closed to the public, but you can wonder around the outside of the Convention Center and see all the crazy vehicles and get a feel for the insanity that goes on inside the show. If you see someone in a Kentrol shirt, say hello and ask about the new products we released this year.
