If I can help in any way with more pictures or whatever of the pieces in either set, I'm more than happy to do so. Just let me know.
TJ / LJ Full Door Panels Available From Summit
- Thread starter Kevo1966
- Start date
If I can help in any way with more pictures or whatever of the pieces in either set, I'm more than happy to do so. Just let me know.
@Kevo1966, you are restoring my faith in the ability to change the rapid decline of customer service in general these days. It is very encouraging to see someone who really cares about the product and the service after the sale! Kudos! 
{Edited to be more clear of language.}
{Edited to be more clear of language.}
Ok, C/S will be reaching out to you tomorrow. They will inspect the new order and package it better before sending. Looks like its moving in the right direction. Have a great day.
I got my set of door panels today and they were in perfect shape. The box had been re-taped at one end and it had a green band strap around it so i was expecting it to be a distaster but the bubble wrap around each door worked perfectly. Also the fact the front side of the door panels were facing each other keeping the stand-off and sharp bits on the back side to rub against the face of the panels made all the difference in the world.
Got back from my trip today, and the third set showed up today as well. Shout out to @Kevo1966 - it all went as expected. Summit CS reached out, and they even listened to my email and delayed the shipment a couple of days so it wouldn't arrive while I was away.
And long story short - third try is the charm! This one came double boxed, and the outer box was sealed using staples and reinforced tape. While it still definitely got beat around by UPS, it took the trip a lot better. Only one corner showed a bit of crushing, and while the tape still gave on the ends of both the inner and outer box, it didn't actually rip open. And the panels were not scuffed.
Unlike @mjbcomp though, my panels were put in the box with the faces of the panels facing outward towards the big faces of the inner box. They were not turned inwards facing each other.
Pictures of the packaging attached for reference.
And long story short - third try is the charm! This one came double boxed, and the outer box was sealed using staples and reinforced tape. While it still definitely got beat around by UPS, it took the trip a lot better. Only one corner showed a bit of crushing, and while the tape still gave on the ends of both the inner and outer box, it didn't actually rip open. And the panels were not scuffed.
Unlike @mjbcomp though, my panels were put in the box with the faces of the panels facing outward towards the big faces of the inner box. They were not turned inwards facing each other.
Pictures of the packaging attached for reference.
Today, I installed the panels. Overall, I am happy, and they are definitely a good value for the money. But they are not a "perfect" match, at least for my 98. I'm going to keep my OEM panels, and maybe someday I'll get around to doing what I saw in this post a long time ago.
They are definitely heavier duty when compared to my originals. They are noticeably heavier. Also, at least in some places like the top lip, they are noticeably thicker than the originals. I am sure this will help with the cracking. Here's a photo comparing them.
However, the thickness is also a bit of a curse. Getting the top lip installed over the door was a pain in the rear, especially on my drivers side for some reason. I needed a rubber mallet and a lot of pushing and cursing to get it finally down enough over the lip such that the pins would line up with their holes. I bent/broke a lot of pins in this process. It's also pretty easy to lift the panel up away from the door when trying to get it in, and bend it such towards the rear of the door such that it deforms the panel edge and it changes color.
Here's some comparisons to my original door panels. Maybe it's because mine have been painted, but the pattern in the plastic of the replacements just seems different, more defined, or something. Maybe the pattern changed over the years? Heres some side by side shots:
Lastly, maybe this isn't the best picture, but heres the back of an OEM panel compared to the summit panel. My OEM panels had been painted so the original color of them is only on the back. The Summit gray isn't quite the same as the OEM gray for 98, but it's pretty darn close.
They are definitely heavier duty when compared to my originals. They are noticeably heavier. Also, at least in some places like the top lip, they are noticeably thicker than the originals. I am sure this will help with the cracking. Here's a photo comparing them.
However, the thickness is also a bit of a curse. Getting the top lip installed over the door was a pain in the rear, especially on my drivers side for some reason. I needed a rubber mallet and a lot of pushing and cursing to get it finally down enough over the lip such that the pins would line up with their holes. I bent/broke a lot of pins in this process. It's also pretty easy to lift the panel up away from the door when trying to get it in, and bend it such towards the rear of the door such that it deforms the panel edge and it changes color.
Here's some comparisons to my original door panels. Maybe it's because mine have been painted, but the pattern in the plastic of the replacements just seems different, more defined, or something. Maybe the pattern changed over the years? Heres some side by side shots:
Lastly, maybe this isn't the best picture, but heres the back of an OEM panel compared to the summit panel. My OEM panels had been painted so the original color of them is only on the back. The Summit gray isn't quite the same as the OEM gray for 98, but it's pretty darn close.
Kevin,
Any update as to when summit will be releasing the reproduction half door panels?
Just trying to plan according to order the dark slate for my 2004 when they become available.
Thanks,
Jeremy
Any update as to when summit will be releasing the reproduction half door panels?
Just trying to plan according to order the dark slate for my 2004 when they become available.
Thanks,
Jeremy
Similar threads
