Each product took at least 50 prepaid

Just to be 100% correct, the R&P gears were a 50 person deposit arrangement. The front ARB was the same deal. But, the TC gears were not. Tera produced and then sold them at an initial reduced price ($600, $575?) when they were ready.

Personally, I am grateful for Tera stepping up to the plate for this. It is a tough decision to make and I only hope that they did not "lose" money on this and these products just did not meet the turn-over and performance of their other products.

If anybody is seriously interested, contact Tera. Talk to Mark and see if a) the plans/drawings are not being destroyed and b) if in the future if there were 50(or whatever #) pre-paid orders, would they consider doing another run? You don't have to promise that now (I don't think it would happen now), but put the bug in his ear and hopeful it would keep the door open for the future.

Michael

The comment was made that it is lower income and cheapskates buying the Isuzus, to a large extent this is true especially with the older rigs. That is why they are becoming popular trail rigs, they are less expensive and more capable than most of the trendy suv's. I am a prime example. I will admit, I bought my '88 Trooper because it was cheap and I was looking for an affordable 4x4 commuter. Since owning it, I love the thing. I would love to be able to dump the coin on it to make it more trail worthy, but I just can't see doing that for my daily driver. I applaud Tera for making the gears. Now for years to come, used sets will probably pop up on Ebay and this board and others like it. Someday, maybe even a cheapskate like me will be able to get a set. In the meantime, I am going to keep my Trooper going up and down the trail with 4.56's and the 2.05 tcase. Now, it might just take a little more ingenuity if I want lower gears, but so what, if I get to the point that I really need that in my Trooper, I will just have to figure something else out if I can't find a used set of Tera gears. It may be that a tranny swap will be needed to really make it work. I love my Trooper and it is a great trail rig, just not hard core. In my opinion there are not too many suvs out there (in the same price range) that are better in stock form. It is a great adventure rig. If it comes to a choice between the Jeep and the Isuzu for a weekend camping trip, I take the Trooper. If I find some cool trails that the Trooper can't handle, I just come back later with the Jeep. But for an all around rig, the Trooper is hard to beat. I am sad that the gears are no longer readily available, but keep in mind necessity is the mother of invention. Some 'ZU head out there might get an itch and help us out again, judging by the things I see here, it could even be someone on this board. With little aftermarket support, you guys have built some pretty cool rigs. There are still options, you just have to look harder to find them. Anybody can build a capable trail rig from a Jeep, but it takes a little more creativity and capability to do the same with an Isuzu <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />.

Is it true for manual only or for automatic also ?
I have an automatic transmission and I have not felt
yet that I need more reduction. Actually, I even have to
switch from 4-Lo to 4-Hi sometimes to get better traction,
like when I stuck in deep soft sand. My 3.2V6 is strong
enough to pull me out of anything, if I have some traction.
And I have just 4.10 gears and 31" tires.

But sometimes I do have better traction with 4-Lo.
For example, in snow, when I switch to 4-Lo from 4-Hi
I feel better traction. May be, on such surface I'd do
better with 3.07, I do not know.

When really low T-case matters for automatic ?
(I know about downhills, I am asking about traction).

Oleg
Rodeo S 4wd 2002

Another thing to consider is that Tera might be closing down shop on them now, but they will still have the tooling. Maybe in a year or so, when enough people (50+) have some dough burning a hole in their pocket and really want some gears, we could petition Tera to make another batch. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

dont lose hope for the future

yeah this is pretty disapointing from the enthusiast as well as the vendor side <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />


i'll throw out some food for thought though. I know many of you guys have a limited frame of reference so you may not REALLY have the grounds to make a claim like it is "too expensive" or "not low enough"

as far as the Tera gear line goes:

on the upper end - NV231 Low kit runs $1350.00 (list price)
(that is a Jeep TJ kit <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> )

Dana 300 4:1 kit is $899 for 30 spline and $999 for a 6 spline and usually a HD rear and or front output shaft conversion is needed.......add $518.31 rear output minimum (list)............so like $1400 total

(that is a Jeep CJ7 kit)


Dana 20 3.15:1 - $950.40

(that is a Jeep CJ5 & others kit)


Dana 18 3.15:1 - $816.00

ISUZU low kit - 3.07:1 $881.64 (list price)


now normal retail is of course lower than list, but you see the pricing structure and the "REDUCTION" comparison numbers.

i'm sure for a developement stand point it looked like a reasonable product as Jeepers, Broncomaniacs, Scouters buy up the 3.15:1 kits <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />


as a market there has to be enthusiasts willing to pony up cash for their rigs...............YES the old trucks are cheap, strong, and dependable. that makes them look like a viable market sector to explore. But time and time again there is a "never enough" mentality

hell if it were a 5:1 or 7:1 kit there would be some issue w/ that <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

there are a lot of Isuzu products that are becoming extinct...........and it comes down to a market not willing to peel a dollar out of their pocket to support an industry.

R.I.P.

Lockright 10 bolt
Thorley 2.3L headers
Advance Adapters 4.3L conversion kit
etc.
etc.

now

Tera Low t-case gears
Tera Low ring and pinions


<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

i guess <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/sleeping.gif" alt="" /> you loose. "bringing the products BACK" is posible in some cases, but *****.....burned once, ouch.....burned twice <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/ignore.gif" alt="" />

Like I said...



It seems like I've always got the Isuzu Tiger by the tail... and always with a loose grip at that. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />


When I first began frequenting 4x4 Wire's Isuzu Forums, it was right about the time of the big ARB 10-bolt locker Group Buy. --- Of course, back then, I still naively believed that I would never want my Rodeo to have the full 3 + 3-inches of lift, or M/T tires, or anything else so "extreme"... let alone a device that would involve tearing-open my front (or rear) differential.

Take it from me... Never say 'Never'!!!


At this moment, I do believe I'd be willing to give-up my left kiwi for the ability to place an order for a set of Tera 3.07 T-Case and 5.38 R&P gears. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" />



I guess this is like the story of the guy who arrives at the Gates of St. Peter, and says,
"I always thought I was gonna have a little more time." <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />



<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" /> Here's to some Tera equipment eventually finding its way onto my Rodeo (somehow).


Cheers! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />
Smiley

I would say in general, that the lower-range gears are more for rock-crawling than sand or mud blasting. (But then again, I don't like mud, so I try to avoid it).

I gotta tell ya, with my 99 Amigo and the auto tranny, I really, really, really like the Tera gears. "Only a 50% reduction" translates into a lot more low speed crawl control, especially on some of the trails in Moab. They add a lot more finesse to my driving, as I don't have romp on the throttle much to get a line started on an obstacle. Also, my auto tranny will now actually lock up on steep downhill runs, so I *can* use the engine to help with the braking.

Of course, when Corbin gets me to crawl up some steep ledges and I decide to nail the skinny pedal, the lower gears do let me lift my front end off the ground:



I consider the money I spent on my Tera's the best investment that I've made so far. (now if I would just 'pull the trigger' and get the ARB out from behind the bedroom door and installed in the front axle <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> )

Make that 2 now.

It is a bummer about any loss of aftermarket for us, since there isn't much to begin with. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> I think getting an ARB has just gotten bumped up on my list.

The unfortunate thing is in a little more time I think there would be an overall increase in demand. As the current trucks get a little older and get into the hands of second and third owners, more would be willing to set up for trail use.

As for the price of aftermarket parts vs the lower price of Isuzu's in general, paying less for your whole truck frees up more $ for upgrades. On the cheapest side of the spectrum, I only paid $800 for my truck and have shelled out significantly more than that on parts alone, and I still have a ways to go. Make no mistake, my pockets are far from deep. Given the logic that such and such would cost more than my entire truck, then it would hardly be worth getting a new set of tires. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> The end result will be worth far more(to me) than the totalling up of receipts.

As Matt and others have pointed out, price wise, these parts are pretty much on par with everything else offered for other trucks.

Make that ONE now.

NAH ... j/k.

I just ordered a set from John but for my application ('96 Rodeo, MUA5 w/ fixed yoke - LOW307E) John said he had about a DOZEN sets left. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Great price too!! Thanks for the tip CK!! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

I feel as some other have mentioned that Isuzu vehicles have just started to come into their prime offroad era. If someone had asked how many SAS isuzus were out there three years ago that number would be far less than half what it is now. The price of isuzus are finally reaching the price of what 85 toyota trucks are at. With cheaper prices people are far more willing to buy the truck as a trail rig.

I think another year would have made a big difference.