Playing with JKS

Garages seem to inspire inventiveness. They inspire the handiwork of off roaders to create  something better or stronger that will enhance their vehicle of choice.. Perhaps it's the mingled odors of automotive fluids, the once-shiny tools dulled by sweat and grease, or just the simple privacy of a workshop. Whatever the source of inspiration, the venerable garage has been the site of much off-road product development, and in a lot of cases, those products have evolved into product lines and the garage owner has gone on to become a company owner. That's the tack taken by Jim Nollette and JKS Manufacturing of Nebraska.

In 1989, Nollette decided to build Jeep parts in his garage to feed his habit, an '84 Jeep CJ7. This work in progress off-road rig ate money like a Clydesdale eats hay. But if you're expecting some sort of Horatio Alger, rags-to-riches story, you'll have to wait.

The first product, an adjustable cargo rack designed to mount to the OE swing-away tire carrier, was well received by a niche market of enthusiasts. However, it took epic effort to build and, well, the niche was very small. Nollette went back to the drawing board and came up with the Quick Disconnect, a quick-release system for Jeep's front sway bars.

After a 4x4 magazine ran a short story on the product, the phone started ringing and, according to Nollette, it hasn't stopped. "I was lucky that only my second attempt in the off-road product industry caught on," he admits. "The Quick Disconnect has been the catalyst for the company's success."

Nollette has taken a different approach to product development. Concentrating on suspension systems, he examined existing aftermarket products from the perspective of real-world, hard-core off-road use and ferreted out their weaknesses. In an enthusiast market that includes as many wannabe asphalt jockeys as real, down-in-the-dirt off-roaders, the latter could shred suspension upgrades in one trek through a rock garden. Those weaknesses became JKS' strength.

At the time, other manufacturers were using standard-grade raw materials. JKS went with more advanced materials like 4130 Chrome-Moly steel, DOM structural tubing and Delrin plastics. When other manufacturers started upgrading their materials, Nollette did his homework and kept ahead of the class with the off-road versions of precious metal: 12L14 free-cutting carbon steel, C1144 Stress-Proof steel, grade 304 stainless, 4140 Chrome-Moly and 6061 aluminum.

The obvious advantage of using superior raw materials is a superior product that is stronger.Stronger products are priceless assets out on the trail where one is relying upon their rig to get them through and home in one piece. Better material also provides better machining characteristics.

In 1995, Nollette's garage was converted back into a garage and JKS moved into a 1,500 sq. ft facility with a manual mill, lathe and welder. Nollette still had his "day job," but by the end of the year, that, too, fell by the wayside. JKS was contracted to build products for Off Road General Store Manufacturing (ORGSM). When that company was put on the market in 2004, Nollette bought it, expanding the JKS brand to include adjustable coil-over spacers and twin-tube rocker guards.