Rough Country 1151 Hydraulic Hood Assist for 97-06 Jeep Wrangler TJ

Overall I think this is a good product. I had issues following the instructions and ended up putting the u- brackets on backwards based on what the picture instructions showed. When I closed my hood something popped and part of the plastic on the hydraulic rod cracked off around the end where it snaps on thr ball joint. After YouTubing the install I was able to make it all right. Just hope my hydraulic arm doesn't pop off where some of the plastic cracked off.

Would suggest revamping the paper instructions or including the YouTube link for install. Much easier to follow.

This hood lift works excellent! It’s got just the right amount of lift/force to lift the hood up and put it down easily with one hand from the side of the hood even. It doesn’t try to flip open quickly or fall/close too fast. I’m extremely pleased with how it functions. It allows a lot of room or clearance under the hood as well when the hood is up. The hood opens a little higher than the stock metal hood prop. The only issue is with the fabrication of the flag nuts. The nuts are tack welded onto the metal flange (flag nut). They were crooked and not aligned with hole in the metal flange so the bolt would not thread all the way through. I had to crimp the flag nut in a vise to flatten out the nut and also use a tap to run threads through the metal flange to get the bolt to thread all the way through. It was very easy and quick for me to do but I have LOTS of tools and I know many people do not have tap and die sets. Both flag nuts were welded incorrectly so I’m sure this is an issue others will experience. Also, it does not mention in the instructions to angle the u-bolt brackets. They must be angled in for the system to operate properly. Just angle them inward a little to align with the angle of the lift rods. You also really need three hands to install the hood bracket because of where it’s situated and trying to hold the bracket, hold the flange nut in the center hood channel, and thread the bolt in all at the same time. I used several small neodymium magnets to hold the bracket in place. Then I was able to hold the flange nut with one hand and thread the bolt in with the other. I really was pretty simple to install and it works very very good. I’d give it 5 stars if it were not for the poor manufacturing of the flag nuts and subsequent modification I had to do to get it to work.

Hood bracket won't fit aftermarket hood. Had to fab spacer. Struts are rated at 67 lbs. Way too strong for the hood. Two 67 lb struts for 40 lb hood??? Need lower rating. Risk hood damage trying to lower it. Rugged Ridge could do better!