We Are Core 4x4 -- The Origin Story Behind the Brand

Before the CNC machines and the powder coat booth, Core 4x4 started with a 15-year-old, a farm welder, and a Jeep that needed parts he could not afford.

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We Are Core 4x4 – The Origin Story Behind the Brand

Every parts company has a founding story. Most of them are polished, focus-grouped, and carefully scripted. Core 4x4 is not most companies. Their story starts with a 15-year-old kid, a farm welder, and a Jeep he could not afford to build. Here is how that turned into a full-scale, American-made off-road suspension manufacturer.

Spence Schramm, Founder of Core 4x4, sitting for an interview with his name and title displayed on screen

A Jeep, No Money, and a Farm Welder

In the video above, Core 4x4 founder Spence Schramm tells the story in his own words. At 15 years old, he had a Jeep and no budget. The aftermarket parts he wanted were out of reach, so he did what his father taught him to do: build it yourself or do without.

“My dad grew up on a farm, so he had a welder, he had tools. He was a fix-it-or-don’t-have-it kind of guy,” Spence explains. That mindset led to the first set of homemade control arms – which, by Spence’s own admission, “failed miserably.”

But failure was the starting point, not the end. He went back to the drawing board, made improvements, and kept going. That trial-and-error process – build, test, break, redesign – became the foundation of everything Core 4x4 would eventually become.

Spence Schramm of Core 4x4 speaking about the early days of building Jeep parts

From a Backyard to a Business (2013)

Core 4x4 officially launched in 2013. The decision to start a company was not about chasing revenue. Spence saw a gap in the market: quality off-road suspension parts at prices that real Jeep builders could afford.

“I decided, you know what, I can do a better job for a better price,” Spence says. “That is why I started Core – just to make better products and really try to help out those people that want to build their Jeeps and want to do it right.”

Control arms were the first product. They were the part Spence knew best because he had been building (and breaking) them since he was a teenager. The early versions were rough – “a little slap dash,” as he puts it – but the fundamentals were sound: adjustable geometry, strong joints, and a price that did not require a second mortgage.

Spence Schramm discussing how Core 4x4 started as a Jeep parts company in 2013

Quality Over Quantity – A Founding Principle

Ask Spence what Core 4x4 is, and the first thing he says is: “We are a manufacturing company. We build off-road suspension parts. We have always been focused on quality over quantity.”

That is not marketing language. It is a design constraint. To maintain quality, Core 4x4 keeps the entire manufacturing process in-house: machining, welding, powder coating, assembly, and inspection. Nothing is farmed out to contract shops or imported from overseas.

Why does that matter? Because when you control every step, you catch problems early. A weld that does not meet spec gets ground down and redone the same day. A machined part that is 0.002 inches out of tolerance gets scrapped before it ever reaches assembly. That level of control is only possible when every station is under the same roof.

Built to Be Used and Abused

Spence Schramm explaining that Core 4x4 parts are built for real off-road abuse

“We make parts to be used in abuse,” Spence says. “We like to go out, we like to off-road, do all our own testing. We are just a bunch of guys that make Jeep parts.”

That last line is important. Core 4x4 was not started by investors or MBAs looking for a market opportunity. It was started by an off-roader who needed better parts. The testing process is not a corporate checklist – it is the team taking their own rigs out on the trail and seeing what holds up and what does not.

When a part survives the kind of abuse that Spence and his team put it through, it ships with a lifetime guarantee. Not a limited warranty with fine print. A guarantee: if you break it, they replace it.

A Tier System Built for Real Budgets

One of the things Spence addresses in this early video is the tier system. Core 4x4 offers multiple levels of the same product – not because they want to upsell you, but because they understand that budgets vary.

“I come from a background where we made things because we did not have money,” Spence says. “I try to keep that in mind with our customers. Not every build is the same. Not every budget is the same.”

Spence Schramm discussing Core 4x4 product tiers and keeping parts affordable for every budget

That philosophy led to the tiered product lines that Core 4x4 still uses today:

Camp Series – Entry-level parts with quality materials at an accessible price point. Built for daily drivers and weekend trail rigs.
Crawl Series – Mid-tier components with Johnny Joints on both ends for full articulation and adjustability.
Stage 3 Series – The heavy-duty option for big lifts, large tires, and demanding off-road use.

All three tiers are manufactured in the same facility, on the same equipment, by the same team. The difference is in the joint type and material grade, not in the quality of the build.

What the Future Held (and Delivered)

This video was recorded in early 2023, and Spence laid out his plans candidly. He wanted to branch into Toyota platforms (Tacoma, 4Runner, FJ Cruiser), shore up the Jeep long arm kits, simplify the tier system, and develop long-travel kits for independent-suspension trucks.

Spence Schramm looking ahead and discussing plans for Core 4x4 expansion into Toyota and Ram platforms

Since this video was filmed, Core 4x4 has delivered on several of those goals:

Toyota Tacoma line launched – Upper control arms, rear suspension kits, and sway bar end links are now in production.
Toyota 4Runner suspension – Rear upper and lower control arms are available.
Ford Bronco kits added – Complete rear suspension and lift kits for the 6th-gen Bronco.
Ram 2500/3500 expanded – Steering kits, long arm kits, and complete suspension overhaul packages.
Tier system simplified – The product tiers were restructured to make selection easier for customers.

The roadmap Spence described in 2023 has largely been executed, which speaks to how well Core 4x4 knows its customers and its own manufacturing capability.

Still a Small Company at Heart

Spence Schramm smiling while discussing Core 4x4 company values and customer service

“The company is definitely going to grow, but I have always wanted to keep the small company feel,” Spence says. “Right now I answer phones still. You can get me on the phone. That will change, but I want the people that are handling our customers to give the same attention to detail and customer service that I would.”

That hands-on approach is rare in the aftermarket suspension industry. Most companies of Core 4x4’s size have already layered customer service behind automated phone trees and ticket systems. Core 4x4 has not. When you call, a person answers – and that person knows the products because they work with them every day.

The Core 4x4 Promise

Spence closes the video with a simple statement: “Nothing does not go out the door unless we can stand behind it.” That is the guiding principle behind everything at Core 4x4, from the first set of backyard control arms to the full product catalog they offer today.

Spence Schramm of Core 4x4 thanking customers and the YouTube audience

If you want to see what Core 4x4 has grown into since this video was filmed, check out the newer companion piece: We Are Core 4x4 – The Full Tour.

Frequently Asked Questions

Core 4x4 was founded in 2013 by Spence Schramm. Before starting the company, Spence had been building his own Jeep parts since he was 15 years old because he could not afford aftermarket components. He used his father's farm welder and tools to fabricate control arms and other suspension parts. After years of trial and error, he turned that experience into a business focused on quality, affordability, and in-house manufacturing.

Core 4x4 was founded by Spence Schramm. He started making Jeep parts as a teenager and launched Core 4x4 in 2013 to offer better off-road suspension parts at fair prices. He remains actively involved in the company's operations, product development, and customer service.

Adjustable control arms were the first product Core 4x4 manufactured. Spence Schramm had been building control arms for his own Jeep since his teenage years, refining the design through trial and error before launching the company. Control arms remain a core product in the lineup today.

Core 4x4 offers multiple tiers (Camp, Crawl, and Stage 3) because founder Spence Schramm grew up building parts on a tight budget. He designed the tier system so that builders at every price point can access quality suspension components. The Camp Series is entry-level, the Crawl Series offers full articulation with Johnny Joints on both ends, and the Stage 3 Series is built for heavy-duty off-road use. All tiers are made in the same facility with the same quality standards.

Yes. All Core 4x4 products are designed, machined, welded, powder coated, and assembled in-house at their facility in the United States. Keeping the entire manufacturing process under one roof allows Core 4x4 to maintain strict quality control and stand behind every product with a lifetime guarantee.

Core 4x4 manufactures suspension and steering components for Jeep Wrangler (TJ, LJ, JK, JL), Gladiator JT, Cherokee XJ, Grand Cherokee ZJ and WJ, Toyota Tacoma and 4Runner, Ford Bronco, Ford F-250/F-350, and Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500 trucks. The product line continues to expand as new vehicle applications are developed.