I plan on going to Prairie City just to see other people brawl it one day. Worth $5. And it's not like you couldn't join in later.

 

?

 

Long arms are 100X better. I hate my short arm RE lift because it rides so rough. The stiff ride isn't from the springs you have, its the geometry. The wheels have to move forward in their range of motion, so as a result, when you hit a bump in the road, it resists movement, which transfers the impact up to the chassis and then to the passengers. Long arms allow a much more vertical motion to the suspension and a much softer ride. Not only that, you can flex a lot more without getting the control arms all twisted up. Your short arm may seem like it flexes great, because its a lot better than stock, but you can get SO much more droop from a long arm kit. Why do you think every professional rock racer, buggy, built jeep or whatever has long arms? Because they are so much better than short arms. They ride better, they flex better, they are better.

Of course though, long arms alone wont get you amazing results, you need extended brake lines, bump stops, maybe a longer CV style DS depending on your lift, ect... You need everything to take advantage of that articulation.

 

I love my RE 4.5" super flex short arm kit. No regrets at all. You can talk flex and theory all day long but when you get to the rocks or hills and who makes it and who doesn't is all that matters.

I'm not knocking long arms at all. If they're your thing then more power to you.

 

He wasnt... he actually explained it well. You asked. There shouldn't be any regrets that is a great kit and I would too recommend long arms and you will notice the difference

 

Actually I wasn't the one who asked. I was just adding an additional data point for consideration.

But really what I was getting at (I know I didn't say this) was it might be wise to consider if you're going to really get $1000 extra worth of long arm for how you drive. RE long arm kit is about $2000. A short arm kit is about $1000. No doubt the long arm is better but if you're not that extreme then you're wasting your money. For me it's not worth it.

A drop bracket might be a better choice. Or checking the shackle angles. Put on a long arm kit and the shackle angles are a problem and you still have a rough ride and out an extra $1000.

 

I asked, and thank you each for your reply. I really do THINK I need a long arm if it can soften the street ride. By the time I reach the climb, I'm pretty beat-up (66 yrs young). I feel like the money would be well spent (three fractured vertebrae) if it would help me arrive in better shape. Looks like you guys have been successful in talking me into another Just Empty Every Pocket jeep thang. What about 35's and lockers and gears and steering and...? I can only do one thing about every few months. What do you think should be the next 'debit card natural-born-killer'?

Thanks again wheelers.

 

I'm thinking you should buy me the long arm kit and we could swap Jeeps for the day and then you can decide.

 

I never said a short arm lift can't flex well, but a long arm lift will always flex more and have a smoother ride if all else is equal. I'm not hating on people with short arms(hell I have short arms still), I'm stating a fact. And you are right, it really only matters who makes it, but those with long arms tend to have an easier time. That said, A LOT has to do with the driver. A pro with short arms can out crawl an idiot in the best built long arm rig.


My final thought on the subject, Everyone should look at their preferences, how intense their build is, and weigh the costs with the gains. If it fits for your needs, you made the right choice.

 

Exactly I know plenty of people with short arms that do all I could do with my long arms.

 

Don't get me started on if I think "pro" drivers actually exist or not in a sport where it's 99% vehicle and 1% driver skill. hahaha

 

Hey fish fool, you'd do that for me? Lets do it then. I just said "let's do it" to a guy...

Scott, I just got back from 2 days at Cow. Cold night, didn't camp. Came home for 12 in my soft warm and then back to Cow. Lots of stuff to post when I figure out how.
You know that low limb over the large pond down the nasty hill below the obstacle course that's above Red Mt. Camp at Cow?...
Can anybody tell me how much a new windshield costs?
KA-BLOOIE zoom-zoom seems ya have the most fun right before sompin goes!!!

 

After I replace my ws I'm gonna get a long arm up-grade and kick all your a$$e$. I have long arms but my jeep doesn't.....

 

you don't really believe its 99% vehicle do you?

 

That might be a small exaggeration and I'm not sure I can explain my thoughts but I'll give it a try without making it too long.

I think a beginner is a beginner with no clue. i.e. my lovely wife hanging the center of the diff on every rock on the trail. But after somebody learns a few basics I don't think there's much difference between a novice and a so-called pro. I just don't think our sport takes very much skill like F1 or baseball. Anybody can be easily trained to do it. The skill is in building the rig.

So maybe not 99% but it's pretty highly biased towards the vehicle being the deciding factor.