What do I need to know before I dive into this? I want long arms but wanna be able to say "hey I built that" you know? What advice can you give to a n00b when it come to fabrication?

 

Measure twice, cut once.

 

I do want to make them adjustable. How should I go about fabing up a cross member and what diameter DOM and whats the best wat to get my angles right

 

Search.

 

Tried that but keep coming up with threads that dont have complete answers

 

Look at pirate4x4.com and just read through the builds. Lost of great info

 

For lowers I'd use 2" .250 wall dom and either the same or 1.75" .250 wall for the uppers.
If I were you I'd be looking at a 4 link, you'd be needing a cross member, links, joints and good fab skill. While you are at it you should beef up the passenger side upper mount and replace the lower mounts maybe even truss the 30

 

Whats the difference between long arms and 4 links. Also what are the benefits of 4 link over long arms?

 

If your asking these questions your not ready to build long arms.
You need to crawl before you walk..same applies here.

For what its worth..
I run a complete custom built cross member, somewhat similar to the claytons xmember, square lower arms, and a DOM upper arm.. I run a 3 link.


Your typical off the shelf LAs are radius arms..where the uppers are built onto the lowers..these are fine for most...however there are some down sides, at a point the radius arms will bind up.

For me the 3-4 link is a better option..
4-links are a bit tougher to fit under there but are very do-able..
The 3 link essentially just eliminates one of your upper arms. I run a drivers side 3 link and couldnt be happier:

 

Y link (radius), 4 and 3 link are all long arms
3 link is best, y link is easy and simple, 4 link gives a little bit more piece of mind.

 

the links are the easiest to make, it's the crossmember that needs the attention to detail.

get someone else to weld it if you even begin to second guess your welding skills.

 

Looks good and I realize Im not quite ready to do them yet thats why I started this thread so I could ask and learn. What would you say would make you say Im ready to build these?

 

if you started the thread like this

hi, I am a fairly experienced welder with access to materials for cheap. I am ready to order so-and-so feet of DOM
I have a rough design of what I want the cross member to look like
I was wondering what joints/heims/bushings to go with and also if someone had some measurements of their long arms for me to base mine off of

go find out most of what you need to know by reading. then come back and ask some informed questions

 

-buy good joints and use either 2" .25 wall DOM tubing or 2"x.25" square tubing
-build your crossmember first, THEN build your arms
-measure twice, cut once
-have it welded by a competent welder

 

Im not bad on a welder but all I have is a 90amp flux core so Ill have my buddy weld it since hes got a mig that runs gas and a tig. Which would be better to weld it with a mig or tig just want the strongest weld possible