Was just noticing the same thing.

 

I'm also interested in hearing how this worked out, hopefully op replies

 

OP last online almost 2 weeks ago.. This may take patience..

 

Sorry Guys been busy. The towers work great. I've worked them really hard, including two runs on the John Bull Trail in Big Bear Ca. Jeep rides really smooth and I think I picked up at least 2" of articulation. Make sure the towers don't angle too far away from the frame or the tires will rub. Yes I'm going to enclose the towers. I haven't noticed any fatigue on the frame yet. I do have 1/4" flat strap across the bottom of the shock mounts on top inside the cab. With the gas tank relocation I was able to weld in some cross members frame to frame under the jeep.

 

No the tires do not rub. It looks angled but if you push the mounting point on the spring plate to the outside before you weld it is pretty close to perpendicular to the frame. I kept them just shy of interfering with the shock plate bolts. I'll never get a socket on the plate bolts again but an open end wrench will still work.

 

Fully drooped, What length shocks were you able to use? Or measurement eye to eye at full droop?

 

I'll have to check. I'm actually picking up new towers tomorrow. I goofed on my measurements so I need to cut the existing towers just above the frame and weld in a piece of the new tower to make them taller. I didn't look at droop. What I'm doing is I bought taller shocks than stock put the jeep on the wheels and welded the tower eyelet high enough that half the shock piston is exposed. I didn't have the wheels fully on the ground the first time which is why I have to cut and raise them. I don't claim to be an expert in all this so use your own judgement. I figured with half the shock piston exposed I'd have equal up and down travel.

 

I'm no expert either, but I would probably set the shocks closer to 1/3 up 2/3 down travel, unless you have a tall enough lift to clear that much up travel, otherwise you'll just be losing potential down travel. But I guess it really all depends on your set up.

 

I'm bottoming out with the current height. It seems that if I do what I'm thinking the leaf springs will stop up and down travel before the shocks loose travel which is exactly what I think I would want. It's a learn as I go type deal. There weren't any write ups for this mod on a Cherokee that I could find and I don't fully understand it all but I know that I'm on to something and I like it for my needs. My rig is for rock crawling this is not a daily driver. I have a 6" lift. I do drive it on the streets to the trails.

 

I really like this setup. Been thinking about towers for a while now.

 

Just ordered a set. Looking forward to seeing how this goes. Already have rear stiffeners waiting to go on. I'm thinking about making a brace that'll bolt each tower through the shock bolt. ]----[ setup.

 

I appreciate you continuing this thread. I had forgotten about this thread. My XJ has recently been retired from DD/truck use, I will have to revisit this idea now. Not a big deal if I lose cargo area now.

 

Planning on having mine setup to see allow the bench to be flipped up. They shouldn't take up much space at all.

 

Yeah, I GOTTA keep the bench. I have a kid, plan on another, gotta have room for them when we go out. Wife gets pissed when I say strap them to the roof rack.

 

I'll add to this thread when mine come in and I have time to get around to it.