fannitti

question, if i install ruffstuff frame stiffners and then down the road wanna add a long arm set up will the stiffners be in the way? and if i have stiffners whats a good rock rail set up to welt to it? i see detours sells rock sliders that act as a frame stiffner and rock rail that i like but if i ever go to long arm will the set up be in the way? i currently have a 4.5 rustys short arm set up.

KevinC506

I have the ruffstuff stiffeners on mine with a clayton crossmember welded to it (its a 3 piece). No issues. They also have the long arm mounts attached to it, so in the case I want to go long arms down the road I'm already setup for it.

Rocksliders idk. I plan on just making my own.

apac020

Over 2 years I installed HD Offroad stiffeners, JCR rock sliders, and TNT long arms, in that order. When you order rock rails, you have to account for the width of the stiffeners. I did not, and my rock rails are 1/8" too long, so I had to use some washers when bolting them to the pinch seam.

The JCR sliders did not interfere at all with the TNT long arms. They were advertised to work with them, so that's no surprise, but I can confirm that there were no interference issues.

The HD frame stiffeners did interfere slightly, in that they covered a frame hole that TNT uses. My installer had to fish for that hole and drill through the stiffeners. It wasn't a big deal. Stiffeners MAY interfere with other long arm kits that need to wrap the frame rail, but since the TNT belly ban bolts to the bottom of the frame rail (and are designed to go with the TNT stiffeners) it had no issues.

Jrozar

I just ordered a set of Ruffstuff frame stiffeners last night...

Atmos

3rd time posting this in 3 different threads

congrats man you want an internet cookie?

Jrozar

Maybe it was relevant in three places...
A cookie From you yes.... That would be like a snack of honor

Did I mention I got frame stiffeners... Because of you

But I didn't get a bolt together cage for a xj because of you..

Atmos

lol. ah come on man I'm just ribbing ya

Fred/N0AZZ

What night do I need to order my Ruffstuff frame stiffeners

Atmos

yesterday




slacker

Jrozar

Oh I don't mind...your saving me but costing me $ all at the same time..so keep following up with the advise or just make me a list on my build thread so I can hurry up and get that old xj on the road..I don't mind the input or even sarcasm at all..it's just a forum and 99.9% of the people will never meet or have any influence in another's life. Some folks lives are the net...mine isn't. But I do like the information from good sources such as you because it takes a lot of the trial and error out by learning from your Mess ups

Jrozar

The night when your wife it at.....just kidding.. is asleep and her credit card is available.

Fred/N0AZZ

Crap day late and a dollar short

TigerXJ

I have TNT stiffeners, because they were the only ones on the market back in the day. I love ruffstuff, and their design. Would go with them if I did it again IF they had front and rear sets too. Because of that id probably go Hd off-road.

You can pretty much add any long arm system down the road, even bolt on versions, if you are willing to make it work. I have RK 3 link on my front, which required some trimming, but it eventually fit, then I bolted and welded it on.

salad

HD Offroad stiffeners, replace the rockers with 2x6 tube. Tie it all in yerself. Strong as it gets!

(Okay the HD OE stiffeners are not as strong as it gets but the price for the full set is stellar)

Boostwerks.com

Frame stiffeners are only part of the equation. If you've ever had the drivetrain and gas tank removed, you will notice the complete lack of structural cross-members between both sides of the uni-rails. It doesn't matter how stiff each rail is, if they can still easily twist relative to each other. Ever notice the way your windshield cracks diagonally?

If you are planning on using your XJ offroad while planning to keep it for the foreseeable furture, a good cage will be apart of your "frame stiffening" endeavors.