oh and most LA setups no more then 36in.....unless you going custom offroad only set ups

 

Yeah I think most systems require at least a 4-4.5" lift. I've got IRO 3-link at 4.5" and LOVE IT. Massive flex and rides so nice. My plan is to stay at this height, plate the bottom and love the down travel.

Check it out, and that's with shocks from a 3" RC kit. Can't wait to get some longer nitros

 

yeah my mistake... should be more like 35"

on a lower truck (4" or less) you might want around 25"

sorry about the mix up... been working on a long arm for my buddy's Dodge 4x4 with a cummings in it...

 

I think 4" w/LAs is ideal. That's the setup I would run.

 

with 12in travel shocks and some custom upper mounts......4ish lift longarm droop with more to go:

 

heres my pic with my 4ish inch lift and shocks that are too long, i need limit straps





those are 35s on it for comparison to how much down travel it has

 

yeah see, that's hawt! I have no interest in going any bigger. ^ How are you stopping up travel?

 

Love to see unseated coils.

Which kits are you guys running? Pros/cons?

 

LA. There's no comparison between the two, on or off road

 

brake lines haha not really, the shock extends all the way right there but i have limiting straps on the way so it wont do that any more. thats the only time iv flexed it that far just going thru a trail. for up travel iv got to get the right shocks. those are too long for it and the shocks bottom out before anything else. its not right but it drives for now and gives me more droop than i need. im in the middle of a major rebuild so itll have bumps and straps when its done

mine is home made. if you get a y link its best not to have any rubber bushings.

 

So, you're running joints front and rear?

 

I use OEM style rubber bushings on the axle side. They cut down on vibration, road noise, and are far less expensive to replace.

 

That's what I thought too Frank.

My old adjustables had bushing on axle end, joints on frame end. Rode good for short arms.

 

i like this part of your kit frank its rides alot better with rubber

 

Hmm lotta good information here. Well, let me ask for a recommendation then since I am still pretty unsure of what to do.

I don't generally set out with the goal of tackling the hardest trail I can find (though the Rubicon is 30 minutes or so from me and is very tempting), but I do encounter very difficult terrain up in the mountains when trying to get to campsites, work etc. I drive a lot on ice and (deep) snow, lots of service roads, Jeep trails etc. I'll be on local trails (not necessarily OHV trails either) about 40% of the time with my Jeep, but it's also gotta be able to ride like a champ on the freeway for 12 hours a day too (wife and I are actually planning a trip up the west coast to Anchorage in the next couple of years). Oh, it's gotta be able to comfortably pull a light trailer anywhere I go as well since my dog takes up half the cargo area.

I am building my XJ as an expedition-type vehicle, so ride quality is just as important as offroad ability. I need maximum reliability and reasonable fuel efficiency so I don't want to go over 4" and would prefer to stay at 3" with 32s. I'm overbuilding everything for that reason (with an eye to leaving the weak links in the cheap, easy to replace parts as much as possible). Frame stiffeners, alloy axles etc. are all in the works.

So, would it be worthwhile to go with longer arms, or stay with the stock short arm set up with drop brackets, or maybe something custom? Spending less money is always good, and fewer modifications always seems to be best from a relability standpoint, but if a different arm set up would be superior for my application I'm willing to do it as long as it can meet my goals.

Thanks!