Hey guys,

I'm currently in the process of installing a rubicon express 5.5 inch long arm kit, but at the reccomendation of others on here, I'm installing some frame stiffeners first. I went with the ruffstuff stiffeners, and after more hours than I want to admit, i have them installed. Now, while getting ready to install the lift, I've come across another problem. The three piece crossmember from the lift kit doesnt fit anymore (part of it is designed to bolt around the frame, which got significantly bigger because of the stiffeners). The only solution I have thought of is to grind down the stiffener in the section I need to install the crossmember, but I would rather not do this. Is that my only option?

 

Can you post some pics of the part, and where it goes underneath?

 

I would like to see a pic also, without seeing I would modify the crossmember.
I think there was another thread similar to this but with a different brand crossmember.
Try a search.

 

I'll reserve judgement until we can see what is going on. I had to trim the pinch seam and add crush sleeves and spacers when I installed my 3 link bracketry. Different than a crossmember but it'll be easier to give direction with a visual.

 

I think your problem is that the stiffeners pushed the link brackets outboard, causing the bellypan skid/crossmember to be not wide enough to reach the both brackets. I have notched the frame stiffeners where the link brackets go, so they are stock width. It ended up being about 1 1/2" up the side and the length of the bracket. This way the RE brackets stayed the correct width for the belly pan to bolt to.


If your steady with a cutoff wheel, you can try and cut the piece of stiffener out where the bracket goes. I did mine before I welded it on the jeep. Measured about 10 times to make sure how much, total pain in the ***!!!

 

My buddy runs that Xmember, what he did was install it first then trim the stiffiners to fit around the Xmember.

 

If it's the one I'm thinking of, the main brackets wrap around the bottom of the frame rail and cover the outside as well. From there, another plate mounts between it and the pinch seam. Seems like a bit of over-design? My TNT skid just uses the factory holes on the bottom and a pair of brackets on the inside of the rail.

 

The picture posted above does show how it should work. Here's a few more pictures though. They aren't great, but they show the issue.


bracket on the frame rail with no stiffener




bracket on the frame rail with stiffener




as you can see, those holes are supposed to line up to existing bolt holes, and it no longer does




better image that shows how the bracket doesn't fit over the stiffener

 

I will be heading out to the mountains with no service or internet, and won't be back until late Monday, but I will read any replies then

 

Here's what I would do...





Others can chime in if they wish.

 

nice Ronin

 

 

Thanks Ronin, that looks like my best option right now. The passenger side stiffener actually isn't welded on yet, so technically I could cut that side beforehand like others have mentioned, but I'm **** about things being the same. I'll probably be doing your idea on both sides.

 

Keep us posted on how it works out for you.