Short arm or Long arm
CF Veteran
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 13,952
Likes: 17
Model: Cherokee
Lifting a tire is all fine and dandy if your rig is equipped to keep moving with only 3 wheels on the ground.
Lifting a tire is great for poser pics, not so much for maintaining enough traction to handle an obstacle without having to mash the gas and risk unnecessary carnage.
Bottom line, you'll go a lot farther with less effort by keeping all four wheels on the ground.
Unseating a coil is not big of a big deal. Yes there will be loss of vehicle weight pushing down on one corner, but there is still traction available as long as wheel is on the ground. (think unsprung weight.)
As far as arms that hang to low or a completely flat belly, personal preference is king. A Long Arm suspension that meets your requirements is always "The Best Kit." I can guarantee that even kits with bent arms will drag on obstacles too.
A raised crossmember is a nice concept if you can do it. You're going to find that the transfercase will need to be raised in order make it work though. That's a whole other can of worms that has yet to be opened though.
Lifting a tire is great for poser pics, not so much for maintaining enough traction to handle an obstacle without having to mash the gas and risk unnecessary carnage.
Bottom line, you'll go a lot farther with less effort by keeping all four wheels on the ground.
Unseating a coil is not big of a big deal. Yes there will be loss of vehicle weight pushing down on one corner, but there is still traction available as long as wheel is on the ground. (think unsprung weight.)
As far as arms that hang to low or a completely flat belly, personal preference is king. A Long Arm suspension that meets your requirements is always "The Best Kit." I can guarantee that even kits with bent arms will drag on obstacles too.
A raised crossmember is a nice concept if you can do it. You're going to find that the transfercase will need to be raised in order make it work though. That's a whole other can of worms that has yet to be opened though.
Seasoned Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
From: Wrightstown, NJ
Year: 1986 Comanche
Engine: Chevy 350
Considering the transfer case hangs about 2" below the frame rails from factory, it will need to be reclocked to make anything flat on the stomach.
I completely agree that the best kit is the one that meets your requirements. I built mine for a flat stomach from the start since the body was going to be fairly close to the ground. My kit met all of the needs I set out that no other bolt on kit would, but it was far from bolt it. Building your own kit is not for the faint of heart or someone that doesn't have a game plan set out or any kind of experience.
I completely agree that the best kit is the one that meets your requirements. I built mine for a flat stomach from the start since the body was going to be fairly close to the ground. My kit met all of the needs I set out that no other bolt on kit would, but it was far from bolt it. Building your own kit is not for the faint of heart or someone that doesn't have a game plan set out or any kind of experience.
CF Veteran
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,202
Likes: 0
From: Brighton, MI
Model: Cherokee
Lifting a tire is all fine and dandy if your rig is equipped to keep moving with only 3 wheels on the ground.
Lifting a tire is great for poser pics, not so much for maintaining enough traction to handle an obstacle without having to mash the gas and risk unnecessary carnage.
Bottom line, you'll go a lot farther with less effort by keeping all four wheels on the ground.
Unseating a coil is not big of a big deal. Yes there will be loss of vehicle weight pushing down on one corner, but there is still traction available as long as wheel is on the ground. (think unsprung weight.)
As far as arms that hang to low or a completely flat belly, personal preference is king. A Long Arm suspension that meets your requirements is always "The Best Kit." I can guarantee that even kits with bent arms will drag on obstacles too.
A raised crossmember is a nice concept if you can do it. You're going to find that the transfercase will need to be raised in order make it work though. That's a whole other can of worms that has yet to be opened though.
Lifting a tire is great for poser pics, not so much for maintaining enough traction to handle an obstacle without having to mash the gas and risk unnecessary carnage.
Bottom line, you'll go a lot farther with less effort by keeping all four wheels on the ground.
Unseating a coil is not big of a big deal. Yes there will be loss of vehicle weight pushing down on one corner, but there is still traction available as long as wheel is on the ground. (think unsprung weight.)
As far as arms that hang to low or a completely flat belly, personal preference is king. A Long Arm suspension that meets your requirements is always "The Best Kit." I can guarantee that even kits with bent arms will drag on obstacles too.
A raised crossmember is a nice concept if you can do it. You're going to find that the transfercase will need to be raised in order make it work though. That's a whole other can of worms that has yet to be opened though.
No one understands the benefits of long arms until they run them.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,021
Likes: 1
From: Hesperia
Year: 89
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
