Long Arm Lift Kit Suggestions

airforceret

airforceret

Member
Location
Mishawaka, Indiana
I've got a 2001 TJ with a Ford 8.8 / D30. I've been running my 4" short arm lift for about 4 years now and have decided to switch to a new 5" to 6" long arm kit and was looking for some opinions / suggestions.

The kit I've found most affordable is the Rusty's 5.5 Long Arm (Complete) Kit for around $2,200.00.

Whichever kit I decide on needs to be a complete bolt-on kit as I don't have anyone I trust (in my local area) to do the welding. I know I'll have to cut-off the existing control arms mounts, but with a little effort I can make that happen. Cost is big factor and the Rusty's kit seems to clearly be the most complete and affordable long arm kit. The High Clearance Long Arms are also available at no extra charge with Rusty's.

Both positive and negative comments are welcome!!! LOL

Thanks,

Roger​
 
I am a big fan of supporting local. Teraflex is local to most of us here and their stuff is top notch. The alljeep guys on the forum are a distributer for teraflex and are very knowledgable, I bet Mesha or Skippy will chime in before too long to give their two cents.

I've done a lot of comparing between long arms for my JK and Teraflex has just come out on top for quality and price.

I also just did a quick check on Teraflexplus.com and their prices are barely over what you are looking at for a rusty's kit and like I said Teraflex is top notch when it comes to quality

Edit: Checked again and their site is actually a bit more than I initially though. But don't go off of a manufacturers website or stores like Quadratec for pricing. Find a smaller distributor that can get you better pricing, I promise you will be surprised at what you can get if you just get on the forums and ask distributors for price quotes.
 
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I have a Rock Krawler 3 link kit on the front of My XJ. Set up the same a the front of a TJ. It is a true 3 link long arm that flexs like none other. I would definitly look at doing them again if I was in the market for more long arms. http://www.rockkrawler.com/
 
I agree with TJDuket, support the local businesses! Also if you have any problems with your parts, it's a quick run to their shop and you can talk to someone face to face. He's also correct, the TeraFlex suspensions are very high quality and work well. I loved how my long armed TJ rode and worked on the trail, it was downright impressive!

It does require some welding, but I would think most long arm kits do?

My old TJ with a TeraFlex LCG for an Unlimited -

GEDC0058+_Medium_.JPG
 
Rough country is bolt on but ther joints suck! Trust me I know. Bds is bolt on and is a pretty sweet kit if you don't want a tri link rear. So really it all depends. On what you want and I'd you want bolt on or weld. Obviously you said bolt on. Rustys for a tj probably wouldn't be so bad. The reason blackzj said there crap is every zj owner tends to hate them cause of there mounting brackets. Also you need to decide what kind of front long arm design you want.
 
I had a rock Krawler 3 link kit and loved on my TJ, other than their joints sucked. They have a new generation of joint that is supposed to be better.
 
Appreciate all the feedback I'm getting.. I live in Indiana, so we don't really have a local market for offroad, and those that offer services, are not really geared towards serious offroading compared to shops out west. I do like Teraflex as I have those as my rear control arms and they have withstood the test of time. I've already broken my rough country front joints once and had issues getting them replaced. Had to go round and round, bash them a bit on the forums, and send them pix before they eventually sent a complete replacement set of joints.

The main reason I'm looking at bolt on is that I will be doing this by myself over the winter and I don't weld. Once installed, I would likely take and get it welded.

As for street driving, it does need to be streetable, but street time is getting to be less and less (mostly sunny days and snow days). I trailer it to go wheeling now in case I break something, and for the comfort of the truck enroute!

Roger
 
I realize this may be a stretch, but why not learn to weld and DIY? Me personally, I don't like the idea of a bolt-on long arm kit. You could probably pick up a quality used 220v welder for under $500 and start practicing. If you have a community college near by, they probably offer a beginner welding class and could really jump start your skills. I really like knowing how to weld, it's a good thing to know!

BTW, I lived in Angola, IN for a short time... good to see you over here!
 
I have had rubicon express, rock crawler, rustys, tetaflex, rough country, and about 1/2 a dozen others on my rigs. The 3 best of the ones i tried were Teraflex, Rubicon express, and rock crawler in that order. I have never had a Clayton system, but they seem like cool guys and they look quality. I would stay away from rustys and rough country. Rustys is okay for FSJs i guess. Please don't buy a rough country. I did and it ruined my jeep.

I agree with greg borrow a welder and take a class. I can get you a smokin deal on a Teraflex, R.E., or Rockcrawler. Teraflex is all about jeeps and they know their stuff.

Heck borrow a welder and buy me a plane ticket ;-)
 
UFAB said:
Another option would be Clayton Offroad.

The Clayton Offroad have options for the 8.8

http://claytonoffroad.com/index.php/cPath/17?osCsid=faf6a034d795c71c4e0b410a150545da
Click to expand...

I put the super duper Clayton kit on my xj. Tera does not make a rear 4 link kit for the xj so I wasn't even looking at them.

The Clayton kits were more complete (included everything, brake lines, drop down pitman arm etc) so even though their prices seem really high when you start adding in the other stuff it is not as high as it seems.

I did have to call them a couple of times to follow up with some stuff, I had to raise my coil buckets on my front d60 and needed shorter springs, they were almost as easy to call and talk to as Ruff Stuff. The reasons I had to call them were for help, not because they messed up. It showed up on my door step about 2 weeks after I ordered it. (they said that some of it had to be made when I ordered it)

I have not run any other lift kit ever but I don't think I will run anything else ever (with the possible exception of Tera)

With the xj, and 1-ton axles, bolt on was not an option for me...

nathan
99 xj with a lot of stuff
http://www.rme4x4.com/showthread.php?83436-Nathan-and-Tanja-s-99-XJ-Build-up
 
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