Flat skid and suspension question...

mrich40 · 02-17-2003, 07:31 PM

Here's the senario...I have a 2.5" OME spring w/ dt3000 and 32's. I want to do the goferit flat skid w/ a 1" BL and MML. An advance adapters SYE and a new drive shaft. I want as much clearance overall without shelling out the $$. I know I'll need adjustable control arms to adjust the pinion angle. Here is the question...to save money, can I get by with lower or upper adjustable control arms and leave a set of stock on the jeep and if so, which one should I get? I'm looking into Full Traction MAS control arms if I decide to go with the lower ones. If I need to get the upper ones, I'm up to suggestions. I have seen alot of positive things about RE. I figure if I go with the lowers it will pull the axel forward too far, so my guess is uppers. If anyone is running the goferit skid, let me know what you think and how you dealt with pinion angles.

Oh yeah, I do not want to go with long arm, even though it's probably the best senario...have a house payment and a misses now. I'd be sleeping in the jeep if I got a long arm kit, so it's out of the question.

jeepofun · 02-17-2003, 08:50 PM

I don't want to sound like a nag but it sounds like you should have got a 3 or 4" kit to begin with and be done with it. I guess its all about priorities though, Personally I got the lift before the fiance. No more spending on the jeep now though for me either, for some reason she just doesn't understand. Oh well, congrats and good luck!

**igofshn** · 02-17-2003, 09:29 PM

With 2.5 lift you can keep the lowers. I would go with uppers.

copeland · 02-18-2003, 01:43 AM

Jeepofun, where did you get the Jamboree picture on the rocks??? Is that the one the photographer put up??? I never found which site to d/l it off of...going again this year???

mrich40 · 02-18-2003, 06:07 AM

Thanks for the input. I figure if I go with a 4" lift I'd really only gain an additional 1.5" of lift. If I add a flat skid (goferit claims 3" of additional clearance) and a body lift, I'd gain 3" on the lowest part of the underside and be able to go to 33's no problem and have plenty of room to fit them. So, instead of shelling out $900 for a quality 4" lift with Adj CA's to acutally gain an 1.5" over what I have, I thought I could try this route instead. Any other's running a similar set-up?

jeepofun · 02-19-2003, 09:10 PM

Hey Copeland,

Yes, that is the picture that the photographer took. The pics are available at the daimeler chrysler website under the jamboree link. There is a section called contributed pictures or something like that and then you just have to put in your name and postal code and it will come up. I will definatly be going next year this time with a new navigator, maybe then she will appreciate why we love this crazy expensive sport, plus I Gotta try the bigger and better trails. Good for you to recognize the pic.

I would be amazed at 3" of ground clearance gain with a new skidplate, your gas tank is in the way and so are your axles, so you aren't REALLY gaining 3" of clearance, but every bit helps.

macb · 02-19-2003, 09:27 PM

Quote:

I would be amazed at 3" of ground clearance gain with a new skidplate

the key is that it is 3" right in the middle, this is crucial to your
breakover angle when going over large obstacles...greatly reduces
your 'high center' situations. If you being spotted correctly on an
obstacle your wheels should take on the highest point of the
obstacle which ensures your axles clear. But you'll still hit the big
rocks in the trail if you don't watch where you're going!

I think this is a great mod for rock crawlers...if you mud - I don't
think it would be a big deal. I rock, and that darn OME plate is
always getting hung up on something instead of sliding over like
it should.

mrich40 · 02-20-2003, 05:46 AM

With the required body lift for the flat skid would allow me to fit 33's which would get the axels a little higher. I'm just trying to get the most clearance with out taking out a second mortage

. The only way to get the axels up would be to get some 40's or swap in some portal's., but I don't see that happening anytime soon. I did see a write up on pirate about raising the gas tank a couple inches, but I'm not ready for that type of fabrication...yet. Like mcgawb said...having a better brake over angle and trying not the get hung up on some of these North Carolina rocks is the key.

tjjohn · 02-20-2003, 03:01 PM

Just so you are aware of it your 33's will fit with a 2.5" lift, however when you need to articulate the tires are going to rub, bad. I tried the 33's with the 2.5 inch lift, it looked good drove great on the street but man it was hell on my fenders and tires. I now have the 4" skyjacker lift with .75" coil spacers. and the adjustable track bar in the front my limiting factor in articulation is still my fenders and tires meeting. So before you get too teribly far you may want to consider saving for a while and doing the 4" with an sye. this will give you a break over angle of just over 20 degrees and you will articulate extreamly well. I will try to add a pic. Umm how do you add a pic. ?

tjjohn · 02-20-2003, 03:19 PM

A pic of now with the afore mentioned 4" bla bla bla ....

tjjohn · 02-20-2003, 03:26 PM

trying again with the pic. I was kinda hoping I would be able to see it.

tjjohn · 02-20-2003, 03:27 PM

tjjohn · 02-20-2003, 03:29 PM

What can I say ?... I am a tool.

Scafone · 02-20-2003, 08:23 PM

You said it, not me.

nice Jeep

jeepofun · 02-21-2003, 03:48 PM

Hey TJJohn, nice rig!

I have the skyjacker 4" as well but with no adjustable track bar, I know that I am limited a little without it. I am even running 35" with only the tiniest bit of rub at max. articulation which is 1103 so far. I am curious what coil spacers you use cuz I know that is an inexpensive way to help get rid of the rub? Did you use a sy eliminator because I didn't and I'm okay.