Bolt on long arms,,, really

[JTGuy]

Just watched a long U tube of installing a long arm kit with all bolt on brackets. Cut off all factory brackets. I really do like the idea of long arms but not really sold on cutting off all the solid factory brackets and going to all bolt on brackets. Seems like you are asking for pops and noise down the road. Are the bolt locations really going to be strong enough down the road. I know that a long arm rides better but at what cost?

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[Pilsner]

Looked at that too. I will probably weld them on if I go that route. I don't like bolting on stuff like that either.

 

[TheSolarWizard]

Youtube is chock full of people that will say or do anything to make a dollar and some of them post in here too
If you want long arms get them from a company that races on the same weld on kit they sell.
(And doesn’t pay people to not disclose the truth about the shortcomings)

 

[JTGuy]

The installers are a Gladiator group up in Canada. Very well known. The long arm company is Metalcloak also a well known company.

 

[GI Grandpa]

Just watched a long U tube of installing a long arm kit with all bolt on brackets. Cut off all factory brackets. I really do like the idea of long arms but not really sold on cutting off all the solid factory brackets and going to all bolt on brackets. Seems like you are asking for pops and noise down the road. Are the bolt locations really going to be strong enough down the road. I know that a long arm rides better but at what cost?

Well if you watched the video Christian did, Epic Adventures Outfitters, than maybe his comment about how hard it is to weld to the frame of the JL/JT then the bolt on makes much more sense for the DIY mechanic. Also, Matson and Metal Cloak are a top tier supplier and they stand behind their products, so I would have no fear running their bolt on kit on my Gladiator.

 

[RK Racing]

I installed Terra flex long arms on my wife’s 22 Wrangler and my 23 gladiator…… not that hard if you could read and follow directions. Almost Rides like a trophy truck. If you’re thinking about doing it in my personal opinion, you’re a FOOL if you do not go through with it. If anyone has any questions, feel free to PM and then we could talk on the phone and I’ll tell you my experience installing it. Wife’s wrangler has the terra flex falcon shocks and my gladiator has the Rebel coil over set up. Party On!

 

[JTGuy]

I am all in favor of a better ride and long arms can do that. The frames are not designed to be welded on any more. The kits will have to be a bolt on system or nothing. MC and TF are some of the bet out there. As you can see by my sig, I am falling down the rabbit hole with this JT. Does a long arm system improve the value of the Gladiator? There is no going back from long arms.

 

[Zachanadandy]

I am all in favor of a better ride and long arms can do that. The frames are not designed to be welded on any more. The kits will have to be a bolt on system or nothing. MC and TF are some of the bet out there. As you can see by my sig, I am falling down the rabbit hole with this JT. Does a long arm system improve the value of the Gladiator? There is no going back from long arms.

Mods don't generally improve the value of a Jeep. Someone looking for long arms might be willing to pay a little extra for it, but good luck finding THAT buyer. Build it to use, not to sell.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

I am all in favor of a better ride and long arms can do that. The frames are not designed to be welded on any more. The kits will have to be a bolt on system or nothing. MC and TF are some of the bet out there. As you can see by my sig, I am falling down the rabbit hole with this JT. Does a long arm system improve the value of the Gladiator? There is no going back from long arms.

If you want to keep going down the rabbit hole, read about the guys who don't like long arms and why.

There have been a few that went from long arms back to shorter arms. Below is an example. Lots of good info and experience in that thread.

https://www.jeepforum.com/threads/goodbye-long-arms-hello-short-arms.1076868/

 

[TheSolarWizard]

I am all in favor of a better ride and long arms can do that. The frames are not designed to be welded on any more.

that is completely incorrect. It just needs proper weld scheduling and technique.

The kit just finished on my jeep will absolutely embarrass anything else on the market, on road by a huge margin. Off road by a country mile and if anything, I am underselling it. The strength and suspension geometry would be impossible to replicate or even approach with anything bolted on.

ill be posting a lot of videos after trail hero next week

I say that someone with extensive seat time in everything mentioned above along with 3 others.

edit: according to some super cute DMs i got, there are a couple people heavy into their feelings about this statement and I challenge them and anyone else to find fault in my statement. Please come out to trail hero and find out for yourself and ill match any cash on the hood wager about the accuracy

 

[Zachanadandy]

If you want to keep going down the rabbit hole, read about the guys who don't like long arms and why.

There have been a few that went from long arms back to shorter arms. Below is an example. Lots of good info and experience in that thread.

https://www.jeepforum.com/threads/goodbye-long-arms-hello-short-arms.1076868/

That's a prefect example of "long arms" that are poorly designed. If his 3 link mid arm is reducing binding, his long arms were radius arms that led to binding and reduced travel. A quality "mid arm" which is just marketing in the JL/JT world as stock they are mid arm length, will absolutely outperform terrible long arms. That being said, a true 3/4 link long arm with proper geometry will outperform the best mid arm. As far as bolt on vs weld on, the entire drivetrain is bolt on so if its well designed I wouldn't worry about it. I think metalcloak in particular mounts to a new cross member, replacing the one that's already bolt on and holds the transmission and transfer case just fine.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

That's a prefect example of "long arms" that are poorly designed. If his 3 link mid arm is reducing binding, his long arms were radius arms that led to binding and reduced travel. A quality "mid arm" which is just marketing in the JL/JT world as stock they are mid arm length, will absolutely outperform terrible long arms. That being said, a true 3/4 link long arm with proper geometry will outperform the best mid arm. As far as bolt on vs weld on, the entire drivetrain is bolt on so if its well designed I wouldn't worry about it. I think metalcloak in particular mounts to a new cross member, replacing the one that's already bolt on and holds the transmission and transfer case just fine.

A long arm with proper geometry will not always outperform the best mid arm.

Long arms get hung up easier than mid arms.

If longer arms are better, why did they go with shorter arms in the thread I linked? They could've made the arms any length they wanted.

 

[Zachanadandy]

Apples and potatoes, the belly of the gladiator being as long as it is is going to hang up before the arms in my opinion/experience. The super short wheelbase of a TJ will negate a lot of the handling/ ride benefits also. But in the article you linked they said going to the mid arm was going to increase articulation and decrease binding which arm setup was crap. For a short wheelbase I could see going mid arm over long (although in relation to wheelbase they are long arms at that point), on a gladiator I'd vote long arm every time. Of course I think anyone trying to build a JT into a dedicated crawler is missing the mark. The wheelbase lends itself to speed and detracts from the performance in big rocks. The departure angle is terrible. It can do ok in the rocks, but will never be JL or even TJ good there. On 2" of lift and 37s the JT isn't as good as the stock JLUR was in the rocks. Not too mention, the JT already had long lowers in the rear, and just need uppers to match.

 

[JTGuy]

while I am really considering the long arms by MC, Not going to do it till I really know what I am getting in to. Looks like they do hang down little. My Fox shocks should work fine. Will I really need a new ft driveshaft if I use the same shocks. How much better will it ride?

 

[TheSolarWizard]

If you dont like the ride there are much less intrusive things to try first. Caster, the *correct* springs for your specific weight, shocks that are valved accordingly, proper geometry of front steering and tracbar. Id wager a guess that youd be more impressed by the gains a proper 4 link in the rear would present than long arms as well

And yes if u really wanna use a 3”+ lift off road a front driveshaft is a must do imo

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