This Should Be Making The Trip...

[JP]

to Moab Another month and a half

[DAA]

Awesome!

How 'bout some specs? I'm not that great at spotting parts, but from what I can see, looks like 60's on both ends? 4.oL? Hydraulic steer? Not sure, but I think that's an Atlas case?

Would like to hear about that suspension setup, looks like a total custom job. Hell, the whole thing looks like a total custom. Nice!

I'm heading down to Moab in a couple days .

- DAA

[JP]

I'm heading down to Moab in a couple days .

- DAA

NICE

Good eye.

That vehicle is Clayton's of Clayton Off Road Manufacturing. The suspension is his Hard-Arm Suspension (long arm) which is offered for even your Rubi There are subtle differences with that suspension you see under his rig and what he produces for the public; he does not need adjusters for the arms since it won't have any street time, he has Johnny Joints on both ends of the arms instead of just one side and that is a three link front...The four link would not fit in those tight quarters on the left side.
*The tires are the Pitbull Rockers 39.5X1650-17
*The rims are Walker Evans beadlocks.
*The steering is PSC.
*The t-case is the Atlas
*The tranny is the TF999
*The engine is the Jeep 4.0L
*The fuel cell is his own that uses the stock fuel pump from Jeep.
*The seats are PRP
*The shocks are Fox
*The Lockers are Detroit
*The axles are Ford HP 60's which he narrowed.

He designed that rig around the motor, tranny and t-case. He did that from the ground up. All the tube work is his.

[Sombeech]

awesome. be sure to take a ton of pics when you go.

[JP]

awesome. be sure to take a ton of pics when you go.

Pics and video Since I'm leaving my junk behind, I should be buying a new camera for the trip All I'm doing is pics and vids of the trip

[Alex]

If you are looking for a camera, I just saw this deal pop up.

http://www.techbargains.com/news_displayItem.cfm/80910

I have this camera and it's awesome. Shot about 1,000 pics and 100 vids with it.

[JP]

Thanks for that info. The camera I'll be buying is a digital SLR that only takes pics I have a MiniDV camcorder that will be shooting the vids. I've been going back and forth on what SLR I am going to buy and I'm leaning towards the Sigma. Not 100% sold on it yet, but I still have sometime to bounce SLR's ideas around

[DAA]

That rig is too cool. I shoulda noticed the arms were square and known that was Clayton stuff.

I saw some pictures last year after EJS of the Clayton guys getting hardcore at BFE. Sounds like you'll be there doing it again this year. Like Sombeech said - take LOTS of pics!

I stick to the easy trails in my mostly stock Rubi (that I still owe $$$ on, LOL!). Planning on Steel Bender, Hells Revenge and then either Seven Mile or Metal Masher this weekend. Can't wait!

- DAA

[JP]

I saw some pictures last year after EJS of the Clayton guys getting hardcore at BFE. Planning on Steel Bender, Hells Revenge and then either Seven Mile or Metal Masher this weekend. Can't wait!
- DAA

We were in Area BFE last year and the pics you're thinking of probably were ones like this on Black Flag:





Your rig on 33's and a short arm lift would do pretty well out there in Moab. You'll be able to do about 80% of the stuff out there and having fun doing it.

This would be yours sitting on the 5.5" Hardarm with the stock tires.

[DAA]

Yup, that's exactly like the pics I saw last year. The guy that showed them to me told me you guys made it further on that trail than anyone else ever has. That's way cool.

"Your rig on 33's and a short arm lift would do pretty well out there in Moab. You'll be able to do about 80% of the stuff out there and having fun doing it."

That's the plan! Hoping that about this time next year I'll be able to buy all the parts for my lift. Then 33's a few months later. I'm still changing my mind all the time on exactly how I want to do the lift. Already have a 1.25" JKS body lift (to clear the Medic TT that I already have). So to clear 33's I only want about 2.5" of spring lift. But I want to do it all up right, with new arms and either trackbar brackets or ajustable track bars. Seems like everybody runs the OME springs to do 2.5", and maybe I will too, but I dunno... I kinda like the sounds of the Nth progressive 3" springs, which as heavy as I'm setup would probably get me close to the 2.5" I want. I'd like to use JKS arms, they're beefy as hell and I like the rubber bushings for the hiway ride. But then I like the Full Traction short arm stuff too. But I don't think their triangluated rear setup will work with such a short lift. And if I'm going to go to that much trouble and have to redo my exhaust, then it's not too much further to go to long arm... Which I reallly don't need for 33's... Crap, I can't decide!

I guess it's good I have another year to finish making up my mind .

- DAA

[JP]

I'm not a big short arm fan, the ride just doesn't compare to the long arm. Some people are a little taken back on the cost of a long arm and that's why they dive into a short arm lift. (Which I don't see it as that much more in regards to what you're getting) I understand the money issue 100%. Some people throw the short arm onto their rigs and are fine with it forever or until the parts begin to wear out. Others get that long arm shock, throw the short arm on and then a year and a half or so later, they're not happy with the short arm and decide to take it to the next step, long arm. Now, in this case, you just wasted money on that short arm kit. Money that could have gone towards the long arm kit.

In any event, it's your cash, your decision. Then it's your decision on what manufacturer to go with. Just remember, heim joints are for steering If you need pics of Clayton's stuff, just let me know. I have a plethora of pics and vids

Later that day there was a rig that made it further, from what we were told. Ahh, new rig, different driver and back to Black Flag we will go

[DAA]

It sounds like you really understand my pain .

As much as I'm looking to spend on a short arm, it really isn't THAT much more to go long arm. And I'd love to have that plush long arm ride. Especially since I do so much driving on washboard and hi speed desert runs. But I need to keep it low, for a few reasons. But one reason that I can't do much about - I need to still fit through my short garage door . So I'm looking at keeping the lift to not more than about 3". Which will be fine for 33's. If I ever go bigger on the tires, I'll cut the fenders or go tube fenders to make them fit, rather than add more lift.

I really don't even know if a 3" long arm is doable. Or if it is doable, if it's worth doing. But when I start adding up all the money for the kind of short arm I'm thinking about, I start wondering about how a small long arm lift might work. I try not to think about it too much when its close to bed time though, keeps me awake wondering which way to go .

- DAA

[JP]

It sounds like you really understand my pain .

Especially since I do so much driving on washboard and hi speed desert runs.

I need to still fit through my short garage door .

I really don't even know if a 3" long arm is doable.

Yes, I do

Ahh, check out the YouTube shot below for a ZJ on the Clayton Hardarm suspension through the desert

Ya, even my off roader ZJ sits in the garage and that's a nice thing since it has nothing to stop the elements

The rule of thumb on the long arms is 4".

[DAA]

[quote="JP"]
Ahh, check out the YouTube shot below for a ZJ on the Clayton Hardarm suspension through the desert

[quote]


YeeeeeHAW!!!!

- DAA

[LibertyN8]

That's the plan! Hoping that about this time next year I'll be able to buy all the parts for my lift. Then 33's a few months later.
I guess it's good I have another year to finish making up my mind .

- DAA

DAA, I think you should sell me your wheels and tires! I just lifted my Liberty a couple inches so I can roll on 31" tires and those moab wheels look nice on libertys.... N8

[JP]

Those Moab rims look good on anything I have them on my daily driver ZJ