Post by shadow on Jun 14, 2010 18:58:47 GMT -4
As some of you already know I put the Rough Country long arm upgrade kit on the Rubi the week before Jam and now that I got to haul the hardtop, do some hwy driving, and some trails I thought I would give my initial impressions
First of all...WHY DIDN'T SOMEONE CONVINCE ME TO PUT THESE ON SOONER...
. Words don't do justice as to how different and awesome the thing rides in all categories....DAMN.
So a couple weeks ago out of the blue I get this email from Mr. Peck telling me that he had a long arm upgrade kit in and could send it up and I could have it installed before Jam. After looking at the worn out bushings on my control arms and that I was in need of new adjustible uppers I took him up on his offer...thanks Tracy...
The plan was that McSweeney was going to give me a hand putting it in out at his place. I get there just before supper and we tear into it. Very slow going with everything seized...and I mean every freakin thing. We get just shy of a few hours into it and I was working on breaking yet another 1/2" bolt as it was not coming out and Chris decided to test fit one of the large bolt on mounts....well that wasn't a good idea as it slipped out of his hand and smacked him right on the top of the head...you got it...blood started flowing. So we jump into his volvo and I take him to Cobequid...4 or 5 hours later and 4 staples in the top of his head and he is back home....obviously a little worse for wear. Now I feel very crappy obviously as he was helping me with my Jeep, but of course at this point it had hardly looked like we did anything with the install. So what does a good governement employee do....I took the next day off and went at er around 9 the next morning with my tech support sitting in a chair in his garage. Other than having to tell him to sit down and do a crossword puzzle...things went slow, but good and around 4 or so I was done...thank god. Chris said well do you feel a sense of accomplishment doing it yourself and I said well wait til I drive it and I will tell you...other than having pretty grey arms you couldn't really tell I did anything as it was the same height. So that is what I did...sorry about the
preamble...
Drove it a few days just back and forth to work and it felt great on the hwy as well as in around town. I felt myself swerving to hit bumps instead of to avoid them. Then it came time to take off to Jam...hooked the trailer up and away I went down the hwy. No wandering and at certain points I was 120 to 130 down the hills and it felt great so needless to say awesome road manners. People told me it would return the ride to stock...but I have to say I don't think mine ever drove that nice stock.
So now Jam weekend comes and looking forward to seeing how it works in the woods. Again flawless...aired down and disconnected and it felt like I was in a friggin cadillac driving through blackrock. Even on the road going back to the campground aired down and disconnected it felt good...no more feeling like I was driving on marshmallows. Looks like my limiting factor are my shocks on droop which is good as my brake lines are almost maxed out at that point.
Anyway I just can't believe all the comfort I have been missing. I wish I would have put long arms on when I went to the 4" and 33's. Most are right when you say you don't NEED them, but with the ride difference I would tend to disagree now...I needed them back then but just didn't know any better...lolol.
Anyway, as you can see two thumbs up for the long arm upgrade kit. but unless you just had all the suspension and skid plates off recently I would suggest giving yourself extra time. SOME might say it takes 4 or 5 hours but unless you are very skilled at it and have all the right tools and maybe a hoist I can't see it happening.... I think getting everything off took way more time than putting the kit on.
I must say thanks to Tracy for shooting me the email and giving such such great service in getting the kit up to me the next day. Also thanks to McSweeney for the help and tech support...sorry about the head man.
John
PS: Tracy if you are reading this my rear lowers are now high clearance like you pointed out to me on the weekend...
First of all...WHY DIDN'T SOMEONE CONVINCE ME TO PUT THESE ON SOONER...
. Words don't do justice as to how different and awesome the thing rides in all categories....DAMN.So a couple weeks ago out of the blue I get this email from Mr. Peck telling me that he had a long arm upgrade kit in and could send it up and I could have it installed before Jam. After looking at the worn out bushings on my control arms and that I was in need of new adjustible uppers I took him up on his offer...thanks Tracy...
The plan was that McSweeney was going to give me a hand putting it in out at his place. I get there just before supper and we tear into it. Very slow going with everything seized...and I mean every freakin thing. We get just shy of a few hours into it and I was working on breaking yet another 1/2" bolt as it was not coming out and Chris decided to test fit one of the large bolt on mounts....well that wasn't a good idea as it slipped out of his hand and smacked him right on the top of the head...you got it...blood started flowing. So we jump into his volvo and I take him to Cobequid...4 or 5 hours later and 4 staples in the top of his head and he is back home....obviously a little worse for wear. Now I feel very crappy obviously as he was helping me with my Jeep, but of course at this point it had hardly looked like we did anything with the install. So what does a good governement employee do....I took the next day off and went at er around 9 the next morning with my tech support sitting in a chair in his garage. Other than having to tell him to sit down and do a crossword puzzle...things went slow, but good and around 4 or so I was done...thank god. Chris said well do you feel a sense of accomplishment doing it yourself and I said well wait til I drive it and I will tell you...other than having pretty grey arms you couldn't really tell I did anything as it was the same height. So that is what I did...sorry about the
preamble...
Drove it a few days just back and forth to work and it felt great on the hwy as well as in around town. I felt myself swerving to hit bumps instead of to avoid them. Then it came time to take off to Jam...hooked the trailer up and away I went down the hwy. No wandering and at certain points I was 120 to 130 down the hills and it felt great so needless to say awesome road manners. People told me it would return the ride to stock...but I have to say I don't think mine ever drove that nice stock.
So now Jam weekend comes and looking forward to seeing how it works in the woods. Again flawless...aired down and disconnected and it felt like I was in a friggin cadillac driving through blackrock. Even on the road going back to the campground aired down and disconnected it felt good...no more feeling like I was driving on marshmallows. Looks like my limiting factor are my shocks on droop which is good as my brake lines are almost maxed out at that point.
Anyway I just can't believe all the comfort I have been missing. I wish I would have put long arms on when I went to the 4" and 33's. Most are right when you say you don't NEED them, but with the ride difference I would tend to disagree now...I needed them back then but just didn't know any better...lolol.
Anyway, as you can see two thumbs up for the long arm upgrade kit. but unless you just had all the suspension and skid plates off recently I would suggest giving yourself extra time. SOME might say it takes 4 or 5 hours but unless you are very skilled at it and have all the right tools and maybe a hoist I can't see it happening...
. I think getting everything off took way more time than putting the kit on.I must say thanks to Tracy for shooting me the email and giving such such great service in getting the kit up to me the next day. Also thanks to McSweeney for the help and tech support...sorry about the head man.
John
PS: Tracy if you are reading this my rear lowers are now high clearance like you pointed out to me on the weekend...
Looking at doing arms and mounts all over.
