i have a 03 tj and would like too know if it is worth the time 2 build a long arm with a 4 link or buy a clayton long arm. i am a certifield welder but have limited space and time...i have so many diffrent specs on how 2 build the arms..what is the right way for hardcore????also have a small bank acct....

If you're asking, it's probably not worth the time.

i would not ask if i didnt think it was worth the time!!!!

To say it as nicely as I can, SEARCH all about building it and then decide if you want to takle the job or just bolt it on

what way is the cheapest ? and yes i would rather build it than buy it, but money is tight...and there are so many diffrent opinions on how a long arm should be made...i want 2 do it right so i can focus on other mods after this...

Dude, It's not rocket science. Pick a design that is proven then copy it. Building it is cheap if you have the time. If you consider your Time more valuable than to spend it building your lift, then buy one. Unless your like me and your wife spends your money faster than you can make it. Then you have to take the time to build it.
good luck
Ron

If you have the tools build it yourself. Research and build. The cheapest way.

Buyers remorse = spending $600 on something you could've fabbed for $200.

If your time is worth more than your money, but a kit.

If you think you'll spend an hour looking at the parts, kicking yourself in the ass, build one.

If your rig can be out of commission long enough to build it it should be way cheaper. If this will be a daily driver a kit will give you proven streetability and offroad performance as well as being a fairly quick install, but can run over $2000. You may have the welding ability, but it will still take much longer to design and fab it, but you'll save lots of cash up front not figuring your time of course. Pretty much all you need to know about offroad suspension design can be found here.

If it's a street driven Jeep (alot) then you might want to consider buying a kit instead of making your first go at building one, a driver ya know? With a kit, all the guesswork and most of the trial and error is gone. Building your first kit, none of the guesswork or trial and error is gone. There will almost certainly be bugs to be worked out and that can easily prove to be more costly in time and money than if you had just bought a kit in the first place and been happy with it.
Just my .02

if you're asking...

buy Claytons

i thank all of you for your response. the jeep was bought to beat! and does not really see the road at all, 2003 with 2100 miles on it and 90% all trail so your input has made me say what the hell build it!!!! i will post some pictures so you guys can give me your expert opinions.... i have 35 mtr's 2 run on it but i might run 37's down the road ,the fenders will all be cut since there all caved in anyway. should i get R,E 4.5 springs or go with R,K 5.5 springs. plan on running rancho 9000's since i live in mi. do go to the sand dunes once in a while so need to go from soft to hard..(no problem ever going from sft to hard so dont start!!) so any opinions on this????

you are nuts

an 01 with bashed in fenders? learn to drive!

its not a 01 its a 03!!! i bought it to woop on not 2 drive down the road and look good! i have a hot girlfriend with big bolt on's so she get's the look's. while i take the tj 2 the limit.. if you dont think ican drive then come wheelin with me and will see how long you go without any mark's!!! body part's can be replaced but memory's from a good day of wheelin cant......

Sounds like the sappy intro to some sappy movie :flipoff2:

You sir, truly are 2 nuts 4 me.

post reported

I'll give you a hint...go to Jeep FAQ/archive. If you are asking this you probably shouldn't be doing it.

This really is a rhetorical question. If you enjoy building it, then build it. If not, bolt some shit up and enjoy. Money does not appear to be your biggest concern. Some can not bring themselves to buy bolt on parts while others do not have the time or energy to build it.
Do what floats your own damned boat.

I say Build It, On that note since we have all of these pro's lurking around, I was wandering if you could direct me to where I might find some different rear long arm setups for the WJ, I am not to sure I want to copy the RK setup nor the sky's set up? I have decided on the front, 3 link swing arm style. I have not seen or found much info on a rear trangulated setup that someone has done on there own? Given the lack of space for this application it seems like I may have to compromise on my rear link upper setup?
Thanks for any insight on the subject.

So I gather that the fact that no one has responded to my post that you guys do not consider the WJ a buildable Jeep, or even a jeep for that matter. So before I get blasted, Becuase thats what you "HARDCORE" guys love to do, I was sent to this KICK A$$ sight to get ideas on how to best build my WJ by a very competitive rock buggy fab company based out of Salt Lake. They said to find exactly what I liked based on what I see here, I have done a few "ADVANCED" searches and found some good info wich has me excited about the 6" long arm front that I will fab. But I can not find anything about the rear? From most of the charts and examples on stability, it appears you want your upper and lower links to as close as possible in length?
:confused: And for those who feel the need to "FLAME" on my WJ :flipoff2: . Those SOB's can WHEEL.

calm down man, there is a ton of knowledge on this site, bitching at people like u are isnt gonna help u any, search, then search some more, and if u still kind find it, then research on link suspension geometry and build it. or even once u design it and have all your measurements for links, and mounting distances and everything else, then start your own post and ask for advice on your plan. so u can A) copy a proven design like previously stated or B) design your own after u do a shit ton of research.

kolby

I am just playin :) ,I do not want to leave the impressin I am bitchin, I was tying to see if anyone had done stuff to a WJ other than RK or Sky's. Your advice is sound though, thank you. It looks as though I will have to use the link suspension/geometry program as you stated to point me in the wright direction given the limited space in the rear for upper links. :confused: It will be tuff.

Build It!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

good call on the building it yourself. Most kits on the market have questionable geometry at best because they have fewer options on where to put things, and often have to sacrafice doing things right by doing what would be most economical and effective for the consumer. Much props for buying an 03 to beat the hell out of especially to chop up and do your own suspension on. I built my own and went through a couple different versions before I finaly got exactly what I wanted. I probably have about 50 hours or so into the build, and now that it is done i would be surprised to find a compribly equiped jeep with a manufactured kit that performs as well and can take the same amount of abuse, and if i can then at least I only spent like $700 in metal and heims as oppossed to upwards of $2K. Plus I know every in and out of the whole shebang afterwards

so where did you get yout metal and what kind of joints did you use? that is a big subject with every one. i have lots of diffrent opinions on the joints.. iwant 2 run a low maintenance joint and i am in michigan so we do see salt and alot of weather.. i have some quotes on metal and joints and the guys are talking around 1100.00 bucks ! ican buy the clayton for 1200.00 so i guess i am going 2 the metal yard and price out just raw metal and not screw around with someones fabed work... how long did you make your arms?? thanks for the help....

its not a 01 its a 03!!! i bought it to woop on not 2 drive down the road and look good! i have a hot girlfriend with big bolt on's so she get's the look's. while i take the tj 2 the limit.. if you dont think ican drive then come wheelin with me and will see how long you go without any mark's!!! body part's can be replaced but memory's from a good day of wheelin cant......

You live in Michigan :rolleyes: Drive it in the winter and the things gonna rust to the ground anyway. Why worry about body damage.

your so right there !!!! :grinpimp:

I vote :cow: