OK here is tthe scoop. Basicly they are great. I took it out and absolutley ragged the fawk out of it. it worked great better, smooth steering, plenty fast, nice and smooth.

So then i decided to deliberatly fawk the ram up. My machinist told me that they WOULD NOT leak because of the seals and double backups he put in it. So naturally i wanted to prove him wrong.
I banged it against rocks to try and bend the body and it held up fine. so then i found a rock the was the perfect shape to hit and push the tierod and the ram straight up, basicly putting all the weight of the Jeep on them. I suceeded in pretzeling my tie rod and bending the rod on the ram. Orginaly the rod was bent over 30 degrees and then rebounded back to about 3-5 dergrees of bend. I was amazed it came back that far. I drove it for a whle after i straightened out my tierod to see if the ram would start to leak. never could get it to leak a drop.

But in the true tradition of Redneck Texans, I told him i want over kill. So the rams are being made 1 3/4" bore instead of1 1/2 and will have 5/8" shaft. I think this is what AGR sell anyway so what the hell. We'll still offer the 1 1/2" rams to whoever wants one but i think the 1 3/4 will be better and a good balance between strength and speed. What do ya'll think?

Now, i have a question for all of you other Rednecks out there. What end do you want on them. We have two choices 5/8 thread with a 5/8 hole or 5/8 thread with a 1/2" hole? This may sound like a stupid questions but there are many aplications where a 1/2' would just about bolt into place of a steering stabilizer and a 5/8' would have to be modified to make work. Ya'll tell me, cause they are meant to be for people that will actually use and abuse them.

Thanks for all the input.

P.S. we can build double ended rams also. just let us know what you want.

if your gonna kill it.... over kill it
5/8"

OVERKILL!!! is my middle name.....5/8 it. Might wanna do a few with both & see what "flys" out the door. Any idea on the price range for these? :beer: :beer: :usa:

I'm trying to stay in the 150-160 range with the joints

I say go for the bolt in....1/2. It takes allot more force than that ram will generate to sheer off a 1/2 bolt so to me the 5/8 is just adding more work for nothing gained. I also think the 1.5" is plenty and @1000 psi somehting most any pump should be able to do will give you 2400 lbs of force push and probably without doing the math about 2000 of pull. So I vote 1.5 with the 1/2.

definately 1/2 why waste time get cracking on them already we need some...:D

Well, I can't say about the others (new customers) but, it would be nice if the new ram had an option to direct replace the old version. Also, it might be nice if it had an adjustable mechanical stop. When all was said and done, my tabs were just a touch off so that the ram hits exactly right on one side, but will exceed the axle stops on the other.

66CJdean, you really think i should just stick to the 1.5"ram? Or just offer both. I know from expierience that a 1.5" ram still has trouble turning 44" boggers in a bind. Should i just offer a 2" for those guys and skip the 1.75? The 2" is hard to get the sped up on so that everyone is happy. I know you do alot of this kind of stuff for your buddies and i know you have a clue on how this stuff works so i value your input.

Russ, the new rams will have some overall length adjustment which will alow side to side ajustment also, but not a stroke adjustment. if you want a custom stroke ram i can do it for you before i assemble them. I plan to have 6 and 8" in stock but can custom make any length in just a couple of days.
They won't be a direct replacement because the old rams used a clevis mount. But i was planning on making the fitting for the hoses the same so that the hoses would still work.

Or would ya'll rather have a #6 fitting on the rams just like the box does. I was worried about doing that because the AN fittings will loosen up if hit by something alot easier than the NPT fitting will.

For me I like the NPT. It is simple. To me if you are having trouble turning the wheel then STOP because bad stuff is about to happen. Sometimes I like my 2" ram like when I almost the whole weight of the Jeep on the front, with the ARB locked in, and still just turn the wheel but most 95% of the time the 1.5 is just better. If the 1.75 is nearly unnoticeable then good deal but for most people the 1.5 should be plenty and be better for people who do run Hydro-assist breaks. I will be taking out the 2" and going to the 1.5" once I have the time though. I would think that people that are running the 44's just might have to make a special request or something.

Like Dean mentioned I will be running hydroboost brakes too, so 1.5 will be fine for me, also, if the 1/2" bolts will hold up to abuse, then I will probably just do those...but if there is any question on the 1/2" holding up, since I have to fab all my mounts I might as well go 5/8"

i am interested in the double ended ram
1 1/2 with an 8 inch stroke just post when you have them

Thanks for the input guys. I think your right but i think i'll just go ahead and make several of both that way everyone can have EXACTLY what they want or will best serve them. I don't mind stocking both and it's a small price to pay to make sure i get the end user happy. TRUE?
Keep the input coming. I'm listening. Anyone else? Production starts tomorrow on the 1.5" and the 1.75" as soon as parts are delivered.

keep me in mind matt i need a setup .let me know on those runflats:D

Smitrock, just let me know exactly what you want and i'll make it.
things i need to know are how you want it to mount, what size rod, what size rod ends, what ports size for hoses, and any other info that you think i might need.

Cool, so how much will your stage II kit cost with the new 1.5x8?

I'm going to try and keep it at the $450 price.

Originally posted by TheLakeRat
I'm going to try and keep it at the $450 price. for just teh ram?

Originally posted by The Jerk
for just teh ram?

uh.....................no:flipoff2:

Hmmm, if it were easy to upgrade, I would be tempted. Especially with the quicker steering, stronger design, and the custom throw. I would really like to cut the travel down by about 3/8" or so. It would work fine as-is length wise, except I have my knuckle stops extended to prevent binding and tire contact with the steering box (4" backspacing with 42s and 4" lift). Oh well, I don't feel like cutting my tabs off and redoing it so, I guess I'll run what I've got till I break something or redo for some other reason. I may go into the existing ram and add an internal stop to limit the throw. I’ve heard others did that so, maybe me too…

On the 1/2" vs 5/8" bolts..

Wouldn't there be enough meat that a person could open the hole up to 5/8" on their own if they felt they needed it?

easy upgrade would be cool :beer:

nice spam.......do it again and you will be banned.

if you need your product info posted on this board then send me a unit for testing and i will give it to somebody to do an evalauation. other wise we want to hear from your customers how great your product is not you.

Originally posted by camo
nice spam.......do it again and you will be banned.

if you need your product info posted on this board then send me a unit for testing and i will give it to somebody to do an evalauation. other wise we want to hear from your customers how great your product is not you.

hey camo, i dont think he was bragging about how good it was, if you re-read it all he was doing is stating facts on measurements and capacities and is looking for input from possible customers as to what they think would work best for their application.

tough day at the glitter factory? :flipoff2:

he DID send one to Seabass for a review. He sent one to me too, right when I got axed. That guy has supported the site big time, not his fault the peeps he is sending stuff to keeps gettin axed. I was told I can't do reviews, if that changes I will post my redneck ram review asap..

pretty sure there are other products that need to be posted as well, otherwise it makes pirate4x4 look like shit..

:flipoff2:

yes he sent me the box, waiting on his guys to get the new ram done, and he is asking for more input here before he makes them. as soon as I get the complete kit I will send the review into Lance, just like several others I sent him right after I was relieved of my dutys here, I was told to finish up what I had on the table and thais what I am doing. It's all in the moderator section for you to see Camo, sorry you missunderstood.Ask Lance for the 411...........

brandon.

just because you are not a mod does not mean you can not do a review. if you have one written up send it to lance.

seabass.

lance is the one who sent me a PM about this spam.

are y'all (Lance and Camo) serious about all this??? I'd be mad, except that I don't know what to say... call me a newbie all you want, but I've been around for a while and I'm wondering if this kinda stuff is par for the course, banning folks that is... Matt wasn't spaming anybody... he was simply trying to get some more input into a cheap Hydro assist alternative that he's trying to practically "give" away to wheelers just like you and me... what's the problem with that? He's the furthest thing from a sheister you could imagine, and if you or Lance had asked him to he would probably have been more than happy to have let you test shit with your rigs.

Flabbergasted,
Doug in Texas

when seabass get's his review done I will gladly add to his with my information. No need for 2 reviews, but it will be good to see it done on two totally different rigs..

Originally posted by TexasTeadrinker
are y'all (Lance and Camo) serious about all this??? I'd be mad, except that I don't know what to say... call me a newbie all you want, but I've been around for a while and I'm wondering if this kinda stuff is par for the course, banning folks that is... Matt wasn't spaming anybody... he was simply trying to get some more input into a cheap Hydro assist alternative that he's trying to practically "give" away to wheelers just like you and me... what's the problem with that? He's the furthest thing from a sheister you could imagine, and if you or Lance had asked him to he would probably have been more than happy to have let you test shit with your rigs.

Flabbergasted,
Doug in Texas

never said he was a sheister. as far as i know he is great guy. in fact he was going to send lance a unit to test but never did. the fact is that this post is spamming the BB. nobody is asking him about his product he is just providing info about in the hopes people call him and order one. that is spam and if i let him do it then we would have 100's of mfg's spamming our board and that would be gay. yes matt does support this BB and we are glad he is member and want him to stay. he often answers tech questions when others ask and that is cool.

about sending Lance a box, that is not my story to tell but that happened near 9-11 and he thought his "insert relative here" was involved so he hit the road. When he got back he offered to ship or whatever but it was too late so I got it :flipoff2:

Easy to spread rumors but better to get ahold of the source and see if they are true first..

Originally posted by Brandon
about sending Lance a box, that is not my story to tell but that happened near 9-11 and he thought his "insert relative here" was involved so he hit the road. When he got back he offered to ship or whatever but it was too late so I got it :flipoff2:

Easy to spread rumors but better to get ahold of the source and see if they are true first..

so get that sucker installed and get us a write up. oh and if matt lost a relitave in the 911 then my prayers go out to him and his family.

DAMN I been gone a while & I come back and seems like everything is going down the tubes...:( :( I sure hope this site doesn't because this is the ONLY TRUE wheelers site which I enjoy to be a participant in. I would be a member if I could figure out how to.....PEACE everyone.......Tim/Shaker :beer: :usa:

Originally posted by camo
nice spam.......do it again and you will be banned.

if you need your product info posted on this board then send me a unit for testing and i will give it to somebody to do an evalauation. other wise we want to hear from your customers how great your product is not you.

Why come off like this if you do like his help and input. Get off the high horse and send him a PM to remove it.

Since when did aking a qusetion become spam?

Just a guy looking to make a better product in a market where are choices are very limited and looking for some feed back so as to not waste $$$ on something that could have been better.

I see Jess post new products on here all the time and I think it is great to see these new products even if I don't need it I often know someone who does and could use it.

I wish MORE people would ask us questions about their products.
Wouldnt you like to have somebody from TSL here asking us what we want and need?

Originally posted by kidwired
I wish MORE people would ask us questions about their products.
Wouldnt you like to have somebody from TSL here asking us what we want and need?

Yep,yep.
Hard to beat a product for the customer by the customer.

Holy Batshit???!!!??? I just got home and find out i started all this

Sorry Lance and Camo, I wasn't tryto cause a problem. Just trying to see what people wanted.
If i did Spam, then say the word and i'll delete the whole subject.
There are only 4 sites that i really get honest hard core wheeler answers from. SRC, RCRC, CK5, and this one.
If it wasn't for CK5 and the Pirates i wouldn't even offer this product. I'd say over 3/4 of my business comes from these 2 sites. I would even pay to advertise here but everytime i try to ask Lance he never writes back so i gave uo a long time ago. That's why ive tried so hard to get one of your moderators a system to try out. I fawked up on the one for Lance but my head was just screwy.
Camo, No i didn't loose anyone but thanks anyway. My hairbrained sister was flying out that day and we lost contact with her and i freaked out.
I also try very hard not to Spam, but to just offer help and if someone ask i tell them.
Again, my intention wasn't to milk you guys for business. just trying to design a better product for your readers. I can see how it looks but i promise that wasn't my intention.

Every one, thanks for the support.

Doug, Elmer FINNALY started on your cage today.

Originally posted by TheLakeRat
That's why ive tried so hard to get one of your moderators a system to try out.

Sold !!!
:D :D :D

Originally posted by camo
nice spam.......do it again and you will be banned.

if you need your product info posted on this board then send me a unit for testing and i will give it to somebody to do an evalauation. other wise we want to hear from your customers how great your product is not you.

:rainbow: :rainbow: :rainbow:
That sucks LakeRat.
Ryan

hey overkill kicks ass!!!!

the only thing that would sway me to size would be how much effort it takes to drill out the 60 steering knuckle to fit the bolt (woudlnt really need to do anything but ream it out straight) but its up to you i can make anything work just conviencence would be to bolt it to the knuckle.

so where are the pics!!!!

camo - it is installed and functional. Of course my piece of crap web site is down or I'd post pics of the install or get em off my site to write up a review - go figure..

As soon as Matt gets the new ram to me, hoses ect, I will get it on ASAP and do my review;) Matt even built me a reverse rotation box so I can point the pitman arm foward instead of backwards due to draglink tierod interference on my set up.
thx Matt!

Originally posted by TheLakeRat
Holy Batshit???!!!??? I just got home and find out i started all this

I would even pay to advertise here but everytime i try to ask Lance he never writes back so i gave uo a long time ago.

at this time we basically want to be for the people by the people. many companys approach us about advertising but instead we would rather give our members a chance at free product drawings each month. thats why we don't have paid advertisers.

i think that you will find out or already have that by just hanging out and answering peoples questions when they post them about steering that every body here will know you have ram setups.

oh and apology accepted. no harm done it's just my job to not let the spam get out of hand. yours was border line but if i let it go then the other vendors take it a step further and before ya know it i have a mess on my hands. i prefer to just lay down the law from the get go with a stern warning that way i don't have to constently deal with it.

as far as doing real world R@D goes. get one of your setups on a competion rig and they will give you all the fed back that you should require to have a quality setup.

Matt (lakerat)- check your PM's

Originally posted by camo
oh and apology accepted. no harm done it's just my job to not let the spam get out of hand.

Camo, IMHO it's you that also owes Matt an apology. I think it's been said and others will agree that wont speak up that there was no Spamming involved in this post. Fine tuning a product FOR POR folks and other core wheelers is not spamming. If for some reason you saw it that way, fine. Then PM or email him regarding it. There was no reason to openly threaten to ban him, especially when it is completely obvious he was not intentionally spamming.

This is just a reflection from a non-biased third party. That's all. It's just the way it looks from here.

Matt's setup has been competetion on H8Monday, Flatty, and who knows who else...

Originally posted by LOPPY


Camo, IMHO it's you that also owes Matt an apology.

Camo's just trying to do his job. I really don't want this to be a who owes who type of thing. Thanks for the thought though.