full traction suspension kit?

[Slepnir]

I just installed a rock crawler lift kit on my friends jk and I must say that the quality was solid. Made me want to upgrade but as I was searching the web I stumbled on to full traction suspension site. I tried to paste a link to the video on YouTube but my phone won't let me for some reason. Wanted to get your opinion or if you have it maybe some feedback if you like it or not. I was looking at their 4 inch lift long arm kit. Their crc link suspension for the jk looks crazy. I wish they made one for the tj.

 

[Chris]

These guys look relatively new (I've never heard of them before until now). That being said, it's hard to say... I'd probably go with one of the more trusted outfits such as Currie, Metacloak, OME, etc.

 

[Slepnir]

These guys look relatively new (I've never heard of them before until now). That being said, it's hard to say... I'd probably go with one of the more trusted outfits such as Currie, Metacloak, OME, etc.

Yeah, the reviews were 50/50. I'm digging metalcloak. I didn't even think about them for suspension parts. How bad do you think it would be to mix match suspension parts instead of a whole entire new lift kit?

 

[StG58]

<snip> How bad do you think it would be to mix match suspension parts instead of a whole entire new lift kit?

Not bad at all, IF you have your wits about you. With a kit all of the parts are supposed to be engineered to work together, usually for a fairly specific set of road conditions. That is not always the case, but that's the theory anyway. Piecing together a lift is done a lot, even though the results vary from builder to builder. You can build yourself a superior suspension that almost exactly does what you want, and you can also end up with a horrible, expensive abortion that does nothing well. Start off by coldly calculating exactly what it is you are trying to accomplish. "Go to the real place, Look at the real thing, Consider the real circumstances." Write the goal down in large red letters and tape it to the wall. Ignore fads and the latest and supposedly greatest mods on the innertubes and focus on your circumstances. Expect to buy the same part several times in the search for suspension nirvana. Know that the 80-20 rules lives, in that you can get 80% of your requirements met for about 20% of your budget. Meeting the other 20% of your requirements is going to take the remaining 80% of your budget. Getting that last 10% met is the arena of folks like mrblain and some of the other gurus around here.

Short answer: Buy a kit if you don't have time, energy and money to invest. Build if you want to more closely meet your requirements and have time, money and energy to invest. Especially time and energy.

 

[Chris]

How bad do you think it would be to mix match suspension parts instead of a whole entire new lift kit?

If you know what you're doing it wouldn't be bad at all. Most of the time though for the majority of us (myself included), it's just easier to buy a kit, save some money (since you usually do save money buying a kit versus piecing it all together) and get it done right the first time.

 

[StG58]

Bye the way. I'm going the build route, and it's taken me a year to select springs and shocks.

 

[Slepnir]

Short answer: Buy a kit if you don't have time, energy and money to invest. Build if you want to more closely meet your requirements and have time, money and energy to invest. Especially time and energy.

So your telling me there's a chance lol.

It will be a learning experience but that's what makes life so exciting. Being under the hood and trying to make things better than how they were when I got them is a hobby. Doesn't always have it's good moments but when it all comes together and works it makes it all worth it.

 

[Stinger]

So your telling me there's a chance lol.

It will be a learning experience but that's what makes life so exciting. Being under the hood and trying to make things better than how they were when I got them is a hobby. Doesn't always have it's good moments but when it all comes together and works it makes it all worth it.

This is exactly what I thought. Notice past tense. I have found with a jeep it NEVER all comes together, but I too still keep trying.

 

[StG58]

This is exactly what I thought. Notice past tense. I have found with a jeep it NEVER all comes together, but I too still keep trying.

...which leaves us who are trying to do something more or different than the usual "33's on 3 1/2 inches" out there on our own. Yes, I know that there is a reason that the vast majority of lift kits and associated mods appear identical. On the surface anyway. Line up a bunch of TJ's that have been modded and most of them are going to be lifted 3 - 4 inches and have tires about the size of 33x12.50's on them. That's cool. It's the sweet spot for the TJ. I could put a 4 1/2 inch combo lift on the rig, go down to Les Schwab and throw whatever MT tire in 33x12.50 is on sale right now and get something that would work for 99% of the time. That's not pushing the envelope though. It's cheap, it's convenient and it works. But is it progress? What if one of us figures out how to do essentially the same thing at 2 inches of lift?

Heck, for that matter, the best way to go is probably to throw some good 31x10.50's, a nice winch, and lockers at a stock six banger automatic TJ and call it a day.

 

[AOR]

Full Traction has been around for quite a while now. The owner, Steve Kramer, also owns Pure Jeep, Hanson Offroad, Calmini, and Anvil Axle.

 

[Wildman]

Thanks AOR I was going to jump on here and let the OP know that FT had been around for years. You might not see a lot of advertisement for him but his lift kits are quality items. The lift you were looking at has been out now for years. A true 4 link front suspension is better than radius arms any day. Now the tri-bar rear suspension had up and down reviews but it does flex and when setup right it works.

 

[AOR]

True. Also a good one for the TJ is the Rock Krawler TJ 3.5 X FACTOR LONG ARM SYSTEM. Get a 1-1.25" BL and some flat fenders for 37s.

10% off and free shipping with "RK10_OFF" at checkout. @Slepnir, if you would like pricing on the FT kit, let me know.

Have a fantastic day.

Allen