short arm vs long arm. ..i'm on the fence!

[spacewrangler]

hey guys. .....this is greensnbeans from a while back. i never posted too much ....just when i needed good reliable info ...and i always got it. ..so i'm back and ready to pull the trigger on transforming my jeep into the one i've always wanted.


here is what i'm starting with...

02 TJ Sport
3 speed auto
Dana 35/30
3:07 gearing



here is what i have so far...

PORC HD 231 SYE Kit
Custom CV Driveshaft
Dana 30, 35, 4:10 Gears w/ Carriers and w/ Master Install Kit
MT Classic II's x 5
33x12.50x15 BFG MT's x 5

you may have noticed i left out the most important part ...the lift.

i can't decide between the Rubicon Express Short Arm 4.5" lift or the Long Arm 3.5" lift. I know i'd rather have the long arm but there is a $1000 difference in the price ..and that's what is making the decision so hard. if i go with the short arm, i could spend the money i would save on X-Over steering. if i go long arm, i'd have to make concessions in other areas (steering upgrades, bumpers, etc)

so, all that said, what are the advantages of the long arm kit vs the short arm kit? the jeep will be on the road 80% of the time ...the other 20% is usually spent in Utah and Colorado.

i'm not asking for anyone to make the decision for me. ...i'm just looking to gather as much info as possible so i can make an informed decision.

thanks in advance,
SW

[tcrouth]

i have a short arm kit and love it to deth on a 05 rubicon with 36 iroks and play with the big boys all the time the only diff is that mine drives better down the road,rough country 6'' and i comes with alot more than most kits,and it is cheap never have a prob with anything

[spacewrangler]

is there a noticeable difference in on road driving between short and long arm?

for some reason (maybe irrational) i'm thinking the long arm kit would ride better on road. the 4.5" short arms that i've seen look like they have sever angle issues. ...they look like they are almost maxed out on droop when they are on flat ground. ....seems like instead of being almost paralell with the frame ...they are closer to perpendicular.


something else i thought of. .....

almost ever lifted tj i've seen sags in the rear. ..i suppose it's due to the weight of heavy bumpers/tire carriers and large wheels and tires. some people run air bags to level it out ...i was thinking about runing the 4.5" coils in back and the 3.5" coils in the front since i don't have a heavy front bumper/winch but will have a heavy rear bumper and spare tire and wheel. ...i can see how, in my situation, i could end up sagging in the rear.