When you tow you have 3 different things have to purchase, insure, maintain and store. Now I will always have a tow vehicle and a trailer because I own a landscape business, but its still a pain keeping up with all of it. Wear n tear on your truck and trailer isnt cheap.

I trailered out to Arizona and I blew 2 tires and broke the axle on my trailer. I have newer stuff too, but new or used it all breaks. I have a 2008 F-350 that had a radiator leak and left me stranded. When I trailered out to Moab, we lost a wheel bearing and a blew a tire. My point is if you trailer your jeep it doesnt solve everything, you just have more stuff to worry about. Theres no doubt I will still trailer my Jeep, but sometimes I just want to jump in my jeep and go!

 

Great info on this post. Like the originator, my goals are similiar and I have another post started asking about the RE 3.5 lift. I am interested in some of the currie comments and wouldn't mind more input from those with experience. All 3 are reputable manufactures so I am open minded. I think you sold me on the JKS front control arms. I would still like to get some good flex and retain soft ride. Lots of comments on the AEV firmness -- like to know from those commenters(sorry for poor english) what kits they are saying are better (softer) on road feel. I've owned a TJ before this JK and I too have back issues, but the ride in it now seems pretty decent stock. BL if you have opinion on better feel or capability with regards to a specific competitor's lift, state it. Especially those of you who have driven/riden in a lot of different kits. Thanks for all the info and I too am 'still listening'. Cheers!

 

Spooky,

you from hurlburt field?

 

Understood. I'd trailor mine if my father still had his 1 ton. He did the upkeep on it, haha. I do understand your point though. In your business, because you use it alot, you look at it differently than say someone who has a truck and trailor but doesn't haul stuff on a daily basis. Hell, the JK should be able to get you where you wanna go and wheel. But there are people that this is their play toy, and wether it's comfortable enough to drive they're gonna trailor it anyway,just because.

 

I added a set of FT uppers to my OME kit and hate them. The lower joints are fine but the delrin or poly (whatever NASA crap they're made of) continually creak, pop, and complain. They sit right next to the cats and with all that heat I can't keep grease in them. The right side continually drives me nuts with all the noise it makes. I finally got so tired of it I broke it down completely and realized the preload on the joint was so excessive that the bushings had grooved the metal. Greased the hell out of it, reassembled, backed the lock ring off a notch or two and within a week it was back sounding like Fred Sanford's junk truck again.

I'm considering swapping out the OME for the Nth degree kit but I wouldn't give the FT control arms to my worst enemy. No complaints with the FT adj trackbars that use the same type bushings but then again they don't have to live right next to those heat generating cats!

 

Hey CJ they are coming out with a new bushings to fix that

 

But will it be a retrofit into the older design bars? The adjustable end is at the frame mount where the problem bushings are. If the new style will thread into the older bars I'll gladly pay for replacements just to get rid of all that noise! Thanks for the heads-up!

 

https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/sponsoring-manufacturers-vendors-check-out-cyber-monday-specials-24/full-traction-testing-rubber-bushings-90538/ yes, they are working on a retro fit

in the mean time, try a different grease. In the past I used a cheaper grease and it didnt hold up. The grease I bought now, works great.

of course, I'm running a long arm and it has different bushing than your short arm kit

 

Thanks for this info fellow Michigander. Had not thought about the salt problem. My next upgrade will be a lift and 35's, and I have been looking at the AEV kit. I will go with JKS adjustable control arms if I do the AEV lift based on the info from this thread. From AEV website though it still shows "under development" for their 2 door lift. I should probably wait until next year to let the wife forget that my recent mod was suppost to be Christmas/Birthday/etc present for the next 5 years. So I have a little time unless I have axle/motor clearance problems before then.

 

Lots of great info in this thread, thanks!