Long Arm vs Geometry Brackets

[bryantom]

Trying to decide on a lift for our 21 Rubicon XR, and can not decide if the added cost of the long arm kit is worth it. I am not an extreme rock crawler. we enjoy technical trails and overlanding and we problably only do that 3 or 4 times a year. The rest of the time its just driving on the road. I want the added onroad maners of the smoothed out control arms but not sure if the extra 1800 bucks is worth the long arm kit. I can always use that money on other things. Any one have any helpful input?

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[Xorak]

Not worth it for 3-4 times a year.

 

[GATORB8]

@Roky Was an early adopter, and probably one of the best sources for real world experience.

 

[Roky]

Trying to decide on a lift for our 21 Rubicon XR, and can not decide if the added cost of the long arm kit is worth it. I am not an extreme rock crawler. we enjoy technical trails and overlanding and we problably only do that 3 or 4 times a year. The rest of the time its just driving on the road. I want the added onroad maners of the smoothed out control arms but not sure if the extra 1800 bucks is worth the long arm kit. I can always use that money on other things. Any one have any helpful input?

Best thing I’ve done to my rig so far….The on road ride difference was more than the off road difference with the long arms. A lot of misconceptions that they’re just for extreme off-roading which is simply not true……. So much smoother over rough roads and there’s a more planted feeling… also I was able to dial back my caster from mid 6s to 5.8-5.9 ish which gives better pinion angle, not for driveshaft but more for my bump stops lining up better at full stuff, shit like that….

Off road is pretty sweet too……less binding, clunking and clanking. And with the 3 link rear, flexibility is awesome……..

 

[Zandcwhite]

If it's mostly for road manners, I'd save the money and go drop brackets. I'd argue for moderate wheeling and road duty drop brackets with fox 2.5" dcs would be about as good as it gets.

 

[DOOKEY]

Best thing I’ve done to my rig so far….The on road ride difference was more than the off road difference with the long arms. A lot of misconceptions that they’re just for extreme off-roading which is simply not true……. So much smoother over rough roads and there’s a more planted feeling… also I was able to dial back my caster from mid 6s to 5.8-5.9 ish which gives better pinion angle, not for driveshaft but more for my bump stops lining up better at full stuff, shit like that….

Off road is pretty sweet too……less binding, clunking and clanking. And with the 3 link rear, flexibility is awesome……..

Great review. This mirrors my own experiences. Most people don't understand the benefits to on road comfort. Years ago I was wheelin in Disney, OK and a friend popped a u-Joint on his Dana 30 equipped short armed TJ. I trailered his Jeep home and he drove my Long Armed TJ the 4 hours back to home base. I asked him if he was sure he wanted to drive it before handing him the keys because I knew he'd change his mind by the time he got there. ?

I say it is absolutely worth the extra scratch.

I also vote to never use geometry brackets unless you weld them in place. ?

 

[Zandcwhite]

I agree with the comments as far as on road ride with long arms in my experience as well, but that's in comparison to short arms in the factory location on a lifted rig. The drop brackets get you similar geometry and ride to the long arms for a couple hundred dollars. If you don't do a lot of wheeling in big rocks, the loss of ground clearance at the mounts doesn't matter. I'd even go as far as to wager that if the extra money was put into shocks that the drop bracketed rig would ride better than the long arm rig with budget shocks. Obviously going full long arms and dsc's would be better, but on road I'd doubt it would be much better and definitely not at double the cost.

 

[Rubi6mt]

Trying to decide on a lift for our 21 Rubicon XR, and can not decide if the added cost of the long arm kit is worth it. I am not an extreme rock crawler. we enjoy technical trails and overlanding and we problably only do that 3 or 4 times a year. The rest of the time its just driving on the road. I want the added onroad maners of the smoothed out control arms but not sure if the extra 1800 bucks is worth the long arm kit. I can always use that money on other things. Any one have any helpful input?

I was in the same boat as you about a year ago.

My JLUR is my daily driver and I overland, offroad around 6x a year.

I ended up with the AEV 2.5RT lift for ease of maintenance, load capacity, on road manners and ability to do my target level trails (ie no hard rock crawling)

Here's a pic of my front lca with the AEV drop bracket. Pretty parallel and this lift netted 3.5inches

For me it checks all those boxes.

Either way, good luck with your decision and keep us posted.

 

[Roky]

Great review. This mirrors my own experiences. Most people don't understand the benefits to on road comfort. Years ago I was wheelin in Disney, OK and a friend popped a u-Joint on his Dana 30 equipped short armed TJ. I trailered his Jeep home and he drove my Long Armed TJ the 4 hours back to home base. I asked him if he was sure he wanted to drive it before handing him the keys because I knew he'd change his mind by the time he got there. ?

I say it is absolutely worth the extra scratch.

I also vote to never use geometry brackets unless you weld them in place. ?

Are you back in your hot rod yet…. ?

 

[DOOKEY]

Are you back in your hot rod yet…. ?

Yes sir. For a minute. Needs to go back though. Keep smelling antifreeze. ?

 

[Roky]

Yes sir. For a minute. Needs to go back though. Keep smelling antifreeze. ?

?

 

[Old Jeeper]

Trying to decide on a lift for our 21 Rubicon XR, and can not decide if the added cost of the long arm kit is worth it. I am not an extreme rock crawler. we enjoy technical trails and overlanding and we problably only do that 3 or 4 times a year. The rest of the time its just driving on the road. I want the added onroad maners of the smoothed out control arms but not sure if the extra 1800 bucks is worth the long arm kit. I can always use that money on other things. Any one have any helpful input?

Ohhh the Long Arm foks still beating the tub to make your Jeep jump higher, go faster and more.

You want the Truth?

Rubicon Trail, Pritchett Canyon and all the other 7+ rated at Moab and 8+ years of wheeling across the SW, that was my JOB for 8 years.

37 x 12:50 x 17, 3 in lift, SHORT ARM, 2 door.

There is not a marked trail that a Rubicon with the mods above cannot do. No trail has ever denied me, never winched and never needed a strap unless it was somebody else.

That said: Your Jeep, your wallet and whatever you chose I support you in your choice.

 

[Zandcwhite]

Ohhh the Long Arm foks still beating the tub to make your Jeep jump higher, go faster and more.

You want the Truth?

Rubicon Trail, Pritchett Canyon and all the other 7+ rated at Moab and 8+ years of wheeling across the SW, that was my JOB for 8 years.

37 x 12:50 x 17, 3 in lift, SHORT ARM, 2 door.

There is not a marked trail that a Rubicon with the mods above cannot do. No trail has ever denied me, never winched and never needed a strap unless it was somebody else.

That said: Your Jeep, your wallet and whatever you chose I support you in your choice.

I've seen old flatties on most of those trails, doesn't mean I'd want to roadtrip cross country in one. Definitely wouldn't want to hit the CA basketball sized potholes at freeway speed in one (not that they'll do freeway speed either). When it comes to ride comfort and absorbing road imperfections at speed, flatter arms are better without a doubt. Wether you achieve that via geo brackets or long arms doesn't make much of a difference on road aside from how heavy your wallet will be afterward in my experience. That's not to say short arms are bad or ride terrible, but better is better. Better for the cost of a few tanks of gas, why not?

 

[Gorilla57]

My RK long arm kit was installed February 2020 and was one of the best things I ever purchased for the Jeep. It really rides better than stock. But, I wheeled it pretty hard and appreciated the extra clearance the RK gave me. I’ve since bought a buggy and the JL is now my camping, hiking, exploring rig and I’m still glad I spent the coin on the long arms. It rides soooo nice down wash board dirt roads and on crappy highways in AZ. Long arms are expensive and the stock brackets are cut off. No going back at that point. If I were you, just do the drop brackets, add some nice adjustable shocks and see if you like the ride it gives you. Then if you want to get an even better ride, sell the brackets and get the long arms put on.

 

[Old Jeeper]

I've seen old flatties on most of those trails, doesn't mean I'd want to roadtrip cross country in one. Definitely wouldn't want to hit the CA basketball sized potholes at freeway speed in one (not that they'll do freeway speed either). When it comes to ride comfort and absorbing road imperfections at speed, flatter arms are better without a doubt. Wether you achieve that via geo brackets or long arms doesn't make much of a difference on road aside from how heavy your wallet will be afterward in my experience. That's not to say short arms are bad or ride terrible, but better is better. Better for the cost of a few tanks of gas, why not?

LOL I agree LA are easy on the butt.

Me I was hard core I would have gone LA if it offered an advantage and it never did.

You best bet is the AEV drop bracket, I love that its parallel to the road surface, that REALLY makes a major difference.

I did look HARD at trying to fab up along the lines of the AEV above. But the frame on a TJ back in those days, you would need to cut into the frame and we talked about it and thought I might be able to box out the frame, but in putting chalk on it I just did not think the frame was strong enough even with box it even on 3 sides, but would have required lifting the body off the frame to get the 3 rd plating and just too much for what we gain...

GO AEV!

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