Why Portals? Why Not?

[BeeRAD56]

Having dealt with driveabilty issues on a pre-owned 2 door Rubicon with a 2.5" budget lift where I spent a lot of time and money to fix, I learned to do it right the first time.

My plan for my new 2024 2 door Rubicon has been to do a 3.5" Metal Cloak Mid Arm Game Changer with all the bells and whistles (top of line shocks, front drive shaft, etc.). With that approach I'll be in to parts for $6k plus. I really like Metal Cloak from past experience so I'm not looking at other cheaper options. I'll do the install myself because: 1) I can, albeit shadetree style in my driveway and 2) I don't trust others to do a good job. In addition to the 3.5" lift, I plan to run 37's" which will require regearing for another $3k.

So now fast forward to my recent discovery of 74 Weld Motosports Portals which provide a 3.9" lift and 1:22 gear reduction while maintaining the stock ride quality which I happen to like. Aside from the $20k price tag, why should I not consider going that route? It appears to be a simple install and offers a lot of advantages aside from the cost.

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[dbp512]

If you're not sure about the price of the 74weld portals, have you seen werewolf?

https://werewolftech.com/catalog/portal-axles/portals-for-jeep/

 

[BeeRAD56]

If you're not sure about the price of the 74weld portals, have you seen werewolf?

https://werewolftech.com/catalog/portal-axles/portals-for-jeep/

Whoa! That's a whole lot more affordable!

 

[dbp512]

Whoa! That's a whole lot more affordable!

I know! At this price, its only a matter of time before they make an appearance in the thread discussing mods ordered while intoxicated.

 

[Deleted User 38384]

Having dealt with driveabilty issues on a pre-owned 2 door Rubicon with a 2.5" budget lift where I spent a lot of time and money to fix, I learned to do it right the first time.

My plan for my new 2024 2 door Rubicon has been to do a 3.5" Metal Cloak Mid Arm Game Changer with all the bells and whistles (top of line shocks, front drive shaft, etc.). With that approach I'll be in to parts for $6k plus. I really like Metal Cloak from past experience so I'm not looking at other cheaper options. I'll do the install myself because: 1) I can, albeit shadetree style in my driveway and 2) I don't trust others to do a good job. In addition to the 3.5" lift, I plan to run 37's" which will require regearing for another $3k.

So now fast forward to my recent discovery of 74 Weld Motosports Portals which provide a 3.9" lift and 1:22 gear reduction while maintaining the stock ride quality which I happen to like. Aside from the $20k price tag, why should I not consider going that route? It appears to be a simple install and offers a lot of advantages aside from the cost.

If you want to slim that price down a little bit, you should look into Werewolf Portals.

Basically the Ukrainian version without the US markup.

Look at this way, now you can take that extra $5K you're saving and pay someone who knows what they're doing and is insured to install it.

 

[Deleted User 38384]

Whoa! That's a whole lot more affordable!

Aww, someone beat me to it. Oh well!

 

[XtremeRetard]

Might be good for the mall.

But they are only warranted fully for 38s, plus parts, plus support, plus strength?

Can anyone say DSTRAC?

 

[rkwfxd]

If you want to slim that price down a little bit, you should look into Werewolf Portals.

Basically the Ukrainian version without the US markup.

Look at this way, now you can take that extra $5K you're saving and pay someone who knows what they're doing and is insured to install it.

Without exception, EVERY shop I have taken my Jeep or truck to for service or mods has screwed something MAJOR up.

Frame cross member bolts finger tight, swaybar links finger tight, damaged FAD from impact wrench, incorrect bolt orientation, leaking hydro steering fittings, loose steering clamps.

The list goes on.

 

[Zandcwhite]

At the very least with portals you'll want to upgrade shocks and control arms in my opinion. The added unsprung weight is too much for already under dampened shocks, especially when you add 37s. Portals massively increase the torque applied to the control arms as your tires are not mounted to the axle centerline as before they are mounted to a huge lever arm. The other problem with getting your lift solely from the portals is you can't add long arms and some other mods you might eventually want as they require some lift.

 

[roaniecowpony]

Something to think about is breakage and repair. If you wheel hard, you break things. Even if you wheel in precarious trails cautiously, you run the risk of breaking something too. Think about where you're going to get a spare part.

If you are on a Jeep Jamboree, you're in luck, they'll have spares for JKs, JLs, etc. They'll have tierods, draglinks, axles, driveshafts, etc.. If you're out with your little group and break, you can get a Jeep axle or driveshaft at a dealer in Moab, etc.. But nobody except the importer (if there is one) will have those portals. If you run obscure or one-off custom parts, you may be S.O.L.

Portals give you ground clearance, but don't change your suspension range of motion, or "flex" is it's commonly called around here.

 

[Ratbert]

@Zandcwhite gave a great breakdown of some of the downsides of portals.

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/portal-axles-for-your-jl.88791/#post-1849126

 

[Deleted User 38384]

Without exception, EVERY shop I have taken my Jeep or truck to for service or mods has screwed something MAJOR up.

Frame cross member bolts finger tight, swaybar links finger tight, damaged FAD from impact wrench, incorrect bolt orientation, leaking hydro steering fittings, loose steering clamps.

The list goes on.

That sucks to have unreliable shops near you.

I have a shop near me that I trust wholy for modification installations. Obviously the simple stuff that I can do I do it myself. But like welding, or mounting and balancing my tires, I'll take to the shop. If it's just involves moving and reinstalling bolts or like a suspension lift or something, that's easy stuff. I'll do that myself. However that shop is highly rated for suspension lifts, and their work comes warrantied, so if I ever do get a suspension left I'll probably just let them do it, and pay the extra money. That way if something gets installed improperly, it's their problem. Let them buy lift and install it.

I'm actually lucky enough to have a really high quality diesel shop near me as well. I haven't had to take my Jeep to them for anything, but things like replacing the HPFP, or replacing the timing chain/cover, this guy would do a great job. Small shop, two employees, that helps a lot.

 

[roaniecowpony]

Without exception, EVERY shop I have taken my Jeep or truck to for service or mods has screwed something MAJOR up.

Frame cross member bolts finger tight, swaybar links finger tight, damaged FAD from impact wrench, incorrect bolt orientation, leaking hydro steering fittings, loose steering clamps.

The list goes on.

 

[dbp512]

Aww, someone beat me to it. Oh well!

Uh huh. I'll make you a deal though, I said it was only a matter of time until it appeared in the "mods bought while the libations are flowing" thread; so try to let you be the first to show off your new portals there. But don't delay too long; you act like the only person whose liver requires everclear.

 

[CptFloridaMan]

If you want to slim that price down a little bit, you should look into Werewolf Portals.

Basically the Ukrainian version without the US markup.

Look at this way, now you can take that extra $5K you're saving and pay someone who knows what they're doing and is insured to install it.

Actually fwiw there’s another company who’s gonna have it at 15k for the set. Pretty sure early adopters it’s 10k, and msrp will be 15k after. By the name of portal pros i think.

https://www.instagram.com/portal_pros?igsh=MXNwNTY2Yms3MHhwMg==

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