I am getting ready to purchase a lift and I have narrowed the choice to two lifts, the Full Traction which I am slowly turning away from because of the rumblings about Customer Service and Rubicon Express. I am wondering if there is anyone out there running the Tri-Link Kit for the 4.5 Long Arm kit? If so is the modifications worth the exhaust hassle? I am thinking of getting the lift and then in a year when the $3000 sting is over purchase the $500 Tri-Link system for the Rubicon Express. Just looking for input.

If you are working a long arm kit you will be stuck with exhaust
changes no matter what you do. I tried the minor modification to
the system when I put my Long Arm in - and after several breaks
I just put a new tube and muffler in - at the time I had a small
cherry bomb round muffler in to limit impact with the upper control
arms - and the tweaks to the tube to move it broke - so I tossed the
stock tube and put a new one in - with a larger mustang cat back - which
only cost $89 - I would also consider a rear axle bracket change - another
expensive mod - but in the end I found that the long arm was so strong that
it killed all my stock brackets.

I had the track bar bracket go and it cost me big time - so I put the entire
RE heavy bracket set in - which solved all my spring and shock problems as
well as the new supper strength track bar bracket.

As far as the tri-link goes I'd put my money in the axle brackets first and then
consider the tri-link later - My long arm with the adjustable track bar is unbeatable so I wonder what I would do with a little more articulation - Is it as good on the road??


I had the short arm in for five years - when I put the long arm it it was so much
better that I will never go back to a short arm with any jeep - that being said I
had five years to learn all about the various problems with the jeep suspension and
had no problem with an axle upgrade, exhaust upgrade, flat belly plate - cv drive
shaft - adjustable track bars f/r - 35 inch tires - and a custom tank - custom
bracket setup - and custom gas tank ....

I am building up a new LJ and I am doing the axle, exhaust, header, drive shafts, and
the lift all at the same time - about $7000 total .... Atlas 4 also +3K ...
Just (J) Empty (E) Every (E) Pocket (P)

While doing my own research on this, I called RE and asked them directly. They said both setups are good, with the tri-link being slightly better offroad. They said the difference between the 2 setups is about 10%...so it's kinda dependant upon how much trail vs road driving you do and if you need that little bit of improvement offroad.

That's about what I got out of it also - I have problems with hours and hours of washboard roads and trails - that I drive way too fast - so the track bar seems right for me - its also payed for - the long arm setup extended my offroad-ability so much its kinda hard to imagine any more being needed.