James Duff or Wild Horses 4x4??

[z70what]

Alright guys, i'm going to be purchasing one of the 5.5" extreme long arm kits from one of these two companies..it's a lot of money and i need some people's inputs on these systems.. I will be doing some to moderate street driving w/ my bronco and would like to get it on the highway some too and not have the wonderful wondering side to side that i had in my old cj5 when it was lifted... I'm going to be running a 351W, one of these kits, lockers front and rear, and either 35's or 37's...and 4.56 gears.. i would like to get up to cruising speeds on the highway or at least 55 or 60 and feel perfectly safe for lane changes and everything else that is required... However, it will primarily be a trail rig 75% of the time, but i would like to drive it to local trails that are around 20-30 miles away and get back, instead of trailering it everywhere like i used to have to do w/ my jeep. SO....that being said...which would you guys go w/ and WHY?? thanks

luke

 

[73stallion]

i have no experience as yet with the WH arms, but i have installed duff's and they handle very nice. i've had that rig at 65 mph, and the owner of the rig was doing over 70 on the highway when he had it in the desert last month.

the ride is very nice, and it flexes exceptional. it does have some body roll though.

cage makes arms very similar to duff's, and i actually like their frame brackets more.

 

[Salgood]

I am in the process of a frame up very similar to what you are doing --- I did the 5.5 in lift, 4.56's, and 35 in tires. I ended up choosing the Wh lift and it is sweet.....however I have yet to use it as I am still working on the build up. I can tell you that it is an awesome set up and the WH boys were great to work with!!!!!

BC

 

[z70what]

Salgood......do you have any pics of your setup?? I'd be interested in seeing it. Thanks

Luke

 

[MikeEB]

My .02 says to go with the Duff's. They run a tublar arm just like cage. Wildhorses and Jeffs use a monstorous arm that often doubles as rock sliders ;D . I went with Jeff's when I did mine, and now wish I had the Duff/Cage style setup instead.

 

[swa0330]

I would add to use Cage offroad stuff. The Duff stuff is the same, but not built as stout. WH makes good stuff also, but just have a good 30 minute conversation with Jim at CAGE. Their stuff is built to drive in all conditions. Street, sand, mud and snow. It's not just for flexing and being pretty.

 

[73stallion]

the other good thing about duff and cage is they have the angle in their arms so there's less chance of your bigger tires hitting when you turn.

 

[TJK74]

the other good thing about duff and cage is they have the angle in their arms so there's less chance of your bigger tires hitting when you turn.

WH arms have the angle in them as well to clear larger tires. But i too prefere the Cage/Duffs arms over the original tyle extended arms with raduis bushings.
http://www.wildhorses4x4.com/39.asp

 

[Salgood]

I use to be able to post pics........it seems I know longer have the option.....or the way to do it has changed.......I am on lunch right now, but I will look into posting pics later tonight.;D

 

[SaddleUp]

The Cage arms are by far the best with the Duff arms running a close second. (For good reason) The Cage arms are actually an upgraded version of the earlier design Jim Cole did that Duff's sells. As far as performance on the trails the Cage and Duff arms should be identical with the exception of where rocks come in contact with the frame mount. The Cage frame mount was one of the upgrades to help them slide off rocks better. Another plus to the Cage and Duff arms is that they are all new parts whereas the Wild Horses arms are actually old radius arms that have been cut and then extended. (Hence the $150 core charge on them that the Cage/Duff ones don't have)

 

[asabadin]

I went through this same dilema a year ago. After careful examination, research and user opinions this is what I mounted on my rig:

ARMS= I went with the cage arms, Best built arms on the market, (IMO) the bronco bob made arms from wild horses do not compare. first of all you are using a stock radius arm mount that is a bitch to cut off and remount/ re-install new arms in, as apposed to the ballistic shaped cage rear mounts which are alot beefier and built to slide off rocks and add ground clearance, second you do not get heim joints in the rear as with the cage/duff arms. Third, the heads used to make the W.H. arms are cannablized used heads from stock bronco arms as opposed to new two piece heads from cage.

SPRINGS=For front and rear springs i went with deaver 4.5 coil/leaf springs (same springs chuck sells) best ride and best articulation.

BODY LIFT= The body lift is the one inch body lift from wild horses (one solid piece of polyuerethane)

SHOCK MOUNTS/ SHOCKS= I went with the front extreme hoops from protofab in front, which is the same hoops that W.H. sells. In the rear I went with a custom forward mount designed by lars on this board. His rear mount allows all the articulation of inboard with minimal body roll, all without having to cut into your rear tub. Shocks are bilstein resrviored 7100's all the way around 14 inchS.B. with 360/90 valving up front , and 12 inch S.B. 275/75 valving in the rear.


My rig is a daily driver(street and freeway) rides like a dream at 65mph and drives straight. Great offroad flex!!!!!
All my parts were purchased through www.americanbronco.com. Scott saved me 500.00 total on my suspension setup as opposed to all the other vendors. All my parts were acquired through him except the rear mounts i bought from lars.

 

[Salgood]

Here are the pics of mine so far with the WH lift and 35's. Sorry they are a day late. I do not plan on hard core climbing with mine......I have not seen the cage arms, however they seem to be the favorite. I am happy with the WH lift...if and when I do another Bronco I will try Cage next.

Here are the pics so far......

 

[z70what]

Salgood...
thanks for the pics man... She sure is looking sweet.. Is that the 5.5"?? I'm assuming.. Also, when you get time, could you snap some photos of the long arms,, and off the cutouts in the bed of the bronco for the rear shocks?? that would be awesome.. once again, KIller ride!!

Luke

 

[z70what]

one more thing.......how long did it take for them to deliver once you placed your order?? thanks again..

Luke

 

[Salgood]

Z,

The lift is a 5.5 in lift and the service and speed was awesome from WH. I think I had the lift within 5-6 days after I ordered it. Here are the pics you requested......hopefully they work.

BC