talking in general terms is so ....

[Steel 0]

Its so freaking useless. It drives me crazy.

I saw this lift kit on sale in ebay (actually part of a lift kit which is intended to be completed). Anyway it turns out to be made by a company called Whiplash. If you do google searches on Whiplash, you will find that people bash it all over the forums. They say its crap, it sucks, or that everybody who purchases one regrets it. If you call a shop they say a lot of the same things and then the often turn around and recomend a full throttle lift kit. Sounds great except the full throttle lift kit is like $800 more. But wait there is more. Both of these lift kits are made by the same guy. And if you search full throttle you will hear a lot of the same negative things about that. But now you try to place the question to get some meaningful information and nobody has anything to offer. I ask why is is bad? Does it sag? Do they break in half? Do they give a rough ride? And the answers I get are they suck, they are made with poor quality metal. Now how would you know they are made with poor quality metal if their performance was equal. And if its not, why can't anybody give me a simple anecdote stating how their whiplash or full throttle kit underperformed.

It seems to me like people are just repeating what they heard (or read) from others. Wait now that sound like 3/4 or the posters in the swooping and canopy control forum. What can I say, its human nature but it sucks.
Cheers,

If I could make a wish, I think I'd pass.
Can't think of anything I need
No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound.
Nothing to eat, no books to read.

[AggieDave 6]

Perception is reality. Sometimes reality creates that perception. Word of mouth perpetuates that perception which is sometimes reality.

Many times, though, what you hear turns out to be atleast mostly true when it comes to products and/or certain personalities or actions of individuals.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[lawrocket 3]

I explained puffing last week in response to your "best" thread. This is the same thing.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[quade 4]

Just to be clear, puffing and fluffing are two different things; right?

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[Hooknswoop 19]

Gotta have the biggest truck still?

Derek

[Steel 0]

Quote

Just to be clear, puffing and fluffing are two different things; right?

Yeah I was thinking the same thing. I mean if one guy said this lift kit is great because it provides a good ride and another one said, no its bad because they sag, then at least they would be providing a concrete opinion. But to say the metal is of a low quality sounds like something un proveable, like just fluffing.

If I could make a wish, I think I'd pass.
Can't think of anything I need
No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound.
Nothing to eat, no books to read.

[Steel 0]

Quote

Gotta have the biggest truck still?

Derek

No man, I can never have the biggest truck. I just want to make mine a little bigger. Actually my truck has a problem that was caused by sheer ignorance on the part of its first owner. The lift kit on it is designed for the same truck I have, but with a gas engine. Diesel engines like mine weigh 450-500 pounds more. For that reason my 8" lift kit in the front is more like a 6-7 inch lift kit, which means that on occasion my tires rub. Whats funny is that they are both for the same price. Since just replacing the front leaf springs is so expensive, I figure why not upgrade and go a few inches taller.
Still looking through the internet the other day I found somebody selling a truck on an 18" lift kit with 46" tires (2001 model) used, for $50K. He says he put $70K on it and he is does not even have the biggest truck. So no I am not trying to have the biggest truck, that would be hopeless.
Cheers

If I could make a wish, I think I'd pass.
Can't think of anything I need
No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound.
Nothing to eat, no books to read.

[AggieDave 6]

So the moral of the story is buy a quality kit from quality big name manufactures who have done this sort of thing for a while.

I'd start looking at www.4wheelparts.com, they carry some quality (and not so quality) lifts.

Or you could simply build your own lift, that's what the serious 4-wheelers do, build a lift specific to their needs.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[lawrocket 3]

Quote

Just to be clear, puffing and fluffing are two different things; right?

Yes, but fluffers who puff are much better than those who don't. Dont' we all want a little variety?

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[Steel 0]

Quote

So the moral of the story is buy a quality kit from quality big name manufactures who have done this sort of thing for a while.

I'd start looking at www.4wheelparts.com, they carry some quality (and not so quality) lifts.

Or you could simply build your own lift, that's what the serious 4-wheelers do, build a lift specific to their needs.

Actually I have already been to 4wheel parts and am probably going there again today to look for something different. It looking like I can't justify spending all I need to outright replace what I have. But since I don't want buy new leaf springs, I have been looking for alternatives. I saw something online that said they sell a single leaf that could be added to get between 1 and 2 more inches. And the other option is to by shackles. I can get a pair for less than $60. bucks. The real pain in the ass comes when I need to remove the leaf springs to either puts the shackles between them and the body or to add a leaf to the bottom. There I need a huge jack and maybe jack stands. Oh and I need to take off the freakin bumper. Yeah it just keeps getting more complicated.
oh well

If I could make a wish, I think I'd pass.
Can't think of anything I need
No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound.
Nothing to eat, no books to read.

[Steel 0]

Quote

So the moral of the story is buy a quality kit from quality big name manufactures who have done this sort of thing for a while.

Oh and one other thing, there are no lift kits that go over 10 inches that are not custom made that have a good reputation. As a matter of fact the popular opinion seems to be that if you want to go over 8-10 inches you need to go with a straight axle conversion for quality. Lets just say that a straigh axel conversion is extremely painfully expensive.

If I could make a wish, I think I'd pass.
Can't think of anything I need
No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound.
Nothing to eat, no books to read.

[AggieDave 6]

Quote

As a matter of fact the popular opinion seems to be that if you want to go over 8-10 inches you need to go with a straight axle conversion for quality. Lets just say that a straigh axel conversion is extremely painfully expensive.

There's a reason for that.

Go spend some time on a real 4-wheeling forum or local club. Going more then about 6" on an IFS system not only is a waste of time and money, its a design and system that does nothing but cause trouble and in some cases, a dangerous setup.

A straight axel conversion isn't that expensive, especially if you are handly with metal fab.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[rehmwa 2]

"Your product is low quality"

1 - How do they measure it?
2 - Is it their problem and they just want to blame an outside vendor?
3 - Compared to what?

"Quality" is such an ambiguous thing. If you can't measure it and define ways to change that metric, then it's just imagination and a lazy customer griping about something they can't describe and aren't willing to try to understand.

I understand exactly what you mean.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[Steel 0]

Quote

"Your product is low quality"

1 - How do they measure it?
2 - Is it their problem and they just want to blame an outside vendor?
3 - Compared to what?

"Quality" is such an ambiguous thing. If you can't measure it and define ways to change that metric, then it's just imagination and a lazy customer griping about something they can't describe and aren't willing to try to understand.

I understand exactly what you mean.

thank you, its good to see that somebody understands my frustation. After all, I am not claiming to be an expert. Two months ago if somebody said leaf springs, I would say what is that. I definately would not know what a track bar drop bracket, a drop pitman, cross-over steering, etc ... are. But while I am trying to research and learn more, its annoying to keep getting useless generalities that teach me nothing.
Cheers,

If I could make a wish, I think I'd pass.
Can't think of anything I need
No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound.
Nothing to eat, no books to read.

[Hooknswoop 19]

Listen to other peoples reports on stuff, they can really save you a lot of head aches. Buy quality, even though it may cost a lot more, the product and customer service are usually worth it.

Derek

[Treejumps 0]

***"I just want to make mine a little bigger"

Snicker, snicker.