Has anyone tried these U-bolt Eliminators?

[mylittlecj5]

Looks like an interesting alternative to a U-bolt flip.

Treks Offroad Products - 1-inch UBolt Eliminators

 

[CJ]

Never tried them but they look nice. Definitely nothing under the axle with that SOA conversion.

 

[mylittlecj5]

I'm thinking about them for the CJ7 build. But I really need to buy a good wire-feed welder to install stuff like that.

 

[LongHorn]

I've got a Mig & Stick, but I'd want a certified pipe fitter to install those before I would trust them. High Quality U bolts have no welds to break,

 

[CJ]

I've got a Mig & Stick, but I'd want a certified pipe fitter to install those before I would trust them. High Quality U bolts have no welds to break,

That is a very valid point that I didn't think of... You loose a weld on that and your in trouble.

 

[mylittlecj5]

It can't be that much different than welding coil cups onto a axle, can it? Same amount of stresses, maybe a bit more on the lateral loading, I'd guess. We'd need an engineer to answer that one I think. But I bet it isn't anything a decent welder couldn't lay a good pass or two on and have it hold. Even factory welds that look good can fail under the stress of wheeling.

 

[coldwater]

I like it, but It looks like a lot of $$ and work for anything but a pretty hard core wheeler. Lots of welding and fab work where a flip is pretty cheap and pre engineered

 

[LongHorn]

Losing your shock or coil & coil cup would be less catastrophic than losing an axle at speed on the highway.

 

[Old Dog]

It looks cool but i'm not sure you really gain anything over a normal SOA.
Unless I'm missing something.

 

[LongHorn]

I can't ever remember ever getting hung up on my U bolts.:driving:

 

[coldwater]

I can't ever remember ever getting hung up on my U bolts.:driving:

Actually.....me eather, but then, I don't really do any laugh in the face of death, life on the razors edge extreme crazy man wheeling. So my opinion may be worth nothing.

 

[LongHorn]

I've hung up on shock mounts, Diff cover, Pinion yoke, Skid plate, Body mounts, Frame, & steering knuckles, But not U bolts.:grinjeep:

 

[LongHorn]

O'Yeah, Of coarse the back bumper! After all I am a Tail Dragger Pilot after all!

 

[mylittlecj5]

I have bent a number of U-Bolts that hung in the normal position. Or beat the threads enough that it makes it rough to get them off to replace.
Oh well its an option for another time...

 

[CJ]

As many have said, I have never been hung up on a U-Bolt but I have had to CUT OFF every one I have ever had. I have never been able to remove any of mine without using the big blue wrench...

IMHO - If you have that access to a good welder and are comfortable with their work, sounds good..

 

[LongHorn]

We started with a picture of a springover. I can see where U bolts can be a problem for spring under guys.

 

[Cweed]

I didn't see these before, but built my own and they work great. The cost of the grade 8 bolts is actually cheaper than buying new u-bolts.

 

[CJ7 Ponie]

I am a certified welder, If you have a 1" weld it will support 1000 lbs. tensile ,shear strength would have to be considered on a twisting plain...But if you are doing two welds parallel to each other with 4" of weld, it would hold up to this set-up. I always overkill with a plug weld in the middle of that plain also.

 

[CJ7 Ponie]

I also agree with the bolts, but make sure the holes are spot on with no over-sized holes,that will help with the shear strength.