The Autofab econo kits, yes they use the stock radius arms that have been modified for caster. This was/is the basic foundation of I beam ranger 7s (modified stock trucks)desert race truck's.With the stock shock mounts they will swing about 10inches of travel. With reworked shock mounts and the right spring you can get them to swing 12-13.
The autofab middle of the road kit, comes with new radius arms,radius arm mounts,a certain radius arm bushing,they dont use the stock ranger bushings,a crossmember that gos between the radius arm mounts, and one that go's across the frame where the stock radius arm mounts crossmember was.
with the stock shock mount's you can get them to swing about 13-14 inches.As you run out of shock on bump.IF you rework the shock mounts you can get 16 even on bushings for the radius arm. the reason autofab can get allittle extra travel is cause they dont set the truck up as high as other companys.this keeps the wheels from crashing in to the coil's and coil buckets at bump. you also dont get as much toe out at bump.or as much postive caster. The 2wd ranger spindle snouts with lots of postive caster and toe out can rip the snout out of the spindle on a hard landing that gos to full bump.
IF you must have the heims autofab also offers them,but unless its going to be a race truck there really is no need for them other than the bling factor and that its easier for most compnays to just make a heim mount.Heims will also wear out in about a year of daily driving.they hate any mud,dirt acts like sand paper to them also,And they are not cheap to replace.avg of $100 dollars each. vs a 10-20 dollar bushing.And the bushing will last more than a year.
Busings will also give you a little give factor vs a heim incase you stuff it really hard.Myself Id rather have a bushing get mashed vs a bent beam or torn frame rail.And the bushing autofab uses will take 16inches of travel no problem.
I have the autofab middle of the road 4x4 kit and the adj coil buckets on my truck, and the bushing will out travel the coil spring on droop.And my coils are about 19 inches long free.in other words they will allow the beams to drop far enuff that the coils will fall out of the buckets with out straps or spring keeper plates.
one other thing alot of people look over now, since most all the kits come with the radius arms mounts back to the tran's mount, is you lose some ground clearnce. If your going full out mini trophy truck its not as much of a concern as you would be running 35;s or 37's then.but if your keeping it daily driver weekend play toy on smaller tires it may be a concern.
Once you get past 16inches of travel the stock sterring set up really starts to show its flaws. you end up with more toe change (bump steer) than the extra travel is worth.and once you get in to the 17-18 inch range the sterring will start to bind off the pitman arm on droop.Then you end up with bent sterring gear, broken steering box sector shafts.thats why the burg beams get not much more if any more travel than the autofab stuff with all the "cool" stuff.Till you pump in anouther couple grand for a swingset sterring set up.
anouther thing to keep in mind, if you dont have the power to control a super long travel (18-20's of travel)front end the extra travel can hinder you more than help you. I've known of a 600hp class 8(fullsize unlimited) that his front end could swing over 20inches, but he limited it to about 17 and it made the truck over all faster than when it was set up for over 20. I would take a guess that the truck came in around 6500 lbs, it let him have enuff power vs travel(limited droop) to make the truck pull the front over the ruff better and fly more level of big leaps. than having the front dive as the rear came off the grond....if that makes sense
shocks will also make or brake any of these kits for jumping on a strict budget a 5100 would be your best bet for little jumps, dont expet no laughlin leaps but they would be the cheapest I would go. FOA are you next cheapest bang for the buck. then any of the 2.0's...then of course any of the other big brand 2.5 race shocks.
once again, rember to save some money for the rear before trying to launch it to hard and high. skyjacker leafs wont cut it, you will need a pair of deaver or nationals. and some shocks and mounts to go with them as well.skyjackers or add aleafs etc will cause the rear end to buck, and bucking can cause a endo.
ok Ill shut up now, but if i missed anything Ill do my best to anwser it or point you in the right direction on who to talk to for what you want.
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