Clown, ok I'll break it down with my full and honest opinion. The drop brackets were mainly designed to align the suspension geometry of the 80 series. We chose 4 inches because a lot of people like a 4 inch lift. You can use the brackets with a 6 inch lift as well, but you willl need additional caster correction.
If you really look around at the 80 series community, not just on the board, but all over, 99% of the people out there are not doing heavy rock crawling. Personally I would consider rock crawling and off-roading two different things, and I would agree that our kit would be better for off-roading, as opposed to rock crawling. The main reason for this is, you guessed it, "ground clearance".
Before we started developing the kit, we asked a lot of people what would be most important to them in a larger suspension. The number one answer that came up was handling. Most of our customers use their vehicles as daily drivers, and even if they off-road, they still drive their rig to the trails. Most of the trails driven by 80's are light to moderate wheeling, nothing extremely hard-core.
The most common question I have seen is "Will your drop brackets reduce ground clearance and become a problem on the trail?" And my answer will always be the question, "What do you do with your vehicle?"
Technically you are not losing ground clearance, but you would definately have more clearance if you did not run the drop brackets. We did design the brackets to be extra heavy duty, and the rear lower control arm to be as long as possible so the angle is not so steep.
So here are my answers depending on what you want your vehicle to do.
Rock crawler: Yes, the drop brackets will hang lower than not having them and more than likely drag on large rocks, possibly getting you hung up. Your handling will still be improved, but may not be the best choice for you. At this level of off-roading, I would definately look into running custom brackets or arms. Moving the mounts higher on the axle may be a great solution, but cannot be purchsaed at this time, and will definately not be bolt-on.
Moderate off-road: Yes, the drop brackets hang down lower than not having them, 50% chance of becoming a problem in your off-roading situations. Your handling will still be greatly improved.
Light off-road: Yes, the drop brackets hang down lower than not having them, but will definately not be an issue. Handling will still be greatly improved.
No off-road: Yes, the drop brackets hang down lower than having them, but you will never have an issue with clearance and your handling is greatly improved.
I hope this can provide the best advice for someone considering our lift. If you decide it is not for you, that is ok, I would just appreciate it if it wasnt reffered to as crap, or butt ugly.
Now onto something else that may interest everyone that does moderate to heavy off-roading, or someone who just wants the best. We have designed and are currently putting into production new arms for the 80. They will not be like anything you have ever seen. Extremely heavy duty, spherical rod ends, and a weldament front control arm. I was going to wait until they were closer to being released to talk about them, but figured you may be interested. You will be able to use them with or without our drop brackets, and will stand up to anything you can throw at them.
Sorry for calling this thread crap, I felt this thread took a wierd turn because it started off with Dave from 4WDTO talking about his rig, almost like a rotw. And for the record, I am not upset about anything posted by anyone, I very much appreciate your honest opinions.
P.S. Clown, when my rig is done, I would love to go wheeling with you, even though everything I say is an instant argument from you, I always appreciate your input. I have plenty of knowledge and experience off-roading, but without pictures to prove anything, it doesnt mean anything.
If you really look around at the 80 series community, not just on the board, but all over, 99% of the people out there are not doing heavy rock crawling. Personally I would consider rock crawling and off-roading two different things, and I would agree that our kit would be better for off-roading, as opposed to rock crawling. The main reason for this is, you guessed it, "ground clearance".
Before we started developing the kit, we asked a lot of people what would be most important to them in a larger suspension. The number one answer that came up was handling. Most of our customers use their vehicles as daily drivers, and even if they off-road, they still drive their rig to the trails. Most of the trails driven by 80's are light to moderate wheeling, nothing extremely hard-core.
The most common question I have seen is "Will your drop brackets reduce ground clearance and become a problem on the trail?" And my answer will always be the question, "What do you do with your vehicle?"
Technically you are not losing ground clearance, but you would definately have more clearance if you did not run the drop brackets. We did design the brackets to be extra heavy duty, and the rear lower control arm to be as long as possible so the angle is not so steep.
So here are my answers depending on what you want your vehicle to do.
Rock crawler: Yes, the drop brackets will hang lower than not having them and more than likely drag on large rocks, possibly getting you hung up. Your handling will still be improved, but may not be the best choice for you. At this level of off-roading, I would definately look into running custom brackets or arms. Moving the mounts higher on the axle may be a great solution, but cannot be purchsaed at this time, and will definately not be bolt-on.
Moderate off-road: Yes, the drop brackets hang down lower than not having them, 50% chance of becoming a problem in your off-roading situations. Your handling will still be greatly improved.
Light off-road: Yes, the drop brackets hang down lower than not having them, but will definately not be an issue. Handling will still be greatly improved.
No off-road: Yes, the drop brackets hang down lower than having them, but you will never have an issue with clearance and your handling is greatly improved.
I hope this can provide the best advice for someone considering our lift. If you decide it is not for you, that is ok, I would just appreciate it if it wasnt reffered to as crap, or butt ugly.
Now onto something else that may interest everyone that does moderate to heavy off-roading, or someone who just wants the best. We have designed and are currently putting into production new arms for the 80. They will not be like anything you have ever seen. Extremely heavy duty, spherical rod ends, and a weldament front control arm. I was going to wait until they were closer to being released to talk about them, but figured you may be interested. You will be able to use them with or without our drop brackets, and will stand up to anything you can throw at them.
Sorry for calling this thread crap, I felt this thread took a wierd turn because it started off with Dave from 4WDTO talking about his rig, almost like a rotw. And for the record, I am not upset about anything posted by anyone, I very much appreciate your honest opinions.
P.S. Clown, when my rig is done, I would love to go wheeling with you, even though everything I say is an instant argument from you, I always appreciate your input. I have plenty of knowledge and experience off-roading, but without pictures to prove anything, it doesnt mean anything.
OMEs with custom spacers to about 6-6.5" of total? 
4 days of ownership and we installed his OME J/Heavy. He's happy with his height, but I sit too low 
This was a perfectly good pizzing match till you came along and ruined it with logic!!
..... Hey it gets me places where 35ers go 
