Wow alot of harsh critics on something that looks better than ALOT of scarey stuff. I guess its like the big poo pipe roll cage debate. Theres always gunna be someone to tear you down because they "think" something isnt safe.
Some of you should realy look at some of the STOCK stuff out there before you start bashing someones fab skills. Want an example? Flat fender jeeps, yep they have one sided shackles stock. Some of the imported SUV's and mini SUV's, simply have a piece of tube welded to the bottom of the frame for the shackle to attatch to. Jeeps and fullsize ford trucks, import SUVs have front mounted front shackles.(yea maybe im being harsh on the front shackles but it just seams retarded when you think about the mechanics of them)
Now lets get this straight Im not defending some ghetto fab work. Im simply saying that UPK5er's setup, as long as the welds are good, is just as strong if not stronger than stock. ACE138's setup, again as long as the welds are good, is definatly stronger than stock.(maybe add a few more bolts though the frame) Im by no means a profesional welder but I live next door to one and my uncle has been a structural engineer/welder for over 30 years(skyscrapers). I consulted both on my spring hangers. 1" of 7018 weld is worth some huge number like 17,000lbs. And to protect myself and others I choose to have a professional welder come fix my frame crack and weld my spring hangers on.
So you hard core naysayers and doomsday advocates need to lay off a bit. Check out the rest of the world and see what actualy holds things together, before you start bashing someones work. Save your harsh oppinions for the morons in the world that do realy stupid ****, like 1" rebar tie rods, YEAH I have seen it done.
Finally if your offended by my coments, well how does it feel? This is just retaliation on your oppinion, NOT some hard work you put into something just to have it, and your self esteem torn down. Im not trying to make people mad, just a forked tounged response, in turn. Eye for an eye and all that.
Balzer