Clayton's X-member....mounting strength questions...

[Safari Ary]

For those of you have or have installed Clayton's x-member, did you find it necessary to add any additional bracing or gussets?? I just got mine in the mail, and although it's beefy as hell, I'm worried that the surface area that mates to the frame might not be enough. The mounts cover 6" of frame rail front to back and the entire width. He used to provide additional gussets that tied it up into the corner b/w the top of the frame rail and the floor, but he said no one was installing them and they were a royal PITA. So has anyone here experienced any damage from landing on this x-member or having the frame rails distort over time? Or am I just worrying too much? Thanks

Ary

 

[Majo]

If you wanna talk to his friend that clayton hooks up let me know. I got his good friend tracey's screen name, I talk to him alot.
shoot me a PM if you want it, he could tell you the lowdown on everything straight up.

works great as is, no extra bracing and he thrashes is grand cherokee hard(tracey and clayton)

 

[xj4rocks]

those Diag braces were/are a huge pain in the ass. and no they're not really needed. Clayton and his team beat teh absolute sh*t out of their rigs and they're running the same thing they ship in their kits.

 

[strokedwoody]

I got the same feeling when I was putting mine in a few weeks ago, I called and explained to them my rig was basically a "truggy" that I beat the hell out of and I was a little worried about the mounting surface, they said it was fine...but I haven't finished bulding and testing mine so I don't know. I would feel better if there was a little more mounting surface. After building my rear x-memeber and making it beefy and with a large surface to mount to the frame....the Clayton setup just looked sorta sketchey, as for me I'll be doing some extra bracing on mine. I have a track record of breaking things that most don't.......

 

[roke40]

I saw Clayton in action last year at Grand Slam East in what's left of his ZJ. If he doesn't break it doing the crazy shit he does I think you'll be ok. That guy is a nut but makes good stuff.

 

[Nay]

I still have those little side braces hanging around my garage from two years ago. I haven't heard of anybody running Clayton's kit cracking the frame...so far so good.

Nay

 

[jjvande]

i've had the kit for quite a while. the extra gussets are installed and have had no problems. I check for cracks all the time though.

im building a belly skid that will tie into the rear portion of the frame and bolts to the bottom of the crossmember.

-J