5" inch lift?

[TruckCamper]

This forum cracks me up...

"body lifts" are a great option.
"drop bracket lifts" are terrible.
"portals are the best" (obviously cuz they are expensive)

Thanks for sharing some of the Portal downsides @SierraBronco

There's a massive difference in winning a race (less than 1,000 miles) and having longevity and durability for lasting 200,000. Most aftermarket parts tout "strength" at the expense of longevity and on road ride quality. Also it should be noted the "Portals" being sold to the pubic are nothing like the "race portals". Compare for yourself.

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[SierraBronco]

Also it should be noted the "Portals" being sold to the pubic are nothing like the "race portals". Compare for yourself.

Hmmmmm…now that you mention it…these do look a little different than the consumer version

 

[OverBudget]

Hmmmmm…now that you mention it…these do look a little different than the consumer version

probly just from using the correct loctite....or maybe its maybelline.

 

[SierraBronco]

probly just from using the correct loctite....or maybe its maybelline.

Filters are getting out of hand.

 

[Jdyount]

This forum cracks me up...

"body lifts" are a great option.
"drop bracket lifts" are terrible.
"portals are the best" (obviously cuz they are expensive)

Thanks for sharing some of the Portal downsides @SierraBronco

There's a massive difference in winning a race (less than 1,000 miles) and having longevity and durability for lasting 200,000. Most aftermarket parts tout "strength" at the expense of longevity and on road ride quality. Also it should be noted the "Portals" being sold to the pubic are nothing like the "race portals". Compare for yourself.

Op is LONG gone and we are way off the original conversation, but....

I'm not sure why you think portals are so overly complicated that they're not capable of lasting 200,000 miles. There have been several production vehicles with factory portals, Mercedes-Benz Unimog and G500 4x4^2, Volvo C303, Hummer H1, Toyota BXD,... Before you jump on me for saying this: Yes these vehicles are specialized, I'm not stupid.

A portal gear box is actually super simple: A gearbox with 2-4 spur or helical gears (depending on the drivetrain and design), bearings, input and output shafts and seals, a breather tube. Add a hall effect sensor and toothed ring for the ABS. Incorporating it into the knuckle, you have to mount the brake caliper, wheel bearing, ball joints, and tie rod end. And that's really it. Less complicated than say even a transfer case (and spins at a slower rpm than a transfer case). Sure, the size of the gearbox and fitting inside the wheel makes it a little more complicated from a design standpoint, and in a small case you have to worry about gear oil temps and the effects of heat causing internal pressure and leaks,... but it definitely isn't some overly complicated albatross. Ultimately they are very over priced because they're mostly custom milled. I'd like to see someone mass produce a set and see what the price could be, maybe closer to $6-8k?

Now, are portals for everyone? No, absolutely not!
Are running 40s for everyone? No.
Are 7" drop bracket lifts for everyone? No, but do make sure you get you some 24" wheels with your 40's, because you wanna make sure and look pretty at the mall!
Do all of these things significantly impact the on-road drivability of your vehicle? Yes!
Do I think portals give you better off-road capability than a 7" drop bracket lift? Yes, 1000%!
Are portals expensive? YEEEEESSSSSSS!
Do I think portals are the best solution for me right now? NO, can't afford them.
When I get my Bronco paid off in a year and a half am I gonna get portals? Probably.

My commute to work is 1 mile so I'm not worried about the gearing change, the concern of stacking up miles, the COG change, the alignment issues, ect. Now, do I hope there is a aftermarket long arm version of portals like that beautiful picture above when I get to that point? YUP. I'll probably have to refinance my Bronco for it but I would be ok with that. Will I consider other options at that time, absolutely!

 

[SierraBronco]

Op is LONG gone and we are way off the original conversation, but....

I'm not sure why you think portals are so overly complicated that they're not capable of lasting 200,000 miles. There have been several production vehicles with factory portals, Mercedes-Benz Unimog and G500 4x4^2, Volvo C303, Hummer H1, Toyota BXD,... Before you jump on me for saying this: Yes these vehicles are specialized, I'm not stupid.

A portal gear box is actually super simple: A gearbox with 2-4 spur or helical gears (depending on the drivetrain and design), bearings, input and output shafts and seals, a breather tube. Add a hall effect sensor and toothed ring for the ABS. Incorporating it into the knuckle, you have to mount the brake caliper, wheel bearing, ball joints, and steering mount. And that's really it. Less complicated than say even a transfer case (and spins at a slower rpm than a transfer case). Sure, the size of the gearbox and fitting inside the wheel makes it a little more complicated from a design standpoint, and in a small case you have to worry about gear oil temps and the effects of heat causing internal pressure and leaks,... but it definitely isn't some overly complicated albatross. Ultimately they are very over priced because they're mostly custom milled. I'd like to see someone mass produce a set and see what the price could be, maybe closer to $6-8k?

Now, are portals for everyone? No, absolutely not!
Are running 40s for everyone? No.
Are 7" drop bracket lifts for everyone? No, but do make sure you get you some 24" wheels with your 40's, because you wanna make sure and look pretty at the mall!
Do all of these things significantly impact the on-road drivability of your vehicle? Yes!
Do I think portals give you better off-road capability than a 7" drop bracket lift? Yes, 1000%!
Are portals expensive? YEEEEESSSSSSS!
Do I think portals are the best solution for me right now? NO, can't afford them.
When I get my Bronco paid off in a year and a half am I gonna get portals? Probably.

My commute to work is 1 mile so I'm not worried about the gearing change, the concern of stacking up miles, the COG change, the alignment issues, ect. Now, do I hope there is a aftermarket long arm version of portals like that beautiful picture above when I get to that point? YUP. I'll probably have to refinance my Bronco for it but I would be ok with that. Will I consider other options at that time, absolutely!

Sir, with all due respect, portals are so complicated that only the BEST of approved vendors should EVER consider taking them apart. And they can’t even get it right, despite the extreme vetting process they endure to become an authorized dealer. (My retarded ass did it without issue though. Wait. That just proves that being an authorized dealer doesn’t mean anything. Well shit. Disregard)

 

[Jdyount]

Sir, with all due respect, portals are so complicated that only the BEST of approved vendors should EVER consider taking them apart. And they can’t even get it right, despite the extreme vetting process they endure to become an authorized dealer. (My retarded ass did it without issue though. Wait. That just proves that being an authorized dealer doesn’t mean anything. Well shit. Disregard)

If there's one thing in life I'm good at, it's takin stuff apart and putting it back together. One time I rebuilt an automatic transmission (that was actually bad, sit too long) and apparently I liked doing it SOOOOO much that I dropped it and took it apart and put it back together 2 additional times for good measure (not at all because I'm a dumbass and didn't blow out the transmission cooler lines before I put it back in the first time)....

 

[OverBudget]

I'm not sure why you think portals are so overly complicated that they're not capable of lasting 200,000 miles. There have been several production vehicles with factory portals, Mercedes-Benz Unimog and G500 4x4^2, Volvo C303, Hummer H1, Toyota BXD,... Before you jump on me for saying this: Yes these vehicles are specialized, I'm not stupid.

comparing a portal made by a "small" company with likely a single digit percentage of the R&D budget of a huge corporation is pretty comical, such an over generalization of portals. can they last, sure, just because mercedes portals last though doesn't mean 74w or werewolf ones will last just as long.


and i agree, portals are simple from a component standpoint, but getting a design that works as intended and lasts is were the complications come in. not quite as simple as just tossing some gears into a housing and calling it a day....hence why companies like 74weld need to test and make revisions.

but yeah, cost is 100% dictated by its niche market. even if cost to manufacture isn't driving the price point, spreading the cost of R&D across a smaller number of sales increases cost on those sales.

 

[SierraBronco]

If there's one thing in life I'm good at, it's takin stuff apart and putting it back together. One time I rebuilt an automatic transmission (that was actually bad, sit too long) and apparently I liked doing it SOOOOO much that I dropped it and took it apart and put it back together 2 additional times for good measure (not at all because I'm a dumbass and didn't blow out the transmission cooler lines before I put it back in the first time)....

All I know is a company wanted us to drive 800 miles with their brackets that fell off in 200 miles in order to swap out the housing, because they were an “authorized dealer” for the part in question. Because only their authorized dealers are proficient enough to handle removing the outer half and reinstalling a new one, disirregardless of their experience with portals. Just gotta be a racer!

And now a different authorized dealer completely effed up the exact same thing that somehow, I did properly. I didn’t even mix gears!

 

[Jdyount]

All I know is a company wanted us to drive 800 miles with their brackets that fell off in 200 miles in order to swap out the housing, because they were an “authorized dealer” for the part in question. Because only their authorized dealers are proficient enough to handle removing the outer half and reinstalling a new one, disirregardless of their experience with portals. Just gotta be a racer!

And now a different authorized dealer completely effed up the exact same thing that somehow, I did properly. I didn’t even mix gears!

Ya that's sad for sure. I get that most people can't even change their own oil, BUT driving 800 miles for service due to a factory defect is silly. Seems like they could have shipped out a set of outers then flown someone out to install them for cheaper than you towing your rig 800 miles or you taking all the portals off and driving them somewhere yourself. And for one of their "authorized dealer" to F it up....

Honestly, between that and the clunking issue yall are having with the complete rack housings, I hope they get these problems resolved. I would certainly have a not so great view of them if I were in your shoes...

 

[Hemisfear]

Don't...

Probably better to just bite the bullet and go portals, at least your suspension will feel like stock!

 

[TruckCamper]

Don't...

Probably better to just bite the bullet and go portals, at least your suspension will feel like stock!

Bite the bullet? More like get shot in the head.

 

[SierraBronco]

Ya that's sad for sure. I get that most people can't even change their own oil, BUT driving 800 miles for service due to a factory defect is silly. Seems like they could have shipped out a set of outers then flown someone out to install them for cheaper than you towing your rig 800 miles or you taking all the portals off and driving them somewhere yourself. And for one of their "authorized dealer" to F it up....

Honestly, between that and the clunking issue yall are having with the complete rack housings, I hope they get these problems resolved. I would certainly have a not so great view of them if I were in your shoes...

Funny-I mentioned that very thing as there is a shop here locally that wants to sell their stuff. Fly homie out, have him vet the shop, and while he’s here he can swap the housings. Might cost $500 in travel costs. Nope! Not interested in flying people around to make sure these shops know what they’re doing. If you want to open a coffee franchise to sell $8 coffee, there’s a rigorous training program that all employees and owners must go through to ensure the end product is what the brand represents. $21k portals? Meh. Just get financing approved to stock a few sets. Good to go! Can’t bleed brakes but you’re now aerospace certified!

Now with that said a new employee that responsible for customer service is trying to step up. He sent me new axles and seals. I wasn’t worried about the axles, personally. Already took care of the broken one and these are coming off soon so I don’t care about having spares. I did ask him about replacing the $600 proprietary rotor that was gouged when their bracket fell off and a new wheel, but that must not have been approved.

 

[HighVelocity]

Well, I'm convinced. I'm going with a drop-bracket portals with short fingered long arms, spring-over-axle body mount, triple articulated 4-link with a drag bar solid axle swap and a divorced transmission with a pre-runner race-proven 9 speed transfer case all on 31's mounted to steel impregnated aluminum carbon fiber wheels.

This will get me ALL the forum creds!

 

[5GENIDN]

Well, I'm convinced. I'm going with a drop-bracket portals with short fingered long arms, spring-over-axle body mount, triple articulated 4-link with a drag bar solid axle swap and a divorced transmission with a pre-runner race-proven 9 speed transfer case all on 31's mounted to steel impregnated aluminum carbon fiber wheels.

This will get me ALL the forum creds!

Good luck with that.

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