METALCLOAK VIDEO: Why He Ditched His Old Rubicon Express for MetalCloak! | The Upgrade That Changed Everything

 

This video introduces Dallas Sweeney, a seasoned off-roader with deep family ties to the Rubicon Trail. After years of running a worn-out Rubicon Express suspension on his LJ Wrangler, Dallas upgrades to the MetalCloak Rubicon Express Extreme Duty Long Arm Bolt-In Upgrade Kit. The video showcases the features and benefits of MetalCloak’s advanced suspension components, including Lock-N-Load Radius Arms, Duroflex Control Arms, True Dual Rate Coils, and Durotrak Track Bars, emphasizing improved ride quality, durability, and off-road performance. Dallas shares firsthand experiences of the transformation, highlighting how the upgrade enhances traction, reduces noise, and increases clearance, making his Jeep not only trail-ready but also a more enjoyable daily driver.

Full Transcript with Time Stamps:

[0:00] This is Dallas. Dallas is an experienced Jeeper and a descendant of Ellison Crawford who in 1897 petitioned the county of El Dorado to make the Rubicon a county road. His family heritage is the Rubicon Trail and the Jeepers Jamboree. For years, he's been running a worn out Rubicon Express suspension, but now he's decided to finally upgrade.

[0:19] Dallas, how's it going, man? Doing good, Scott. Doing really good. You know, we've been friends for years. We're both avid off-roaders. We love the Rubicon Trail. We've been out on the trail countless times together wheeling, and we've talked over the years about your suspension.

[0:32] Oddly enough you know, Rubicon Express which I was the marketing director for back when you got the suspension, it was a great system when you got it. It's held up good, but now the bushings are worn out, And when I drive my Jeep down the road it's kind of all over the place. It's just loose, rattles, rough.

[0:48] And Rubicon Express, they're out of business. Yeah, they're no longer around so you can't get replacement parts for it. I mean, there's other companies that are trying to make replacement parts to fit in there, but you're basically just refurbishing a suspension system with twenty year old technology.

[1:01] We upgraded Dallas' LJ Wrangler with the MetalCloak Rubicon Express Extreme Duty Long Arm Bolt-In Upgrade Kit. Which includes the Front Lock-N-Load Radius Arm and high misalignment upper and lower control arms featuring our patented Duroflex Bushings. Dallas also chose to add on the Durotrak Track Bar featuring our patented two piece Durotrak Bushing, and he also upgraded his coils to our True Dual Rate Coils.

[1:29] So you came to MetalCloak and got a suspension system that can completely replace all the old Rubicon Express parts with the Durotrak Bushings and the Duroflex Bushings. And it gives you the zinc chromate gold on the bottom that looks super good with your Jeep.

[1:43] It does with it. It offsets the blue really nice. It really does, and it is all about looking good. True. Part of it. Looking good, but more importantly, it's functionality and durability. Right.

[1:52] And when you're on the trail out there and whether you're towing trailers, driving on the trail, and pushing your vehicle, you want that functionality and durability. I'm sports staff on Jeepers' Jamborees, so I'm usually towing a trailer full of supplies for the Jamborees, and the trailers are very heavy.

[2:06] So you've got plenty of experience out on the trails? Yup. Now that we've put the new lift on it and the the springs and everything like that, it's probably gonna be a little more of a daily driver especially after my wife got a hold of it. She really enjoys driving it and wants me to get the top off of it so she can enjoy the fresh air driving at the work every day.

[2:20] While we worked on Dallas' rig, he explained to us the issues he was having with his Rubicon Express. His control arms had bushing sleeves that were so worn out that they were literally falling apart.

[2:31] So on the Rubicon Express when you would flex the spring was at its set heighth, at its right heighth. So, when you flex there was no more extension. And it just flopped around or fall out. You sound like a little rattle toy or something like that because you'd hear it, you know, banging around in there.

[2:46] Now with the MetalCloak springs with the dual rate, when you flex, to me it feels like, one is I don't have the noise and two it feels like I have better traction because when it's fully extended when you're flexing, it's putting more pressure down on the tire where I wasn't getting that before, so my traction is that much better.

[3:03] Right. The Dual Rate Coil basically stays compressed when you've got load on it, but then extends and keeps the spring weight on the axle when it's fully extended, keeping the coil securely in the bucket.

[3:13] And after I put them on, I never heard a noise when I took it on the trail. I drove it on the trail, like the weekend before with the Rubicon Express Springs rattled all the way. Then the following weekend, I was back up there. Following the same area I drove through the previous weekend. Never heard a spring noise at all.

[3:30] MetalCloak's True Dual Rate Coils are made from high tensile chrome silicon steel alloy that surpasses typical aftermarket coil springs in extended length, ride quality, and offer long lasting durability. MetalCloak's True Dual Rate Coils provide one of the longest free lengths in the industry, enabling them to stay seated in the coil buckets even at full droop.

[3:53] And I also really like on the rear control arms the fact that how the curve is in there. So before with the control arms being just straight, often they often acted like sliders on rock. They hang way down. When you really flex it out, that arm is hanging way down.

[4:06] It is. And with MetalCloak arms and the curve that's in there, it actually allows you to have some more clearance back there. And so you can go over your obstacles, you're not dragging that arm. So it's making it also so you're not sliding by dragging that arm on the rock. Your tire's on the rock now, which again gives you that planted feeling.

[4:24] All of MetalCloak's control arms are equipped with the NVH dampening, Kevlar infused, patented Duroflex Bushings. These low maintenance, easily rebuildable joints prevent bind in the control arms and have over thirty four degrees of misalignment each. The arms themselves have strong forged ends and are finished with our signature gold zinc chromate.

[4:46] So the suspension system that MetalCloak got you set up on has something called a Lock-N-Load in it. And what it does is it gives you the safety of a four link in the front, but it allows you to unlock it and give you zero bind on your suspension.

[5:00] So before I was limited because both control arms were fixed, and I didn't get the full flex out of my front end, so that affects traction overall, what you could climb, what you couldn't climb.

[5:10] Now, by being able to loose loosen that, I'm able to make it work like a three link basically with the stability of a four link. We've actually filmed it in close-up and shown that the axle will rotate almost an inch and a half forwards and backwards when you have that loose link on there to allow it to not put the bind on your suspension. But it still keeps it in sync with your pinion angle and all that while you're wheeling.

[5:35] The one of a kind patented Lock-N-Load Radius Arm removes binding during flex off-road and adds to your rigs overall stability on-road. It can be locked for firm on-road use or loaded for maximized articulation while using off-road.

[5:50] So, what would you say if another person came to you and said, "Hey Dallas, you know my suspensions worn out." What would you recommend for them?

[5:57] Well, I'd definitely recommend them to come to MetalCloak to get the Rubicon Express Replacement Kit that MetalCloak is now making. And a couple reasons why is besides what I mentioned with the functionality and durability, also is the fact that it's a bolt-in kit. Right. And most people, they'll be able to take it home, change it out in a few hours of time, and boom they're done.

[6:18] I'm super stoked that you're enjoying your suspension, and I can't wait to see you back out on the trail. Thanks a lot for you guys having the technology and the efforts to make kits like this for upgrades to make our Jeeps better and that much stronger and safer out on the trail. I appreciate it.

[6:30] Definitely, Dallas. Good seeing you, man.

[6:32] To take your old Rubicon Express rig to the next level, choose MetalCloaks Rubicon Express Long Arm Bolt In Upgrade Kit. Available now for the TJ and LJ Wranglers. Don't settle for outdated parts. Get American-made quality products from the company that off-roading experts rely on. Experience the smooth ride and flexible off-road handling the upgrade kit provides. Give MetalCloak a call and let us help you with your dream build. MetalCloak, it's your rig, only better.

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