[hummer_metal]

Hence the bolts go in half an inch less.

I am suprised, a little, that nobody else here picked up on this comment above.

The first thing you need to do before you off road thinking you got the rig, is to replace those bolts that are .500 of an inch too short.

The bolts might shear off under load, the tensiles strength is gathered over the distance of how deep the bolt is in. Meaning all the threads are working together. Hey don't ask me I am not an Engineer, I just know this stuff.

Now that you have, lets say its a 1/2 13 UNC thread, could be 5/8 11 UNC I don't know, but you have 5 or 6 less threads to hold the strength.

Before you think you can run to your local DIY store to replace them, try a auto parts store and make sure they are GRADE 8 bolts. Anything less, and you will be drilling out broken bolts and re-tapping the holes. Which btw will have even less thread area to hold because re-tapping only allows you maybe if your lucky 60% thread, where as now its about 85%.