AEV Dualsport Lift and Teraflex Spacer installed -- review & photos

[5adventurers]

So, after years of offroading and multiple lifted vehicles and having paid someone else to do the lifts I decided to tackle this one with some friends to learn what I don't know.

It didn't go very smooth, but we worked through it. If I had to do it again it would probably take 1/4 time (so I did learn ?) We also made a mistake putting the wrong bolt and nut together on the geometry correction brackets. That was fun. She laid stranded for a day until we got the new bolts in last night. For fun knowledge a hitch pin fits perfect in that hole and makes it drive able....don't ask how I know...

I can validate several things I've read on here:
The rear track bar bracket was a bit of a pain.
The brake lines are stretched enough that it's sketchy.
The directions suck.

Also...the ride and drive is very good. Very pleased with the product.

Something new: I couldn't find anyone saying they used a spacer to solve for rake, but we added a 1/2 inch teraflex spacer up front because the winch and lights going on within a week or so(shipping and time dependent). It still does have rake, but noticeably less. Happy with the look, hopefully the winch won't pull it down too much, warn vr evo 10s going on.

For those wondering it is method 703 with +25. BFG KO2 37X12.50 C-rated.

Sponsored

 

[Zachanadandy]

I know the rake gets a lot of hate, but when you load the bed with camping gear or tow even a small trailer the factory rake disappears, or ends up even slightly nose high. For those who leveled their trucks empty, do you just drive around with the Carolina squat and headlights pointed at the sky when you actually use the truck? Maybe you just never actually use the truck? Sure in a perfect world it would be level in all conditions, but I'll deal with a bit of rake empty vs getting flashed by every oncoming vehicle any time I load anything.

 

[HorneyBadger]

And are you re-gearing for the 37's?

 

[5adventurers]

I know the rake gets a lot of hate, but when you load the bed with camping gear or tow even a small trailer the factory rake disappears, or ends up even slightly nose high. For those who leveled their trucks empty, do you just drive around with the Carolina squat and headlights pointed at the sky when you actually use the truck? Maybe you just never actually use the truck? Sure in a perfect world it would be level in all conditions, but I'll deal with a bit of rake empty vs getting flashed by every oncoming vehicle any time I load anything.

It still has some rake, and the AEV allows for +400 lbs constant load.

And I tow. And use the truck bed. A lot. I love on a farm and haul equipment and material all the time. And it doesn't get the Carolina squat look.

And yes, my tundra and heavy duty trucks liked towing and hauling better....but they just aren't jeeps ..so I still use the jeep a lot unless I'm towing something extreme like a bat or tractors.

 

[5adventurers]

And are you re-gearing for the 37's?

I bought the C-rated which is very light, only a few pounds more than the stock 33s. I had a JL on light 37s, it did fine. Then changed to 37x13.50 Toyo MTs and they were nearly 100 lbs/tire, it shoulda been geared then.

For now, I'just have to use the prosnap from AEV to readjust. But I wanted to be able to provide feedback even without the adjustment. I still saw 8th on the highway this morning. In fairness 6-8 are a little tougher on it..I can tell, but marginally. However, at low end speeds it hardly feels different other than holding a gear for a few revs higher.

So no intent to do so, but not denying its possibility in the future. I'd like just to readjust and recalibrate and keep going.

 

[mrmo]

I know the rake gets a lot of hate, but when you load the bed with camping gear or tow even a small trailer the factory rake disappears, or ends up even slightly nose high. For those who leveled their trucks empty, do you just drive around with the Carolina squat and headlights pointed at the sky when you actually use the truck? Maybe you just never actually use the truck? Sure in a perfect world it would be level in all conditions, but I'll deal with a bit of rake empty vs getting flashed by every oncoming vehicle any time I load anything.

Ive got a 3/4 spacer in the front and I see no issue when pulling my enclosed 14' trailer, or loaded up with the overland gear....so

 

[Zachanadandy]

Ive got a 3/4 spacer in the front and I see no issue when pulling my enclosed 14' trailer, or loaded up with the overland gear....so

Depending on the model, I agree. The mojave sits 1" higher up front leading to less rake stock. Just adding camping gear, maybe 300lbs total, put the truck level. I definitely wouldn't add a spacer to the front of a Mojave personally. I think the rear springs may be lighter on the mojave as well. 3/4" makes sense to me, some are running 1.5" or more which seems like it would be way too much under load.

 

[hickman785]

How is the highway ride quality? I currently have a Clayton ride right kit and it rides horrible. I changed shocks a couple times and nothing helps these stiff springs.

How does it do with pot holes, bridge transitions and other road imperfections. With my current setup I feel literally everything like I'm constantly being hit with a 2x4. I'm pretty sure I even feel the bumps that aren't there.

I'm considering the dualsport lift just because of the shock and spring tuning.

 

[5adventurers]

How is the highway ride quality? I currently have a Clayton ride right kit and it rides horrible. I changed shocks a couple times and nothing helps these stiff springs.

How does it do with pot holes, bridge transitions and other road imperfections. With my current setup I feel literally everything like I'm constantly being hit with a 2x4. I'm pretty sure I even feel the bumps that aren't there.

I'm considering the dualsport lift just because of the shock and spring tuning.

As of right now, I did almost 10k miles stock form and I liked the ride a lot. If I wanted to critique it, I'd say it was a little too soft and could be bouncy and you get the reverberations of it calming down from a bump. With that said it does ride more firm. Does it ride rough, no? I'd even surmise it like this. It feels small bumps more, but it feels like a ripple...but it handles big bumps better, bump and done, no further bouncing. So...it's a tradeoff from stock. It drives/steers wonderfully, no issues.

Disclaimer: after more miles in the brand new lifted seat I reserve the right to change my opinion without flaming or hateful comments ?

 

[chorky]

As of right now, I did almost 10k miles stock form and I liked the ride a lot. If I wanted to critique it, I'd say it was a little too soft and could be bouncy and you get the reverberations of it calming down from a bump. With that said it does ride more firm. Does it ride rough, no? I'd even surmise it like this. It feels small bumps more, but it feels like a ripple...but it handles big bumps better, bump and done, no further bouncing. So...it's a tradeoff from stock. It drives/steers wonderfully, no issues.

Disclaimer: after more miles in the brand new lifted seat I reserve the right to change my opinion without flaming or hateful comments ?

I would offer a similar opinion. Potholes are hit a little harder but you dont have the Rubi bounce. I a very happy with the AEV option and much cheaper than other options. Currently I run their SD springs but am in the weight category of the HD springs being almost fully built, and the standard ones do just fine. I hit the TF progressive bump stops more but it offers a nice cushiony ride. Over about 12K on my lift.

 

[Zachanadandy]

How is the highway ride quality? I currently have a Clayton ride right kit and it rides horrible. I changed shocks a couple times and nothing helps these stiff springs.

How does it do with pot holes, bridge transitions and other road imperfections. With my current setup I feel literally everything like I'm constantly being hit with a 2x4. I'm pretty sure I even feel the bumps that aren't there.

I'm considering the dualsport lift just because of the shock and spring tuning.

What tires and tire pressure? No experience with Clayton but most reviews say it rides great? Tires and pressure make a huge difference in ride quality.

 

[hickman785]

What tires and tire pressure? No experience with Clayton but most reviews say it rides great? Tires and pressure make a huge difference in ride quality.

Tire pressures are one of the biggest head scratchers for me and this Jeep. If my pressures at 33-34 pounds, the truck rides decent. The Clayton springs are still too stiff and rest of their components are absolute garbage.
Below 33/34 pounds, it shakes constantly and above it's like the tires are solid concrete. Of course it is pretty much impossible for me to keep the pressures at exactly 33 all the time, especially in middle TN where it is 30 degrees at night and 80 during the day.
My pressures will drop 6-7 pounds every night in the winter and in the summer I would have to deflate them every 30 minutes of driving to keep them down to 33/34 pounds.
It's crazy because I've had 11 other jeeps and I've never had this issue with tire pressures effecting the ride like this.

 

[5adventurers]

Tire pressures are one of the biggest head scratchers for me and this Jeep. If my pressures at 33-34 pounds, the truck rides decent. The Clayton springs are still too stiff and rest of their components are absolute garbage.
Below 33/34 pounds, it shakes constantly and above it's like the tires are solid concrete. Of course it is pretty much impossible for me to keep the pressures at exactly 33 all the time, especially in middle TN where it is 30 degrees at night and 80 during the day.
My pressures will drop 6-7 pounds every night in the winter and in the summer I would have to deflate them every 30 minutes of driving to keep them down to 33/34 pounds.
It's crazy because I've had 11 other jeeps and I've never had this issue with tire pressures effecting the ride like this.

Sorry to hear that man, Clayton was one of those with great reviews. Have you reached out to them, their customer service is known to be pretty excellent. And I say that choosing AEV. But...if nothing works, call the AEV lines they were great too and just ask for springs. Good luck brother.

 

[hickman785]

Sorry to hear that man, Clayton was one of those with great reviews. Have you reached out to them, their customer service is known to be pretty excellent. And I say that choosing AEV. But...if nothing works, call the AEV lines they were great too and just ask for springs. Good luck brother.

Yeah the Clayton guys are nice, but they gave me some bad info about their kit and the Falcon 3.3 shocks which backfired and cost me a ton of money for nothing...I am looking at the AEV kit now because of the tuning...I feel that may be the missing link in solving my ride quality issues...

 

[chorky]

Tire pressures are one of the biggest head scratchers for me and this Jeep. If my pressures at 33-34 pounds, the truck rides decent. The Clayton springs are still too stiff and rest of their components are absolute garbage.
Below 33/34 pounds, it shakes constantly and above it's like the tires are solid concrete. Of course it is pretty much impossible for me to keep the pressures at exactly 33 all the time, especially in middle TN where it is 30 degrees at night and 80 during the day.
My pressures will drop 6-7 pounds every night in the winter and in the summer I would have to deflate them every 30 minutes of driving to keep them down to 33/34 pounds.
It's crazy because I've had 11 other jeeps and I've never had this issue with tire pressures effecting the ride like this.

From what I understand Clayton does make some good stuff, but for a particular user, and there was a ton of marketing and fandom which I think talked people into their products who really aren't in line with the designed use. Tires do play a big role, especially if they are a higher load rating. There is another thing to consider - weight and spring rate. What springs do you have? And have you added up weights as you built your truck or gone to a CAT scale? If the springs are made for a heavily loaded rig, and your stock unloaded, that will not have a good ride no matter what lift you use. But I also have heard plenty of talk about the falcon shocks being really stiff - and excessively stiff for those who are lower on the weight scale. It also might be worth thinking back if your ride quality was fine when it was stock, just to rule out some other cause. It would be crappy to switch lift products and still have a problem because something else is broken or not right.

If you do go AEV, which I personally would recommend especially if you only do mild or less off-road, it would be good to get their standard duty springs first. Reason being is because you can buy their HD springs standalone for 600 bucks. This way, depending on where your rig is in the build process, you have the option of switching to a heaver weight spring as you add weight. The other reason being they don't sell the SD springs standalone like they do their HD's.

Sponsored