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

[audibahn]

Did you go with the standard or HD springs? How well do they carry weight and how much sag do you get when you hook up a trailer? Any pics of truck and trailer by chance?

I run AEV on my JKU and I'm considering the DualSport for my JT. Curious how the AEV springs compare to the Max Tow rear springs. I have about 700lbs of tongue weight with travel trailer attached and the rear drops about 2.5" with my stock max tow springs.

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[5adventurers]

Did you go with the standard or HD springs? How well do they carry weight and how much sag do you get when you hook up a trailer? Any pics of truck and trailer by chance?

I run AEV on my JKU and I'm considering the DualSport for my JT. Curious how the AEV springs compare to the Max Tow rear springs. I have about 700lbs of tongue weight with travel trailer attached and the rear drops about 2.5" with my stock max tow springs.

I did standard springs instead of the HD springs. Those are for 800lbs of constant load., the standards will go for +400 past standard load. I don't have a continuous load on my truck, so I went standard. Have not towed with it since last Monday when I lifted it. Check the previous post, he has a load out and HD springs and a pic with a trailer for reference. But with standard springs, just haven't tested yet

 

[audibahn]

Thanks. Your setup is pristine! The previous post looks spot on and seems to carry the load well. I'm wondering if the diesel AEV springs are different than the gasser ones. I'm eying the standards because I run the truck empty most of the time. Not many people out there running the Dual Sport and towing that I could find, so I'll keep an eye on this thread.

 

[BlueScapegoat]

Thanks. Your setup is pristine! The previous post looks spot on and seems to carry the load well. I'm wondering if the diesel AEV springs are different than the gasser ones. I'm eying the standards because I run the truck empty most of the time. Not many people out there running the Dual Sport and towing that I could find, so I'll keep an eye on this thread.

The gasser and diesel coils are different, both the standard and the high capacity offerings. The high capacity coils both quote the same added capacity, so presumably the difference between the two would just be to handle the added mass of the diesel platform itself, as with the standard coils.

You can usually expect AEV stuff to be pretty spot-on. I'd expect them to be very comparable when pairing the correct parts with the correct platform.

A lot of presumptions there, however.

 

[jav_eee]

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?

Carolina squat maybe but if the headlights are adjust properly for the lift then no they shouldn’t be pointed to the sky. And if they are then they would’ve pointed to the sky on a stock height gladiator.

 

[Zachanadandy]

Carolina squat maybe but if the headlights are adjust properly for the lift then no they shouldn’t be pointed to the sky. And if they are then they would’ve pointed to the sky on a stock height gladiator.

Did you read what I posted? Leveling the truck by only lifting the front means that loaded it's pointed up. That's the reason trucks come with a rake from the factory. Going from rake to level has far less of a headlight tilting up effect than going from horizontal to nose high in my experience. Sure you can adjust your headlights based on load but the Carolina squat looks dumb and makes steering worse as you shift load off the front. I don't get the obsession with level when empty but to each his own.

 

[BlueScapegoat]

I like the level look, but hate the sag. It's a truck, it should be usable. So I worked backwards.

I installed the coils without any spacers, then loaded it up to the max payload I knew it'd see, then measured how much rake was left. Then added spacer to the front to end up level at full load. The resulting rake unloaded is just what it is, but with heavy duty coils that rake is minimal because the sag is minimal to begin with.

If that makes sense.


I also adjusted my headlights with it fully loaded but unloaded now they're too low, tbh. I need to point them back up some.

I wonder if the headlights are electronically vertically-adjustable on the European/Australian models? They are on Jeeps as old as the TJ. I'd love to confirm and figure out the part numbers to retrofit the ability, if so. I don't know why that's not a more common feature in the US. My woman's Subaru BRZ even had a scroll wheel on the dash to vertically adjust the headlights, as if that car ever changes in ride height front/rear. Every truck should come standard with the feature, imo.

::edit::
seems like they're auto-leveling in other markets now. That sounds like it's probably more involved than just wiring in a servo.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

I like the level look, but hate the sag. It's a truck, it should be usable. So I worked backwards.

I installed the coils without any spacers, then loaded it up to the max payload I knew it'd see, then measured how much rake was left. Then added spacer to the front to end up level at full load. The resulting rake unloaded is just what it is, but with heavy duty coils that rake is minimal because the sag is minimal to begin with.

If that makes sense.


I also adjusted my headlights with it fully loaded but unloaded now they're too low, tbh. I need to point them back up some.

I wonder if the headlights are electronically vertically-adjustable on the European/Australian models? They are on Jeeps as old as the TJ. I'd love to confirm and figure out the part numbers to retrofit the ability, if so. I don't know why that's not a more common feature in the US. My woman's Subaru BRZ even had a scroll wheel on the dash to vertically adjust the headlights, as if that car ever changes in ride height front/rear. Every truck should come standard with the feature, imo.

::edit::
seems like they're auto-leveling in other markets now. That sounds like it's probably more involved than just wiring in a servo.

I had a Grand Cherokee with auto leveling HIDs. I eventually bypassed the system because they were troublesome.

 

[BlueScapegoat]

I had a Grand Cherokee with auto leveling HIDs. I eventually bypassed the system because they were troublesome.

I believe it. I'd like some that are manually adjustable from inside.

 

[DanW]

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.

I'm with you. I kept a little rake on my JL for the same reason. It squats when loaded. I tow a boat and when off-roading, carry a bunch of gear.

 

[Zachanadandy]

I'm with you. I kept a little rake on my JL for the same reason. It squats when loaded. I tow a boat and when off-roading, carry a bunch of gear.

Some of the guys on the jl forum are even more neurotic. "It’s a half inch low on the passenger front"? Odds are you drive your jeep solo a lot, it takes ~150-180lbs per corner depending on the springs to compress the suspension a full inch. Y'all are out here obsessing over a treasure measure. Your 1/2" lean toward the passenger side goes away when you get in the drivers seat.

 

[DanW]

Some of the guys on the jl forum are even more neurotic. "It’s a half inch low on the passenger front"? Odds are you drive your jeep solo a lot, it takes ~150-180lbs per corner depending on the springs to compress the suspension a full inch. Y'all are out here obsessing over a treasure measure. Your 1/2" lean toward the passenger side goes away when you get in the drivers seat.

Oh yeah, I've seen those threads, Lol. It's a softly sprung vehicle and I guess they just aren't used to that. They need to quit staring at them and drive them! Lol!

 

[BajaTym]

… For those who leveled their trucks empty, do you just drive around with the Carolina squat… ?

I can’t contribute much, but I’ll say these “lifted” trucks crack me up!

8” lift in front, stock in rear, 24” wheels, and low profile tires , that when combined with the wheels cost more than the truck! When my kids were in High School they called it the “dirty diaper”!!! Since then, that’s all I see, poop-filled diapers dragging butts to the ground!!

?

Growing up in the Southern California High Desert in the 80s and early 90s, we all lifted our trucks, canted 1-2 in the rear. At the time, we were trying to copy the Baja/Trophy truck look. I can’t tell you why these kids are doing this.

 

[IzzyO]

Looks great. It's nice that you had a good place to do the work (inside). I installed this same lift this past summer on my driveway. I also installed the high capacity springs with it. I can literally have my entire rig loaded up (along with bed rack & full size tent) and even a utility trailer with 2 ATVS and it still has the rake. If I was ambitious I would go back and add the spacer but after doing the lift by myself over the course of a couple days I'm okay not revisiting it.

I will also say that this lift along with the rear hell wig sway bar made this jeep much more enjoyable to drive.

 

[Sperger]

Well, with 37s, no re-gear, I'm getting great gas mileage still and cruised at 70-80 on the highway. The AEV procal snap for recalibration and shift point change....and the BFG ko2 are very light, and a little narrow, so not a lot of drag on the pavement....

Things to consider...
Or just go spacer lift and 35s....just couldn't do 35s when almost all of them weigh the same,....

It worked out. Good luck with your decisions...

How bad was the AEV procal install?

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