New to lift kits - Need help with choosing the right one

[immaechu]

Hi,

I am putting the down payment tomorrow and picking up a Sport S Sting Gray next Monday. This will be my first lift-able truck. I have a forester too but, I just through on 2" spacers.

I want to do a 2.5 or 3" lift or whatever would fit 35s with no rubbing issues. This will be used as a daily shop truck as well as a weekend adventurer. I don't plan on doing any heavy rock crawling, but maybe in the future.

The Jeep will be coming with the Max Tow package, but even after reading about Dana 44, wider axles, gearing ratios, and watching a bunch of Youtube videos, I still have no idea what that all means. I come from a bagged stance community. This is all new to me. If you're wondering why I went for a Gladiator. Well... I want a Jeep and I need a truck for work. This is perfect!

I've searched around different sites that carry lift kits, but I don't know whats a brand to stay away from and whats quality but still affordable. I don't want to run a leveling kit again. Shock and spring combo is probably the way to go.

Need your guys' help. Thanks in advance

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[bastage]

Lots of good choices out there. Just as many bad ones too.. Generally you get what you pay for. So if you look at a 700 dollar lift that claims it does the same as a 2100 dollar lift you can be sure its craptastic in comparison.

Your in the right forum & even the right sub. Just go through the threads & see the discussions.

I think the most popular are probably RockKrawler, MetalCloak, Clayton & Alabama Mud Machine recommends Evo in almost every thread. I cant say which is best, but I dont think you would be unhappy with any of them. I can tell you I choose Clayton based on the local jeepers around me recommendations & them not being Gold (metalcloak was as highly recommended, but I didnt want gold parts to compliment my red truck).

 

[DeezJT]

Your max tow already have rear progressive coils in the rear which is already pretty good with load handling.

I suggest having a feel for the Jeep first before making any drastic changes. Build upon your end goal with a budget in mind. Many of us are seasoned jeepers and will help you build your Jeep.

welcome to the club

 

[bastage]

Build upon your end goal with a budget in mind.

Man this one I have a hard time with. I am new in the last few months & literally every part that I have taken budget into account for I have regretted. The stuff that I said screw the budget & just bought what I wanted though I am very happy with. Buy Once Cry Once.

So far new aftermarket stuff that I bought & I wanna replace is already in the 3500 dollar range.

 

[immaechu]

Lots of good choices out there. Just as many bad ones too.. Generally you get what you pay for. So if you look at a 700 dollar lift that claims it does the same as a 2100 dollar lift you can be sure its craptastic in comparison.

Your in the right forum & even the right sub. Just go through the threads & see the discussions.

I think the most popular are probably RockKrawler, MetalCloak, Clayton & Alabama Mud Machine recommends Evo in almost every thread. I cant say which is best, but I dont think you would be unhappy with any of them. I can tell you I choose Clayton based on the local jeepers around me recommendations & them not being Gold (metalcloak was as highly recommended, but I didnt want gold parts to compliment my red truck).

I looked into the Clayton kits. I honestly don't know what expensive and whats not.

 

[immaechu]

Your max tow already have rear progressive coils in the rear which is already pretty good with load handling.

I suggest having a feel for the Jeep first before making any drastic changes. Build upon your end goal with a budget in mind. Many of us are seasoned jeepers and will help you build your Jeep.

welcome to the club

yea I'll drive it for a while and then see where it goes. I don't want to spend an arm and a leg. Ride wise, It'll be a daily driver too

 

[bastage]

I looked into the Clayton kits. I honestly don't know what expensive and whats not.

As apples to apples as I could get I put this together before I bought mine a couple months ago. I didnt include anything with a "bad" rep.

 

[Factoid]

In general, the higher the lift, the worse the handling. No one has mentioned the Mopar lift, but for a daily driver it is a nice compromise and comes with new Fox shocks, plus it will be hard for the dealer to blame warrantee issues on you and your aftermarket “crap” if you stay in the family. Again, as your daily driver don’t go overboard on setting it up for sever rock crawling if 99% of the time you will use it as a DD.

 

[immaechu]

In general, the higher the lift, the worse the handling. No one has mentioned the Mopar lift, but for a daily driver it is a nice compromise and comes with new Fox shocks, plus it will be hard for the dealer to blame warrantee issues on you and your aftermarket “crap” if you stay in the family. Again, as your daily driver don’t go overboard on setting it up for sever rock crawling if 99% of the time you will use it as a DD.

Okay yea I will check out the Mopar lift. Definitely wont be going the rock crawling setups. Its way out of my budget anyways.

 

[Alabama Mud Machine]

Hi,

I am putting the down payment tomorrow and picking up a Sport S Sting Gray next Monday. This will be my first lift-able truck. I have a forester too but, I just through on 2" spacers.

I want to do a 2.5 or 3" lift or whatever would fit 35s with no rubbing issues. This will be used as a daily shop truck as well as a weekend adventurer. I don't plan on doing any heavy rock crawling, but maybe in the future.

The Jeep will be coming with the Max Tow package, but even after reading about Dana 44, wider axles, gearing ratios, and watching a bunch of Youtube videos, I still have no idea what that all means. I come from a bagged stance community. This is all new to me. If you're wondering why I went for a Gladiator. Well... I want a Jeep and I need a truck for work. This is perfect!

I've searched around different sites that carry lift kits, but I don't know whats a brand to stay away from and whats quality but still affordable. I don't want to run a leveling kit again. Shock and spring combo is probably the way to go.

Need your guys' help. Thanks in advance

Get this lift:

https://www.northridge4x4.com/part/...acturing-2-5in-enforcer-lift-kit-stage-2-plus

And look online for a cheap set of used Rubicon Fox takeoff shocks...

It's the most cost-effective way to get a badass setup.

 

[DeezJT]

in general, the higher the lift, more $$ is needed... Full control arms, and steering upgrades are needed, driveshafts, and more upgrades.

At 2.5-3.5 you don’t need much...front trackbar, front caster (UCA, LCA, or drop bracket), and rear LCA *optional to recenter the rear tire. With the JT’s long wheelbase, rear pinion (Rear UCA) adjustment isn’t much needed.

adjustable arms WILL not give u flex. It will bind less.

 

[DeezJT]

I agree with @bastage and @Alabama Mud Machine.
That evo kit is built right. Their arms are beefier than other big names competitors such as Rock Krawler.

You can also get it for 1420 from Morris4x4 this month. I just inquired recently. Gonna cash out on one of my investments and purchasing a kit this month.... most likely evo, but I’m in direct contact with Rusty asking them questions. If they say the right thing, then I’ll try em out.

 

[bastage]

I agree with @bastage and @Alabama Mud Machine.
That evo kit is built right. Their arms are beefier than other big names competitors such as Rock Krawler.

You can also get it for 1420 from Morris4x4 this month. I just inquired recently. Gonna cash out on one of my investments and purchasing a kit this month.... most likely evo, but I’m in direct contact with Rusty asking them questions. If they say the right thing, then I’ll try em out.

I just pointed out that Alabama would recommend them... & right on queue he did. As a bang for buck shopper I dont like Evo.

 

[immaechu]

Get this lift:

https://www.northridge4x4.com/part/...acturing-2-5in-enforcer-lift-kit-stage-2-plus

And look online for a cheap set of used Rubicon Fox takeoff shocks...

It's the most cost-effective way to get a badass setup.

are these the shocks you're talking about?

https://www.ebay.com/i/193588706413...MIysGPoqSF6wIVk8DACh1AHgk2EAQYASABEgIjZ_D_BwE

Yea i'll look into the Evo's too. I dont want to spend more than 1500 but if a little more then thats fine.

 

[immaechu]

Are the stock shocks good enough for the Evo's

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