Lowering suspension / ride height for easier access by wife?

[Wnnafsh]

I have a 2021 Rubicon. My wife has a difficult time trying to get in. From what I've seen our options are limited to some type of powered step or step incorporated into the running board or rocker guards. Has any one looked into lowering the Gladiator by changing out the coil springs. Maybe from a Sport or Overland model? Would this affect my 7K towing?

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[j.o.y.ride]

You would only get about 1-1.5" at best from swapping springs to a different trim that's less tall. You'd do best to find someone who just installed a lift from a Max Tow and get all their takeoff parts.

 

[XraytecH]

If you got the scratch…

 

[CerOf]

It will totally affect your towing and handling. Look into a step running board or power steps.

 

[j.o.y.ride]

It will totally affect your towing and handling. Look into a step running board or power steps.

If he gets Max Tow springs he will be just fine with towing. Perhaps even better.

 

[49Gramps]

My wife has bad hips, so I had hoped an Overland with the side steps would be OK for her. Nope! Wound up going to the Rockslide Engineering step sliders. I know, not cheap! But she gets in fine now, and now I can tack on a few inches!

 

[ShadowsPapa]

My wife has bad hips, so I had hoped an Overland with the side steps would be OK for her. Nope! Wound up going to the Rockslide Engineering step sliders. I know, not cheap! But she gets in fine now, and now I can tack on a few inches!

That's my situation - in her case, knees but hips not far behind. She asked me about steps - I told her the options. She thought the power ones were pricy - but didn't say no and sort of hinted "when we have the money."
But I like the Overland running boards - they do protect the side a bit from rocks and mud and salt spray. I proved that last winter. There was "running board shadow" along the side where the running boards blocked the sand and salt from the road - and likely rocks as well.

How was the install?

 

[CerOf]

If he gets Max Tow springs he will be just fine with towing. Perhaps even better.

If you add Rubi springs to a max tow or regular gladiator, you go up-1”.

If you go the other direction, you will drop more than 1”.

This is because the Rubi is heavier.

His up travel will most likely be reduced to something less than a regular gladiator and will affect his handling and towing. Hit a bump or imperfection in the road and he could be in to the bump stops, upsetting the vehicle.

Maxtow springs aren’t “magical” and several things go into a max tow’s rating.

My opinion is that the OP is better off going with power steps.

Or, I’d suggest a Honda Ridgeline.

 

[49Gramps]

That's my situation - in her case, knees but hips not far behind. She asked me about steps - I told her the options. She thought the power ones were pricy - but didn't say no and sort of hinted "when we have the money."
But I like the Overland running boards - they do protect the side a bit from rocks and mud and salt spray. I proved that last winter. There was "running board shadow" along the side where the running boards blocked the sand and salt from the road - and likely rocks as well.

How was the install?

Find a rig that's got them and is not overly tall and let the Wife try them. The off-road shop I frequent (Globex Performance, Toms River, NJ) has a shop Gladiator with them, so I took my wife there to try them out. She liked them better than the folding step stool we've used since I got my LJ in '06. As for the install, I read the instructions before ordering, so figured my best course of action was to pay for the installI

 

[LostWoods]

If you add Rubi springs to a max tow or regular gladiator, you go up-1”.

If you go the other direction, you will drop more than 1”.

This is because the Rubi is heavier.

His up travel will most likely be reduced to something less than a regular gladiator and will affect his handling and towing. Hit a bump or imperfection in the road and he could be in to the bump stops, upsetting the vehicle.

Maxtow springs aren’t “magical” and several things go into a max tow’s rating.

My opinion is that the OP is better off going with power steps.

Or, I’d suggest a Honda Ridgeline.

Most of the curb weight difference is in the tires (64lb Falken vs 39lb Bridgestone is 125lbs in tires alone) which does not impact ride height in any significant way. Swapping in max tow rears will result in functionally the same rear ride height and swapping the fronts will net about 3/4"-1" difference in front. Actual height difference at the passenger door will be less.

If OP swaps in Max Tow springs it will handle roughly like a Max Tow because there is nothing different underneath other than the shocks. The Fox Shocks on Max Tow springs are a great combination I ran for quite a while and it handled much better than stock. Up travel was not impacted even with 35 because they never rubbed and the bumps still hit before shocks bottomed out.

 

[Jaxmax]

I went with Rough Country contoured steps on my Mojave which is at least same or maybe little higher then your Rubicon, the step height is 17” to the steps now, same as my wife’s wrangler. The Mojave step over without steps is just over 24”, so going through changing the suspension for an inch is not really worth it, and won’t help. The Rough Country steps were about $375 when I got them, they are holding up good so far, some rust on the mounting hardware bolts, and my tires really throw rocks up, the steps get pinged pretty often. I don’t do hard core rock and steps still have plenty of clearence…….Jack

 

[Munkey Boy]

Get a taller wife. ?

 

[John Hursh]

My bride has knee and hip replacements. I keep a step stool from Walmart in the back seat of my Overland. Works just fine.

 

[Walter-new jeeper]

I have a 2021 Rubicon. My wife has a difficult time trying to get in. From what I've seen our options are limited to some type of powered step or step incorporated into the running board or rocker guards. Has any one looked into lowering the Gladiator by changing out the coil springs. Maybe from a Sport or Overland model? Would this affect my 7K towing?

I am a short guy at 5'6" with arthritic knees.

I have a Wrangler Rubicon with LOD rock slider/step - works well enough, but it is not lifted - yet. When I got my Gladiator Rubicon I also had the Mopar lift installed. I knew that the same setup on my Wrangler would not work so I went with the Rock Slide Engineering power step. Works great and makes it easy to get in and out. Also provides a nice place to set you coffee cup while putting stuff in when you need to free up a hand. Also, since the step retracts flush into the assembly, you do not need to worry about anything hanging down when you go off road.

 

[49Gramps]

My bride has knee and hip replacements. I keep a step stool from Walmart in the back seat of my Overland. Works just fine.

Wife also has both hips and knees (& shoulders). For 15 years I (1) opened the door (as a gentleman should), (2)reached into the back, (3) got out the step stool, (4)unfolded it, (5) placed it appropriately, (6)assisted my wife into the Jeep, (7)closed the door, then (8)folded up the stool, (9)placing it in the back as I got in the vehicle. Figured it was time to delete steps 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 9. So what if it cost as much as my first new car a half century ago!

Another upside is it makes it easier for this old fart to get in! I've often wondered if it was merely coincidence that my right hip bursitis started about the time I lifted my LJ....

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