2025 Jeep Gladiator Nighthawk 6 inch Rough Country Lift

[LaMuerta]

*Trigger warning* I'm sure this is likely to ruffle some feathers but here it goes

Bought this 2025 JT Nighthawk in May of 2025, and noticed in October the rear axle was leaking near where the diff and housing tube meet. Been a long wait for an axle replacement but the guys at SA Dodge got her up and running just in time for my lift install appointment.

It's been 30 days so I figured I'd post on here. Hoping this can help others trying to budget build and have a frame of reference for what is actually gained using this setup. I'll do follow ups to this with actual off-road use with pics.

She has all 8 adjustable control arms, front and rear track bars, HD tie rod, and drag link with flip from Core 4x4

6 inch lift from Rough Country with their front drive shaft

Metalcloak front sway bar quick disconnects

1.5 inch Teraflex carrier bearing spacer

Blue Fittipaldi 17 inch wheels

37X12.50 Atturo Trail Blade MTS tires

I had originally bought a 3.5 inch lift because that's what everyone told me I NEEDED. Well I'm glad the rear axle needed to be replaced because the lift install went on pause and it gave me time to actually see others around me with a 3.5 inch and it was NOT what I wanted. I did my homework and I got the parts needed to make a complete kit and I'm absolutely happy with it. Is it like driving on clouds, hell no. Is it better than stock, absolutely. It's no rock crawler, but it'll handle the trails I do several times a year and thats all I need. Bonus my teeth are my rattling out of my head either .

Because the RC kit is for a 2020-2023 I had to use different sway bar disconnects because in 2024 the bolt size changed. It was either JKS and cut the outer passenger tab off, or use the MC ones a friend gave me until I buy the apex auto lynx which need that outer tab.
So for future searches the RC kit will work on a 2025 just need to use different front sway bar disconnects.

Also to help others in future searches I am listing before and after measurements below. The measurements were taken on my 2025 JT Nighthawk from ground to fender at middle of wheel:

Pre Lift in street

Front 36 36
Back 37 37

After lift before new wheels and tires in street

Front 43 43
Back 43 43

After lift and 37x12.50r17 tires in the street

Front 45.5 45.5
Back 45.5 45.5

The two main things I've learned throughout my journey are:

Stop listening to what people say YOU NEED, and determine what it is that you want. Ultimately it's your vehicle, and you're the one that needs to be happy with it. Just make sure you don't cut corners, so get everything you need to make it drive right.

Stop listening to people's opinions about brands, I've run RC before and it's been just fine. This setup actually functions and feels so much better than the RC kit I had on my RAM. It seems as though RC had a bad reputation for a little while but came around in recent years. It just seems like it's always "My best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with the girl who runs an RC lift and she said it's trash." GTFO show me the proof.

Finally why I chose the brands I did:

Core 4x4 - you break it they replace it

RC - previous personal experience, warranty, and they are the only lift company I found that had warranty guard. Warranty guard covers you when factory warranty will not for $100 deductible.

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[LaMuerta]

The first trip on this setup was from San Antonio to Padre Island National Seashore. We convoyed down, drove off the blacktop, and used 4H the 40 miles down the beach to our campsite. We were coming in right at high tide so we had no hardpack to drive on, we were in the slop the entire 40 mile stretch. Jeep did great, never got stuck, no drive line vibrations, it really performed well. I did use the manual mode, as I noticed I was getting high RPMs and shifting wasn't exactly smooth when in some deep areas. The manual mode really helped keep the RPMs down, and I was able to stay in the proper gear for my speed.

 

[JmattNYC]

looks good and i wouldnt worry what people say, It's your Jeep do what you like to do with it.

 

[slodsm]

If it makes you happy, that’s all that matters. Looks good to me.

 

[LaMuerta]

looks good and i wouldnt worry what people say, It's your Jeep do what you like to do with it.

Thank you! I'm loving it!

 

[Jerhemi]

Do what you like. That said, needs bigger tires What gears are you running?

 

[LaMuerta]

Do what you like. That said, needs bigger tires What gears are you running?

Agree with you! Yeah with the 37s all said and done, I was like hmmm I need bigger . I would love to run even larger, but I think 40s would be ideal.

I'm glad you asked this. I have not regeared yet, it's on my "within 6 months" purchase list. Currently running the factory 3.73s.

I will say I previously had a 19 Ram 1500 3.6, with a 4 inch lift and 35s with 20 inch wheels. I was at 110lbs per corner on 3.55s.

With the JT I'm at 100lbs per corner on 37s, and actually have better performance than I did with the Ram.

I live in south Central Texas so mostly flat around here. Highway I can get to 8th sometimes, but mostly in 7th cruising at 70-75. Gas mileage at 70-75 I'm about 15-16.

Is it detrimental to my everyday well being, no. Could it be better, absolutely! So guy that did my lift will do my gears, likely revolution or spicer I think he said just depends on the deal at that time. Will go 5.13 so it gives me the ability to upsize those tires

 

[White Eagle]

Good stuff, my exact stomping grounds and favorite beach on the planet because of the freedom and solitude.

I have a hitch extension with flag holder I put on the rear hitch with my umbrella mounted.

The flag holder I use can fit a piece of pvc inside as a liner and the umbrella pole fits tighter. I also shorten the pole.

 

[LaMuerta]

Good stuff, my exact stomping grounds and favorite beach on the planet because of the freedom and solitude.

I have a hitch extension with flag holder I put on the rear hitch with my umbrella mounted.

It was my first time down PINS, I loved it! We went down for the Billy Sandifer cleanup. Very rewarding experience and everyone out there were great people.

 

[White Eagle]

It was my first time down PINS, I loved it! We went down for the Billy Sandifer cleanup. Very rewarding experience and everyone out there were great people.

You’ll go back

I go there at least once per month to change my latitude and attitude. Its not just a sunny day summertime place for me.

 

[LaMuerta]

First trip up to Hidden Falls Adventure Park was a huge success, no carnage for me and the RC lift proved to be just fine.






d2k4

 

[JLPeekaboo]

Still in great shape, but at the end of the day it's yours.

 

[Zachanadandy]

Agree with you! Yeah with the 37s all said and done, I was like hmmm I need bigger . I would love to run even larger, but I think 40s would be ideal.

This is why most recommend 3.5" of lift for 37s. If you're willing to go to 40s one day, then starting with the 6" makes some sense. We put the 3.5" lift on the wife's JLUR and ran the stock 35s for ~6 months. Looks way better on the 39s now. I'm ok looking like it skipped leg day for short term but wouldn't want it to look like that long term. Being you bought all the other parts from a much better company, the springs and shocks from rough country are OK. Personally if I was buying all the arms and steering links and sway bar discos I wouldn't have bought a kit at all. Springs and shocks are pretty much all you got from the kit (and the front drive shaft). On my JT I started with the AEV 2" spacer kit. I've since added geometry correction brackets up front, the triangulated 4 link in the rear, metalcloak sway bar disconnects, 3.5" springs, and their flipped drag link and raised track bar bracket. The bump stop spacers are all that's left from the original kit.

 

[Blade1668]

Definitely you do you and your wants / needs. Several days ago when I was having tires rotation and balance done, one guy there started trying to tell me what tires I need to get... because of what ever b.s. they think. The few brands and tread patterns are s### in my opinion, experience and highly over priced. A few of them are worse that aggressive MT on road and highly likely to hydroplane on wet roads. End point if they aren't buying it for you F### their opinion.

 

[DirkG]

Research consistently shows that a person’s favorite word is their own name. Opinions are shaped by individual desires and experiences. Focus on what you love. It certainly seems like you’re enjoying the process so far. Nice rig

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