AEV dualsport 2.5" actual height

[hickman785]

I'm looking at adding the AEV dualsport 2.5" lift but I'm concerned that it, like so many other falsely advertised lifts, is actually more than 2.5". Can anyone who has this kit tell me how much lift you actually gained?

I'm running 33's and definitely will not ever be adding bigger tires. If anything I'll be going down a half inch or so.

I do have several hundred pounds on the back of the truck and about 150 pounds on the front.

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[chorky]

I will have to go back through my files and see if I wrote it down, but being as this was my primary gripe with most lift companies as well I can say it is not a concern with the AEV.

 

[chorky]

I'm looking at adding the AEV dualsport 2.5" lift but I'm concerned that it, like so many other falsely advertised lifts, is actually more than 2.5". Can anyone who has this kit tell me how much lift you actually gained?

I'm running 33's and definitely will not ever be adding bigger tires. If anything I'll be going down a half inch or so.

I do have several hundred pounds on the back of the truck and about 150 pounds on the front.

Never got measurements I guess. Here's a photo for reference. AEV dual sport SD springs with stock 33" tires and 650 pounds of extra weight (canopy, RTT, batteries, etc.)

Here is the first pic ever - bone stock (well I think the soft top was in the bed before I realized it came with the JT).

 

[hickman785]

Thank you. That's not bad at all. My main concern is on road ride quality, but ride quality seems to be very different to me than most.
How does that kit with that much weight absorb road harshness, bumps, potholes etc? My current setup is made of multiple brands and the roads in middle TN are worse than most 3rd world countries so I'm constantly being beat to death everywhere I go.

 

[chorky]

Thank you. That's not bad at all. My main concern is on road ride quality, but ride quality seems to be very different to me than most.
How does that kit with that much weight absorb road harshness, bumps, potholes etc? My current setup is made of multiple brands and the roads in middle TN are worse than most 3rd world countries so I'm constantly being beat to death everywhere I go.

For reference I have a JTR which had the fox shocks from the factory that are known to be poor.

Yeah ride quality is super subjective and hard to explain. IMO it rides like it should have from the factory. I do have some additional components that may skew this explanation as well - teraflex progressive bump stops, and teraflex rear control arm relocation brackets, among track bars and steering sector shaft brace.

With the weight, it is controlled compared to stock. I do feel more of the 'tiny' bumps and road imperfections, but it is not harsh and not annoying. It is more like an actual truck. Larger bumps and dips are soaked up nicely, and rebound is simple without the continuing undulation the stock suspension gave. Body roll at speed on the highway is significantly less. I would say the ride is similar to a Ram 1500 actually. Off highway, you definitely feel the potholes more, but the offset is you feel like you are controlling the Gladiator rather than just going along for a ride and it controlling you. I have hit some potholes really hard by mistake and it makes you know, but it's not overly teeth rattling. The Bilsteins are a digressive shock. meaning they have high dampening at the start of compression/extension but as the piston moves more throughout its range or with more force it becomes softer. So this translates into the 'small' uneven bumps in the road (like a bolt on a bridge or pavement transition) to be felt more, but overall with the major potholes, being as it puts the shock in the mid range of movement, does not feel harsh. On more of a 'whoops' style bump/dip the suspension travel is excellent. I do hit the bump stops often (because now I am much heavier and have not yet installed HD springs) but the progressive bump stops have performed awesome! They're a not so serious version of hydro or air stop typically used in racing applications. They also are a direct fit and do not require cutting and welding and permanent modifications like a hydro/air stop.

If you mostly do daily driving some other options to consider are Ebiach and some other company that makes a 'foam cell' shock. There is talk about it on this forum and people who never really hit dirt seem to have been happy with those choices - they also to my understanding offer a 2" maximum lift, so up your alley I think.

 

[hickman785]

For reference I have a JTR which had the fox shocks from the factory that are known to be poor.

Yeah ride quality is super subjective and hard to explain. IMO it rides like it should have from the factory. I do have some additional components that may skew this explanation as well - teraflex progressive bump stops, and teraflex rear control arm relocation brackets, among track bars and steering sector shaft brace.

With the weight, it is controlled compared to stock. I do feel more of the 'tiny' bumps and road imperfections, but it is not harsh and not annoying. It is more like an actual truck. Larger bumps and dips are soaked up nicely, and rebound is simple without the continuing undulation the stock suspension gave. Body roll at speed on the highway is significantly less. I would say the ride is similar to a Ram 1500 actually. Off highway, you definitely feel the potholes more, but the offset is you feel like you are controlling the Gladiator rather than just going along for a ride and it controlling you. I have hit some potholes really hard by mistake and it makes you know, but it's not overly teeth rattling. The Bilsteins are a digressive shock. meaning they have high dampening at the start of compression/extension but as the piston moves more throughout its range or with more force it becomes softer. So this translates into the 'small' uneven bumps in the road (like a bolt on a bridge or pavement transition) to be felt more, but overall with the major potholes, being as it puts the shock in the mid range of movement, does not feel harsh. On more of a 'whoops' style bump/dip the suspension travel is excellent. I do hit the bump stops often (because now I am much heavier and have not yet installed HD springs) but the progressive bump stops have performed awesome! They're a not so serious version of hydro or air stop typically used in racing applications. They also are a direct fit and do not require cutting and welding and permanent modifications like a hydro/air stop.

If you mostly do daily driving some other options to consider are Ebiach and some other company that makes a 'foam cell' shock. There is talk about it on this forum and people who never really hit dirt seem to have been happy with those choices - they also to my understanding offer a 2" maximum lift, so up your alley I think.

Yeah I currently have the Eibach shocks, which is like saying I don't have any shocks at all. The two shops that inspected the truck in the last two weeks have both been speechless on how little these shocks seem to do. Luckily shock surplus is helping me out with them.
I have the Sumo Springs in the rear and plan to add them up front. I've also added LCA geometry correction brackets and front and rear track bar brackets...I plan to also add the Teraflex rear control arm brackets.

Do you think if you added some front adjustable LCAs the tiny bumps would be soaked up any better? Im a fan of adjustable LCAs paired with geometry correction brackets even though most people aren't.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Yeah I currently have the Eibach shocks, which is like saying I don't have any shocks at all. The two shops that inspected the truck in the last two weeks have both been speechless on how little these shocks seem to do. Luckily shock surplus is helping me out with them.
I have the Sumo Springs in the rear and plan to add them up front. I've also added LCA geometry correction brackets and front and rear track bar brackets...I plan to also add the Teraflex rear control arm brackets.

Do you think if you added some front adjustable LCAs the tiny bumps would be soaked up any better? Im a fan of adjustable LCAs paired with geometry correction brackets even though most people aren't.

Adjustable arms won't do anything for how it handles bumps.

 

[MattK]

Remember that this lift is meant for weight which is sounds like you have front and rear. (winch, steel bumpers, etc etc).

If you get a lot of weight, like overloading amount of weight, they have the HD springs and remote reservoir shocks.

 

[Hollandbriscoe]

Here is my diesel Rubi with the AEV 2.5” lift sitting on 37” ko2’s.

 

[aevgladitorrubi]

I'm looking at adding the AEV dualsport 2.5" lift but I'm concerned that it, like so many other falsely advertised lifts, is actually more than 2.5". Can anyone who has this kit tell me how much lift you actually gained?

I'm running 33's and definitely will not ever be adding bigger tires. If anything I'll be going down a half inch or so.

I do have several hundred pounds on the back of the truck and about 150 pounds on the front.

AEV 2.5" lift is a healthy 3"-- and your 33" tires will look ridiculously small. I have a 2.5" lift with 35s and upgraded to 37" bc even the 35s IMHO looked way too small...

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