All-around suspension recommendation for JTR with some extra weight

[dsundy]

Hey all,

Searched the forums but didn't see a great thread on this. Apologies if I missed something!

I have a JTR that I'm adding some weight to and I am overwhelmed with all of the suspension options out there.

Here are the deets: I'll be adding a SuperPacific camper and potentially a drawer system in the back. It'll be ~350-500lbs of added weight. Up front, I'll have a steel bumper + winch , so figure another 120-150lbs there. That's about it in terms of permanent weight. I have 35's and don't want to go bigger. I don't do any serious rock crawling, but live in Reno so I encounter both the desert of northeast NV and the rocky + technical trails in Tahoe.

I'm looking for a suspension that'll handle the extra weight and ideally make the truck drive smoother than it does today (stock suspension feels floaty and soft). Where should I start? Can I beef up the suspension without adding a ton of height? Can I just upgrade the shocks? Help!

TLDR: Hoping that someone can point me in the direction of a few lift / suspension options that will handle the weight and up my ride quality without adding a huge lift. I've never lifted a truck before, so I'm not sure where to start.

Signed,
An overwhelmed newbie

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[teamblkdog]

Hey all,

Searched the forums but didn't see a great thread on this. Apologies if I missed something!

I have a JTR that I'm adding some weight to and I am overwhelmed with all of the suspension options out there.

Here are the deets: I'll be adding a SuperPacific camper and potentially a drawer system in the back. It'll be ~350-500lbs of added weight. Up front, I'll have a steel bumper + winch , so figure another 120-150lbs there. That's about it in terms of permanent weight. I have 35's and don't want to go bigger. I don't do any serious rock crawling, but live in Reno so I encounter both the desert of northeast NV and the rocky + technical trails in Tahoe.

I'm looking for a suspension that'll handle the extra weight and ideally make the truck drive smoother than it does today (stock suspension feels floaty and soft). Where should I start? Can I beef up the suspension without adding a ton of height? Can I just upgrade the shocks? Help!

TLDR: Hoping that someone can point me in the direction of a few lift / suspension options that will handle the weight and up my ride quality without adding a huge lift. I've never lifted a truck before, so I'm not sure where to start.

Signed,
An overwhelmed newbie

Have you considered installing airbags? I have a similar situation, but I'm going with an Alucab Canopy Camper. It was recommended to me to wait on any suspension mods until after the camper has been installed, then do a shakedown trip to determine the best approach. I'm concerned about weight, of course, so I need to be conservative.

 

[squarefoot]

I am in the same boat too. I also have a Super Pacific camper ordered and expect between it and all the other camping equipment, I will be heavy. I just watched a video about air bags and looks interesting, but would prefer a simpler standard suspension system.

 

[dsundy]

Definitely planning to wait until the camper is installed to make changed, but wanted to start scoping some options. My goal is to keep this simple so I hadn't considered airbags just yet - would also prefer a more standard suspension if possible.

@squarefoot - nice to know there's another person who took the SP leap of faith! Hoping to see pictures of one mounted on a JT soon

 

[Moriarty]

Yah the Rubicon's are a little floaty. We have not lifted ours yet. Had to install ICON 1 3/8" billet blocks in the rear to compensate for 600# static weight.

Been on the forums for a while monitoring lifts etc. The factory Sport "MAX Tow" rear springs my work for you. There set-up to handle 400# tongue weight.

We are going with a 3" lift, so I have not actively been looking for a set of take-offs.

The factory shocks are terrible. We have 33k+ on them, yah there warn out.

Good luck & safe travels.

 

[syreeves]

Hi - I think you need to look at @Clayton Off Road - from what I understand their overland lift kits are designed to lift a JT that will carry a constant load. I have an old land rover and I added a terra firma HD liftkit that assumed 2 inches of lift with a constant load of 400lbs (basically steel bumpers front and rear, a winch, a tire carrier and a overlanding roof rack). The kit was brilliant and my understanding is that the @Clayton Off Road kit is supposed to do the same thing. Not sure on what constant load they assume. Check out: https://www.claytonoffroad.com/product/jeep-gladiator-35-overland-plus-lift-kit-2020-jt

 

[AmishMike]

Dan,
I have 35's on stock JTR suspension, with a Toro Skylux RTT mounted over the cab on a Werner bed rack from Home Crapo (until Dissent releases theirs). My biggest worry on the trails was clearance for the RTT. The RTT is 160 lbs., rack is 20, had 60-70 lbs of gear, luggage, cooler, 3 adults ~500lbs and a Warn 12S out front. Some decent trails at Rausch Creek (Crawler Ridge and Krawlin for COPS), with no problems.
I went with the Warn 12S because the synthetic line is much safer and gives you about a 30-35lb weight savings vs steel. I also used the Warn mounting plate and just modified the plastic bumper. I also use 'soft shackles', every little weight savings helps add up.

I don't get all the complaints about floaty suspension. It seems fine empty, with 800 lbs in the back, with a 4,500 lb trailer, I mean you notice the weight but not bad.

 

[Clayton Off Road]

Hi - I think you need to look at @Clayton Off Road - from what I understand their overland lift kits are designed to lift a JT that will carry a constant load. I have an old land rover and I added a terra firma HD liftkit that assumed 2 inches of lift with a constant load of 400lbs (basically steel bumpers front and rear, a winch, a tire carrier and a overlanding roof rack). The kit was brilliant and my understanding is that the @Clayton Off Road kit is supposed to do the same thing. Not sure on what constant load they assume. Check out: https://www.claytonoffroad.com/product/jeep-gladiator-35-overland-plus-lift-kit-2020-jt

Thanks for the shoutout! The kits are actually designed for a JT with or without a constant heavy load! Our Triple Rate rear springs help to provide a spring rate that is both excellent for unloaded daily driving and also a spring rate strong and capable enough of being able to withstand and maintain comfortable driving characteristics even when fully loaded up.

 

[dsundy]

Thanks for all of these replies. Lot's of helpful info to consider.

I checked out the Clayton kits, seems like a really solid product.

@Clayton Off Road - are the 2.5" kits a true 2.5" without extra weight? I'd love to beef up the suspension without adding much lift (or any at all). 2.5" is at the top end of I'd be looking to do. Any chance y'all make something smaller?

I'm probably the only guy here asking for a smaller lift, but I do have a garage to contend with haha

(edit for spelling)

 

[Clayton Off Road]

Thanks for all of these replies. Lot's of helpful info to consider.

I checked out the Clayton kits, seems like a really solid product.

@Clayton Off Road - are the 2.5" kits a true 2.5" without extra weight? I'd love to beef up the suspension without adding much lift (or any at all). 2.5" is at the top end of I'd be looking to do. Any chance y'all make something smaller?

I'm probably the only guy here asking for a smaller lift, but I do have a garage to contend with haha

(edit for spelling)

The kit sits slightly higher than 2.5", but we will be coming out with a 1.5" leveling kit pretty soon! Would work perfectly for somebody just looking for a little bit of extra lift to fit a little bit larger tires while maintaining proper suspension geometry!

 

[syreeves]

Thanks for the shoutout! The kits are actually designed for a JT with or without a constant heavy load! Our Triple Rate rear springs help to provide a spring rate that is both excellent for unloaded daily driving and also a spring rate strong and capable enough of being able to withstand and maintain comfortable driving characteristics even when fully loaded up.

Hey @Clayton Off Road - do you have kits that assume a constant load? Front bumper and winch and about 200lbs in the bed? So 400lb constant load -ish?

 

[hjdca]

Personally, I think Clayton has the weight issue figured out. On the 3.5" Overland Plus kit, I am running a steel bumper, warn winch, bull bar, lights, RSE step sliders with armor (very heavy stuff), and over 150 lbs of tools on my molle panels in the bed with a folding trifold tonneau cover. There is no sag on the front or back springs -- plenty of spacing before the bump stops. Gladiator seems pretty level. Here is a pic.

 

[Clayton Off Road]

Hey @Clayton Off Road - do you have kits that assume a constant load? Front bumper and winch and about 200lbs in the bed? So 400lb constant load -ish?

Any of our suspension systems will be able to handle that weight no problem! If you're going to be carrying 400 lbs or more just in the rear, we have alternative options for our kits if you give us a call to help out with some of those super heavy builds!

 

[syreeves]

Any of our suspension systems will be able to handle that weight no problem! If you're going to be carrying 400 lbs or more just in the rear, we have alternative options for our kits if you give us a call to help out with some of those super heavy builds!

Cool - I'm getting there and i know that when the time comes you are (as far as I can tell) one of the only companies taking constant load into consideration. Thank you1

 

[ssrgeoff]

Any of our suspension systems will be able to handle that weight no problem! If you're going to be carrying 400 lbs or more just in the rear, we have alternative options for our kits if you give us a call to help out with some of those super heavy builds!

Interested... DM sent.

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