Build Recommendations

[OregonGladiator]

Just ordered my JT Rubicon (Sarge Green, Dark Saddle Leather). This is my 3rd Jeep. I'm trading in my JL or the JT. My JL sits on 35" Cooper STTs with no lift. I've never had any issues, but I wasn't doing black diamond obstacles either.

Looking for recommendations. I'm planning on 37s for the Gladiator. Local performance shop says I need a 5" lift for full articulation. I told them I'm not going to be aggressive obstacle in this, so they said a 3" lift would be ok. They quoted me Mickey Thompson 37s + a $3600 3" lift (forget the brand name). I'm not looking for a cheap kit, I'd like a full kit, but $3600 seems a bit steep if I'm not aggressive obstacle. This will be mostly back country roads, beach/sand, and snow.

Mostly want an enjoyable ride for the wife and dog. I just got back from a cross country trip in the JL (Oregon to Florida and back, with a stop in Moab, UT). The JL was fine with 35s and no lift, but I suspect it'll be different on 37s, and that'll require a lift anyways.

Recommendations appreciated.

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[Renegade]

Find a new shop if they are recommending a 5" lift for 37s, as they apparently aren't familiar with the JL/JT platform. Based on your stated use, it sounds like you should look for a 2"-3" lift in the $1,000-$2,000 price range. There are lots of options in that category.

 

[Tuggernuts]

Find a new shop if they are recommending a 5" lift for 37s, as they apparently aren't familiar with the JL/JT platform. Based on your stated use, it sounds like you should look for a 2"-3" lift in the $1,000-$2,000 price range. There are lots of options in that category.

^^^^This^^^^

 

[tjbrown23]

You only need a 2 inch lift for 37s and the proportions look great and no rubbing. The mopar lift with the fox shocks and add a steersmarts adjustable track bar will ride almost like stock and cost about $1,500. I also have 37x12.5r17 Cooper STT Pros.

 

[tjbrown23]

You only need a 2 inch lift for 37s and the proportions look great and no rubbing. The mopar lift with the fox shocks and add a steersmarts adjustable track bar will ride almost like stock and cost about $1,500. I also have 37x12.5r17 Cooper STT Pros.

Also, with the mopar lift if you get it dealer installed you won't void the warranty and the lift is included in the 3 year 36k warranty.

 

[Moe_Fugga]

Just ordered my JT Rubicon (Sarge Green, Dark Saddle Leather). This is my 3rd Jeep. I'm trading in my JL or the JT. My JL sits on 35" Cooper STTs with no lift. I've never had any issues, but I wasn't doing black diamond obstacles either.

Looking for recommendations. I'm planning on 37s for the Gladiator. Local performance shop says I need a 5" lift for full articulation. I told them I'm not going to be aggressive obstacle in this, so they said a 3" lift would be ok. They quoted me Mickey Thompson 37s + a $3600 3" lift (forget the brand name). I'm not looking for a cheap kit, I'd like a full kit, but $3600 seems a bit steep if I'm not aggressive obstacle. This will be mostly back country roads, beach/sand, and snow.

Mostly want an enjoyable ride for the wife and dog. I just got back from a cross country trip in the JL (Oregon to Florida and back, with a stop in Moab, UT). The JL was fine with 35s and no lift, but I suspect it'll be different on 37s, and that'll require a lift anyways.

Recommendations appreciated.

They’re trying to bend you over and run it in deeeeep.....

You can run 37s on a JTR with 2 inches of lift with no issue. You can get a 2 inch Mopar Lift in the low $1000s. Do some research on kits and don’t listen to those assholes. Find a new shop while you’re researching parts.

 

[OregonGladiator]

This is great feedback. Thank you and keep it coming. It could be the shop was trying to gauge how much they could get out of me.

I agree 2 to 3 inch is where I think I should be. Is the Mopar lift good? I’ve heard good and bad, and some Mopar parts are incredibly overpriced (though not voiding warranty is a good thing).

 

[tjbrown23]

This is great feedback. Thank you and keep it coming. It could be the shop was trying to gauge how much they could get out of me.

I agree 2 to 3 inch is where I think I should be. Is the Mopar lift good? I’ve heard good and bad, and some Mopar parts are incredibly overpriced (though not voiding warranty is a good thing).

I have 1500 miles on mine so far with 37s and the ride is slightly stiffer than stock but not by much. May be attributed to the tires. The fox shocks are much beefier than the Rubicon shocks and ride smoother than my stock Nissan titan pro4x with bilstien shocks. A lot of people bash the mopar lift because it doesn't have adjustable control arms, or adjustable shocks and doesnt have an adjustable track bar. But if you plan to stay with the mopar lift and stay in the 2-3 inch range adding a steersmarts adjustable track bar is all you need to make it ride great.

Also, if your thinking the 2 inch Mopar doesn't sound like it's enough, it's actually more like 2.5 or 3.5. That's even on a rubicon with a steel bumper, winch, rockslide engineering steps that way a ton and the decked system in the bed.

 

[Moe_Fugga]

This is great feedback. Thank you and keep it coming. It could be the shop was trying to gauge how much they could get out of me.

I agree 2 to 3 inch is where I think I should be. Is the Mopar lift good? I’ve heard good and bad, and some Mopar parts are incredibly overpriced (though not voiding warranty is a good thing).

So you can gauge prices, I paid $1800 for a JKS 3.5 lift (3.5 front and 2 rear) installed. That was with the JKS shocks (not upgraded Fox shocks) and JKS front lower control arms. I then bought four 17inch Fuel Wheels and 35inch Toyo tires for $2200 installed.

I liked the JKS lift for the dual rate coils instead of the linear coils in the Mopar Kit. The JKS kit also included an adjustable front track bar where the Mopar kit didn’t. They coils should hold weight better and the track bar centered the axle. I’m not saying the Mopar kit isn’t as good, but there was more bang for the buck IMO with the JKS kit. The ride is more firm than stock, but it took out the bounciness of the factory Sport S suspension and now it handles body movement much better. Less bounce and less body roll in corners was a win for me.

 

[OregonGladiator]

ok. looking around and doing more research, here's where I'm at.

- Mopar 2" Lift Kit with FOX Shocks
vs
- Rock Krawler 3" Pro-X 'No Limits' Stage 1

2 very different lifts, with the rock krawler basically double the price. however, its a vastly more complete kit and addresses almost everything I'd need to consider... I struggle with if I need that much for my use case, but living in Oregon where OHV areas stretch forever with black diamond trails... who knows?

It'll sit on Vision 111 Nemesis Wheels (Gunmetal) + 37" Mickey Thompson Baja MTX P3

Then I need to look at front bumpers/winch. I have a Poison Spyder Bruiser w/ front skid on my JL. I love the bumper, but truth be told, when I mounted it, I barely had 3 threads to bolt into, which always made me feel nervous. I've winched out multiple times, recovered others, and nothing bad ever happened, but...

I'm looking at a Fab Fours Lifestyle bumper. Like the look, but not sure I want to go from stubby to full size.

The feedback is wonderful. I want to build this right, so please... opinions welcome.


Pictures of my current JL that I'll be trading in when my JT arrives.

 

[Renegade]

So you can gauge prices, I paid $1800 for a JKS 3.5 lift (3.5 front and 2 rear) installed. That was with the JKS shocks (not upgraded Fox shocks) and JKS front lower control arms. I then bought four 17inch Fuel Wheels and 35inch Toyo tires for $2200 installed.

I liked the JKS lift for the dual rate coils instead of the linear coils in the Mopar Kit. The JKS kit also included an adjustable front track bar where the Mopar kit didn’t. They coils should hold weight better and the track bar centered the axle. I’m not saying the Mopar kit isn’t as good, but there was more bang for the buck IMO with the JKS kit. The ride is more firm than stock, but it took out the bounciness of the factory Sport S suspension and now it handles body movement much better. Less bounce and less body roll in corners was a win for me.

And you can add Mopar lower arms for $60 instead of using the cam locks in the JKS kit. I’ve installed one this way on a friend’s JT, and it worked well.

 

[tjbrown23]

ok. looking around and doing more research, here's where I'm at.

- Mopar 2" Lift Kit with FOX Shocks
vs
- Rock Krawler 3" Pro-X 'No Limits' Stage 1

2 very different lifts, with the rock krawler basically double the price. however, its a vastly more complete kit and addresses almost everything I'd need to consider... I struggle with if I need that much for my use case, but living in Oregon where OHV areas stretch forever with black diamond trails... who knows?

It'll sit on Vision 111 Nemesis Wheels (Gunmetal) + 37" Mickey Thompson Baja MTX P3

Then I need to look at front bumpers/winch. I have a Poison Spyder Bruiser w/ front skid on my JL. I love the bumper, but truth be told, when I mounted it, I barely had 3 threads to bolt into, which always made me feel nervous. I've winched out multiple times, recovered others, and nothing bad ever happened, but...

I'm looking at a Fab Fours Lifestyle bumper. Like the look, but not sure I want to go from stubby to full size.

The feedback is wonderful. I want to build this right, so please... opinions welcome.


Pictures of my current JL that I'll be trading in when my JT arrives.

After 1500 miles on my mopar lift and track bar I couldn't imagine spending double for the same or a similar lift. The mopar lift isn't less capable then the aftermarket offerings it just doesn't have the adjustability. Which if designed correctly you don't need adjustable components.

If I were to spend more, it would be for a 4 in or larger lift for additional clearance and flex. If you don't plan on hard-core offroading the mopar lift and fox shocks will be perfect and not break the bank and won't sacrifice on road comfort.

 

[Moe_Fugga]

And you can add Mopar lower arms for $60 instead of using the cam locks in the JKS kit. I’ve installed one this way on a friend’s JT, and it worked well.

Yeah I saw that option after the fact haha Probably would have saved a few $$, but it is what it is.

 

[JK4AER]

I just installed the AEV 2.5" Lift and am running 35s (already had them) but could easily run 37s. I've only had the lift for a couple days but it rides great.

 

[blau iii]

You only need a 2 inch lift for 37s and the proportions look great and no rubbing. The mopar lift with the fox shocks and add a steersmarts adjustable track bar will ride almost like stock and cost about $1,500. I also have 37x12.5r17 Cooper STT Pros.

Are those the JK Saltas? Any issues putting them on? I'm torn, I really like the saltas but keep going back to the JT specific pintlers. Those are flat black, right? I'm about to order a hydro blue JTR and was leaning towards Onyx.

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