Choosing a lift

[Swampman]

Had my Gladiator for a couple months now and ready to install a mild lift . I've set a budget at about 2k for this . My local Jeep dealer will sell me the mopar kit for $1300 , which i would add a front track bar and synergy sector shaft brace to. The other interesting option is the superlift kits with fox shocks a little less than 2k . or the ready lift with Falcon shocks . Until this Jeep is a few years old i likely will not wheel it hard if at all as i have a yj on tons and 38's for that . Seems like the popular stuff for these is Clayton , rock krawler , readylift and metal cloak . What i don't want to do is throw away money and regret it , nor downgrade in shocks as alot of kits have cheap one's.
Looking for good advice based on these concerns and limitations , or especially any reasons not to go with the Mopar or Superlift as that is what im leaning towards .

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[Wheelin98TJ]

I went with the Clayton 2.5" Ride Right. I think it's the best value in the price range you're looking to spend.

I wouldn't want to use Superlift suspension links. I don't trust whatever they're using for bushings.

I considered the Mopar kit, but didn't like how the arms are fixed length.

 

[Swampman]

I went with the Clayton 2.5" Ride Right. I think it's the best value in the price range you're looking to spend.

I wouldn't want to use Superlift suspension links. I don't trust whatever they're using for bushings.

I considered the Mopar kit, but didn't like how the arms are fixed length.

my hangup there is
1. no shocks
2. track bar not adjustable without removing one end .

what did you choose for shocks ?

 

[sass JT]

You pay for what you get imo… sure $2 k is a lot of $$$ but you did say you didn’t want to throw money away.

I did a full 3.5” MC lift, full steering components replace and falcon Shocks adjustable shocks and I travel a crapload for work (700 miles one way every two weeks). But hey it’s your jeep and you have a backup vehicle.
Enjoy it.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

my hangup there is
1. no shocks
2. track bar not adjustable without removing one end .

what did you choose for shocks ?

I went with Bilstein 5100.

 

[DTJB]

I had the same predicament… I decided against mopar because of the fixed lower control arms, if plans changed down the road I’d be throwing it all away. I ended up going with EVO springs and track bars, fox shocks 3-4” lift, and Clayton control arms… all in I was just over your budget by $300-$400… got more lift than the mopar, have adjustable upper and lower front control arms, enough shock to handle more rear spring or rear spacer, adjustable track bars and a good ride. With room to grow if I want to change things up.

 

[ilmostro]

AEV Dualsport 2.5"

 

[Swampman]

I had the same predicament… I decided against mopar because of the fixed lower control arms, if plans changed down the road I’d be throwing it all away. I ended up going with EVO springs and track bars, fox shocks 3-4” lift, and Clayton control arms… all in I was just over your budget by $300-$400… got more lift than the mopar, have adjustable upper and lower front control arms, enough shock to handle more rear spring or rear spacer, adjustable track bars and a good ride. With room to grow if I want to change things up.

Thanks , im considering doing something similar and piecing together a kit. i really just can't find everthing i want in one package . i really want the Rock Krawler triangulated rear 4 link so i can ditch the rear track bar.

 

[21WhiteRubi]

I went AEV DualSport 2.5" with an added AEV steering stabilizer and a Yeti Steer Smarts front trackbar. Adjustable on the jeep (although I need a pipe wrench to move it once it got tight).

I installed it myself one day. Just make sure you have a good (large) torque wrench as the front lower LCAs and the Geo Correction Brackets take 190 ft lbs.

It retains the factory rake (which I am ok with) and rides very nice so far. No worries about adding any weight/towing with their kit. Pretty well engineered.

$2,200, so just over your budget. Only thing you don't get is control arms, but the geo correction brackets are nice to retain the factory angles and reset caster.

 

[Swampman]

You pay for what you get imo… sure $2 k is a lot of $$$ but you did say you didn’t want to throw money away.

I did a full 3.5” MC lift, full steering components replace and falcon Shocks adjustable shocks and I travel a crapload for work (700 miles one way every two weeks). But hey it’s your jeep and you have a backup vehicle.
Enjoy it.

I like alot of the metalcloak stuff , especially the control arms . But i think i want a different brand of track bar and i hate those stacked pads metalcloak uses for rear bump stop extensions , they look like poop .

 

[Swampman]

I went AEV DualSport 2.5" with an added AEV steering stabilizer and a Yeti Steer Smarts front trackbar. Adjustable on the jeep (although I need a pipe wrench to move it once it got tight).

I installed it myself one day. Just make sure you have a good (large) torque wrench as the front lower LCAs and the Geo Correction Brackets take 190 ft lbs.

It retains the factory rake (which I am ok with) and rides very nice so far. No worries about adding any weight/towing with their kit. Pretty well engineered.

$2,200, so just over your budget. Only thing you don't get is control arms, but the geo correction brackets are nice to retain the factory angles and reset caster.

thanks ,
yeah the drop brackets for the front are something i have in consideration as well .
couple hundred over budget isn't a big deal , but i would like some quality falcon or fox shocks included .

 

[Swampman]

After considering this all day, looking at options and prices, im pretty sure im gonna go with the mopar kit. I think it's well worth the 1300. then add metal cloak lower control arms and synergy ft track bar, that will get me lifted now and ill add the rock krawler triangulated rear kit later after my wallet recovers.

 

[glassjawkid32]

I went with Bilstein 5100.

How are they? I was looking into these just yesterday and I found a good amount of posters across different forums saying the were too stiff if you DD.

 

[Oneshotlucky]

I went with the Clayton 2.5" Ride Right. I think it's the best value in the price range you're looking to spend.

I wouldn't want to use Superlift suspension links. I don't trust whatever they're using for bushings.

I considered the Mopar kit, but didn't like how the arms are fixed length.

I’m going with MC 3.5 game changer complete. Local 4x4 shop is going to adjust it down to 2.5, I can go taller later if needed. Adding in sway bar quick disconnects. All I’m gonna be 3,900 with labor. That also includes Adam’s Axle to replace stock. All in! I won’t have to mess with it for a very long time! Do it right once it’s worth spending the $$$ if you can!

 

[Pescatoral Pursuit]

Had my Gladiator for a couple months now and ready to install a mild lift . I've set a budget at about 2k for this . My local Jeep dealer will sell me the mopar kit for $1300 , which i would add a front track bar and synergy sector shaft brace to. The other interesting option is the superlift kits with fox shocks a little less than 2k . or the ready lift with Falcon shocks . Until this Jeep is a few years old i likely will not wheel it hard if at all as i have a yj on tons and 38's for that . Seems like the popular stuff for these is Clayton , rock krawler , readylift and metal cloak . What i don't want to do is throw away money and regret it , nor downgrade in shocks as alot of kits have cheap one's.
Looking for good advice based on these concerns and limitations , or especially any reasons not to go with the Mopar or Superlift as that is what im leaning towards .

Practically speaking, there isn't much difference between the various lift kits, but... there's a big difference in shocks.
I too spent a while researching and deciding on a lift kit. Once you sort through brand identity, they really come down to spring rate. Do you want a firmer ride or a softer one?
I chose a Skyjacker 3.5"/ 2" gas kit for my diesel with adjustable Falcon piggyback shocks. If and when I want a softer ride, it's there. If I want a firmer ride, I've got that also.
My Gladiator which used to bottom out going over a dime, now laughs at speed bumps.

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