Clayton Off Road JT Suspension Systems

[msmorales150]

You can’t go wrong with either brand. They’re very similar. Clayton is marketed more towards overlanding and load carrying and metalcloak more towards flex and maximum offroad performance. Both companies are similar in spring rate so would ride similar if using the same shock. Metalcloaks zinc coating on their arms resists corrosion very well but will fade from gold to silver over time unless a clear coat is applied.

Good stuff! Maybe you can help me out with one last question…
My current situation is that I have a full-size cargo rack, a dometic rooftop tent that I’m planning to install, as well as a decked drawer system with recovery gear. At any given point I’m probably caring about an extra 500 pounds above the rear axle on the daily, and for the few instances where I do go camping with it, I typically load up the bed with Milwaukee pack outs loaded with camping gear adding several hundred additional pounds. Not a ton of Off Road, but I do own an opus OP4 camper with a gross weight of around 4500 pounds so it’s probably adding about 1500 pounds at the hitch when I am towing it. I want to avoid significant settling from the additional weight, so I’m thinking I want coils that are on the beefier side. As far as the front suspension is concerned, it’s a gas engine and I’m planning to add a winch and a steel bumper, so I’m probably looking at around 150 additional pounds which is not crazy compared to a diesel but still worth considering. Any thoughts on which kit might offer Stiffer coils to accommodate the extra weight without settling significantly?

Sponsored

 

[gearhead22]

Good stuff! Maybe you can help me out with one last question…
My current situation is that I have a full-size cargo rack, a dometic rooftop tent that I’m planning to install, as well as a decked drawer system with recovery gear. At any given point I’m probably caring about an extra 500 pounds above the rear axle on the daily, and for the few instances where I do go camping with it, I typically load up the bed with Milwaukee pack outs loaded with camping gear adding several hundred additional pounds. Not a ton of Off Road, but I do own an opus OP4 camper with a gross weight of around 4500 pounds so it’s probably adding about 1500 pounds at the hitch when I am towing it. I want to avoid significant settling from the additional weight, so I’m thinking I want coils that are on the beefier side. As far as the front suspension is concerned, it’s a gas engine and I’m planning to add a winch and a steel bumper, so I’m probably looking at around 150 additional pounds which is not crazy compared to a diesel but still worth considering. Any thoughts on which kit might offer Stiffer coils to accommodate the extra weight without settling significantly?

Just about every kit on the market for a gladiator is designed with a metal bumper and winch in mind for the front. As for the rear, with that much weight I would recommend getting HD coils from whichever manufacturer you decide to go with. Clayton has specific HD coils. I believe Metalcloak does as well. Also, look into the AEV 3” kit. AEV is made for the purpose of carrying extra weight, they’re very good in this regard. With the AEV kit you would probably want to add a couple extra parts such as track bars and maybe control arms. They include drop brackets instead of control arms.

 

[msmorales150]

Awesome, I appreciate all your help bud!

 

[Dougstdig]

Hi, thank you for clarifying which setup/kit each of these vehicles have.
I like the look of the Rubicon with the 37’s, I have a ‘23 JT Willy’s and I am getting ready to install 37s on it. I believe that the Rubicons come from the factory with about an extra inch of lift versus the sport and willys.
If I were to use the same 3.5 inch lift kit, can I expect the same net height as the Rubicon after it is all said and done or would my JT sit at a lower height than the Rubicon with the same lift kit installed on it?

For reference, this is the diesel overland 2.5 kit with 37’s…

If I’m not mistaken, the Willis comes with standard fender flairs…not the high-line. You would need the 3.5 lift for 37’s or source you some Rubicon take off’s from the interwebs.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

but I do own an opus OP4 camper with a gross weight of around 4500 pounds so it’s probably adding about 1500 pounds at the hitch when I am towing it.

I hope not! 1500 pounds tongue weight is well over double your rating. You risk some real damage not to mention you want about 10% of the trailer weight at the tongue, not 30% of it.
You may end up busting the frame if you really mean 1500 pounds of tongue weight from that trailer. (you said 1500 at the hitch - that's tongue weight)

 

[gearhead22]

I hope not! 1500 pounds tongue weight is well over double your rating. You risk some real damage not to mention you want about 10% of the trailer weight at the tongue, not 30% of it.
You may end up busting the frame if you really mean 1500 pounds of tongue weight from that trailer. (you said 1500 at the hitch - that's tongue weight)

A 4500 pound trailer isn’t going to have 1500lbs of tongue weight. Most are manufactured with the expectation of 10-15% weight at the tongue for obvious safety reasons. He’s probably looking at 700 on the high end or less. The AEV kit is designed to add to the factory carrying capacity in terms of suspension.

 

[Clayton Off Road]

Hi, thank you for clarifying which setup/kit each of these vehicles have.
I like the look of the Rubicon with the 37’s, I have a ‘23 JT Willy’s and I am getting ready to install 37s on it. I believe that the Rubicons come from the factory with about an extra inch of lift versus the sport and willys.
If I were to use the same 3.5 inch lift kit, can I expect the same net height as the Rubicon after it is all said and done or would my JT sit at a lower height than the Rubicon with the same lift kit installed on it?

Pretty much! The only difference is if you have the non-Rubicon style fenders you would be able to run 37s with the 3.5" kit, and if you did have the Rubicon style fenders you could run up to 39s!

 

[ShadowsPapa]

A 4500 pound trailer isn’t going to have 1500lbs of tongue weight. Most are manufactured with the expectation of 10-15% weight at the tongue for obvious safety reasons. He’s probably looking at 700 on the high end or less. The AEV kit is designed to add to the factory carrying capacity in terms of suspension.

Isn't that pretty much what I suggested?

Even 700 is too high.

You can't add to the carrying capacity except in your mind. It's rating doesn't change unless you get it recertified. You can believe all you want but if the maximum tongue weight on a JT is 765 with max tow, or 650 or whatever otherwise, those are the ratings regardless of the kit you put under it.
If the tow rating is 7,000 pounds, that's the tow rating and lifting and larger tires subtracts from that.

 

[gearhead22]

Isn't that pretty much what I suggested?

Even 700 is too high.

You can't add to the carrying capacity except in your mind. It's rating doesn't change unless you get it recertified. You can believe all you want but if the maximum tongue weight on a JT is 765 with max tow, or 650 or whatever otherwise, those are the ratings regardless of the kit you put under it.
If the tow rating is 7,000 pounds, that's the tow rating and lifting and larger tires subtracts from that.

As stated it adds to the carrying capacity in terms of suspension. It doesn’t address any other requirement to legitimately increase capacity

 

[ShadowsPapa]

As stated it adds to the carrying capacity in terms of suspension. It doesn’t address any other requirement to legitimately increase capacity

Prevents sag. But it's amazing what people will read into that.
Hey, I have a lift and better springs, now I can haul and/or tow more!
Naw, it just won't sag as much. The springs can handle the load.
It's like when I added Synergy springs to the front of mine to handle the 300 pounds of snow plow.

 

[gearhead22]

Prevents sag. But it's amazing what people will read into that.
Hey, I have a lift and better springs, now I can haul and/or tow more!
Naw, it just won't sag as much. The springs can handle the load.
It's like when I added Synergy springs to the front of mine to handle the 300 pounds of snow plow.

It’s really not reading into much. Aev advertises that it will “increase payload by xxx pounds”

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Aev advertises that it will “increase payload by xxx pounds”

which is a crock of crap.
They can't increase the rated payload. I'd love to see someone take them to task over that.
It's truly false advertising.

 

[RudeJeepin]

It’s really not reading into much. Aev advertises that it will “increase payload by xxx pounds”

That's not the way I read it. I see it as they suggest one set of springs for up to 400 pounds of continuous cargo weight and the other set for 400 to 700 pounds of continuous cargo weight.

Plus this is right below that...

I don't believe any spring manufacture would state their spring add payload above and beyond the vehicles stated ratings.

 

[gearhead22]

That's not the way I read it. I see it as they suggest one set of springs for up to 400 pounds of continuous cargo weight and the other set for 400 to 700 pounds of continuous cargo weight.

Plus this is right below that...

I don't believe any spring manufacture would state their spring add payload above and beyond the vehicles stated ratings.

You’re right. I know I read it somewhere, just not sure where. Maybe it wasn’t AEV.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

That's not the way I read it. I see it as they suggest one set of springs for up to 400 pounds of continuous cargo weight and the other set for 400 to 700 pounds of continuous cargo weight.

Plus this is right below that...

I don't believe any spring manufacture would state their spring add payload above and beyond the vehicles stated ratings.

Right - it does NOT add to payload! It's like when I resprung mine for the snow plow and for the added weight of the power steps and steel bumper and winch. I did NOT increase the payload ability, in fact, I took away from the weight I could add to the truck on a trip. But I made it handle a now heavier truck better. Stock springs are for factory curb weight. Add to that - winch, bumpers, steps/rails - you have to rethink the springs.
You proved my point - they can't change the payload capability - only how it handles permanent added weight - it's now a heavier truck and frankly, even the factory would have used different springs!

Sponsored