Final Decision...Which Lift Kit...Buying This Weekend

[DanW]

I am down to two kits...Mopar vs. AEV. I am leaning strongly to AEV, but have a soft spot for the Mopar because it has performed so well on my JLUR (35´s, F/R adjustable track bars)

AEV:
Pros...

• Cost. $1800 + front adjustable track bar. I can sell the Pro-Cal as I already have a Taser and I can sell the LCA drop kit. I already have a Rancho kit. Mopar is over $2k and I would add front/rear adjustable track bars.
• Only needs a front adjustable track bar (maybe not). Rear bracket takes care of centering the rear on AEV.
• AEV comes with an $80 jack base. (Nice!)
• Tighter handling, better load carrying dynamics (less sag in the rear.)
• Tight dynamics will be better for towing.
• Includes drive shaft carrier bearing lowering parts.

Cons...

• Rougher ride, especially off-road with Bilstein 5100 shocks.

Mopar:
Pros:

• Plush ride. Especially off-road, with Fox shocks.
• Bilstein shocks with reservoirs are an unknown quantity in terms of ride, but I really like that they have reservoirs.
• I can sell or get rid of the LCA´s with the kit because I would use my Rancho LCA drop kit.
• Cool wooden box. (I really don´t care about this.)
• Did I say smooth ride? My brother´s 2020 JT with Fox shocks/Mopar was the smoothest riding Jeep I´ve ever experienced, on and off-road. It was wonderful.

Cons:

• Cost...Significantly more after tax and track bars than the AEV.
• Needs both front and rear adjustable track bars.
• Would need to get part to lower the drive shaft carrier bearing.
• Handling won´t be as crisp as AEV.
• Will sag more under load, (Not a huge issue.)
• Probably a little less stable when towing.
• I really don´t need the big box. (But it is cool)

I´d love to hear final feedback from folks with either of these lifts. I really think I´d be happy either way. I would especially love to hear from someone with the latest version of the Mopar with the Bilstein reservoir shocks.

My budget is about $2k, so the more expensive lifts are out. Plus, the Mopar has handled EVERYTHING I have thrown at it on my JL, including 3 trips to Moab and the hardest trail I´ve ever run in a Jeep, which was in Vermont. The AEV on my JK also handled that trail, with flying colors. Both were outstanding on the JK/JL.

I´m looking forward to making the purchase and getting this Gladiator lifted up and ready for the trail! I have a set of 35¨ Kenda Klever AT3´s waiting in the wings.

Thanks in advance for your expertise and advice! Love this forum!!!

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[WILDHOBO]

I am down to two kits...Mopar vs. AEV. I am leaning strongly to AEV, but have a soft spot for the Mopar because it has performed so well on my JLUR (35´s, F/R adjustable track bars)

AEV:
Pros...

• Cost. $1800 + front adjustable track bar. I can sell the Pro-Cal as I already have a Taser and I can sell the LCA drop kit. I already have a Rancho kit. Mopar is over $2k and I would add front/rear adjustable track bars.
• Only needs a front adjustable track bar (maybe not). Rear bracket takes care of centering the rear on AEV.
• AEV comes with an $80 jack base. (Nice!)
• Tighter handling, better load carrying dynamics (less sag in the rear.)
• Tight dynamics will be better for towing.
• Includes drive shaft carrier bearing lowering parts.

Cons...

• Rougher ride, especially off-road with Bilstein 5100 shocks.

Mopar:
Pros:

• Plush ride. Especially off-road, with Fox shocks.
• Bilstein shocks with reservoirs are an unknown quantity in terms of ride, but I really like that they have reservoirs.
• I can sell or get rid of the LCA´s with the kit because I would use my Rancho LCA drop kit.
• Cool wooden box. (I really don´t care about this.)
• Did I say smooth ride? My brother´s 2020 JT with Fox shocks/Mopar was the smoothest riding Jeep I´ve ever experienced, on and off-road. It was wonderful.

Cons:

• Cost...Significantly more after tax and track bars than the AEV.
• Needs both front and rear adjustable track bars.
• Would need to get part to lower the drive shaft carrier bearing.
• Handling won´t be as crisp as AEV.
• Will sag more under load, (Not a huge issue.)
• Probably a little less stable when towing.
• I really don´t need the big box. (But it is cool)

I´d love to hear final feedback from folks with either of these lifts. I really think I´d be happy either way. I would especially love to hear from someone with the latest version of the Mopar with the Bilstein reservoir shocks.

My budget is about $2k, so the more expensive lifts are out. Plus, the Mopar has handled EVERYTHING I have thrown at it on my JL, including 3 trips to Moab and the hardest trail I´ve ever run in a Jeep, which was in Vermont. The AEV on my JK also handled that trail, with flying colors. Both were outstanding on the JK/JL.

I´m looking forward to making the purchase and getting this Gladiator lifted up and ready for the trail! I have a set of 35¨ Kenda Klever AT3´s waiting in the wings.

Thanks in advance for your expertise and advice! Love this forum!!!

Neither of those would be my choice, but if those are the choices, I’d say skip AEV. Skip the stamped steel low hanging fruit brackets.

 

[PuddleJumper]

I feel like if your gonna spend 1800 plus dollars the Clayton kit is a bit more all inclusive. Any reason it isn't in the lineup? Personally I'm only going AEV for the spacer lift. It seems the best for my application rn. Long term dual use, I'd go Clayton or Metal Cloak. I overland though, so i wont ever really need more than 2inches and 35s tbh. going 37s cus i can.

 

[DanW]

I feel like if your gonna spend 1800 plus dollars the Clayton kit is a bit more all inclusive. Any reason it isn't in the lineup? Personally I'm only going AEV for the spacer lift. It seems the best for my application rn. Long term dual use, I'd go Clayton or Metal Cloak. I overland though, so i wont ever really need more than 2inches and 35s tbh. going 37s cus i can.

What is a good vendor for Clayton. I looked at them awhile back and can´t remember what steered me away from them, maybe cost for what I wanted? Not sure. But I´d be open to taking another look. What shocks come with them?

I want 2 to 2.5 inches of lift for the kind of off-roading I do. Mopar usually gives 2.5-ish. It gave almost 3 on my JLUR. AEV gives what they say, which is 2.5.

 

[DanW]

Neither of those would be my choice, but if those are the choices, I’d say skip AEV. Skip the stamped steel low hanging fruit brackets.

I´ll be using the Ranchos I already have. They are a bit beefier than the AEV´s, but I know guys with the AEV´s and they´ve had no issues and liked the improved handling and ride...and no shimmy or death wobble. They get the caster angle right. But the Ranchos are definitely heavier, from what I have seen.

What would be your choice, given the budget? I´d love to hear your thoughts. I´m not interested in getting to $3k.

 

[PuddleJumper]

What is a good vendor for Clayton. I looked at them awhile back and can´t remember what steered me away from them, maybe cost for what I wanted? Not sure. But I´d be open to taking another look. What shocks come with them?

I want 2 to 2.5 inches of lift for the kind of off-roading I do. Mopar usually gives 2.5-ish. It gave almost 3 on my JLUR. AEV gives what they say, which is 2.5.

I'm gonna say thats your disconnect. They have thier own website but they don't have kits that come with shocks. I would say they're biggest advantage is they don't skimp on the proper hardware to properly lift your vehicle. If your looking for a kit that includes shocks for sub 2500 thats a tall order with limited options. generally a corner will be cut somewhere.

Edit; If i was you and was committed to these two options. I'd go AEV and get better shocks from ShockSurplus. U can get a solid setup for cheap with them.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I feel like if your gonna spend 1800 plus dollars the Clayton kit is a bit more all inclusive. Any reason it isn't in the lineup? Personally I'm only going AEV for the spacer lift. It seems the best for my application rn. Long term dual use, I'd go Clayton or Metal Cloak. I overland though, so i wont ever really need more than 2inches and 35s tbh. going 37s cus i can.

Teraflex spring spacers are better quality imo.

 

[WILDHOBO]

What is a good vendor for Clayton. I looked at them awhile back and can´t remember what steered me away from them, maybe cost for what I wanted? Not sure. But I´d be open to taking another look. What shocks come with them?

I want 2 to 2.5 inches of lift for the kind of off-roading I do. Mopar usually gives 2.5-ish. It gave almost 3 on my JLUR. AEV gives what they say, which is 2.5.

I’d personally go Frankenstein. Skip kits. Buy springs you want, shocks you want, steering and track bars you want. None of these kits address steering. As soon as you lift and put larger tires on, you’ll regret not addressing steering. You don’t need to break the bank to do it either.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

What is a good vendor for Clayton. I looked at them awhile back and can´t remember what steered me away from them, maybe cost for what I wanted? Not sure. But I´d be open to taking another look. What shocks come with them?

I want 2 to 2.5 inches of lift for the kind of off-roading I do. Mopar usually gives 2.5-ish. It gave almost 3 on my JLUR. AEV gives what they say, which is 2.5.

Kolak Performance, Nick is the guy you'd talk to. He's been a Clayton dealer for 20+ years. Awesome guy to deal with. He will probably give you a discount without you asking.

You can get the 2.5" Ride Right with Bilstein 5100 shocks for around your budget or maybe even a little less. Shocks do not come with the Clayton kits, you add shocks separately.

One thing to note, Clayton 2.5" will be a little taller than the Mopar or AEV lift. If you don't want that much height, they have 1.5" springs that will be closer to the Mopar or AEV height.

 

[PuddleJumper]

I’d personally go Frankenstein. Skip kits. Buy springs you want, shocks you want, steering and track bars you want. None of these kits address steering. As soon as you lift and put larger tires on, you’ll regret not addressing steering. You don’t need to break the bank to do it either.

frankenstein. probably what ill be stuck with long term. sweet. Also i have a mojave, i gotta go with a spacer lift that accommodates my hydro bumps. not a lot of people do that.

 

[WILDHOBO]

frankenstein. probably what ill be stuck with long term. sweet. Also i have a mojave, i gotta go with a spacer lift that accommodates my hydro bumps. not a lot of people do that.

I’ve yet to see a single “kit” that actually does everything. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with deciding on components for each task from separate vendors. As long as you can measure things, no shock vendor cares what springs you have, as one example.

 

[WILDHOBO]

frankenstein. probably what ill be stuck with long term. sweet. Also i have a mojave, i gotta go with a spacer lift that accommodates my hydro bumps. not a lot of people do that.

I think lots of people go with kits for ordering ease, but then you end up with some things that work well, and some things that are “fine”. For example, I have a Clayton rear track bar, for its bend that allows spare tire clearance. Nothing says I then need to use their control arms or springs, which I don’t. Like many people, I don’t even use the same spring vendor front and rear. I wanted rear springs better suited to the rake I wanted for loading and towing.

 

[bleda2002]

I’ve yet to see a single “kit” that actually does everything. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with deciding on components for each task from separate vendors. As long as you can measure things, no shock vendor cares what springs you have, as one example.

Fully agree, i've gone franken lift on both the JT and the JL and couldnt be happier. I'm particular in what I was looking for so going to invidual vendors let me pick the parts that met what I was looking for (example MC arms because i prefer their joints, but clayton springs because I need the extra load capacity)

 

[MrClortho]

I 2nd for Clayton, superior by far than those two kits.

https://www.claytonoffroad.com/product/jeep-gladiator-25-overland-plus-lift-kit-2020-jt

Add shocks and you have a excellent kit. I am running Fox 2.0s on my 3.5" overland plus because my budget only allowed, but I am really happy with the ride.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Fully agree, i've gone franken lift on both the JT and the JL and couldnt be happier. I'm particular in what I was looking for so going to invidual vendors let me pick the parts that met what I was looking for (example MC arms because i prefer their joints, but clayton springs because I need the extra load capacity)

Exactly. I don’t even use the same vendor for my bump stops and pucks. I liked the synergy pucks as they can be height adjusted without removing a bolt, and have a perfectly smooth top surface instead of an exposed bolt head.

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