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whitingvo

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Alright....I've got a 2021 Willys, stock, and $1000 to spend. Help me spend it. At a minimum I want to get rid of the forward rake. I won't be towing and will rarely haul anything of weight. I plan on doing a proper full lift (2"-3") down the road, but have to get my kid through his last 2 years of college first. So, do I just go with a leveling kit such as the Teraflex 1.5 inch kit, or is there another recommendation you have? Would prefer to avoid RC for suspension items. I won't be doing any serious rock crawling, but backwoods, camping, etc. type stuff. Love to heard y'alls opinions!
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DanJT

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RC 2,5" budget lift, Fox 2.0 shocks. and from there wheels and tires.
MHOP..
 

WILDHOBO

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Alright....I've got a 2021 Willys, stock, and $1000 to spend. Help me spend it. At a minimum I want to get rid of the forward rake. I won't be towing and will rarely haul anything of weight. I plan on doing a proper full lift (2"-3") down the road, but have to get my kid through his last 2 years of college first. So, do I just go with a leveling kit such as the Teraflex 1.5 inch kit, or is there another recommendation you have? Would prefer to avoid RC for suspension items. I won't be doing any serious rock crawling, but backwoods, camping, etc. type stuff. Love to heard y'alls opinions!
I like teraflex. I’d call them and tell them this is a start to a proper lift in the future. A friend started off with a stock sport with shock extensions and spacers. Ask @Mightytalldude for advice. He did a very nice gradual build.
 

Stan H

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What I did and this may be something to think on.
I just saved till I had enough for lift then bought it . Then saved for track bar,shocks Lower control arms . Then saved for tires and rims . Each time purchasing those items .
Most recently changing tierods and arm and steering bump steer shock set up.

If lift is whats desired get all pieces then slap it all on. Drive it stock till ya got everything. Just my thoughts.
 
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WILDHOBO

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What I did and this may be something to think on.
I just saved till I had enough for lift then bought it . Then saved for track bar,shocks . Then saved for tires and rims . Each time purchasing those items .
Most recently changing tierods and arm and steering bump steer shock set up.

If lift is whats desired get all pieces then slap it all on. Drive it stock till ya got everything. Just my thoughts.
Great idea.
 

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Hootbro

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Save your money and do it right the first time. Spacer lifts are like settling for the fat girl at 3am to take home to eventually regret it in the morning. Unless you are into fat girls and then spacer lifts are fine.
 

Mightytalldude

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"Go to bed with Bo Derek, and wake up with Bo Diddly."

Jeep Gladiator Help me spend $1000! maxresdefault (1)
 

Mightytalldude

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I like teraflex. I’d call them and tell them this is a start to a proper lift in the future. A friend started off with a stock sport with shock extensions and spacers. Ask @Mightytalldude for advice. He did a very nice gradual build.
There's definitely things I would do different now, versus what I did then, but most of my build has been a "look stock, but not, budget build". I started with spacers, because admittedly, fat girls are fun, and now recently switched to new springs and shocks. There's also 80k miles on 2 sets of Rubicon take-offs, for relatively no out of pocket cost, plus getting the miles on all until they were reaching the end of life, then update for a complete refresh. Rarely have I done a trail harder than 7, so a lift past a 1.5" spacer wasn't needed for me. Once I went to 35's, the need for a bigger lift became evident. I'm sitting on 3.5" Teraflex springs now, with Falcon shocks. Sport fenders keeping it looking low, but it's not.

Everyone has their own budget, needs, looks and build idea, so do what works for you.

Jeep Gladiator Help me spend $1000! PXL_20250529_152133264


Jeep Gladiator Help me spend $1000! artworks-000416454120-nrzf7d-t500x500
 

wchevron

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What do mopeds and fat girls have in common. They're both fun to ride until a friend sees you.
 

Blackjeepjk

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I’m of a little different mindset.
I’d do finished quality products that you want in the long run but can see/feel benefits now.
-quality steering stabilizer
-new wheels with factory tires
 

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WILDHOBO

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DanJT

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Save your money and do it right the first time. Spacer lifts are like settling for the fat girl at 3am to take home to eventually regret it in the morning. Unless you are into fat girls and then spacer lifts are fine.
I must be into fat girls and didn't even know!
 

WILDHOBO

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DanJT

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Seems about right. 🤣
I am thinking of upgrading to a thick girl with Mojave take off springs with the lift pucks. Don't they sport a 1" lift Hight over rubbies?
 

gonemad

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I had spacer lifts on the Macpherson struts on a German made ’76 Mercury Capri when it was maybe two years old, due to sagging springs. It was not a satisfactory fix.

Ergo, and henceforth, I will not do that to my Jeep.
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