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I have to ask…

Is it a truck thing paying to have a lift installed?


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j.o.y.ride

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Oh ok, got it. If you didn't bust your own knuckles, spill some blood then you're not a "real" jeep person. Right. I'll try to remember that. Sheesh
Oh that's what's going on here. Got it. This is one of them passive 'why dont you lift it yourself and be a real jeeper' threads. Yawn.
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Ozian

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I’ve been on Jeep forums for a little over a decade and I’ve never seen so many people pay to have lifts installed on their Jeeps. In all seriousness, is this a truck thing?
I‘m going to assume that you are genuinely interested in why it appears more people seem to be going for professional installs rather than diy, which has been the traditional Jeeper approach (as opposed to a passive aggressive post designed to rile people and gain some sort of false sense of moral superiority, which I am not suggesting was your intent here).

I think there are a couple of things at play here. First, from my observation this isn’t a “Gladiator thing”. I see a lot more JLs getting the pro install treatment than the previous TJ and JK generations as well. I see this happening across many 4wd brands/models my friends are buying and building, with more complete engineered kits available and shops offering complete installs, appealing to a wider market of customers looking to modify their off road vehicles (be it for looks or function/capability… to each their own). It used to be much harder to source complete kits, let alone find a shop that the general population could acess and trust to do the work for those not used/able to wrenching themselves. I.e. kits and reputable workshops have become more mainstream and have attracted a broader range of people to the hobby than the old die-hard busted knuckle crowd.

Second, the financial capacity of a lot of new Jeep owners is rising. Jeeps (Wranglers) used to be cheap, basic and rough and catered to more of the hard core off road mob. Over the last couple of generations (I.e. 3.6L JKs and subsequent JL and JT models), the Jeeps have become more refined, safer more comfortable and better optioned. This has made them better suited as daily drivers. It’s also made them more expensive (particularly the Gladiator). So, people buying these more expensive and higher end models tend to have the financial capacity to pay the pros to do the hard stuff on their rigs. This may be the result of not having the tools or knowledge to do the work themselves, or because they are time poor due to work and/or family commitments.

For me, I’ve been working on cars and 4wds since my teens. I’ve done everything from building my own engines to suspension, electrical interiors and even some paint work. At this stage of my life I‘m in the peak of my professional career, have a family and want to make the most of my time and all the things I enjoy. Could I spend every spare weekend working on my Gladiator? Sure, but I’d miss out on other things I want to do as well (including getting out and exploring new places in my rig with my family and friends). While I still do a fair bit of the work on my rig, I do have the financial capacity to pay someone to do some of the more time consuming or specialised work on it for me so that I have time for those other things (and I have the confidence that it’s been done right). Best of both worlds!

In the next few years once the kids leave home and my career winds down, chances are I’ll have more time and ability to get back into doing full builds on my own. In the meantime I’m happy to do a bit. more of the “pay to play” because the alternative is not to play as much as I’d like.

So, back to your main question. Is it a truck thing or just a Gladiator thing? I’d say that’s a hard no. I think it’s the evolution of the off roading sector more generally. It‘s a result of better, more expensive vehicles that can serve as both toy and daily, greater access to shops and services, and the general wealth and priorities of a lot of people who are now purchasing and using 4wds (particularly those new to the hobby).

JMHO! 😎
 
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ecidiego

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Fukkin lmao....imagine posting this thread. OP...move on.
 

PlayfulBird

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We have lifted Trucks as well as vehicles that like to go fast, like an Audi Quattro. Was fun driving that on the dirt roads behind the wine farms in South Africa. Tbh I prefere the shop doing it as they have the tools to fit the shocks safely (scare the crap outa me) and have much better access with the lift than trying to do it in your driveway...
 

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Jeeperjamie

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My time is worth something and I had the shop do some of mine because it was reasonable. $500 for the parts $301 for them to install and do a alignment, my times worth mor than $301 so that's why the shop did the 2.5 inch spacer lift. I put the Rubicon springs and shocks on myself because I had help and we knocked it out in under an hour.

I got little time running my own full time business while managing a full time business for someone else. I pay for my yard to be mowed and someone to wash and detail my wife's BMW and my truck. Is that a Jeep Thing Truck thing also?
 

Summitsearcher

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My time is worth something and I had the shop do some of mine because it was reasonable. $500 for the parts $301 for them to install and do a alignment, my times worth mor than $301 so that's why the shop did the 2.5 inch spacer lift. I put the Rubicon springs and shocks on myself because I had help and we knocked it out in under an hour.

I got little time running my own full time business while managing a full time business for someone else. I pay for my yard to be mowed and someone to wash and detail my wife's BMW and my truck. Is that a Jeep Thing Truck thing also?
Jamie, you interested in adopting this old cooter? I need my lawn mowed, truck washed and detailed too! You are a blessed Man my friend.
 

Jglad15

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I installed my own lift last weekend, and I enjoyed doing it. I didn’t feel like paying 1500 to one of the local dealerships. They are making enough money marking up all their vehicles on the lot. I learned a lot about the Jeep and I don’t regret not having a shop doing it. It was nice out, and I was outside all day on my day off. It’s a form of relaxation and stress relief for myself. To each their own for what they want to do. I myself am not worried bout “voiding” the warranty I didn get the mopar lift, so my warranty would have been voided anyway. And warranty would only be voided under the suspension parts. So if a part were to break I’m going to Clayton not mopar. I torqued everything down correctly, pinion angles looked good, my caster was good, and I got a front end alignment. I drove to another off-road shop to have them look over it. And they said I did everything right. To each their own what they want to do. I don’t look at anyone differently.
 

Trout Safari

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This forum is filled with a wealth of knowledge and some folks that have been building Jeeps and other 4 wheel drive vehicles for 6+ decades. That is long before forums and the internet were around. There are also some talented young women & men who do their own fabrication and work on some pretty great looking vehicles.
I am surprised a recent Jeep owner, (yes 2000 for a first Jeep is recent to some of Us) would insinuate they are part of some special elite team because they are able to install plastic spacers and simple bolt on modifications or lights and u bolts they purchased online and posted on a forum.
Everyone has different talents, wants, needs and budgets. Don't judge a fish by how well he can climb a tree. It certainly is great to be able to grow up in a time of Google and forums where you can research anything get instructions and then pat yourself on the back while criticizing others instead of checking in the barn for what you can make.
Before anyone steps up onto that high soapbox of self praise, remember most of the folks you are talking to have "been there done that" and were kind enough to share their knowledge of how its done. One should only try to mirror that attitude, that is the Jeep community that I remember.
 
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RCKLNDR

RCKLNDR

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I‘m going to assume that you are genuinely interested in why it appears more people seem to be going for professional installs rather than diy, which has been the traditional Jeeper approach (as opposed to a passive aggressive post designed to rile people and gain some sort of false sense of moral superiority, which I am not suggesting was your intent here).

I think there are a couple of things at play here. First, from my observation this isn’t a “Gladiator thing”. I see a lot more JLs getting the pro install treatment than the previous TJ and JK generations as well. I see this happening across many 4wd brands/models my friends are buying and building, with more complete engineered kits available and shops offering complete installs, appealing to a wider market of customers looking to modify their off road vehicles (be it for looks or function/capability… to each their own). It used to be much harder to source complete kits, let alone find a shop that the general population could acess and trust to do the work for those not used/able to wrenching themselves. I.e. kits and reputable workshops have become more mainstream and have attracted a broader range of people to the hobby than the old die-hard busted knuckle crowd.

Second, the financial capacity of a lot of new Jeep owners is rising. Jeeps (Wranglers) used to be cheap, basic and rough and catered to more of the hard core off road mob. Over the last couple of generations (I.e. 3.6L JKs and subsequent JL and JT models), the Jeeps have become more refined, safer more comfortable and better optioned. This has made them better suited as daily drivers. It’s also made them more expensive (particularly the Gladiator). So, people buying these more expensive and higher end models tend to have the financial capacity to pay the pros to do the hard stuff on their rigs. This may be the result of not having the tools or knowledge to do the work themselves, or because they are time poor due to work and/or family commitments.

For me, I’ve been working on cars and 4wds since my teens. I’ve done everything from building my own engines to suspension, electrical interiors and even some paint work. At this stage of my life I‘m in the peak of my professional career, have a family and want to make the most of my time and all the things I enjoy. Could I spend every spare weekend working on my Gladiator? Sure, but I’d miss out on other things I want to do as well (including getting out and exploring new places in my rig with my family and friends). While I still do a fair bit of the work on my rig, I do have the financial capacity to pay someone to do some of the more time consuming or specialised work on it for me so that I have time for those other things (and I have the confidence that it’s been done right). Best of both worlds!

In the next few years once the kids leave home and my career winds down, chances are I’ll have more time and ability to get back into doing full builds on my own. In the meantime I’m happy to do a bit. more of the “pay to play” because the alternative is not to play as much as I’d like.

So, back to your main question. Is it a truck thing or just a Gladiator thing? I’d say that’s a hard no. I think it’s the evolution of the off roading sector more generally. It‘s a result of better, more expensive vehicles that can serve as both toy and daily, greater access to shops and services, and the general wealth and priorities of a lot of people who are now purchasing and using 4wds (particularly those new to the hobby).

JMHO! 😎
I think you hit on some really good points. I’m an addball whereas my JT was still in the 30s so folks buying a loaded model are inherently likely to have better financial means than me personally. I could see that leading to people paying to have it done.
Thanks so much for taking the time to help me see the other side.
 

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cmb396

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I think you hit on some really good points. I’m an addball whereas my JT was still in the 30s so folks buying a loaded model are inherently likely to have better financial means than me personally. I could see that leading to people paying to have it done.
Thanks so much for taking the time to help me see the other side.
This is where I fall. I am perfectly capable of doing any install. In fact, I just installed my magnusson myself over the winter.
However, when it comes to lifts, it's much more convenient for me to drop it off, and pick it up at the end of the day or next when done. Saves me rolling around in my garage, busting knuckles, and eating ibuprofen for 3 days bc I'm so effing sore! lol
In my 20's and 30's, I wouldn't think twice about installing a lift myself. Have a friend over, drink some beers, and make a day of it.
My local shop charged me $250 to put synergy 3" lift and adj arms, etc, on my wifes JLUR. That's a no brainer.
I bought my JTR already lifted, but every other mod, I have done myself.
 

f33d

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My time is worth something and I had the shop do some of mine because it was reasonable. $500 for the parts $301 for them to install and do a alignment, my times worth mor than $301 so that's why the shop did the 2.5 inch spacer lift. I put the Rubicon springs and shocks on myself because I had help and we knocked it out in under an hour.

I got little time running my own full time business while managing a full time business for someone else. I pay for my yard to be mowed and someone to wash and detail my wife's BMW and my truck. Is that a Jeep Thing Truck thing also?
Pretty much. My wife used to Always tell me we have to mow our own lawn because it’s a pride thing for owning a home. I saw it for awhile until we had our daughter and I took a new engineering role which doubled my work time. The problem was yeah I could do it or I could automate it to a local company for $40 a week and save myself 3 hours a weekend and allocate that time elsewhere.

I normally will install my truck parts on my jeep most of the time. Not out of pride but knowing I did it properly and with the love that others might neglect. With that said, I have a trusted jeep mechanic who I will bring it over to when I have bigger projects such as this done to reclaim time and ensure it gets done properly. It also saves me a day outside in the heat telling my wife I’ll be done in 1 more hour. Only to find out the bolt just went into the Metaverse. You gotta do what’s right, the built not bought mantra really only applies to you if that’s what you like. If you have the extra capital to pay someone to do it in half the time why not? As I grow older and somewhat wiser one thing became apparent to me. Yeah most of the time I can complete a project myself. It may take me all weekend and a few trips to Home Depot but I can do it. Some times it won’t be done right sometimes it will. I’ve learned that there are specific things that I’d much rather have a professional do correctly the the first time rather then me doing multiple fixes.
 

chadinsc

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i have installed all my lifts because im honestly to cheap to pay someone. plus i think its fun. i have installed several lifts for other people and got paid. definitely not going to disrespect anyone for paying to have a lift installed.
 

jeepit

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i did all of the installs myself including lift, its fun wrenching. i like working on jeeps & muscle cars. i leave simple things like oil change & inspections to mechanics ;)
 

redriderjf87

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The Gladiator is a truck, so yeah I'd consider it a truck thing
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