Lift for towing

[Woodchop]

Suspension or Spacer lift?? My 21 JT Sport Max Tow warranty just expired. Its my DD about 1K mi/mo. Its my tow vehicle a few times/yr for 3k lb trailer w/WDH and near max GVWR on camp trips. Current setup is front leveler, Rubicon wheels w/285/70. Just bought used JT Rubicon front springs (leaving rear springs) and Fox shocks all around. I will install this week, thinking they might be a poor man's upgrade. I'm considering AEV 2" spacer lift. After that, maybe AEV wheels with 35x11.5. Any input about towing characteristics? Whether the AEV geo brackets are needed or adjustable front track bar? The other options include AEV Dual Sport lift, or just leave it the heck alone. I can't find out how much AEV suspension lift would affect tow cap. My off roading is 1 Jeep Jamboree/year and offroad 1-2 other times on tame trails. I'd like more clearance on trails, but on road safety is my top priority. Retiring in a year and plan to go do more.

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[Josh00333]

I would in all honesty stop with all the bits and pieces and get the AEV Overland 2.5" with the 5100 series shocks.

You can also look at the Clayton Overland kit.

Both are set up to give you equal or "better" payload that stock.

 

[Woodchop]

I'm strongly considering that. I wish I knew for sure that the AEV rear springs are at least equal to the max tow spring. AEV is triple rate or whatever. I'm not a spring guy. I assume that means 3 levels of compression or something.

 

[DiehardTory]

AEV is quality .. Website has a tech support form. You might consider AirLift bags (1000lb) for the rear - fit inside the factory coil springs.. I run them at 5 psi without the RTT and camping gear..No noticeable effect on the Ride .. Towing .. 3.73 and 35s in the future; I'm not going toward re-grear on this reply.

 

[B34c0n]

It's a bit of work to piecemeal it. But that's what I ended up doing

• Iron rock off-road 2 inch spacer with Bilstein 5100
  • https://www.ironrockoffroad.com/product/Gladiator-2-lift-kit.html
• Synergy 2 inch front lift springs
  • https://www.extremeterrain.com/synergy-jeep-gladiator-jt-2-inch-front-lift-springs-8863-20.html
• Mopar 2 inch lift control arms to correct caster
  • Mopar 68322798AA
• Mopar end links rear for 2 inch lift
  • Mopar 68436812AA
• Mopar end links front for 2 inch lift
  • 18-23 68306981AB
  • 23+ 68640455AA
• Your favorite flavor of bump stop extensions

It's definitely cheaper and easier to go with a kit if you're just doing a spacer. And at least easier to go with a kit if you're doing more than spacers. I kept the rear max tow springs and put in the synergy springs in the front.

The front end links are different on newer sway bars. Measure the diameter. The newer ones are M14 vs older M12 ones.

Now the disclaimer. I have yet to tow with it since I lifted it. But it rides mostly the same. So I'm assuming it will tow the same.

 

[PuddleJumper]

I'm strongly considering that. I wish I knew for sure that the AEV rear springs are at least equal to the max tow spring. AEV is triple rate or whatever. I'm not a spring guy. I assume that means 3 levels of compression or something.

Call them. They are super friendly and very helpful.

 

[PuddleJumper]

Suspension or Spacer lift?? My 21 JT Sport Max Tow warranty just expired. Its my DD about 1K mi/mo. Its my tow vehicle a few times/yr for 3k lb trailer w/WDH and near max GVWR on camp trips. Current setup is front leveler, Rubicon wheels w/285/70. Just bought used JT Rubicon front springs (leaving rear springs) and Fox shocks all around. I will install this week, thinking they might be a poor man's upgrade. I'm considering AEV 2" spacer lift. After that, maybe AEV wheels with 35x11.5. Any input about towing characteristics? Whether the AEV geo brackets are needed or adjustable front track bar? The other options include AEV Dual Sport lift, or just leave it the heck alone. I can't find out how much AEV suspension lift would affect tow cap. My off roading is 1 Jeep Jamboree/year and offroad 1-2 other times on tame trails. I'd like more clearance on trails, but on road safety is my top priority. Retiring in a year and plan to go do more.

Tow config : No lift (uses 3/4 spacer to get back to stock height with winch weight) stock Mojave springs, 315/70r17s (35s), stock 4.10 gearing, 5800lb loaded towing, 1000 AirLift helper bags. Works great, ain't fast.

Day trip warrior config: everything stays the same, just change out to 37x12.5r17 on Sport OE wheels with 1in spacers.

Overland Config : back to 35s and toss on the rtt and a rack.

 

[Woodchop]

that's certainly the sensible set up. I'm sure stock Mojave is an inch or so higher than sport. I don't want much lift. I have a skid plate over tranny for protection. I hit and scrape my control arm brackets quite a bit.

 

[PuddleJumper]

that's certainly the sensible set up. I'm sure stock Mojave is an inch or so higher than sport. I don't want much lift. I have a skid plate over tranny for protection. I hit and scrape my control arm brackets quite a bit.

if you have rubicon front springs and no winch we are damn near dead even or maybe 1/2 an inch off. I run a skid as well. I scrape here and there but nothing to worry about in my book. 37s really help with the technical stuff. Thats a 2in lift from a tire alone when compared to stock

 

[Blade1668]

Few days late, Max-Tow springs, 2in spacers and Air bags. 2 in lift springs wasn't up to the job for me. This should point out the trailer weight.... spec'ed around 3500 lbs.

 

[Woodchop]

Are you saying 2in spacer lift with stock max tow springs wasnt up to the job?
I have same size Casita camper. Just ordered AEV 2in spacer lift.

 

[Woodchop]

I ended up installing AEV 2 inch spacer lift and geo correction brackets. Also swapped my shocks for Rubicon Fox shocks and front springs. I kept the rear max tow springs as recommended by AEV.

 

[iav8]

I have the Diesel, Sport. I went with the Clayton Overland plus 3.5" lift and to give more stability for towing I added the AntiRock Rear sway bar kit. Tows great (mostly flatbed trailer 10' or 14' trailers so far). Also running 37" Ridge Grapplers. Between the Rack, Decked Drawer there's plenty of weight in the bed. I started down the road of adding the Accuair system for the rear, but I didn't want to lose the stock spare storage, so I abandoned that path. I wish I had the Sport Max Tow, that would have been ideal!
RJ-256200-103 - JT GLADIATOR (HEAVY) ANTIROCK REAR SWAY BAR KIT (FORGED ARMS, 1 1/8 IN. BAR)

 

[ShadowsPapa]

My 21 JT Sport Max Tow warranty just expired. Its my DD about 1K mi/mo. Its my tow vehicle a few times/yr for 3k lb trailer w/WDH and near max GVWR on camp trips.

That's not a really heavy trailer. The stock max tow easily handles well over that, so I'd not be "super concerned" over a modest lift
(and towing with a lift, gotta agree on thinking about the rear sway bar since the trailer would have more leverage over the unsprung weight of the truck with a lift)
Lifts do technically reduce the safe towing capacity - but you aren't talking towing 6-7,000 pounds, either.
Drive safe, keep the speed reasonable (I don't go over 65 while towing, which used to be the limit in many states a few years back) allow plenty of room in case the morons in front of you pull something stupid.

Another thing you can do is keep the trailer LEVEL. Do what you need to make sure your trailer sits perfectly level when all hooked up to your JT and ready to roll. It matters.

 

[Woodchop]

That's not a really heavy trailer. The stock max tow easily handles well over that, so I'd not be "super concerned" over a modest lift
(and towing with a lift, gotta agree on thinking about the rear sway bar since the trailer would have more leverage over the unsprung weight of the truck with a lift)
Lifts do technically reduce the safe towing capacity - but you aren't talking towing 6-7,000 pounds, either.
Drive safe, keep the speed reasonable (I don't go over 65 while towing, which used to be the limit in many states a few years back) allow plenty of room in case the morons in front of you pull something stupid.

Another thing you can do is keep the trailer LEVEL. Do what you need to make sure your trailer sits perfectly level when all hooked up to your JT and ready to roll. It matters.

I

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