Metalcloak 2.5 Leveling Kit vs Clayton 2.5 Riderite

[MarkyMark80]

Hi Everyone,
New here and taking delivery on my Gladiator in a week or two after my JL was flooded during Hurricane Ida. I was about to pull the trigger on a Metalcloak 2.5 lift on the JL before it flooded, and now that I'm getting the Gladiator things are a bit different. I'm running 35s I've pulled off my JL, and don't really plan to go to 37s as this will be my daily driver and on the road 90% of the time, but would still like to hit trails/rocks and the occasional trip out to Rausch Creek etc. Of course I say that now, but fast forward 3 years and check in with me. HA!

It seems the Metalcloak 3.5 Dual Rate would be a bit tall for the 35s and I'm leaning in the direction of the 2.5 leveling kit instead, since they don't sell a Dual Rate 2.5 lift. I've also had my eye on the Clayton 2.5 Ride Right.

I was hoping someone could give me pros and cons of each. Obviously the Clayton lift is all around, but coming at a price tag of close to $2k with shocks, whereas the Metalcloak leveling kit is less than half the cost. I'm leaning towards going Metalcloak and doing Fox 2.0 shocks all around and later just adding control arms and rear track bar,

Any advice for a new guy?

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[brianinca]

If you're going to tow anything significant with your Jeep, you won't want a leveling kit.

A buddy at work went with the Gamechanger for his Overland Diesel, it doesn't look weird or under-tired with 35's at all to my eye. His JKUR has the same 3.5" MC lift and 35's and he's put some HARD miles on that Jeep!

Edit to add: The Clayton can be upgraded from Ride Right to Overland Plus, I'm sure you could do the same with MC, start with "true" and upgrade to Gamechanger.

Hi Everyone,
New here and taking delivery on my Gladiator in a week or two after my JL was flooded during Hurricane Ida. I was about to pull the trigger on a Metalcloak 2.5 lift on the JL before it flooded, and now that I'm getting the Gladiator things are a bit different. I'm running 35s I've pulled off my JL, and don't really plan to go to 37s as this will be my daily driver and on the road 90% of the time, but would still like to hit trails/rocks and the occasional trip out to Rausch Creek etc. Of course I say that now, but fast forward 3 years and check in with me. HA!

It seems the Metalcloak 3.5 Dual Rate would be a bit tall for the 35s and I'm leaning in the direction of the 2.5 leveling kit instead, since they don't sell a Dual Rate 2.5 lift. I've also had my eye on the Clayton 2.5 Ride Right.

I was hoping someone could give me pros and cons of each. Obviously the Clayton lift is all around, but coming at a price tag of close to $2k with shocks, whereas the Metalcloak leveling kit is less than half the cost. I'm leaning towards going Metalcloak and doing Fox 2.0 shocks all around and later just adding control arms and rear track bar,

Any advice for a new guy?

 

[MarkyMark80]

If you're going to tow anything significant with your Jeep, you won't want a leveling kit.

A buddy at work went with the Gamechanger for his Overland Diesel, it doesn't look weird or under-tired with 35's at all to my eye. His JKUR has the same 3.5" MC lift and 35's and he's put some HARD miles on that Jeep!

Edit to add: The Clayton can be upgraded from Ride Right to Overland Plus, I'm sure you could do the same with MC, start with "true" and upgrade to Gamechanger.

much appreciated. I don’t really plan to tow anything so not a worry of mine. I think what I’m getting at is the leveling kit sufficient for moderate off-roading now and I can just upgrade later?

 

[Thefootbar]

I’ve got the MC 2.5inch leveling kit. It’s great, BUT, unless you’re running a heavy front bumper/winch you’re going to be riding nose high. Mine is probably .75 to an inch nose high and will be getting either 1.5 inch rear springs or a spacer when I get back in 6 weeks. The picture I added below is on a slanted driveway but yeah you can still see it. Front fender heigh is around 43 rear fender is just about 42 on the stock falken AT tires

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