Rubi diesel lift advice that maintains rake

[JTdiRtyD]

I've been searching and trying to find other posts about this, and I can find some stuff but nothing has given me a warm fuzzy.

I just bought my JTRD and trying to address the added weight from my gear while still maintaining some rake. End goal is 1-2" lift all around, while maintaining factory rake angle on the daily with winch, decked drawers, and bed rack, without needing to replace the entire suspension. I don't want to drop $5k on a whole setup right now, so I was thinking a spacer lift, or multi-rate springs, or a combination of both.

For daily driving:
Factory steel bumper with winch
Decked drawers
Bed rack

While on camping trips, add a ~190lbs RTT and ~250lbs camping gear. If we take the trailer, remove RTT but replace it with ~200lbs tongue weight.

Right now with just the decked drawers it sits about level. I haven't installed the winch or bed rack yet, as I'm waiting until I figure suspension out.

First I was just looking at Clayton springs, 1.5" front and 2.5" rear, but kind of got the feeling it will cause issues with factory shock travel and geometry.

Then I looked at the AEV 2" spacer lift. It would be easy, provides brackets for the shocks to keep them at the factory ride and travel lengths, includes arms for geometry corrections, but the drawers and bed rack will still squat the rear. Add camping weights and the rear is going to squat too much.

Then I thought the AEV spacer lift with Clayton 1.5" multi-rate rear springs. This would support camping weights and with daily driving weight of just the decked drawers and rack I would assume that would get me back to factory rake angle (or at least close). All while keeping shock lengths close to nominal.

Buuuuut then adding the winch is going to drop the front, and the diesel is known to have soft front springs that will bottom out, especially with a winch, so I thought maybe Clayton 1.5" in the front for a better spring that will handle the winch and not bottom out, but I'm assuming this is going to raise the front too much causing it to sit level, which I don't want.

So then I thought maybe Clayton 2.5" multi-rate rear springs with 1.5" fronts, combined with the AEV 2" spacer lift? I would "think" that would give me the rake I want on the daily, while squatting to roughly level with camping or trailer weight. But worried this will result in over 2" lift and brings back concerns about shock travel and geometry.

Any input or advice on this?

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[BlueScapegoat]

AEV high capacity diesel coils. Load up to Max payload and you'll still have a large rake.

::edit::
Disregard, I missed the end goal of 1-2".

 

[Jefe1018]

My mopar lift also maintained the factory rake… ended up throwing a Terra flex spacer to defeat it. Not sure how much your gear weighs, but when towing a trailer or having a half a pallet of shingles in the back it about evened out or squatted a little extra.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

The last option you mentioned, Clayton 1.5” front with Clayton 2.5” rear and an AEV 2” spacer lift, you’re going to be taller than your goal of 1-2” of lift.

I looked on Clayton’s website and I didn’t see a diesel JT 1.5” front spring. Did you talk to them to see if they do?

 

[The dude]

Check out Rustys Off Road. I have their 4” diesel lift and it rides great and still has rake with all my work stuff in the back. They have a 2” diesel specific as well. Rides better no bottoming out on front end anymore even with a plow on front

 

[JTdiRtyD]

The last option you mentioned, Clayton 1.5” front with Clayton 2.5” rear and an AEV 2” spacer lift, you’re going to be taller than your goal of 1-2” of lift.

I looked on Clayton’s website and I didn’t see a diesel JT 1.5” front spring. Did you talk to them to see if they do?

Yeah you might be right. I just looked again, its listed as a 2.5 for wrangler gasser, 1.5 wrangler diesel, 1.5 for gladiator gasser. But, like you said, that combo would be over the 2inches total.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Yeah you might be right. I just looked again, its listed as a 2.5 for wrangler gasser, 1.5 wrangler diesel, 1.5 for gladiator gasser. But, like you said, that combo would be over the 2inches total.

It wouldn’t hurt to talk to Clayton. Maybe the 2.5” gas springs front and 2.5” rear will give you the result you want. Or maybe 2.5” gas front and 1.5” rear.

 

[rtjeepman]

This my Rubicon diesel with the Mopar 2" lift and 37's. It also has Warn Evo 10 and factory steel front bumper.

 

[caryt]

I have Clayton 3.5 HD's in the rear and Synergy 4.5" gas as the Clatons were to stiff. With ADS 3 tubes bypasses etc rides incredible in any terrian. I weight aprox 7400 lbs all extra on the rear.

It sets dead level with a full tank. So adjust the springs heights to get the stance you want. I'm on 38's.

 

[RudeJeepin]

I'd probably look at this lift from Clayton...
https://www.claytonoffroad.com/product/jeep-gladiator-diesel-15-ride-right-lift-kit-2020-jt
Then see if they would swap the rear springs for their 2.5" diesel rear springs.
Their lifts are designed for extra weight, but the usually take about 1" out of the factory rake. That's why I'd use the 1.5" fronts and 2.5" Rears.
The kit above comes with mist of what you'll need. You'll either need new shocks or new shock brackets that relocate one end of the shock. TeraFlex and there make them.

 

[RKcreative]

Clayton's diesel lift kits feature exceptionally high spring rates, which result in a noticeably harsh ride. No off-the-shelf shock is designed to effectively handle such stiff springs, and you'll find plenty of discussions online confirming how rough they can be.

If you're looking for a simpler, well-balanced setup, I'd recommend reaching out to AEV to discuss your build. Their suspension packages are engineered to maintain proper geometry and come with shocks specifically matched to their springs. Another solid option is the Teraflex/Falcon combo, which also offers a well-matched system.

Just something to consider—if you go with a standard-capacity AEV lift kit, you could supplement the rear with airbags when carrying extra weight for camping. This setup would give you the flexibility to adjust as needed without compromising ride quality when unloaded.

 

[JTdiRtyD]

Clayton's diesel lift kits feature exceptionally high spring rates, which result in a noticeably harsh ride. No off-the-shelf shock is designed to effectively handle such stiff springs, and you'll find plenty of discussions online confirming how rough they can be.

If you're looking for a simpler, well-balanced setup, I'd recommend reaching out to AEV to discuss your build. Their suspension packages are engineered to maintain proper geometry and come with shocks specifically matched to their springs. Another solid option is the Teraflex/Falcon combo, which also offers a well-matched system.

Just something to consider—if you go with a standard-capacity AEV lift kit, you could supplement the rear with airbags when carrying extra weight for camping. This setup would give you the flexibility to adjust as needed without compromising ride quality when unloaded.

I talked with both Clayton and AEV, and I'll end up going with the AEV DualSport RT with the high cap springs. It will end up being more than 2", but I was originally trying to it under 2 because it would help with fitting in the garage with the RTT I was going to go with, but I've changed that plan and should have plenty of clearance now.

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