Trying to decide, lowering my lift and tires

[Holeshot]

Hi guys, I've been running metalcloak true dual rate 3.5" for two years now, with their rocksport shocks, on 37 trail grapplers, on my '21 JTR 3.6 automatic

I regeared to 5.13 this summer, and now my mpg suffered a lot from that. I lost like 2mpg just because of the gears ?‍what I did not expect, and not what I experienced with my old jk's. I was doing better on 4.10's.. thats disapointing.

I thought about trading it in for an ecodiesel, but prices are still very high, and so are the interests, so I will wait a year or two for that option.

Anyway, the reason of the post is, I want to step down to 35's and 2.5" lift. I run 35" tires for the winter and my mpg is much better, so for daily use, and the little offroad I do, 35' would be enough. Not going offroad as much as my younger days lol.

The main question I got is, what springs should I go with for "factory like" ride? I liked the ride when stock, my MC springs ride stiff. My jeep is light, just a winch with stock bumpers and a tire carrier in the bed.

I heard good things about Clayton and synergy. Any other option I should concider? Anything that rides nice, that soaks all the small stuff without kicking my butt.

I tow occasionnally, an enclosed 7x14, around 2000lbs empty.

Also what Shocks would work great with those springs?

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[GOCAMPN]

Tough decision, but if you might be trading in for the ecodiesel, even a couple years away, the mpg hit and buying gas more often will still be less money than a whole new lift and tires.

Hold what you got, then go ecodiesel. Then after all that is said and done, go Mopar lift on the diesel for the factory ride you want.

 

[Bjeepz]

Hey, it looks like you're in Quebec? I think you'd be best staying away from EcoDiesel based on the long list of issues and the fact that they don't like cold weather very much. The extra 9k CDN for the Diesel is a lot of gasoline, not sure on Diesel prices in your area but in the Northern Ontario area, Diesel is still at an average of 20-30 cents more per litre at all times.

I picked up a Colorado ZR2 Diesel in Val D'or, it was the best until it became the worst ever with all the same problems Jeeps Diesels have. It also wouldn't start below -20C unless plugged in. When I took it up to the Trans Taiga and Caniapiscau I was lucky to not get stranded in minus -15C weather with the strong windchill factor. That said I sure did love getting 9L/100km on the highway.

You would also be stuck buying a used Diesel since they're going to stop producing them, that's risky with all the garbage DEF system business. Unless you know one of the good tuning shops and plan to delete.

As for the lift/tires, I agree with the above, swapping everything out might be costly and negate any savings, of course, you might simply be able to purchase new springs, your shocks should work just fine if you keep the same bump stops. If at full flex the springs unseat a simple spring retainer will keep them in place, I've done those before with good results. Also a nice lightweight all terrain 37 like the Cooper AT3 XLT's might help with mileage.

Best of luck, if yours was a 2022 I'd just trade you my Mojave!

 

[Boostnu]

Why not stay with metalcloak and do their 2.5” springs. I think the shocks and other parts are same.

 

[Idlethunder]

Hi guys, I've been running metalcloak true dual rate 3.5" for two years now, with their rocksport shocks, on 37 trail grapplers, on my '21 JTR 3.6 automatic

I regeared to 5.13 this summer, and now my mpg suffered a lot from that. I lost like 2mpg just because of the gears ?‍what I did not expect, and not what I experienced with my old jk's. I was doing better on 4.10's.. thats disapointing.

I thought about trading it in for an ecodiesel, but prices are still very high, and so are the interests, so I will wait a year or two for that option.

Anyway, the reason of the post is, I want to step down to 35's and 2.5" lift. I run 35" tires for the winter and my mpg is much better, so for daily use, and the little offroad I do, 35' would be enough. Not going offroad as much as my younger days lol.

The main question I got is, what springs should I go with for "factory like" ride? I liked the ride when stock, my MC springs ride stiff. My jeep is light, just a winch with stock bumpers and a tire carrier in the bed.

I heard good things about Clayton and synergy. Any other option I should concider? Anything that rides nice, that soaks all the small stuff without kicking my butt.

I tow occasionnally, an enclosed 7x14, around 2000lbs empty.

Also what Shocks would work great with those springs?

I'm a few weeks in after installing a 2.5" Clayton Overland Plus lift with Falcon 3.1 shocks on my 22 Rubicon. I can tell you without a doubt that this is the best mine has ridden or handled since I got it. Until installing the lift I’ve been at stock height but had upgraded the extremely soft OEM Fox shocks to Eibach and was using the .25” longer Mopar lift LCAs. Stock with those upgrades it drove great, but the Clayton lift and new Falcons took it to another level. Last weekend we had an RV show and I delivered two small travel trailers on Thursday and brought them home Saturday and after lowering my hitch it towed as well if not better than it did before. I’m a big fan of Metalcloak but went with Clayton this time because they had a slightly better price for what I wanted.

 

[BunkieJeeper75]

I'm a few weeks in after installing a 2.5" Clayton Overland Plus lift with Falcon 3.1 shocks on my 22 Rubicon. I can tell you without a doubt that this is the best mine has ridden or handled since I got it. Until installing the lift I’ve been at stock height but had upgraded the extremely soft OEM Fox shocks to Eibach and was using the .25” longer Mopar lift LCAs. Stock with those upgrades it drove great, but the Clayton lift and new Falcons took it to another level. Last weekend we had an RV show and I delivered two small travel trailers on Thursday and brought them home Saturday and after lowering my hitch it towed as well if not better than it did before. I’m a big fan of Metalcloak but went with Clayton this time because they had a slightly better price for what I wanted.

Did you go with the upgraded springs?
Just ordered the 3-1/2” performance overland + package and added the upgraded springs since I will run heavy with 37” tires/after market bumpers/ tent/ gear/ smart cap.
Reason asking is I was on the border about adding upgraded springs.

 

[BallisticJT]

Hey, it looks like you're in Quebec? I think you'd be best staying away from EcoDiesel based on the long list of issues and the fact that they don't like cold weather very much. The extra 9k CDN for the Diesel is a lot of gasoline, not sure on Diesel prices in your area but in the Northern Ontario area, Diesel is still at an average of 20-30 cents more per litre at all times.

I picked up a Colorado ZR2 Diesel in Val D'or, it was the best until it became the worst ever with all the same problems Jeeps Diesels have. It also wouldn't start below -20C unless plugged in. When I took it up to the Trans Taiga and Caniapiscau I was lucky to not get stranded in minus -15C weather with the strong windchill factor. That said I sure did love getting 9L/100km on the highway.

This hasn't been my experience with the diesel. I don't know if I'm just lucky but I bought a brand new '23 EcoDiesel Gladiator last year just before winter hit hard and I had no issues with starting or winter performance. I did regular starts with the weather at or even lower than -20c. This is with the truck sitting outside all night and without being plugged in. I would let it warm up for at least 5 minutes and sometines up to 10 minutes before driving in those temps.

We'll see how it will do this winter though now that it's a year old with 16,000 miles.

 

[Holeshot]

Why not stay with metalcloak and do their 2.5” springs. I think the shocks and other parts are same.

I find the ride of MC springs too stiff. I feel every bumps and every cracks. Pretty annoying

 

[Holeshot]

Hey, it looks like you're in Quebec? I think you'd be best staying away from EcoDiesel based on the long list of issues and the fact that they don't like cold weather very much. The extra 9k CDN for the Diesel is a lot of gasoline, not sure on Diesel prices in your area but in the Northern Ontario area, Diesel is still at an average of 20-30 cents more per litre at all times.

I picked up a Colorado ZR2 Diesel in Val D'or, it was the best until it became the worst ever with all the same problems Jeeps Diesels have. It also wouldn't start below -20C unless plugged in. When I took it up to the Trans Taiga and Caniapiscau I was lucky to not get stranded in minus -15C weather with the strong windchill factor. That said I sure did love getting 9L/100km on the highway.

You would also be stuck buying a used Diesel since they're going to stop producing them, that's risky with all the garbage DEF system business. Unless you know one of the good tuning shops and plan to delete.

As for the lift/tires, I agree with the above, swapping everything out might be costly and negate any savings, of course, you might simply be able to purchase new springs, your shocks should work just fine if you keep the same bump stops. If at full flex the springs unseat a simple spring retainer will keep them in place, I've done those before with good results. Also a nice lightweight all terrain 37 like the Cooper AT3 XLT's might help with mileage.

Best of luck, if yours was a 2022 I'd just trade you my Mojave!

I certainly wouldnt go for a new one. Way way too expensive. I actually was looking at a low millage rubicon at my local dealer, at 65k used, only 19000 km. Thats still pretty expensive.

If I go this route, I don't think i'll keep the emission systems intact. I've been a mecanic in a chrysler dealer back when the eco came out in the rams, and we had all kind of issues with the def. The motor itself is fine.

As for the cold, at work we have outlets, so no big deal, just plug it in.

And about the fuel price, if you do the math, its almost the same. A 3.6L as a 82L tank, the 3.0 has a 69L tank because of the pee tank, if I calculate at the actual gas cost, for a fully empty tank, its 3$ more for fuel, and you get at least 100+ km of range more, than the 3.6, so this is not really an argument.

I've talked to people who deleted and tune theirs, and they do like 8L/100km on 37's at 110km/h on stock 3.73 gears
Thats crazy good.

 

[Idlethunder]

Did you go with the upgraded springs?
Just ordered the 3-1/2” performance overland + package and added the upgraded springs since I will run heavy with 37” tires/after market bumpers/ tent/ gear/ smart cap.
Reason asking is I was on the border about adding upgraded springs.

I went with the standard springs. Most of the trailers I tow are 5k or less and from what I've read the heavier springs will ride rough when you don't have much extra weight. I'm still running stock bumpers and no winch so the standard springs made more sense but they worked well for me. I took a picture hitched up to one of the trailer, let me see if I can find it.

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