What Lift Should I Get?

[Kewlrobd]

Hey Y'all, I need some help. I am thinking of lifting my Gladiator Texas Trail edition but I am a newb to lifting vehicles and getting some conflicting advice. I have spoken with two different shops. I don't commute to work but I do use it as a daily driver for all other things. My off-roading style is mostly overlanding and I do not intend on doing any rock crawling.

Shop 1 suggested a 4.5" TeraFelx lift with fox shocks and stabilizer. 37" x 12.5" tires on my stock rims. They insist I do not need a regear but I am insisting on a regear from my 3.73 to 4.88.

Shop2 suggested a 3.5" rough country lift that includes upgraded shocks. 37" x 12.5" tires on new 17" wheels with a -12 offset. They suggested a regear to 4.88 and brackets to correct the control arm geometry.

So my questions is two fold. Of the two scenarios above which one sounds like the better advice? Should I be going with a larger lift and 37" tires or given my daily and off-roading style does it make more sense to go with a smaller lift and 35" tires?

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[Gvsukids]

This'll be fun, should've made a poll I'd say 35's, but why do you need the lift? Why not just install 33's?

 

[bleda2002]

So the first question is what size tires? Then you lift only as much as needed to fit them (unless you just want to be sky high because you want to be tall then you do you). Honestly with the gladiator fenders being so big even a 2 inch coil lift (not spacer) will get you 37s fairly easily so I'd not be going that tall.

Realistically I would just start researching lift kits, there is not much to it on an sfa so really just look at all the basic parts and what they do and then decide what you want. Reputable companies like AEV, Evo, Clayton or metalcloak all have complete lifts you can check out and see what parts they come with.

Also yes, if you have 3.73s go at least 4.88 if not 5.13 if you are going to 37s.

 

[j.o.y.ride]

Trail edition has 3.73. You will be absolutely miserable on them with 37s. If the shop is trying to sell you 37s with no gears, and 12.5" on factory rims, avoid them. Factory rims can be fine short term but I dont think there's any 12.5" out there that are rated for the narrow factory rims. Trying to get you a look for cheap.

Second shop sounds much more realistic.

Now if you want Rough Country or not, that's a whole other thing. Do your own research on them and decide.

The only upside to what the no gear shop is telling you is that Teraflex should be better quality and you can build out the rest like rims and gears later.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Neither.

I’d prefer Teraflex over RC, but not 4.5” for 37s.

Check out some 2-3” lifted rigs on 35s and 37s. I’d shoot for that lift height if sticking to 35-37s.

 

[USMC-SSGT]

Build your own lift. Clayton 3.5 inch springs, shocks of your choice, upper rear control arms and Mopar lower front control arms. Track bar in the front and same in rear or the teraflex bracket.

This won’t cost all that much and will be a very nice lift. I went that route with core 4x4 arms and bars and Bilstein shocks.

 

[YO_Doc]

I'm looking to do the roughly the same thing here, put 37's under my JTR. I'm no longer a rockcrawler, but I live near the trails in Ouray and Moab and I'm planning a 2022 trip up into the Canadian Rockies with family.

4.5" of any lift on a JT is very high. Rough Country, as others have said do your own research and back your research up.

A 20+ year friend (who I wheel with frequently) owns a large and old 4x4 shop is steering me towards the AEV Dual Sport lift for the big reasons of, from ride quality and high quality components (they aslo sell Teraflex, Icon and several other brands of lift's). There is while unspoken but the reality of he will be less likely to hear me complain on the trails. As a side note the sales manager of this shop runs the AEV DS lift on his LJ with 37's and he let me take that rig for an afternoon test drive. While the LJ is not a JT the test drive did give me some in sites to the characteristics of the DS lift and the handling very, very similar to how my JTR handles. Still undecided on wheels but leaning to either the AEV Dual Sport's or the TeraFlex Nomad deluxe. Outside chance of the MOPAR beadlock capable wheels.

Hope this helps.

 

[Renegade]

Are those your only 2 lift options? It doesn't sound like either shop is that familiar with the JT or JL if those are your only 2 options. I would recommend doing your research first, then getting quotes for what YOU want instead of what a random shop offers you. Everything is variable, and there are infinite options. What is the ballpark range of your overall build budget?

 

[Kewlrobd]

Trail edition has 3.73. You will be absolutely miserable on them with 37s. If the shop is trying to sell you 37s with no gears, and 12.5" on factory rims, avoid them. Factory rims can be fine short term but I dont think there's any 12.5" out there that are rated for the narrow factory rims. Trying to get you a look for cheap.

Second shop sounds much more realistic.

Now if you want Rough Country or not, that's a whole other thing. Do your own research on them and decide.

The only upside to what the no gear shop is telling you is that Teraflex should be better quality and you can build out the rest like rims and gears later.

I completely agree with this. This is a very reputable shop in my area but I could not believe they were saying no regear and stock wheels. They also just quoted me $3400 to go regear to 4.88. That's $1000 higher then another quote I have and I thought that other one was high.

In regards to the Rough Country, I already know I don't want to go with them.

Neither.

I’d prefer Teraflex over RC, but not 4.5” for 37s.

Check out some 2-3” lifted rigs on 35s and 37s. I’d shoot for that lift height if sticking to 35-37s.

Everything I have read says that for 37s you will need to go with a 3" or higher. I am thinking 3.5 might me the sweet spot.

Are those your only 2 lift options? It doesn't sound like either shop is that familiar with the JT or JL if those are your only 2 options. I would recommend doing your research first, then getting quotes for what YOU want instead of what a random shop offers you. Everything is variable, and there are infinite options. What is the ballpark range of your overall build budget?

No those are certainly not my only two options but what the two shops recommended. My plan is to research and take advice here and then choose what shop I want to go go and dictate what I want. My current budget is around $10k but that has to do the lift, regear, tires and wheels. I also would like to do a bumper and winch if I have enough leftover.

 

[bleda2002]

...
Everything I have read says that for 37s you will need to go with a 3" or higher. I am thinking 3.5 might me the sweet spot.
...

The height of most of the 2.5's are based on a rubic so you will get closer to 3.5. Stick with a 2.5 unless you absolutely need more height. Even the mopar 2" lift can clear 37's with reasonable bump stops.

 

[LaterGator]

If you are near Houston, there is a shop in Bacliff that can do a regear for less than you were quoted. 4.88's would be great for 35's and ok for 37's.

As for the lift, why not the 2" Mopar lift. Less expensive and makes it easy to run 35's without needing a ladder to climb in.

For your daily driver/overlanding, 35's are great option. Possibly you could put the 35's on with hi-line fenders and not add a lift.

Lot's of options for the gladiator.

 

[Kewlrobd]

If you are near Houston, there is a shop in Bacliff that can do a regear for less than you were quoted. 4.88's would be great for 35's and ok for 37's.

As for the lift, why not the 2" Mopar lift. Less expensive and makes it easy to run 35's without needing a ladder to climb in.

For your daily driver/overlanding, 35's are great option. Possibly you could put the 35's on with hi-line fenders and not add a lift.

Lot's of options for the gladiator.

I am in the Houston area but on the north side. Bacliff is pretty far but if the price is right. Do you have the name of the shop?

I will have to look into what the 2" mopar lift would cost. I love how a 4" lift with 37s look but I thinking 35's may be the smarter choice.

 

[Renegade]

I completely agree with this. This is a very reputable shop in my area but I could not believe they were saying no regear and stock wheels. They also just quoted me $3400 to go regear to 4.88. That's $1000 higher then another quote I have and I thought that other one was high.

In regards to the Rough Country, I already know I don't want to go with them.



Everything I have read says that for 37s you will need to go with a 3" or higher. I am thinking 3.5 might me the sweet spot.



No those are certainly not my only two options but what the two shops recommended. My plan is to research and take advice here and then choose what shop I want to go go and dictate what I want. My current budget is around $10k but that has to do the lift, regear, tires and wheels. I also would like to do a bumper and winch if I have enough leftover.

That’s a reasonable budget. You could probably do a Metalcloak 3.5” True Dual or Clayton 3.5” Ride Right kit with shocks, installed, for between $3,500-$4,000. From there, $2,000 for gears, $3,000 for tires/wheels, and you have $1,500 left for a bumper and winch. You could save a little by going with the Mopar lift.

 

[Sportsbiz]

[QUOTE="LaterGator, post: 825851, member: 26014"

As for the lift, why not the 2" Mopar lift. Less expensive and makes it easy to run 35's without needing a ladder to climb in.

For your daily driver/overlanding, 35's are great option. Possibly you could put the 35's on with hi-line fenders and not add a lift.

Lot's of options for the gladiator.
[/QUOTE]

Another vote for the Mopar 2” lift with maybe 35”s. As you don’t intend to rock crawl, and this is your daily, this would serve your needs. I’m on a stock Rubicon (33”s) built for overlanding and its more than adequate for me. Now, if its about aesthetics, go with whatever your budget allows (upfront for lift and tires, and long term for possible regear, fuel due to drop in mpg, etc).

 

[Kewlrobd]

[QUOTE="LaterGator, post: 825851, member: 26014"

As for the lift, why not the 2" Mopar lift. Less expensive and makes it easy to run 35's without needing a ladder to climb in.

For your daily driver/overlanding, 35's are great option. Possibly you could put the 35's on with hi-line fenders and not add a lift.

Lot's of options for the gladiator.

Another vote for the Mopar 2” lift with maybe 35”s. As you don’t intend to rock crawl, and this is your daily, this would serve your needs. I’m on a stock Rubicon (33”s) built for overlanding and its more than adequate for me. Now, if its about aesthetics, go with whatever your budget allows (upfront for lift and tires, and long term for possible regear, fuel due to drop in mpg, etc).
[/QUOTE]

I ordered the Mopar lift yesterday. They said it will be 7 to 10 business days. I am thinking about going with 37s though. This will probably require removing the fender flare liner but that doesn't look too difficult. I am also going to install a spacer up front to level things out a bit.

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