Which lift kit for me

[gearhead22]

Hello all. I recently acquired a 2021 gladiator rubicon. It has a spacer lift (I believe 2 or 2.5”) above the factory rubicon coils currently and I want to either swap springs and shocks or get a full lift. Im thinking I might as well just bite the bullet and do it once. But I would also like to do it over time if possible.

My use case is as follows:
I daily this, 5 miles 1 way to work. I don’t plan on off-roading it hard, and if I do offroad it at all it would just be random stents down seasonal/forest roads. I do care about onroad manners, the factory rubicon suspension is super soft, more than I thought it would be. I don’t tow regularly but I do have a 6x12 utility trailer that I tow on occasion and small pop up camper that will be behind it 1-2 times a year. It will probably never see more than 2-2500lbs of weight being towed. But I do want the ability to use it as a truck when needed.

Overall I guess im looking for a good all purpose lift that can really do it all and retain my current 37’s.

I’m eyeing the AEV kit but concerned that the ride will be too stiff. In the past I haven’t been the biggest fan of bilstein valving. If it was an option I’d probably do the kit with a different shock but aev doesn’t offer without. This kit appears to only need a front track bar on top of the kit?

I’ve read that the jks kits are quite decent and may only need correction brackets on top of the kit?

I’d really like to not spend more than $2000, and truthfully…. cheaper the better.

I don’t hate the way my JTR rides currently with the spacer lift. But do want to firm up the excessive softness of the suspension.

not against frankensteing a kit either. Just not sure what the best parts for that would be.

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[RK Racing]

Long arm 6” with 42’s…….. Or Stay On Da Porch……….

 

[ASU_Greg]

I went with the Metalcloak 2.5 GC. Extremely happy with the on/offroad ride quality with the Rocksport Reds. The craftsmanship, design, and the fact that when you have worn out bushings, the bushing can be replaced lowering the cost of ownership. Install was a snap, if you are planning on performing it by yourself. Their customer service is amazing! They have done their job well, and have completely captured me as a customer. They are the first place I look when adding to my JTR!

 

[Deleted member 67086]

I went with the AEV 2.5” DualSport RT lift and very happy with it. Firmer than OEM, but not harsh. Much more stable on corners. It does maintain the OEM rake. AEV’s logic is it is still a truck and rake is needed when using it like a truck. Though AEV says it’s not needed, I would add an adjustable trackbar.

 

[gearhead22]

I went with the AEV 2.5” DualSport RT lift and very happy with it. Firmer than OEM, but not harsh. Much more stable on corners. It does maintain the OEM rake. AEV’s logic is it is still a truck and rake is needed when using it like a truck. Though AEV says it’s not needed, I would add an adjustable trackbar.

How much rake do you have unloaded?

 

[Zachanadandy]

You can absolutely do it in stages. I originally put 37s and the AEV 2" spacer lift on my mojave at 1100 miles. Then I added front geometry correction brackets. Next was the rockkrawler triangulated rear 4 link. This was a game changer. Much better ride and handling. Rear end is planted. And the head toss when you hit a big bump at a hard angle caused by the opposing track bars is gone. After 30k miles I went to 3.5" metalcloak springs and their flipped drag link/track bar relocation. If you're still on the stock shocks with extensions I'd start there. If you like the super soft ride of the stock shocks I'd get the metalcloak rocksport reds shocks. If you want a little better performance and a little firmer ride go with fox 2.0s.

 

[Deleted member 67086]

How much rake do you have unloaded?

2.25 inches, with my winch.

 

[gearhead22]

2.25 inches, with my winch.

I think that’d be a bit more take than I’d like.

 

[gearhead22]

You can absolutely do it in stages. I originally put 37s and the AEV 2" spacer lift on my mojave at 1100 miles. Then I added front geometry correction brackets. Next was the rockkrawler triangulated rear 4 link. This was a game changer. Much better ride and handling. Rear end is planted. And the head toss when you hit a big bump at a hard angle caused by the opposing track bars is gone. After 30k miles I went to 3.5" metalcloak springs and their flipped drag link/track bar relocation. If you're still on the stock shocks with extensions I'd start there. If you like the super soft ride of the stock shocks I'd get the metalcloak rocksport reds shocks. If you want a little better performance and a little firmer ride go with fox 2.0s.

It’s currently quite soft. Is that mainly from the springs or shocks or both?

I thought about doing the aev kit and adding the rk triangular kit eventually or right away. Would be very complete overall.

 

[Zachanadandy]

It’s currently quite soft. Is that mainly from the springs or shocks or both?

I thought about doing the aev kit and adding the rk triangular kit eventually or right away. Would be very complete overall.

I'd say it's mostly shocks. A lift spring will be a little firmer than stock but the ride is mostly in the shocks.

 

[Deleted member 67086]

I think that’d be a bit more take than I’d like.

Yeah, there are a lot of variables. Like I have a winch and a steel stubby front bumper, but the stock plastic rear bumper. Adding a steel rear bumper would change the rake a little.

AEV, as their name implies, is geared towards expedition vehicles, which are typically loaded down with gear. If the vehicle sits levelish empty, it would be nose up when loaded. All depends on how you plan on using yours. Good luck!

 

[gearhead22]

Yeah, there are a lot of variables. Like I have a winch and a steel stubby front bumper, but the stock plastic rear bumper. Adding a steel rear bumper would change the rake a little.

AEV, as their name implies, is geared towards expedition vehicles, which are typically loaded down with gear. If the vehicle sits levelish empty, it would be nose up when loaded. All depends on how you plan on using yours. Good luck!

I get it. I don’t mind some take as I don’t like being nose high, but 2”+ seems excessive. I have the factory rubicon rear bumper, a rugged ridge arcus front (steel but light) and a super winch.

 

[Deleted member 67086]

I get it. I don’t mind some take as I don’t like being nose high, but 2”+ seems excessive. I have the factory rubicon rear bumper, a rugged ridge arcus front (steel but light) and a super winch.

I believe on the website AEV says my lift “maintains the factory rake,” which I believe is closer to 1.5 inches on an unmodified Gladiator. Obviously my other mods changed that equation, so make sure you factor yours in with whoever you decide to go with.

 

[gearhead22]

So torn. Clayton seems to get great feedback, as does aev although Clayton gives your adjustable arms instead of brackets. Then you have the RK 3” which is similar in that it gives you a bit but I’m afraid it may be too tall for my plan of 37/38’s on my rubicon, Some people are throwing 40’s under them. The RK kit seems like it may not carry a load as well as Clayton or aev. Then there’s Metalcloak which seems like a great kit but also seems to not handle loads very well when compared to aev or Clayton.

I don’t tow or haul much, but don’t want it squatted like crazy when I do.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

So torn. Clayton seems to get great feedback, as does aev although Clayton gives your adjustable arms instead of brackets. Then you have the RK 3” which is similar in that it gives you a bit but I’m afraid it may be too tall for my plan of 37/38’s on my rubicon, Some people are throwing 40’s under them. The RK kit seems like it may not carry a load as well as Clayton or aev. Then there’s Metalcloak which seems like a great kit but also seems to not handle loads very well when compared to aev or Clayton.

I don’t tow or haul much, but don’t want it squatted like crazy when I do.

Clayton 2.5" coils are as tall or taller than RK 3" coils.

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