21JLURDG
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Bill
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2021
- Threads
- 35
- Messages
- 532
- Reaction score
- 997
- Location
- Olympia, WA
- Vehicle(s)
- 2021 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 3.0 Gecko
Addressing several points in this thread without bothering to quote (because I'm lazy).
1. Your lift might be different for your model, but on mine TF doesn't sell a complete 4.5" short arm lift--but it's what I have. I started with the 3.5" (actual 2.25" incl. 0.75' spacers) with short adjustable CA but determined after several trails that I needed at least another inch because I kept hitting my skids and bumpers on ledges. When I swapped to the new diesel 4.5" coils, I actually ended up with a 5+" lift.
2. TF said I really should use the front CA drop-brackets to minimize the CA angle when using 4.5" coils. The problem was that the TF adjustable CAs are a little too long (I believe they're longer at shortest setting than OEM CAs) but I managed to make it work.
3. TF is not the best rock crawling suspension nor does it have the most flex. But I went with it because its reputation for well-built components, a better ride on rough roads, and good on-road and rock crawling performance.
4. You don't need a 4.5" lift to fit big tires, and a lower lift gives a lower CG for off-camber obstacles. A flexy suspension with good down travel can give good performance on rocks. But a taller lift with good up-travel can (i.e. right shocks and other components) give excellent performance at higher speeds on very rough roads. Most people I wheel with have a hard time keeping up with me on the flat portions, but it's definitely not a Raptor.
5. I couldn't be happier with the performance of my Falcon 3.3 shocks with my TF suspension. I did read beforehand that some people complained about overly stiff shocks. So on initial install, I set mine up in the cold weather/softer setting. After two years, they feel like they have softened a bit and I'll be switching them to the normal/stiffer setting in the spring. I'll emphasize that the Falcon shocks were designed to perfectly match TF suspension rates. For non-TF lifts, it's a maybe on the good match. A safer but more expensive option would be custom tuned Fox shocks.
If I were to do it all over again and I knew I wanted a 4+" suspension lift, I would have started with a mid-arm or long-arm kit.
I agree with others that said 2-2.5" lift with 35s look great for mall crawlers and easy trails up to 4-rated. It's hard to distinguish on these if they have 35s or 37s. For trails rated 5-7, I'd recommend 3.5" short arm lift with 35 or 37s. For 8-9, a 4-6" long arm lift with 37-40s. This is just my opinion and it doesn't address your experience and risk tolerance of damage, nor the type of trails in your corner of the world.
1. Your lift might be different for your model, but on mine TF doesn't sell a complete 4.5" short arm lift--but it's what I have. I started with the 3.5" (actual 2.25" incl. 0.75' spacers) with short adjustable CA but determined after several trails that I needed at least another inch because I kept hitting my skids and bumpers on ledges. When I swapped to the new diesel 4.5" coils, I actually ended up with a 5+" lift.
2. TF said I really should use the front CA drop-brackets to minimize the CA angle when using 4.5" coils. The problem was that the TF adjustable CAs are a little too long (I believe they're longer at shortest setting than OEM CAs) but I managed to make it work.
3. TF is not the best rock crawling suspension nor does it have the most flex. But I went with it because its reputation for well-built components, a better ride on rough roads, and good on-road and rock crawling performance.
4. You don't need a 4.5" lift to fit big tires, and a lower lift gives a lower CG for off-camber obstacles. A flexy suspension with good down travel can give good performance on rocks. But a taller lift with good up-travel can (i.e. right shocks and other components) give excellent performance at higher speeds on very rough roads. Most people I wheel with have a hard time keeping up with me on the flat portions, but it's definitely not a Raptor.
5. I couldn't be happier with the performance of my Falcon 3.3 shocks with my TF suspension. I did read beforehand that some people complained about overly stiff shocks. So on initial install, I set mine up in the cold weather/softer setting. After two years, they feel like they have softened a bit and I'll be switching them to the normal/stiffer setting in the spring. I'll emphasize that the Falcon shocks were designed to perfectly match TF suspension rates. For non-TF lifts, it's a maybe on the good match. A safer but more expensive option would be custom tuned Fox shocks.
If I were to do it all over again and I knew I wanted a 4+" suspension lift, I would have started with a mid-arm or long-arm kit.
I agree with others that said 2-2.5" lift with 35s look great for mall crawlers and easy trails up to 4-rated. It's hard to distinguish on these if they have 35s or 37s. For trails rated 5-7, I'd recommend 3.5" short arm lift with 35 or 37s. For 8-9, a 4-6" long arm lift with 37-40s. This is just my opinion and it doesn't address your experience and risk tolerance of damage, nor the type of trails in your corner of the world.
Sponsored
lift and after 2 years installed MC adjustable control arms set and my JLUS drives and rides 110% better!!!
