Advice on lifting Jeep

[GATORB8]

aside from some seat height issues, being as I'm a taller/bigger guy...

Missed this the first time.

May be others, but check out the seat modifications at desertdoesit.com

EDIT: looks like I got beat to the punch.

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[GeckoJosh]

Hi guys, I'm new to the forum and new to Jeeps in general. I recently bought a 2021 JL Willys in sarge green which I really love so far, aside from some seat height issues, being as I'm a taller/bigger guy...

I was interested in raising the Jeep a couple inches, so that it rides a little higher. Nothing crazy, just something to put me up a little bit, and raise the ground clearance as well.

I'm seeing a wide range of products online that claim to do this, from simple spacers for <$100, to suspension lifts for $1500+. I've been reading about the difference between body lifts and suspension lifts, but I wanted to also ask here to see what you guys would recommend. I'm not a hardcore off-roader, but wouldn't rule it out for the future. I currently have 33" Firestone mud tires. Let me know what you'd recommend for a case like this. Thanks!

One thing I would be adamant about is to get it done professionally. Too many people think they are engineers and royally screw up the geometry on their Jeep leaving you with a rig that doesn't drive/ride right. Also if you plan on selling you will be knocked for mods made that compromised your Jeep and will have limited the amount of people who would possibly buy. I know this advice will probably piss off some of these guys but they all know.

 

[GATORB8]

One thing I would be adamant about is to get it done professionally. Too many people think they are engineers and royally screw up the geometry on their Jeep leaving you with a rig that doesn't drive/ride right. Also if you plan on selling you will be knocked for mods made that compromised your Jeep and will have limited the amount of people who would possibly buy. I know this advice will probably piss off some of these guys but they all know.

Installing it's half the fun (and at least half the price). These are the most modified vehicles on the road, not modifying your Jeep for the sake of resale is like not having sex with your girlfriend to save her for her future husband.

 

[jhackathorne]

If you are not mechanically inclined; sure get someone to do it for you. If you are and can take things apart and put them back together feel free to try it on your own if you have the necessary tools and time to do the work. Especially if you are just doing a spring swap to Rubicon take-offs.

 

[GeckoJosh]

Installing it's half the fun (and at least half the price). These are the most modified vehicles on the road, not modifying your Jeep for the sake of resale is like not having sex with your girlfriend to save her for her future husband.

Not all about resale, but how many posts are on here with guys posting pics of janky coil springs saying "what do you think my problem is" people tend to overestimate what they are actually capable of. But hey, you wanna jack up your vehicle that's your prerogative. I just know my mechanical limitations and would have a pro do it.

 

[Stuckinthesand]

It all depends what you want to do long term. I put on a 2.5” budget lift(spacer) and 35”s and am content with what I am capable of. I don’t think I’d want to try anything more than what I do now which are blue rated trails. I run Raush creek and AOAA which is all rocks and do fine with my setup. Being my daily I don’t want to beat up body panels nor do I want a full fledged trail rig.

 

[GATORB8]

Not all about resale, but how many posts are on here with guys posting pics of janky coil springs saying "what do you think my problem is" people tend to overestimate what they are actually capable of. But hey, you wanna jack up your vehicle that's your prerogative. I just know my mechanical limitations and would have a pro do it.

Most of those janky coil spring are actually dealer installed Mopar kits.

 

[jeepman1986]

A true lift like metalcloak or rock krawler would increase the capabilities of your Jeep big time. But it will also raise it quite a bit, not sure what you mean by "just a little bit". Your current tires I believe are 32s, not 33s.

If you go with a true lift like that it will give you more than 2 inches total. You would be able to fit 35s, and should because 33s or 32s would look tiny. with the introduction of a bigger tire (35s) come more wear of components, specially on your front axle if you off road. Then there's the loss in performance due to "improper" gearing. I would personally say do not worry about this, but a lot of members on this forum would tell you running 35s on stock gears and sport axles isn't the smartest thing to do. In the end, it is your choice. But be prepared for a 4~5k mod to become a lot more if you decide to regear, and/or upgrade axles. It depends on what you wanna get out of the jeep.

As others have suggested you can net a bit extra height with Rubicon springs + spacers. This will allow you to fit 33s, throw in high line fenders (rubicon) and you can fit 34s or 35s. Cheap and neat.

If you are going just for looks, I'd go budget lift. Either spacers or some cheap spring lift like rancho. That if youre not interested in maximizing off road performance. That would still get you through many trails if you want to anyway, but not intended for extreme stuff.

Also keep in mind. you'll probably get used to anything you do and your perspective will change. 33s look beefy to you now, 35s huge, 37s humongous. They wont after a month you lift. The only thing that keeps me from wasting more money on this Jeep for bigger tires etc is going to the trail. For some reason it is like medicine to me. I take it on a trail, try some hard obstacles, get stuck, smile, and that's it. Fever is cured and I am content. If I just sit at home and stare at the Jeep for weeks, then the mods obsession start to haunt me.

Welcome my friend. You just opened a can of worms.

Great post, thanks! I come from the world of horsepower/speed related mods (had a Hellcat before this) so I'm very familiar with the never ending adaptation to more and more extreme vehicles and the need to buy more mods!

If I'm understanding the consensus here, it sounds like I may be able to just get away with some spacers and 35" tires? Though I suspect that'll put me up more than 2 inches from where I am now, I suspect I will indeed adapt (see above). Does anyone have recommendations on what kind of spacers I should get? I can look around, but there's so many mods and brands for Jeep out there, it's a little overwhelming.

 

[word302]

A true lift like metalcloak or rock krawler would increase the capabilities of your Jeep big time. But it will also raise it quite a bit, not sure what you mean by "just a little bit". Your current tires I believe are 32s, not 33s.

If you go with a true lift like that it will give you more than 2 inches total. You would be able to fit 35s, and should because 33s or 32s would look tiny. with the introduction of a bigger tire (35s) come more wear of components, specially on your front axle if you off road. Then there's the loss in performance due to "improper" gearing. I would personally say do not worry about this, but a lot of members on this forum would tell you running 35s on stock gears and sport axles isn't the smartest thing to do. In the end, it is your choice. But be prepared for a 4~5k mod to become a lot more if you decide to regear, and/or upgrade axles. It depends on what you wanna get out of the jeep.

As others have suggested you can net a bit extra height with Rubicon springs + spacers. This will allow you to fit 33s, throw in high line fenders (rubicon) and you can fit 34s or 35s. Cheap and neat.

If you are going just for looks, I'd go budget lift. Either spacers or some cheap spring lift like rancho. That if youre not interested in maximizing off road performance. That would still get you through many trails if you want to anyway, but not intended for extreme stuff.

Also keep in mind. you'll probably get used to anything you do and your perspective will change. 33s look beefy to you now, 35s huge, 37s humongous. They wont after a month you lift. The only thing that keeps me from wasting more money on this Jeep for bigger tires etc is going to the trail. For some reason it is like medicine to me. I take it on a trail, try some hard obstacles, get stuck, smile, and that's it. Fever is cured and I am content. If I just sit at home and stare at the Jeep for weeks, then the mods obsession start to haunt me.

Welcome my friend. You just opened a can of worms.

I actually disagree that if you’re going for looks you should cheap out on the lift. Cheap lifts are missing key elements that are actually designed to improve road manners. Adjusting caster and centering axles should be at the top of the list if you want your Jeep to handle as good or better than stock.

 

[entropy]

I actually disagree that if you’re going for looks you should cheap out on the lift. Cheap lifts are missing key elements that are actually designed to improve road manners. Adjusting caster and centering axles should be at the top of the list if you want your Jeep to handle as good or better than stock.

True. But for a small lift he should be alright. Some of the cheaper small lifts do include new lower control arms and such to at least correct caster. Metalcloak or rock krawler is overkill for somebody whose just gonna mall crawl and probably sell the jeep early.

A 2 inch spacer lift would barely get this willys above rubi height. Longer LCAs should suffice.

I think rubi springs and fenders or 3/4 spacers will get OP what he wants. That paired with mopar longer LCAs or aftermarket adjustable.

 

[word302]

True. But for a small lift he should be alright. Some of the cheaper small lifts do include new lower control arms and such to at least correct caster. Metalcloak or rock krawler is overkill for somebody whose just gonna mall crawl and probably sell the jeep early.

I don’t disagree. I just like to make sure people understand caster is already low on these things from the factory. Any amount of lift is going to reduce it even more. There are cheap options to address that but definitely shouldn’t be ignored as that is the number 1 issue I see with ill-handling Jeeps.

 

[entropy]

I don’t disagree. I just like to make sure people understand caster is already low on these things from the factory. Any amount of lift is going to reduce it even more. There are cheap options to address that but definitely shouldn’t be ignored as that is the number 1 issue I see with ill-handling Jeeps.

Yeah. A lot of us who went from sport to rubi suspension added the mopar LCAs to get caster close to 6 degrees.

 

[word302]

Yeah. A lot of us who went from sport to rubi suspension added the mopar LCAs to get caster close to 6 degrees.

Yeah and the reality is 6° is the bare minimum to get these things handling like they should.

 

[jeepman1986]

LCAs, casters, Metalcloak, degrees, control arms...

Looks like I've got some homework to do :D

 

[word302]

LCAs, casters, Metalcloak, degrees, control arms...

Looks like I've got some homework to do :D

By all means, if you figure out a couple kits that you like hit us up and we can tell you the pros/cons. Don’t rule out getting into off-roading, it’s a bug that I haven’t found a cure for.

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