Do I Really Want A Lift?

[AlanC]

We have a 2021 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon. It has just over 70K miles on it and until recently it was our only vehicle.

It is completely stock except for 315/70R-17 BFG KO2 (35") tires that we installed right after we bought it (used) with 20K miles on it.

We live in Colorado on the Western Slope and we take several trips over to Moab and down to the San Juans every year. So far our Jeep has done everything we've asked of it. We don't really do any difficult trails. Mostly just level 4-6 at the most. No rock crawling.

Since it is now our "second" vehicle and we're going to need new tires soon I went down the 37" tire rabbit hole and started looking at what it would take to run 37s the right way. Lift, Shocks, Gears, etc. In other words, spending a good amount of money.

That exercise has me thinking maybe I should just stick with 35s, but I still need to replace the shocks (still on the stock Rubicon ones with 70K miles on them).

I have a brand new set of Fox 2.0 Performance Series in the garage waiting to be installed, but they are for 0-1.5" lift, so I'm thinking I need to decide if I want to do a lift or not before I install them.

My question is basically this:

If I continue to run 35" tires, is there a significant benefit to running a small lift (like a 2.5" AEV RT or Teraflex ST2 or similar)?

Will it noticeably improve the ride/handling/offroad capability over the stock suspension for what we are doing?

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[jadmt]

yes on running 35's with an AEV 2.5. you get better approach and departure and you get a better handling on and off road....I have done the rubicon and dusy ershim on 35's with AEV 2.5 in my JKUR and never had an issue....I have done moab/san juans in my JLUR with 35's and AEV 2.5. you will have more clearance and get more articulation than just stock suspension. 37's will give you even more diff clearance and the AEV 2.5 will have room for those..I have two buddies that run 37's with the AEV 2.5 on their JLUR's and we have done many moab trails together...If I had 4.56 or 4.88's I would for sure be on 35's but with 4.10's I am a bit leery...

 

[Flip]

Ok, do you really want a lift?
You already have great shocks for 0 -1.5" lift. Why not get a set of rubicon springs, a set of mopar extended control arms, slap those rascals in and you're ready to go. You'll have a minimal amount of $$ invested with great results.

Best of luck my friend.

 

[AlanC]

You already have great shocks for 0 -1.5" lift. Why not get a set of rubicon springs, a set of mopar extended control arms, slap those rascals in and you're ready to go. You'll have a minimal amount of $$ invested with great results.

Rubicon springs? Isn't that what I already have?

 

[Terrymo]

I love spending other people’s money but it sounds like (for now at least) you’ve already answered your own question.

“So far our Jeep has done everything we've asked of it. We don't really do any difficult trails. Mostly just level 4-6 at the most. No rock crawling.”

If you’re intent on actually using the 37s and the available articulation off-road on trails beyond what you’re doing now, I would suggest a full 3.5” lift kit and 37s. But you‘re doing more than what 90% of the people on this forum are probably doing. Just keep enjoying what you have.

 

[Flip]

Rubicon springs? Isn't that what I already have?

Oops, sorry buddy, I'm so tired today, i should have read your post more carefully. Best of luck with your lift. I need my nap, what else can I say, I'm old.

 

[shane h.]

I just went all the way down that rabbit hole. If you have the cheddar and you love the Jeep and getting out on dirt then the lift and all that goes with it is worth it. Take a look at my build thread if you like.

 

[andy29847]

My 2020 JLU Rubicon has 60K miles. I've been running Toyo 35" AT tires for 25,000 miles. I just put a Mopar 2" lift on it. I decided to install the lift because I kept dragging the undercarriage in deep ruts. Added to that was that I need new shocks and that Quadratech had Mopar lifts on sale. Now that I have the lift, I'm thinking about 37" tires. I love the way my Jeep looks and handles with the lift and Fox shocks.

Mopar lift Kit - 2-door kit on a 4-door | Jeep Wrangler Forums (JL / JLU) -- Rubicon, 4xe, 392, Sahara, Sport - JLwranglerforums.com

 

[Wbino]

There is no shame on having a stock Jeep, use the money and get away for a week.

 

[Murphydog]

After my first trip to Moab (Elephant Hill, Fins and Things) I was wondering the same thing. I had a stock JLUR on 33 inch tires and while we did pretty well...I started looking for more.

My financial picture changed quite a bit and ultimately I ordered a 23 XR loaded exactly as I wanted it. The combination of 35 inch tires and mild lift, in addition to all the goodies I wanted inside were worth it to me.

Ive been back to Moab 2 more times - Trails like Top of the World and Poison Spider were about as tough as I want to tackle and the XR did well on those.

If my money situation had not changed I likely would have done the mopar lift, and 35 inch tires and called it good.

 

[AVGeek99]

I'd say It really depends on your offroading plans. If you want to take the next step and try some more difficult trails, then a lift isn't a bad idea. But if that's what you want to do, then I say buy once, cry once. Go for the 3.5" and 37s. That will allow you to significantly upgrade your offroad game and significantly open up your options the next time you go to Moab and around home on the western slope (I'm jealous). If you go to 37s you will likely want a regear, but if you have the auto, try it out first and see how it along with the 4.10s handle the 37s.

That being said, if you're still not really sure you want to take the plunge, a stock Rubicon on 315/70s has plenty of capability. I took mine, with that configuration, to Moab three times. I had no issues running Top of the World and Poison Spider with that set up along with many other similar trails. This past spring I did the Trifecta with some friends. One of the guys in our group had a stock Rubicon 392 XR. He did surprizingly well, and with not a log of dragging. He was just careful and had some good spotting, not me.

You can probably do more with what you have, but a lift will give you more options take a lot of anxiety away, at least about damaging your Jeep.

 

[entropy]

You dont need to go up to 37s to do more difficult trails. If you want to improve offroad performance you can get longer travel shocks and a 1 or 2inch spacer lift. Thatll max out your articulation.

But with front and rear lockers I think the fox shocks you have will give you enough articulation anyway. Not as much as what youd get with next size shocks, but itll give a bump over the red rubi shocks.

Id say swap the shocks and go do a more difficult trail and go from there.

 

[mad_hungarian]

did you re-gear when you went to 35s?

 

[AlanC]

did you re-gear when you went to 35s?

No, I'm still running the stock 4.10s.

 

[KHR Racing]

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