Newbie questions about lifting

[twentw]

My wife just ordered a 2024 Sahara and wants to have it lifted when it arrives. Since neither of us knows anything about this, we have some questions:

1. How big are the stock tires (255 /70 R18 SL I think)? What size would look nice but not affect performance or ride much? We don’t plan on off-roading much.
2. Are the wheels/rims replaced with a lift and larger tires?
3. What’s a nice looking lift for a Sahara? I’m thinking 2 or 3 inches?
4. What usually happens to the old tires (and rims if replaced)? Do we just keep them and sell them? If so, what’s the market?
5. The dealer gave us a rough price of $8,000. Is this too high? Too low? Is there somewhere to have it done that’s better than the dealer?

After having vans this is a new experience for us. Any advice is appreciated.

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[KuntryRube]

Hey bud, welcome to the jeeping world. Hope you stay.

1. stock sahara tires are all considered all terrain but they suck so bad at anything but pavement, people place them in the 'All season' category. They are small, technically called 33s but they are 32.1... so yeah 32s in my eyes. Get a set of K02s in 33s. Can't go wrong with those. Jack of all trades.

2. Usually yes. People lift for bigger tires and wheels, not the other way around. You don't have to with 33s. You're fine.

3. 1.5" to 2" with 33s. You'll look like a Rubi

4. Keep them if very new. Someone will buy them but don't count of us here on this forum. We typically off road alot. Those Sahara tires are almost useless.

5. WAY too high! You can get a very nice lift kit and have it installed for half of that! Let me know and I can send some recomendations

Advice? Just learn day by day about your jeep, the jeep world, the people, and the life style. Just have fun. Go off road at least once.

 

[jeepoch]

@twentw,

Tim, first off congrats on the new Sahara. I hope your JL brings you as much fun and wonderful experiences as my 2019 JL Sport has brought me.

I absolutely love my lift. Everything about it just makes my driving experience so much better. Whether on or off-road it just makes my Jeep so much better in every way. It handles and drives like an all purpose, go-anywhere I point this thing, 'magic-carpet' vehicle should. It's exactly what makes my JL so much more exciting than anything I've ever driven.

Granted, there are technically a lot better lifts than the one I invested in. The dealership installed 2.5" Mopar lift certainly does not have all the bells-and-whistles that most third-party providers offer but it suits me just fine. I'm not OCD in all the fine adjustments and offset refinements that the other lifts have to offer, but I spent $1700 on mine. For $8K yours should be able to cook you breakfast in the mornings. Is yours made of platinum? My friend's 3.5" Metal Cloak Lift (which is a very premium kit) was nowhere near what your being charged. So shop around.

I was also hornswoggled into believing that the dealership had to install the lift in order to not void any part of the standard factory or extended Mopar warranties. I've since learned that's not the case, however within subjective limits. As long as the geometry of the powertrain is not negatively affected, your warranty should hold. But that's a pretty abstract and idiosyncratic discussion. Generally, the higher the lift, or the larger the tires, the greater the geometry changes. -- I chose not to take that chance and stayed with a lift that made the probability of having any future warranty claim honored, at least without a lawyer involved.

I also installed 35's (Goodyear Duratrac Wrangler All-Terrains 35x12.5x17's). Many say this is the limit. 37's will void the warranty. Still, I choose these tires for their all-around on and off-road characteristics, but especially for their snow rating. Living along the Colorado Front Range, I off-road my JL quite a lot. I typically travel out within the mountain wilderness several times per month. I'm a big fan of John Denver's Rocky Mountain High. Any day above tree-line is a great day. My JL makes that happen as often as I care to go (which is frequent). My happy place is certainly the high forest. The fresh, crisp but light air with the scent of pine and the sound of wind and birdsong wafting through the trees... Heaven.

I did have to purchase new wheels with a -12mm offset to minimize steering contention but this combination really adds to the overall Jeeping appeal. With the addition of a Quick Sway-bar Disconnect kit I get complimented all the time for taking this thing where Rubicons typically only go. I'm trying my best to show that lockers are way overated. But that's a different subject.

I also chose to keep my original stock 31.5" Michelin tires and wheels. If I ever need to go on a long road trip, these will certainly be better for that. Granted, lifted on 31's looks funny.

Lastly, you certainly may not have the same vision for your Sahara, but around town and on-road I love the extra sure-footed grip these bigger tires provide. And, on the stock 3.45 gearing with this ZF8 Auto transmission, I'm getting better than 22 mpg around the greater north metro Denver area. This is by far the best daily driver I've ever owned.

Hope yours brings you as much happiness.
Jay

 

[tomk62]

My wife just ordered a 2024 Sahara and wants to have it lifted when it arrives. Since neither of us knows anything about this, we have some questions:

1. How big are the stock tires (255 /70 R18 SL I think)? What size would look nice but not affect performance or ride much? We don’t plan on off-roading much.
2. Are the wheels/rims replaced with a lift and larger tires?
3. What’s a nice looking lift for a Sahara? I’m thinking 2 or 3 inches?
4. What usually happens to the old tires (and rims if replaced)? Do we just keep them and sell them? If so, what’s the market?
5. The dealer gave us a rough price of $8,000. Is this too high? Too low? Is there somewhere to have it done that’s better than the dealer?

After having vans this is a new experience for us. Any advice is appreciated.

I just did the exact same thing. Have a look at my build thread for the details, but essentially i went with a Clayton 2.5" Overland+ lift, 35x12.50R17 Mickey Thompson Baja Boss tires, and new 17x9 wheels to accommodate the larger tires.

1. Yes that's the stock size. You want to go up to either 33" or 35" all terrain. Beyond that you'll need to upgrade more components. 33" is a great compromise of more aggressive look, 35" for a little more. The popular all terrain BF GoodrIch, Mickey Thompson, Toyo, Falken, etc all offer a decent ride.

2. You usually need new wider wheels to properly fit larger/wider tires. The stock 18" Sahara wheels deviate from the more common 17" wheels.

3. yes 2-3 inches.

4. That's what I was told but have yet to be able to sell mine - virtually brand new. Currently listed for $1000 5 wheel/tire set.

5. I spent just under $8k to do my entire upgrade - lift, wheels, tires, shocks, steering stabilizer, steps, spare tire relocation - parts and labor. Spec out your build and shop around.

 

[word302]

Do not let the dealership touch your rig. My suggestion is to drive it for a bit and see how you’re really going to use it before you decide. Rock Krawler, Metalcloak, and Clayton make high quality entry-level lifts. Look at other jeeps with the size tires/stance you want and ask what they’re running. If you’ve got any mechanical inclination and some basic tools, lifting a Jeep isn’t difficult at all if you wanted to tackle it yourself. Browse other lift threads in here to see tons of before/after photos and reach out with anymore questions.

 

[Xcoaste]

Do not let the dealership touch your rig. My suggestion is to drive it for a bit and see how you’re really going to use it before you decide. Rock Krawler, Metalcloak, and Clayton make high quality entry-level lifts. Look at other jeeps with the size tires/stance you want and ask what they’re running. If you’ve got any mechanical inclination and some basic tools, lifting a Jeep isn’t difficult at all if you wanted to tackle it yourself. Browse other lift threads in here to see tons of before/after photos and reach out with anymore questions.

I second this about driving it around first before making a lot of modifications if it is her first Jeep. She could hate it and decide she doesn't want it to be her daily driver and you won't ever get that money you just spent on the lift and tires back. I have seen it happen quite a few times.
Enjoy the new Jeep!

 

[Bill_BCNtoNY]

I did something similar to my own Sahara - 2.5 lift with Rubi-sized wheels and tires.

Oh, and that price is ridiculous... run away from that place and never look back. Seriously.

Here is a before and after the lift of my Sahara, so you can decide if you want it:

 

[GATORB8]

My wife just ordered a 2024 Sahara and wants to have it lifted when it arrives. Since neither of us knows anything about this, we have some questions:

1. How big are the stock tires (255 /70 R18 SL I think)? What size would look nice but not affect performance or ride much? We don’t plan on off-roading much.
2. Are the wheels/rims replaced with a lift and larger tires?
3. What’s a nice looking lift for a Sahara? I’m thinking 2 or 3 inches?
4. What usually happens to the old tires (and rims if replaced)? Do we just keep them and sell them? If so, what’s the market?
5. The dealer gave us a rough price of $8,000. Is this too high? Too low? Is there somewhere to have it done that’s better than the dealer?

After having vans this is a new experience for us. Any advice is appreciated.

Instead of answering your questions (sorry), this is my recommendation. Jump on Facebook, and find the local Jeep groups and find a meet up. Walk around the parking lot and let your wife identify the Jeeps she likes, take pictures of those and, if possible, talk to the owners to find out what they have. Concentrate on JL's, lift sizes and modifications will vary significantly between generations. If you need help telling the difference in the JK and JL (courtesy of oracle):

In your case, your wife's preferences on aesthetics will likely be the driving factor. Texas doesn't have a lot of public lands to wheel and the parks are a ways away. Driving on the beach is basically a non-issue even stock. Once you know what she wants, we can better help advise.

 

[Old Jeeper]

My wife just ordered a 2024 Sahara and wants to have it lifted when it arrives. Since neither of us knows anything about this, we have some questions:

1. How big are the stock tires (255 /70 R18 SL I think)? What size would look nice but not affect performance or ride much? We don’t plan on off-roading much.
2. Are the wheels/rims replaced with a lift and larger tires?
3. What’s a nice looking lift for a Sahara? I’m thinking 2 or 3 inches?
4. What usually happens to the old tires (and rims if replaced)? Do we just keep them and sell them? If so, what’s the market?
5. The dealer gave us a rough price of $8,000. Is this too high? Too low? Is there somewhere to have it done that’s better than the dealer?

After having vans this is a new experience for us. Any advice is appreciated.

"8". RUN as fast as you can on an $8k lift for a lift that is just run around town.

Based upon what you want to accomplish:

2 in lift + 35x12:50 tires will look good..

I have built a lot of Jeeps and I had a Jeep off road shop for 10 years, highest lift I would install was 3.5 Inch. At the 3" + point, you get into serious suspension modifications and the $ skyrockets.

2 in lift puts you in mild mods space. A 2 in lift is an option on some Jeeps that come with 35 tall tires. I am getting ready to do a 2-inch lift on my Jeep. I am using the take-off springs, shocks, and lower control arms from a 392 XR. I bought it for $500 new off his 392 XR.

Sold my OEM Rubicon wheels and tires for $1000, the day the ad was placed in the paper.

If you go 35s be sure to heed the mfg recommendations on WHEEL RIM WIDTH. Jeep wheels are 7.5 IIRC and the Tires (which I recommend) are Goodyear Duratracs. Best overall tires that has ever been on my Jeep. Snow-rated, works very well on sand, street, off-road, great tires!

Here is a pic of my 24 JLR-X with my 35 Duratracs.

 

[twentw]

Thanks for all the comments. We have a lot to look into.

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