Opinions

[AmericanPatriot100]

Tax season is coming. I want to add 37s and a decent lift. Currently running JL Rubi take off springs and JTR Fox shocks with 35s. I also don’t want a cheap lift but budget friendly preferably. I was looking at this Teraflex 2.5” kit. Haven’t heard anything either way about the 9550 VSS shocks. Also considering the MC 2.5” GC or RL and the AEV 2.5”. What are some of your guys opinions and can you add pictures to your post if you have one of these or a 2.5” lift!
Thanks Joe

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[Tr4ckD4ys]

I think so long as it is a quality lift kit, you can’t go wrong with any of these brands. Clayton, Teraflex, AEV and Metalcloak all make high quality products. From what I read, the trade-off between Clayton and Metalcloak is thickness (sturdiness) of parts versus articulation (that is not to say the MC parts aren’t sturdy). Some people don’t like the gold-zinc plated MC parts aesthetic. I personally have the MC Rocklander 2.5”. My only regret is not going for 3.5” but I can still do this later as the only difference between the two kits are the springs, which can be had for ~600$ should I want to get that last inch. Ride comfort and feel has improved over factory.

 

[AmericanPatriot100]

I think so long as it is a quality lift kit, you can’t go wrong with any of these brands. Clayton, Teraflex, AEV and Metalcloak all make high quality products. From what I read, the trade-off between Clayton and Metalcloak is thickness (sturdiness) of parts versus articulation (that is not to say the MC parts aren’t sturdy). Some people don’t like the gold-zinc plated MC parts aesthetic. I personally have the MC Rocklander 2.5”. My only regret is not going for 3.5” but I can still do this later as the only difference between the two kits are the springs, which can be had for ~600$ should I want to get that last inch. Ride comfort and feel has improved over factory.

Right on. Do you know the difference between the MC game changer and rocklander? I’m trying to see what that is other than price. And what all did you order when you ordered the MC lift? Did you add the driveshaft?

 

[yokramer]

I really like my Rock Krawler kit I put on in September. Went with the 2.5" kit (which is designed for the 4 door) and ended up with between 3.5-3.75" of lift. Articulation is insane and rides great with the Bilstein 5100s. I did upgrade to the Adventure X arms with the better bushings.

 

[jadmt]

hard to beat an AEV 2.5 for the money...especially for a rig that spends time on the highway they do really well..there are are better pure offroad lifts but face it most of us spend more time on than off road..I have yet to be to a place offroad that my AEV lift has prevented me from doing anything I wanted to do...

 

[Tr4ckD4ys]

Right on. Do you know the difference between the MC game changer and rocklander? I’m trying to see what that is other than price. And what all did you order when you ordered the MC lift? Did you add the driveshaft?

The only difference are the spring preload numbers. The kits are identical but the rocklander has a bit stiffer springs to allow for the cargo weight of the vehicle (since the rocklander is an “overland” focused setup). Personally I found my rocklander kit to ride better than my stock suspension. Essentially with the swap of the springs you can both change the height you have as well as the load capacity. Pretty nifty if you ask me!

I have no experience with the other kits, but as folks say: All these brands are “rock” solid (pun intended).

 

[AmericanPatriot100]

Right on guys. Thank you! I’ve been trying to watch manufacturers videos and reviews on all of these and no real complaints from anyone. Everyone seems to like what they chose. Only reason I’m going from the rubicon take offs to an actual lift is ground clearance. Cause I’ve whacked my steering stabilizer a couple times scraped the belly a few times. And I really should have went to 37s when I was buying tires cause now I have newish 35s I’m going to end up replacing in a couple months anyway.

 

[yokramer]

Right on guys. Thank you! I’ve been trying to watch manufacturers videos and reviews on all of these and no real complaints from anyone. Everyone seems to like what they chose. Only reason I’m going from the rubicon take offs to an actual lift is ground clearance. Cause I’ve whacked my steering stabilizer a couple times scraped the belly a few times. And I really should have went to 37s when I was buying tires cause now I have newish 35s I’m going to end up replacing in a couple months anyway.

I will say I ran a ton of stuff all over the South East and here in CO on a stop rubi on 315s and never smacked my steering stabilizer. I beat the hell out of the stock skids, then undercloak, and the LCA and Shock skids tho.

 

[AmericanPatriot100]

It was a very big loose rock. I was working my way around it and then it shifted. The jeep slid left and forward a couple feet and because I was going downhill on a loose rock I couldn’t stop until the rock stopped. And it stopped right in front of the stabilizer. It’s a small dent. But it’s there. And it’s not compromised in anyway.

 

[Pape]

First question that come to mind is what is the intended purpose of the build.
As stated previously the AEV is a overlanding lift, great for handling and running a lot of weight but not that great for pure articulations.

 

[AmericanPatriot100]

First question that come to mind is what is the intended purpose of the build.
As stated previously the AEV is a overlanding lift, great for handling and running a lot of weight but not that great for pure articulations.

Good question! We do mostly overland trips because my wife isn’t huge on rock crawling unless she is driving. So she is getting a jeep for that. So we want to get into the rocklanding side of things. So something that will do well on road since we aren’t retired yet and it’s my daily and will articulate well on the rocks, strong enough to carry the gear, kids and dogs.

 

[AnnDee4444]

Tax season is coming.

You should probably look at adjusting your withholdings rather than giving the government an interest free loan.

 

[AmericanPatriot100]

You should probably look at adjusting your withholdings rather than giving the government an interest free loan.

I agree, I usually have my withholding set to break even but I started a new job in the middle of the year and my taxes and medical stuff got messed up so I just left it. Come Friday I’ll adjust everything to where it was before! Then I’ll break even again! But here we are so jeep parts!

 

[Pape]

I agree, I usually have my withholding set to break even but I started a new job in the middle of the year and my taxes and medical stuff got messed up so I just left it. Come Friday I’ll adjust everything to where it was before! Then I’ll break even again! But here we are so jeep parts!

You have some decision to make here, Rock crawling is the priority or DD is the priority.
I have rock a AVE lift with drop down bracket for close to 10 years on my JK as my DD and I did enjoy the go cart feeling and was not a issue for the offroad I was doing (not much rock crawling over here), but that is just me, the wife did not really enjoy the ride Unfortunately I have no experience with the other lift.

 

[Wabujitsu]

Just to complicate your choices further, I also recommend the various JKS lifts. Some of them DO beat some of the AEV lifts price-wise, and the JKS lifts are also excellent quality and reputation.

We are on our second and third Jeeps. All three Jeeps got 2.5” and 3.5” JKS lifts. All three have awesome articulation and also ride noticeably better than stock on-road.

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