Raptor / 392

[Jeep Dude]

Thank you! Do long arm kits usually start at 3.5" of lift and up? Any shock recommendations, Fox, Falcon, King?

Yes, 3.5" is the starting point.

As for shock recommendations, choose your poison man, and remember, as with everything else in life, always DYOR first ; ).

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[Obi Wong Kenobi]

Just get this and have your cake and eat it too.

https://genright.com/shop-by-vehicle/jeep-jl-jlu-18-current/jl-exs-suspension-system-complete-frame/

 

[stumblinhorse]

Thank you! Do long arm kits usually start at 3.5" of lift and up? Any shock recommendations, Fox, Falcon, King?

You put 3.5” lift on a 392, figure in some $$ custom driveshaft work, you’ll need it.

 

[five9dak]

The 392 has less bump travel than a rubicon - are you sure you need the v8?

A rubicon with tuned shocks would perform better at the same ride height, and have less weight slung over the front for the suspension to control.

 

[T Rose]

I have a 21 Rubicon on a 2.5” lift (metal cloak) with 35,s . I am disappointed in the ride on the highway. Does ok in the sand.
I also have a 21 392XR stock tires and rims. This one puts a smile on my face on and off road every time.
FWIW I have a friend that is placing an order for 24 392 and apparently the X-RAY package was not available

 

[3TV]

I've spent the better part of my life going fast in the desert. I gave up racing after my first and my last trophy were 30 years apart. Now I still like to go fast in the desert, but just for recreation. I also like to do some rock crawling. But the main thing I like to do is just go exploring someplace I haven't been before.

My three off road vehicles right now are
1. 392 XR
2. Ram TRX
3. Can Am Maverick X3 XRC Turbo RR.
The Jeep by far took the most money after the purchase to get it to work the way I wanted it to. That included a MetalCloak 2.5" lift, Accu Tune Fox 2.5 DSC adjustable shocks, 37s, and wheels with proper backspacing and width, on board air, and lighting. The TRX is stock except for on board air, and lighting. The Can Am is stock.

Of those three vehicles the fastest one in rough off-road conditions, and the most capable in difficult terrain, and the one that is the smoothest riding is the Can Am. No contest, hands down, it will blow away the other two. And it cost 1/3 the price of either of the others.

After the money spent on suspension for the 392 it is still nowhere near as comfortable or capable of high speed off-road as the TRX. Hit a cattle guard at 90+ in the TRX and it sticks the landing perfect, every time, like an Olympic gymnast. I wouldn't even want to try that with the 392, even though it is much better now than when it was stock. And if we are comparing high end shocks for the 392, if I were to do it over again, I would go with 2.5" DSC adjustable Kings, instead of Fox. They have performed better on a prior JLUR I used Kings on.

But the final thing to think about is drivability, and practicality. I have owned the TRX for three months longer than the 392, but the 392 had double the miles on it. I daily drive the 392, and I take the 392 more places, including places the TRX is too wide to fit through, and places the TRX is not capable of doing without damage, such as rock crawling in Moab. And my super-fast and super fun Can Am only has 1500 miles on it. Being the best riding and most capable doesn't mean it gets used the most.

If you want the 392 then get it. It is so much more fun to drive in absolutely every situation than a non-392 Jeep that it is worth the extra cost. It may not be as fast on dirt roads as your Raptor was, but it is good at everything, even if not great at speed.

 

[Shark01]

Matt with The Smoking Tire took a stock 392 to a scrub like desert location and had a good time….it is on YouTube

Then there is a recent video from Dubai…..real desert location

 

[erjdrvr]

You put 3.5” lift on a 392, figure in some $$ custom driveshaft work, you’ll need it.

Yes a friend has told me that is a must...he suggested
https://reeldriveline.com/product-category/driveshafts/1350-driveshafts/jl-1350-driveshafts/

 

[erjdrvr]

I've spent the better part of my life going fast in the desert. I gave up racing after my first and my last trophy were 30 years apart. Now I still like to go fast in the desert, but just for recreation. I also like to do some rock crawling. But the main thing I like to do is just go exploring someplace I haven't been before.

My three off road vehicles right now are
1. 392 XR
2. Ram TRX
3. Can Am Maverick X3 XRC Turbo RR.
The Jeep by far took the most money after the purchase to get it to work the way I wanted it to. That included a MetalCloak 2.5" lift, Accu Tune Fox 2.5 DSC adjustable shocks, 37s, and wheels with proper backspacing and width, on board air, and lighting. The TRX is stock except for on board air, and lighting. The Can Am is stock.

Of those three vehicles the fastest one in rough off-road conditions, and the most capable in difficult terrain, and the one that is the smoothest riding is the Can Am. No contest, hands down, it will blow away the other two. And it cost 1/3 the price of either of the others.

After the money spent on suspension for the 392 it is still nowhere near as comfortable or capable of high speed off-road as the TRX. Hit a cattle guard at 90+ in the TRX and it sticks the landing perfect, every time, like an Olympic gymnast. I wouldn't even want to try that with the 392, even though it is much better now than when it was stock. And if we are comparing high end shocks for the 392, if I were to do it over again, I would go with 2.5" DSC adjustable Kings, instead of Fox. They have performed better on a prior JLUR I used Kings on.

But the final thing to think about is drivability, and practicality. I have owned the TRX for three months longer than the 392, but the 392 had double the miles on it. I daily drive the 392, and I take the 392 more places, including places the TRX is too wide to fit through, and places the TRX is not capable of doing without damage, such as rock crawling in Moab. And my super-fast and super fun Can Am only has 1500 miles on it. Being the best riding and most capable doesn't mean it gets used the most.

If you want the 392 then get it. It is so much more fun to drive in absolutely every situation than a non-392 Jeep that it is worth the extra cost. It may not be as fast on dirt roads as your Raptor was, but it is good at everything, even if not great at speed.

Great post! Thanks

 

[Bzinsky]

Yeah I’m a big fan of the raptor and trx suspensions.

around here in NJ there are no rocks or technical stuff, so all I can really do to have fun is go unnecessarily fast

But I want the doors and roof to come off.

I really wish the bronco raptor wasn’t unreliable, had a stronger trans, and didn’t weigh almost 3 tons, and is slower than my 4xe in acceleration.

I just want a magic jeep that turns into a bronco raptor after the transfer case.

 

[Jeep Dude]

Yeah I’m a big fan of the raptor and trx suspensions.

around here in NJ there are no rocks or technical stuff, so all I can really do to have fun is go unnecessarily fast

But I want the doors and roof to come off.

I really wish the bronco raptor wasn’t unreliable, had a stronger trans, and didn’t weigh almost 3 tons, and is slower than my 4xe in acceleration.

I just want a magic jeep that turns into a bronco raptor after the transfer case.

Anything can be done, if you want to pay to play.

You can make your Jeep even faster than a Raptor over the rougher stuff for $30000+ and it will flex too.

Anything can be done with serious coin.

I personally don't like the Raptor, because it is simply too big for the roads and trails I'd use it on.

I hope the Wrangler never gets bigger.

 

[Bzinsky]

Anything can be done, if you want to pay to play.

You can make your Jeep even faster than a Raptor over the rougher stuff for $30000+ and it will flex too.

Anything can be done with serious coin.

not sure it would be possible to match the raptor off road without compromising the on-road. One of them, no problem.

 

[erjdrvr]

Everyone's responses have been great & I have more questions:

Bump Stops & a lift kit: I've read & have been told that inner fender clearance can be an issue with bigger tires. So some of the lift kits I've seen come with bump stop extensions.

Trying to rap my head around the fact that you just installed a lift kit & are now taking away travel with a new longer bump stop. Are the bump stop extensions to compensate for the clearance of bigger tires and the stock fender?

So is it better just buy high line fenders or gut & trim the stock inner fenders to gain more travel?

There also seems to be adjustable bump stops available, is it best to get the lift installed, tires & rims installed, fender clearance adjusted, then figure out the amount of bump stop needed?

 

[wibornz]

I don't think many of us think Michigan forest roads when we think Raptor. That changes things a great deal. Order the 392, you seem to be enthused about it and with good reason. I would not hit the dunes with it at 65mph.

There is not going to be much difference between 35 and 37 on the 392 ride and drive wise. Would be a waste of time and money to me to have both.

Just know I have been over 65 mph many many many times with my JLUR.

There are some forest roads in Michigan that you can easily run high speed, most of them are in the UP. In lower Michigan, not so much. The UP has forest roads that you can drive four vehicles wide and they are flat and smooth. There are places that we snowmobile and the trails are groomed and we run 120+ mph for miles at a time.

 

[Deleted member 59498]

Just know I have been over 65 mph many many many times with my JLUR.

In sand dunes?

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