Zone lift any good??

[schuessdog]

Hey guys I’m curious if anyone has a 3inch zone lift and if so how do you like it ? I have a brand new dual steering stabilizer from zone and wanted to go with zone for the lift as well thanks

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[Ratbert]

Why wouldn't you buy a lift that matches what you're looking for instead of one that happens to be made by (for?) a company that sold you a steering stabilizer?

Note that I know nothing about Zone and the question is relevant no matter who made your steering stabilizer.

 

[GATORB8]

Zone is owned by the Fox group. Same team as JKS and BDS. All of them were in the same booth at GSMJI.

Zone doesn't carry BDS's warranty, and in other vehicles is a little cheaper at the expense of some heft.

IIRC, Zone uses the 2.0 adventure series instead of the performance series shocks, which are not rebuildable.

Nothing that I would shy away from them for, but Zone is their value side. Like every lift, look at components included.

 

[Remorseless]

Zone's the budget-oriented manufacturer owned by Fox. Looking at their 3" kit, IMO, I'd splurge for something that comes with either new control arms or a geometry bracket instead of Zone's cam washers/bolts. If you wanna stay within the Fox brands, I'd say JKS or BDS are the ones I'd recommend. The JKS springs ride fantastic - I run the JKS lift myself.

 

[Remorseless]

Zone is owned by the Fox group. Same team as JKS and BDS. All of them were in the same booth at GSMJI.

Zone doesn't carry BDS's warranty, and in other vehicles is a little cheaper at the expense of some heft.

IIRC, Zone uses the 2.0 adventure series instead of the performance series shocks, which are not rebuildable.

Nothing that I would shy away from them for, but Zone is their value side. Like every lift, look at components included.

 

[Remorseless]

BTW @GATORB8, you see if JKS had their long arm kit at GSMJI? That thing's been teased for years and I've been curious if it's ever showing up.

 

[schuessdog]

Why wouldn't you buy a lift that matches what you're looking for instead of one that happens to be made by (for?) a company that sold you a steering stabilizer?

Note that I know nothing about Zone and the question is relevant no matter who made your steering stabilizer.

I had gotten the steering stabilizer for free (it’s brand new) from a family member and being that this is the first Jeep I have owned I just wasn’t to sure what lift would be the best I don’t want to spend a crazy amount of money on a lift but I also don’t want to cheap out and have the ride quality go to hell

 

[GATORB8]

BTW @GATORB8, you see if JKS had their long arm kit at GSMJI? That thing's been teased for years and I've been curious if it's ever showing up.

Not that I noticed, but I really wasn't looking for it.

 

[GATORB8]

I had gotten the steering stabilizer for free (it’s brand new) from a family member and being that this is the first Jeep I have owned I just wasn’t to sure what lift would be the best I don’t want to spend a crazy amount of money on a lift but I also don’t want to cheap out and have the ride quality go to hell

So, looking at Zone's 3", they do try to do a reasonable job for such a bare bones kit.

Coils, bumps, and sways will be in any of the basic kits.
They accomplish some caster through the use of cam bolts, and recenter the rear axle and roll axis with a rear track bar bracket. Both of these items are frequently left out of kits in this range. I haven't personally used a cam'd setup so I can't comment on what they can net you.

If the cam bolts do their job, the only thing really missing for a solid setup is a front adjustible track bar.

EDIT: A cost effective option for the LCAs other than the cam bolts are the Mopar Lift Set. They can be had for under $100 for the pair IIRC>

 

[Remorseless]

So, looking at Zone's 3", they do try to do a reasonable job for such a bare bones kit.

Coils, bumps, and sways will be in any of the basic kits.
They accomplish some caster through the use of cam bolts, and recenter the rear axle and roll axis with a rear track bar bracket. Both of these items are frequently left out of kits in this range. I haven't personally used a cam'd setup so I can't comment on what they can net you.

If the cam bolts do their job, the only thing really missing for a solid setup is a front adjustible track bar.

Cam bolts can do the job - my wheeling buddy runs a JKU with the 4" Mopar lift that uses cam bolts and they're fine, but like a fixed arm lift just have limitations - some shared with fixed arm, and some unique to cam systems. Basically you have knock out the center section of the axle-side LCA mount so the cam bolt can go through its range of travel depending on cam washer orientation and this means you have to use cam elimination washers if you want to ever upgrade to fixed or adjustable arms for caster correction. That said, his have held up just fine (to my knowledge, getting ready to rebuild his steering with him later this month, so maybe I'm missing something I'll find out then) through 6 or 7 years of wheeling.

 

[Roky]

I had gotten the steering stabilizer for free (it’s brand new) from a family member and being that this is the first Jeep I have owned I just wasn’t to sure what lift would be the best I don’t want to spend a crazy amount of money on a lift but I also don’t want to cheap out and have the ride quality go to hell

The ride quality ( soft vs firm) is going to be hard for anyone to recommend because it’s subjective, and different from person to person…..

Ride quality as far as pulling, wandering or something rubbing etc. can be controlled by you by keeping the geometry in a good place….The items you want to look for in a 3” or more lift are: front adjustable track bar, rear track bar relocation bracket or an adj. rear track bar, front upper or lower adj. control arms or control arm drop brackets…

I would avoid cam bolts as most of them have you wallow out the frame or axle bracket and if you decide later to do adj. arms you’ll have to address(fix) the control arm brackets)…You’ll also want longer sway bar links ( some kits provide longer rears and have you move rears to the front……If whichever kit you decide on has these parts, you’ll minimize or avoid any problems related to steering, wandering, etc….

 

[MEGAS]

BDS, Zone, JKS and Fox are all under the same umbrella. For a Jeep the JKS/Fox products are the best for performance and features. BDS is top quality as well but not Jeep specific like JKS, Zone is the budget version of BDS with the same engineering. If the Zone kit fits your budget, go for it.

 

[Cips]

I was shopping lifts two months ago and got quoted a Zone, ReadyLift, and JKS. Ultimately went with JKS and very happy I did. It was the most expensive but I have not second guessed my purchase at all.

 

[longfiredragon]

Hey guys I’m curious if anyone has a 3inch zone lift and if so how do you like it ? I have a brand new dual steering stabilizer from zone and wanted to go with zone for the lift as well thanks

Two of the most important things people suggested to me when I got my jeep, was what are you going to do with it? And maybe consider just driving it for a while and see how much you really need. OP, you didn't mention your use?

Just from what I have learned. If your going to do a lot of off roading, personally I would not go with any of these lifts mentioned. There is a difference in a really good high quality lift.

If your just doing some mild stuff and dirt roads, well then it really won't matter.

Or if you want to just throw big dollars in your jeep. It's yours, so it's all good.

Get out there and enjoy.

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