Jeep lift for a JK Rubi wagon?

[lilianril]

I am a noob here so if this has long been hashed I am sorry. I have recently aquired a 07 jk rubicon 4 door. I would like to run 35s and keep the stock e discos working but the dang thing needs a lift. I was hoping for some thoughts on what lift and how high I should go. I was thinking about the RK 3.5 but am no longer sure. Also any thoughts on what tires are gbest for a daily driven off road workhorse.

 

[Greg]

Are you local to Utah? I would suggest stopping by TeraFlex Plus in Murray and talking to them, they know JK's inside and out and could tell you what you want to know about the lift and electric swaybar disconnect.

If I were lifting a Jeep, I'd steer away from RK, IMO there is much better stuff out there for the money.

 

[lilianril]

I am a local and that is a fine idea. I would still love to hear from people about lifts I would really like to hear anybody that has a JK wagon.

 

[planman]

JK Lift, Gearing, Skidplate, Tire, & Wheel Considerations
Build for 35” Tires (Budget is $2,500+)​

LIFT CONSIDERATIONS (Budget is $400+)
Minimum 2.5” lift (1” body lift and/or flat/trimmed flares add more room)

Spacers or taller springs
Longer rear swaybar links (move stock rears to front)
Rear trackbar or trackbar relocation bracket
Extended bumpstops (fronts not required if you go with flat/trimmed flares)
Rear extended brakeline bracket (easy to fab if not in your kit) or longer brakelines
At 3” you will want an adjustable front trackbar.
Over 3” you will want adjustable lower control arms and an adjustable front trackbar.
If you add a heavy front bumper/winch, you will need a 0.75” front spring spacer to level the JK.
At 3” a 2 dr should consider a rear driveshaft, at 4” a 4dr should consider one due to steep driveshaft angles causing failures.
Lifted JK's with automatic transmissions may have stock driveshaft clearance problems with their stock automatic transmission skid and with their transmission case.
The Rubicon stock shocks are high quality. So, Teraflex and Rough Country sell kits with shock extensions.
​

Teraflex:

(Teraflex lifts include longer swaybar links, rear trackbar bracket, & extended bumpstops)
2.5” Budget Boost spacer lift with shock adapters is about $249, or $395 with shocks
2.5” Spring lift with shock adapters is $440, or $600 with shocks
3” Spring lift with shocks is $829, (higher than 2.5” lift and you will want to add an adjustable front trackbar from JKS for $140)
​

Rough Country:

2.5” Spring lift with shocks is $329 plus shipping, but you will want longer swaybar links ($40), rear trackbar relocation bracket ($40), extended bumpstops ($75), and rear brakeline relocation brackets for a total of about $500 shipped.
​

Superlift, Black Diamond, Zone, and others are similar. Just be sure you have all the components.
Performance Accessories or M.O.R.E: 1” body lift is about $100-$150
Xenon: Flat flares are about $500-$550 depending upon whether you go narrower or wider than stock.

GEARING (Budget is $309 for Programmer, Add $1000-1500 to re-gear)
With taller tires, you may want to add a Superchips Flashpaq Programmer for about $309 shipped to modify your tune, and to adjust for different size tires and gears. The stock gears are bearable with 35s, a Programmer, and turning off the Overdrive on an automatic or not using 6th gear on a 6 speed.
With an Automatic, 5.38 gears are best for 35”+ size tires. (5.13s if you have a Dana 30 front axle.)
With a 6 speed, 4.88 gears are best for 35” tires and 5.13 gears for 37”+ size tires.
Regearing runs about $1000-$1500 for parts labor and fluids.


SKID PLATE CONSIDERATIONS (Budget is $480+)
The stock automatic transmission skid plate can cause driveline clearance problems when an automatic JK is lifted. There is no stock engine skid plate. The stock gas tank skid plate is thin.
The stock rocker guards/sliders are strong enough to support the jeep.
Minimum recommended skid plate is the Rock Hard engine skid for $380, and EVAP canister skid for $100
TNT Customs/TREKS is selling their combo engine, transfer case and gas tank skid system for $1000
Front and rear bumpers are expensive and start at about $1000 for the pair.
Running a larger than 35” on the stock tire carrier is not advisable.

TIRE CONSIDERATIONS (Budget is $400+ for spacers or wheels and $1200+ for tires)
The stock wheels are narrow with significant backspacing. In order to run wider than a stock tire on the stock wheels, wheel spacers from Teraflex or Spidertrax are necessary to avoid tire damage due to rubbing on suspension components. The spacers are about $100 a pair.
Aftermarket wheels should have no more than 4.5” backspacing. The JKs 5x5 bolt pattern is different than the TJ (5x4.5).
If you sell your stock tires and wheels, you may be able to get $500-$700 for them to offset the cost of larger tires and wheels.
Some 15” wheels may rub the front calipers—requiring grinding some of the material off the calipers for clearance. Most 16” and 17” wheels with 5x5 bolt patterns and 4.5” or less backspacing fit with no problems.
Costco is the least expensive place to buy BFG KM2s. You have to special order them. They mount them to your wheels for carry out. They will not install the tires/wheels on your jeep.
Discount Tire Direct is also extremely compeititve in pricing and service.
Tires for 16” or 17” wheels cost about $80-$100 more per tire than for 15” wheels.

Notes:
Also plan on a CB ($100-$200 installed).
For offroading, you will need to carry tools, recovery gear, first aid kit, fire extinguisher, and a cooler (lunch & drinks). For more extreme offroading, plan on carrying fluids and spare parts.
37” tires require re-gearing ($1,000-$1,500), upgraded driveshafts ($1,000+), upgraded front axle shafts ($700), and more clearance from either a body lift, flat fenders, or taller lift ($600-$1,000s). 37” tires will eventually cause factory parts to fail. The factory warranty will not cover failures caused by non-factory parts

 

[JoeT]

Nice response there planman!

lilianril: Check out http://www.teraflex.biz/ or give me a friday. I work in CS at TeraFlex and will be more than happy to answer any JK questions. A TeraFlex 3" kit will work fine with 35's, I even have a co-worker with 37's and a 3".



Mine has a 4" and 37's. Come in and talk to us.

 

[DMACxj]

I have a 2 door JK and found the link below very helpful with JK info and products. I ended up going with the TeraFlex 2.5" Budget Boost and just under 35" tires.

 

[Bear T]

I have sold a lot of lifts for JK's when I used to work at 4wheelparts.

That being said, GO TO TERAFLEX, those guys rock. And they know their stuff.

 

[lilianril]

Thanks everybody. We went with the 3" short arm kit by teraflex and mt/r's. I will post some pics when I as soon as my camera is back up and running. Now I am trying to decide on the supercips flashpaq or skimp and get the AEV. Gears and other mods hopefully won't be far off....

 

[planman]

Having run the AEV, the Hypertech, and the Superchips between both my rig and my wife's rig, the Superchips is the only way to go, and the AEV is money wasted because it does not increase performance.

Here is an objective comparison:

http://www.jpmagazine.com/techarticles/engine/154_0911_jeep_jk_wrangler_tuner_shootout/index.html

The Superchips is $309 shipped at Northridge4x4.com:

http://northridge4x4.com/proddetail.php?prod=SCHIP-3875&cat=281

 

[rholbrook]

There are so many opinions on lifts. Everyone you talk to has a different one. Its like buying a truck or a snowmobile. Can you really buy a bad lift these days? I believe I did, it was a Fabtech. I will never buy another but I was talking to someone who that is all he will buy. Its like Ford or Dodge. I don't have a Teraflex lift yet but I may buy two in the next few weeks, one for my TJ and one for my LJ. I like that they are local.

 

[I Lean]

Can you really buy a bad lift these days? I believe I did, it was a Fabtech.

YES, you can. We take them off all the time. It really makes me feel bad for the owners, since they end up buying their lift twice.

 

[lilianril]

Well I went ahead and got the superchips. I had too short a timeframe once I decided to get it so I am paying a little more to get it with my lift. Although the nice guys at teraflex tried to match prices.

I love that they are local. It will be nice that if something breaks or isn't right that I know them buy name.

 

[turbohaulic]

It all depends on what your really going to use it for. If you want it 85% for just driving then go cheap. In reality you can build a decent rig for easy wheelin for not to much. But if you wheel alot and want a very capable rig your going to be spending some dough (it is a jeep..not cheap) I love them JK's though, very nice ride and they look bomb.