Thoughts on this lift?

[DakotaTJ]

Any good? Would this work with factory rubicon springs?

Ideally with 33's. But am open to 31's.

https://www.extremeterrain.com/mamm...-suspension-lift-kit-with-shocks-j143271.html

 

[Chris]

Seems fine to me, but that's not enough lift for 33s. You need 4" to run 33s. That's a great lift height for 31s though (which are all you likely need) and I'm going to strongly encourage you to stick with 31s unless you're made of money.

 

[rasband]

It depends on what you want to do. Are you after a look or do you plan to wheel?

The forum has the guide to lifting your TJ. What you're looking at falls under a "budget boost", which is fine if it serves what you're after. Though the shocks probably ride soft or at least a certain way that some of us don't love.

Thread 'A Beginners Guide to Lifting Your Jeep Wrangler TJ'

Jan 10, 2016

One of the questions I see so commonly asked in the Jeep Wrangler TJ community relates to people who are new to the Wrangler TJ and have questions about what kind of lift they need, what the best lift is, what tires they can run with each lift, etc.

I'm going to try and sum it all up in one thread so that any of the new owners have a resource to help guide them in their path to building their Wrangler the way they want it.

First and foremost, in order to determine what kind of lift you want, you need to ask yourself a few questions:



First start by answering these questions:...

• Chris
• Replies: 390
• Forum: TJ Resources

• 

 

[Feralkid]

Any good? Would this work with factory rubicon springs?

Ideally with 33's. But am open to 31's.

https://www.extremeterrain.com/mamm...-suspension-lift-kit-with-shocks-j143271.html

That is a waste of money.

 

[MtPockets]

That is a waste of money.

I agree. Those shocks are likely to ride like shit.
I would buy the spring spacers and shocks separate, unless Rancho happens to make a kit with their 5000 or 9000 shocks.

I have zero issue with the budget boost aspect. I have that on both my TJ and my DD ZJ.

 

[rasband]

I agree. Those shocks are likely to ride like shit.
I would buy the spring spacers and shocks separate, unless Rancho happens to make a kit with their 5000 or 9000 shocks.

Buying them separate isn't a bad idea, since you can hopefully get the least bad shock.

Rancho shocks also ride like shit . Just pick which shit you like more. Either way, most people looking for a generic budget boost kit aren't really chasing a ride and will just accept the "it's a jeep thing" mentality.

 

[TheBoogieman]

Just pick which shit you like more. Either way, most people looking for a generic budget boost kit aren't really chasing a ride and will just accept the "it's a jeep thing" mentality.

It sucks being poor. I'm going to try the Black Max shocks next to see if they're less "shitty" than the Rancho.

 

[MtPockets]

Buying them separate isn't a bad idea, since you can hopefully get the least bad shock.

Rancho shocks also ride like shit . Just pick which shit you like more. Either way, most people looking for a generic budget boost kit aren't really chasing a ride and will just accept the "it's a jeep thing" mentality.

I'm hoping the 9000s, with their adjustability, would be good?
Any thoughts?
I have 5000s on my ZJ and like them but thats not a TJ.

 

[TheBoogieman]

I'm hoping the 9000s, with their adjustability, would be good?
Any thoughts?

They're a good shock to adjust how YOU like the ride. Some people say the 5000X shocks are too stiff, and some say they're too mushy. Opinions, who knew?

 

[Rickyd]

I'm hoping the 9000s, with their adjustability, would be good?
Any thoughts?
I have 5000s on my ZJ and like them but thats not a TJ.

I put 9000's on my duramax and they lasted a year before they went soft on the stiffest setting. Not a tj either. 8000 lbs and 35s is a lot to control hauling ass in the back country

 

[rasband]

I'm hoping the 9000s, with their adjustability, would be good?
Any thoughts?
I have 5000s on my ZJ and like them but thats not a TJ.

I think the adjustability of the 9000 gives you more options than whatever the 5000x is set to as the only option. I don't know how much it adjusts across the selector, but they might be fun to test a bunch of settings until you land on one, which I'd assume people would do and stick at whatever they liked along the way without going further in adjustments.

Unless you're chasing performance and can/want to spend the money on it, you just need to find what you like and hope it lasts for what you use your jeep for. It's not a one size fits all, I just strongly disliked how my Rancho shocks rode and responded (especially as they got warm). The extreme terrain brand is probably similar to Rancho if I had to guess. I know Procomp was whitelabeling rancho shocks for a bit, so they were nearly the same. There's a large gap between that tier and the remote resi fox's - and I can't really speak to what fills that gap.

 

[MtPockets]

Not a tj either. 8000 lbs and 35s is a lot to control hauling ass in the back country

I get that, but the shocks you installed were designed for a pickup, right? So they need to be durable enough for a pickup!

I have 5000s on my 98 Chev K2500, and they've been good but it doesnt see much use.

 

[MtPockets]

It's not a one size fits all, I just strongly disliked how my Rancho shocks rode and responded (especially as they got warm).

Did you find a shock that rode better? What about durability?

 

[rasband]

Did you find a shock that rode better? What about durability?

Unfortunately I only stayed in the OEM+4" sizes for a little while longer. I had the generic Fox shocks, which I liked better overall. But I never dabbled here long enough to have suggestions of other shock options. I know recent years people have been liking the KYB monomax shocks.

I jumped into the midarm, outboard, extended shock mount territory and have all four corners custom tuned for the trail weight. It's awesome for what I like to do with my Jeep - but that isn't to say it's the end all for everyone. Especially if they're chasing just a better OEM-ish range of ride or don't want to spend the money on these changes.

 

[thedustyboot]

@DakotaTJ

You don't "NEED" a 4" lift to run 33's, I don't agree with that opinion. It all comes down to what you primarily use your Jeep for. Do you daily it, is it a weekend wheeler? What type/level of trails do you prefer? So many factors go into choosing the right suspension for your ride. Having bought the cheaper suspension brands when I was younger for my '89 ranger and acquiring my TJ with a Rough Country 2' lift (very similar to your choice: just coils/shocks) I can speak from experience that the cheaper stuff won't last. That being said you also don't need to go out and buy the top tier brands either, a reputable brand such as Bilstein (ran these before my 4" lift and liked them), Skyjacker (switched to this brand on my ranger after the RC shocks pooped the bed), and Fox which is what I'm running now with my current setup.



My personal advice is this: Don't be in a hurry to buy something. Talk to other forum members and see how their builds progressed, @The4bangertj comes to mind as someone who has had a very well documented build and has progressed from stock form up to where he is now.


This is a 1" BL, a sacked out Rough country 2" lift coil, and factory control arms. Tires are a BFG K02 33/12.5R15. Only rubbed the fender flare at full steering lock and full stuff.







Pictured below is a 4" BDS lift with the same 33" BFG K02's

 

[KennethS]

My ‘98 has OME 2” or 2.5” lift (whichever it's called) and 32” tires along with 3.73 gears. I have been through a lot of rocky Arizona trails with it.
It originally had Rancho 9000s and I really couldn’t tell much of a difference between the different settings. The shocks got so old the rubber bushings came apart, so I replaced the bushings, then I finally decided to replace the shocks and I couldn’t tell a difference with the new shocks, so I guess the valving was still working.

OME 2” lift and 32s

 

[L J]

I'm hoping the 9000s, with their adjustability, would be good?
Any thoughts?
I have 5000s on my ZJ and like them but thats not a TJ.

I had the 9000s on my LJ (stock suspension and tire size) and was never impressed by the "adjustability". The ride was okayish. YMMV because as with many things, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

 

[TheBoogieman]

because as with many things, beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.

Fixed that statement for accuracy.

 

[DakotaTJ]

Seems fine to me, but that's not enough lift for 33s. You need 4" to run 33s. That's a great lift height for 31s though (which are all you likely need) and I'm going to strongly encourage you to stick with 31s unless you're made of money.

I am not. Thanks guys. I’m going to buy some 15” mammoths and 31’s, stock height, until I figure out a lift.

I daily my TJ and occasionally hit the trails, sometimes rutted, but nothing too crazy.

 

[Chris]

I am not. Thanks guys. I’m going to buy some 15” mammoths and 31’s, stock height, until I figure out a lift.

I daily my TJ and occasionally hit the trails, sometimes rutted, but nothing too crazy.

Having done this more times than I care to rehash, I've learned that unless you're crawling in the rocks and doing some very tough wheeling, 31" tires and a 2" lift (which I would rather achieve with 1" springs and a 1.25" body lift) are all you'll ever need. Not only that but you'll save a lot of money and your TJ will be a lot more fun to drive on-road.

33s and up is a real can of worms if you want to do it right. It's also very expensive and unnecessary for the majority of us who just want to get off the beaten path but not actual "rock crawl". I wish I'd been honest with myself from the very get go about my intended uses. Instead I allowed myself to be influenced by others. Hindsight is always 20/20!

I'd also like to add that most people (myself included) tend to think TJs only look good with big tires and a lift. In recent years I've done a complete 180 on that. I actually like TJs more that look mostly stock with a small lift and 31s. Maybe a winch, some better lighting, and a few little things, but that's it.

There's a lot to be said for a clean, well preserved, mildly built TJ! It checks so many boxes.