Rough Country Lift

[jeepXcore]

So I bought my TJ with a variety of aftermarket modifications done to it, one of them being a (presumably) Rough Country 4 inch lift kit(there's a sticker on the sun visor that says "Rough Country", so I'm assuming that's the brand of lift kit, (unless its referring to the transfer case drop kit installed which is also RC.)

I know these lift kits get a bad rap in the off-roading community, what exactly is so horrible about them? (Assuming mine is a Rough Country brand.)

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Too stiff/rough of a ride from their shocks, cheap flex joints in their control arms, made more for the kid who wants the tallest lifted Jeep at high school than the guy who wants good offroad performance.

 

[jeepXcore]

Too stiff/rough of a ride from their shocks, cheap flex joints in their control arms, made more for the kid who wants the tallest lifted Jeep at high school than the guy who wants good offroad performance.

Gotcha. Are there any parts that I can/should replace to make it better? I'm fine with the stiff ride, I just want to make sure it lasts.

 

[StG58]

Don't Rough Country springs have a habit of collapsing after awhile as well?

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Gotcha. Are there any parts that I can/should replace to make it better? I'm fine with the stiff ride, I just want to make sure it lasts.

For a good ride, you can #1 make sure your tire pressure is correct and not too high like most tire shops will set it to. Let us know what size tires you're running and we can give you a good recommended tire pressure.

#2 the shocks can be replaced with a better riding shock like the Rancho RS5000x, Old Man Emu Nitrocharger, etc. I loved my previous OME Nitrochargers but they're not cheap. When they finally died, I replaced them with the less costly Rancho RS5000x and was surprised I like them as well. Most other good shocks like Fox and Bilstein (not one I like personally) are going to be more expensive. Shocks to avoid are anything from Rough Country, Skyjacker, Rancho's older RS5000, ProComp ES-3000 or ES-9000, Rubicon Express Monotube, or the Rubicon Express twin tube.

 

[jeepXcore]

They're 33X12.5(?)

 

[Jerry Bransford]

They're 33X12.5(?)

For that size, 26 PSI is perfect for around town when the Jeep is not loaded with passengers and gear, 28 psi is perfect for when the Jeep is fully loaded and heading out for wheeling.

Most tire shop tire jocks cluelessly air the tires up to the pressure shown on the sidewall which in an automotive tire's usage, is NEVER the correct air pressure to use. The pressure on the tires's sidewall is only its maximum safe air pressure which is never correct. The correct tire pressure depends on the vehicle's weight. So the exact same tire would have 3 different correct pressures when it is mounted on 3 vehicles with different weights.

 

[JMT]

For a good ride, you can #1 make sure your tire pressure is correct and not too high like most tire shops will set it to. Let us know what size tires you're running and we can give you a good recommended tire pressure.

#2 the shocks can be replaced with a better riding shock like the Rancho RS5000x, Old Man Emu Nitrocharger, etc. I loved my previous OME Nitrochargers but they're not cheap. When they finally died, I replaced them with the less costly Rancho RS5000x and was surprised I like them as well. Most other good shocks like Fox and Bilstein (not one I like personally) are going to be more expensive. Shocks to avoid are anything from Rough Country, Skyjacker, Rancho's older RS5000, ProComp ES-3000 or ES-9000, Rubicon Express Monotube, or the Rubicon Express twin tube.

Jerry, FYI, the current Rubicon Express Monotube shocks are Bilstein 5100's. I was on the phone with them this AM. This is what is stamped on the shock. Maybe you know something I don't know. If so fill us in, even though you don't care for Bilstein's!

 

[Jerry Bransford]

View attachment 12797

Jerry, FYI, the current Rubicon Express Monotube shocks are Bilstein 5100's. I was on the phone with them this AM.

Yes they are BIlsteins but they must be valved differently from the Bilstein 5100 shocks some here like. The issue with my RE Monotubes was a deal killer for me... while they actually had a superb ride on the highway, their lack of control offroad was horrific. Like on rough dirt roads, especially when they had a washboard surface, they couldn't maintain control well enough to allow me to keep up with friends with better shocks. Mrblaine will remember that when I was with him in Johnson Valley. While friends would be hauling ass on rough dirt desert roads between trails, I'd have to slow down to 10-20 mph or my TJ would absolutely go out of control. Some thing with my local mountain dirt roads. I couldn't keep up with friends, they would literally leave me in the dust.

That problem stopped as soon as I changed to the OME Nitrochargers, it was such an amazing improvement. Then the OMEs finally died and my present Rancho RS5000x shocks are just as good. Both have a superb highway ride but they offer superb offroad control. I can keep up with anyone and the Jeep remains in complete control, it's awesome.

My previous RE Monotubes gave me a downright scary ride on rough desert roads. They were fine when doing low-speed rock crawling but on rough roads? Absolutely terrible and downright scary if I wanted to stay up with friends on those rough dirt roads.

 

[JMT]

I was afraid of that...

 

[Keston Shook]

@Jerry Bransford So if im trying to get a 2.5inch lift with good shocks but im still on a budget what would you recommend? i have an 04 TJ and im shopping around for some stuff right now to start the lift and tire project sections of my jeep.

 

[Rob5589]

What about this:
https://waldoch.com/store/performan...bds-jeep-wrangler-tj-coil-springs-pair-1.html
https://waldoch.com/store/performan...jeep-wrangler-tj-coil-springs-pair-34204.html
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01963XI50/?tag=wranglerorg-20

From what I have read, the BDS springs give anywhere from 2.25-2.5 depending on your Jeeps configuration.

 

[Keston Shook]

What about this:
https://waldoch.com/store/performan...bds-jeep-wrangler-tj-coil-springs-pair-1.html
https://waldoch.com/store/performan...jeep-wrangler-tj-coil-springs-pair-34204.html
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01963XI50/?tag=wranglerorg-20

From what I have read, the BDS springs give anywhere from 2.25-2.5 depending on your Jeeps configuration.

appreciate it man!

 

[Keston Shook]

What about this:
https://waldoch.com/store/performan...bds-jeep-wrangler-tj-coil-springs-pair-1.html
https://waldoch.com/store/performan...jeep-wrangler-tj-coil-springs-pair-34204.html
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01963XI50/?tag=wranglerorg-20

From what I have read, the BDS springs give anywhere from 2.25-2.5 depending on your Jeeps configuration.

it looks like the difference between those springs are not very big. what kind of difference will they make? @Rob5589

 

[Rob5589]

Oh, they are very different, being that one set is for the front and the other for the rear

 

[Keston Shook]

Oh, they are very different, being that one set is for the front and the other for the rear

lol at the fact that i didnt even notice. sometimes im smart i swear! hahaha

 

[Flib]

I was just about to post the same question as the Jeep I bought has a RC lift, I have not had time nor the ability yet to crawl around it and have a look but was wondering what I could do to improve it aside from the installation of another kit.

I think I will start with the Rancho 5000x and see what that does but any other suggestions would be welcomed.

I suspect the lift kit is around 4" when get the shocks what are the recommendations for length?

 

[JMT]

I was just about to post the same question as the Jeep I bought has a RC lift, I have not had time nor the ability yet to crawl around it and have a look but was wondering what I could do to improve it aside from the installation of another kit.

I think I will start with the Rancho 5000x and see what that does but any other suggestions would be welcomed.

I suspect the lift kit is around 4" when get the shocks what are the recommendations for length?

The argument over whether springs affect ride quality is a divisive one. LOL! Some think higher spring rates make for a rougher ride. Others don't think they have an effect at all. The two main things that effect ride quality, IMHO, are tire pressure and shocks. Rancho 5000X is a good shock choice. They should improve your ride significantly. I wouldn't change anything else, yet.

 

[glwood]

I was just about to post the same question as the Jeep I bought has a RC lift, I have not had time nor the ability yet to crawl around it and have a look but was wondering what I could do to improve it aside from the installation of another kit.

I think I will start with the Rancho 5000x and see what that does but any other suggestions would be welcomed.

I suspect the lift kit is around 4" when get the shocks what are the recommendations for length?

If you want to know what your actual lift height is, the stock measurements for the springs, from lower seat to upper isolater is 8" in the rear, 12" in the front, with the Jeep sitting at ride height.

 

[Flib]

thanks for the info,

spring height in the front is 17" and the rear is 13", so I assume that's a 5 inch lift (rough measurements as I found it a little difficult to get under there, still not able to move the best)? Sitting on 33's I have 24" from the ground to the bottom of the rockers if that helps?