Does my rake look right?
- Thread starter RockDog
- Start date
Everyone is laughing at your rake! 
LONGJP2
TJ Expert
The 'factory' rake will change slightly and constantly with the weight of passengers, fuel, gear, and modifications.
It is what it is.
Or add a winch to the front.
It is what it is.
Or add a winch to the front.
To rake or not to rake, that is the question!!!!
OP
LONGJP2
TJ Expert
This is how I understand it, and I could be wrong.
The tops of the flares are mounted at the same height on the Jeep.
The rear flare hangs down farther than the front, so the rake is less noticeable.
The space between the flares and the tires is what you notice the most.
If your Jeep is exactly level, it may look like it's squatting due to less space in the rear (with factory flares).
OP
Obviously it’s easy to make fun of me for being so silly about this.
The concern is just not wanting it to look squatted. The pictures are how it looks without gear, roof rack, hard top, etc. I wish it were easy for me to just not care.
Do y’all think I should just leave it alone?
The concern is just not wanting it to look squatted. The pictures are how it looks without gear, roof rack, hard top, etc. I wish it were easy for me to just not care.
Do y’all think I should just leave it alone?
Yes but that's beside the point. It's your Jeep...you can do whatever you want to it. I certainly understand fixing something everyone else thinks I'm nuts to touch. If it drives you crazy then fix it.
Spacer on the back...air bags, different springs...I'm for adding weight to the front with a winch...if that doesn't do it then add a turbo and intercooler!
I'd mention an Oro Swayloc but I think they're lighter than the factory sway bar...but most certainly one of the best improvement to driving I've done.
-Mac
All jokes aside I'm pretty sure your jeep is spot on as far as the factory rake. If you were aiming for a bit of rake in the rear, you got it.
I personally like to keep only a bare minimum rake of half an inch or three quarters, for the purposes of cargo loading in the rear, towing a trailer, etc. How much rake is desirable is highly subjective and depends on what you're going to be doing, what weight, what springs, and personal taste. My TJ had a rake of 1.5 inches, when it was bone stock. I added a 1.25 inch spacer to the front and it's close to level. My LJ had a rake of 2 inches but the previous owner's lift had made it worse from stock (it was 2 inches lift in front 2.25 rear). So now I'm at 3.5 inches lift front and 2.25 inches rear and I think it's perfect. I have a rake of about half an inch with hardtop, stock bumpers, rear seats and spare tire included.
If you plan on going to a hardtop then you need to add the top and put all your gear inside then measure from the fender flares. It's not a precise method of doing things but let's face it, that's what were looking at right. No one is taking a tape measure to a jeeps springs in a parking lot, they are just eyeballing the gap in the fenders.
I personally like to keep only a bare minimum rake of half an inch or three quarters, for the purposes of cargo loading in the rear, towing a trailer, etc. How much rake is desirable is highly subjective and depends on what you're going to be doing, what weight, what springs, and personal taste. My TJ had a rake of 1.5 inches, when it was bone stock. I added a 1.25 inch spacer to the front and it's close to level. My LJ had a rake of 2 inches but the previous owner's lift had made it worse from stock (it was 2 inches lift in front 2.25 rear). So now I'm at 3.5 inches lift front and 2.25 inches rear and I think it's perfect. I have a rake of about half an inch with hardtop, stock bumpers, rear seats and spare tire included.
If you plan on going to a hardtop then you need to add the top and put all your gear inside then measure from the fender flares. It's not a precise method of doing things but let's face it, that's what were looking at right. No one is taking a tape measure to a jeeps springs in a parking lot, they are just eyeballing the gap in the fenders.
LONGJP2
TJ Expert
Correct, most people eyeball the space between the tire and flare.
I always measure to the top of the flares.
If you measure the bumpers, the front actually goes up when you add weight to the rear.
I normally run pretty light (no top, no rear seat), so mine can fluctuate quite a bit.
Don't forget to adjust your headlights accordingly.
Your rake doesn’t look very effective. It should look more like this
Every time I see the thread title I think... Does my rake make me look fat?
Correct, most people eyeball the space between the tire and flare.
I always measure to the top of the flares.
If you measure the bumpers, the front actually goes up when you add weight to the rear.
I normally run pretty light (no top, no rear seat), so mine can fluctuate quite a bit.
Don't forget to adjust your headlights accordingly.
Adjusting headlights is one of those jobs that it sounded easy to me, then become a total nightmare. Last time I tried it it was impossible to get to the adjusting screws without loosening the headlight bezel. Loosening the bezel (or I think it was the retaining ring) meant the headlight was also loosened out of it's normal position, so that any adjustments were just throwing a dart on the wall and a matter of sheer luck if I got it right. Eventually i gave up and said good enough is good enough.