Lift it or leave it stock?
- Thread starter Jeep9748
- Start date
Finally, an appropriate tire size for 3.07 gears!
Jerry Little
Member
2" lift, 32" tires, bumpers. Other than the bumpers, you'd have to look pretty close to tell it's not stock. Perfect height and tire size for me.
Before bumpers:
After bumpers:
Before bumpers:
After bumpers:
So I am leaning towards stock. After the 3281 for the frame and such fix. I will replace the front axle u joints, valve cover gasket, and a rear diff service. After all this is done I will essentially have a brand new jeep. I plan on replacing the components that go bad and keep this going. 31' tires once these are bad. I appreciate everyones thoughts and I may still upgrade the Sahara.
Ethan Coderre
New Member
I put a 2.5" lift with 31" tires and it is perfect. I have the 2.5L engine but it does not have a problem pushing the 31s. It's the perfect lift so I didn't need to replace steering and everything but it also is tall enough where it doesn't look stock and it can perform off-road very well. It surprises me time and time again on the trails. I have buddies who have JK Rubicon's on 35s and I can do everything they can and in a few scenarios I can do more.
For a while I had stock suspension on 31s and it was just fine, I just didn't like how I had to still look up to a bunch of SUVs on the road haha
I put a 2.5" RC lift, very easy to install and performs very well off-road. I spent $250 on the lift and installed it in my garage over about a day, someone who has experience could do it faster, but it didn't cost me anything to install it which was nice. Besides the wrenches and jack stands, the only special tool I needed was a coil compressor, so we went to Advance Auto and rented it for about $5.
You could leave your stock rims, but you might want wheel spacers in near future. I got 16" pro comp wheels that have 4.5" backspacing and I don't rub at all when turning. They were fairly cheap, about $100 a piece, and they make the jeep look so much better.
The only thing that I would do differently if I were doing it again is to not go cheap on the lift. Although it performs amazing off-road, it is still my daily and I don't wheel it that often. I went with a cheap lift and I got cheap ride quality, it's very bouncy on the road and pretty uncomfortable ride
For a while I had stock suspension on 31s and it was just fine, I just didn't like how I had to still look up to a bunch of SUVs on the road haha
I put a 2.5" RC lift, very easy to install and performs very well off-road. I spent $250 on the lift and installed it in my garage over about a day, someone who has experience could do it faster, but it didn't cost me anything to install it which was nice. Besides the wrenches and jack stands, the only special tool I needed was a coil compressor, so we went to Advance Auto and rented it for about $5.
You could leave your stock rims, but you might want wheel spacers in near future. I got 16" pro comp wheels that have 4.5" backspacing and I don't rub at all when turning. They were fairly cheap, about $100 a piece, and they make the jeep look so much better.
The only thing that I would do differently if I were doing it again is to not go cheap on the lift. Although it performs amazing off-road, it is still my daily and I don't wheel it that often. I went with a cheap lift and I got cheap ride quality, it's very bouncy on the road and pretty uncomfortable ride
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Please post some photos!
I don't know where you are money-wise now that you've spent on lift, tires, and wheels, but if you invest in a set of Rancho RS5000X shocks, it will transform the ride on your TJ. RC shocks are pretty much bottom tier...
Ethan Coderre
New Member
Ethan Coderre
New Member
Good to know, thanks. I bought my Jeep the end of my junior year in high school and I just started my freshman year in college. I had a job all through high school and was able to buy new things all the time but I'm now a poor college student.
I Knew RC wasn't an amazing brand but I really just wanted to get it lifted so I'd be able to go wheeling with friends.
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Ethan Coderre
New Member
Pro Comp 31 Series. Mine are 16" that I got from 4WheelParts and they were $105/ wheel at the time
97BLKTJ
New Member
Nicholas
TJ Enthusiast
I run 31.5s on the 2.5 lift with flat fenders and I think it looks great. I don’t know though everyone’s different so it’s hard to say what looks good to certain people
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Nicholas
TJ Enthusiast
Pretty much the exact same how it was for me. Just started college and I’m glad I went to the rancho lift right before I started because I’m even more broke here in school now. But I started with even just the spacer lift with RC shock to get out with some clearance
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I vote small lift with 31" tires. My TJ rides and drives better after I installed the OMEHD 2.5" lift. I don't think it looks goofy, but I do have a little rake after installing the winch. I'm going to see what it looks like after it settles and I install the hardtop again this fall.
Stock height with 30" Falken
OMEHD lift with 31" KM3
Stock height with 30" Falken
OMEHD lift with 31" KM3
Man that pinstripe really threw me for a loop for a second. I don't think i've ever seen anything like that before on a TJ.
ZEN357
TJ Enthusiast
TC'S TOY
New Member
just put a 2''spring puck lift on it.it will settle some and the ride will be more comfy too its a cheap economy lift
Currently I am "investing" 3281 in the frame. And then I am going to sink about 200 in parts to get her back on the road. Age of a vehicle is trivial to a die hard. Not to sound like an A-hole but my wife was pissed when I dropped 7K on a 60 year old vehicle. "its 60 years old..." I don't care about age. I feel a 48 Willys in original condition is well worth 7K. I feel my 97 Sahara in Mint condition minus the frame is worth it.
Cole Blunt
New Member
I think you should lift it. Personally I think a lift adds a lot more aggressive stance to the Jeep. One of the main reasons I bought a TJ is the modding. I just find it so awesome that no two TJ’s are the same and I can build my Jeep exactly to my style and preference instead of driving a cookie cutter car like most