Rough Country 4" lift

[Turboloft]

Hey all,

I have recently purchased a beautiful TJ and I thought it was about time to throw some money at it. I've been doing some research and looking. I'm thinking about buying a rough country 4" lift, the most basic one. Is this a good or bad idea for me to throw money at? I would really appreciate suggestions.

Thanks,
Evan

 

[Chris]

Rough Country is crap. I’d personally pick something different.

 

[Turboloft]

Rough Country is crap. I’d personally pick something different.

I'm trying to do things on a budget... any suggestions?

 

[bbaldwin237]

I'm with Chris. If you're trying to go for more of a budget then look at smaller quality lifts. You could do a higher quality 2-2.5" lift and throw on a 1-1.25" body lift (also buy quality here) as well to run some 32-33" tires.

 

[LJBean]

Im not gonna lie. My first lift kit was a Rough Country X-Series 4" Lift. It worked fine for a while, but since then i have replaced literally EVERY part of that lift.

Honestly, if you know that going in, you can get a suspension lift on the cheap and upgrade to quality parts as funds allow, and tweak your suspension to suit your style of offroading. That's probably what you'll do anyway if you hold your Jeep for the long term.

 

[freedom_in_4low]

Two big problems with the RC lift is the Flex joints in their arms are only good for about 15k miles and their shocks ride rough. I'm not aware of any lift "kit" that includes shocks that the shocks are well liked. Any lift kit I would buy would be well into the 2k range and doesn't have shocks. EDIT: Zone 4.25 combo without shocks would be a good option.

Most budget lifts are budget because they leave stuff out. Then the buyer installs it and has a crap driving jeep that they have to spend more on.

The most budget friendly option I would consider is a homebrew 2.5" susp + 1.25" body.

WRG/BMB body lift
Rough Country motor mount lift
Rancho rs5000x shocks
Springs of your choice
JKS quicker disconnects

Without checking today's prices I would guess that would add up to $800 (EDIT: $660ish with Zone kit plus Ranchos). Try to beat that with a kit and you will be back asking why your TJ rides like crap and be told to throw away parts of your kit to buy different stuff and end up spending more.

 

[LONGJP2]

I'm trying to do things on a budget... any suggestions?

Zone is worth mentioning if you're on a budget.
YRMV

 

[TheBoogieman]

Zone 4.25" combo lift with Rancho RS5000X shocks ($640). Add more stuff as needed/wanted. FWIW, my Zone springs have no noticeable sagging after 7 years (unlike my wife). I like using the stock control arms because they cost $20 each to replace when you bend one.
p.s. I'm not cheap, I'm poor. There's a difference.

 

[MikekiM]

Im not gonna lie. My first lift kit was a Rough Country X-Series 4" Lift. It worked fine for a while, but since then i have replaced literally EVERY part of that lift.

Honestly, if you know that going in, you can get a suspension lift on the cheap and upgrade to quality parts as funds allow, and tweak your suspension to suit your style of offloading. That's probably what you'll do anyway if you hold your Jeep for the long term.

^^^ THIS ^^^

I bought my TJ with a "basic" RC lift. PO did springs and shocks only, as sale bait, which turned out to be good since it was less for me to remove. I've removed all of it within a month of buying the Jeep. The ride was horrid. It may work perfectly for you, but better bet is save your money and take a step up in quality. You'll be happier.

 

[freedom_in_4low]

Zone 4.25" combo lift with Rancho RS5000X shocks ($640). Add more stuff as needed/wanted. FWIW, my Zone springs have no noticeable sagging after 7 years (unlike my wife). I like using the stock control arms because they cost $20 each to replace when you bend one.
p.s. I'm not cheap, I'm poor. There's a difference.

That would be good. I didn't realize they had started offering the kit without shocks. Don't remember having that option in 2010.

 

[MikekiM]

Zone 4.25" combo lift with Rancho RS5000X shocks ($640). Add more stuff as needed/wanted. FWIW, my Zone springs have no noticeable sagging after 7 years (unlike my wife). I like using the stock control arms because they cost $20 each to replace when you bend one.
p.s. I'm not cheap, I'm poor. There's a difference.

Broke is Temporary. Poor is Permanent.

Sagging wife doesn't have to be permanent.

Don't you have taller springs up front?

 

[TheBoogieman]

Broke is Temporary. Poor is Permanent.

Sagging wife doesn't have to be permanent.

Don't you have taller springs up front?

Yes on the springs. Current wife will be replaced within the year. Being unhappy later in life isn't an option for me. Life isn't years lived, but years enjoyed.

 

[MikekiM]

Yes on the springs. Current wife will be replaced within the year. Being unhappy later in life isn't an option for me. Life isn't years lived, but years enjoyed.

There you have it... problem solved

 

[Turboloft]

Zone 4.25" combo lift with Rancho RS5000X shocks ($640). Add more stuff as needed/wanted. FWIW, my Zone springs have no noticeable sagging after 7 years (unlike my wife). I like using the stock control arms because they cost $20 each to replace when you bend one.
p.s. I'm not cheap, I'm poor. There's a difference.

What size shocks did you use for it? I believe I like your idea and that may be what i pursue...

 

[freedom_in_4low]

What size shocks did you use for it? I believe I like your idea and that may be what i pursue...

best thing to do is get the lift on and take measurements. Rancho has 3 different lengths but the lift heights they label them with don't always line up that well with reality.

Once you get the lift on and can measure the shock length at ride height, you can go back to Rancho and pick the shocks for each axle that will be closest to halfway between their compressed and extended lengths at ride height. You may end up with the 2.5" lift shocks on one axle and 0-2" on the other, etc.

Rears are measured between the bushing centerlines at each end. Front is measured from the bushing centerline on the axle end to the bottom washer on the frame end.

 

[Turboloft]

best thing to do is get the lift on and take measurements. Rancho has 3 different lengths but the lift heights they label them with don't always line up that well with reality.

Once you get the lift on and can measure the shock length at ride height, you can go back to Rancho and pick the shocks for each axle that will be closest to halfway between their compressed and extended lengths at ride height. You may end up with the 2.5" lift shocks on one axle and 0-2" on the other, etc.

Rears are measured between the bushing centerlines at each end. Front is measured from the bushing centerline on the axle end to the bottom washer on the frame end.

Would I HAVE to buy the shocks with the kit, or could I use my stock shocks to measure? First time messing with suspension so sorry if that's a silly question.

 

[freedom_in_4low]

Would I HAVE to buy the shocks with the kit, or could I use my stock shocks to measure? First time messing with suspension so sorry if that's a silly question.

buy the Zone kit without the shocks, install and measure with current shocks or no shocks at all, then order shocks accordingly.

 

[Turboloft]

buy the Zone kit without the shocks, install and measure with current shocks or no shocks at all, then order shocks accordingly.

10-4 thanks for the assistance!

 

[Andy-WhiteTJ]

Zone 4.25" combo lift with Rancho RS5000X shocks ($640). Add more stuff as needed/wanted. FWIW, my Zone springs have no noticeable sagging after 7 years (unlike my wife). I like using the stock control arms because they cost $20 each to replace when you bend one.
p.s. I'm not cheap, I'm poor. There's a difference.

I wish I could same the same for my Son's Jeep with Currie Springs. After 5 years, the front passenger and rear passenger side are 1" smaller than the drivers side. I get the rear because of the torque but the front? I swapped the rear springs but that only band aided it for awhile.

 

[Turboloft]

Would these two shocks be interchangeable? left is shocks that come with a 4.25in combination lift. Right is the ranchero 2.5in lift shocks.