I want to give some honest feedback to those considering this lift.
The Zone 4.25” lift is suggested heavily on the Jeep forums that have knowledgeable and very helpful members. This lift has all the essentials you need in or to run a 33” tire. And admiringly, at first, that’s all I really wanted.
I use to wheel 15 years ago in a 97 bronco on 35’s and detroits. I loved wheeling, as a winter activity when I was away from motorcycles, but sold my bronco to race…and decided after getting too old to get hurt on the road course after ditching a bike at 100mph+ to come BACK to wheeling. But wasn’t sure if I really wanted WHEEL…or just play and pose.
Like many suggested, I ordered the Zone kit an installed it. And it worked GREAT. I also got a set of Brown dog motor mounts to avoid dropping the transfer case. As well as sway bar disconnects.
But about 6 months after the lift I decided to join a local 4x4 club that’s 45 yrs old and actually does WHEELING trips once a month. Travel trips mostly, but its ACTUAL wheeling. And here-in lies the “problem” with the zone lift.
After 18 months (6 months of street posing followed by 12 months of actual east coast wheeling/crawling) The springs have “settled” about ¾” total and the front passenger settling 1”
In addition, the rear springs/shock now allow the rear to “toad-out” (bottom out/smack it’s ass) over small-ish humps.
The Zone shocks are OK on the street, but offroad there’s way too much movement allowed. A Currie Antirock helped SOME, and Ironman4x4offroad control arms further stabilized the flex, but as you can see in this video:
There’s WAY too much wobble involved for what I’m doing. Granted, I’m not on some mountain of rocks in Utah on Team ARB with Blaine running a support team, but we’re having fun out here.
As a result, Savvy 3” dual rate springs will arrive this week, along with Fox 2.0 shocks.
Now, that’s not to say those giving the advice to go Zone are wrong! They aren’t. Just understand, if you really wheel that Jeep, and flex it out more than a couple of times a year, that lift really isn’t going to last you very long. If you’re JUST looking for the clearance for 33’s and will likely be on pavement 99% of the time, this lift may serve you well for many years. But WHEELING your rig 2-3 weekends a month will merit about a 10 month lifespan on both springs and shocks. Once these springs and shocks arrive I will have replaced every item included in the Zone 4.25 kit (less the body lift, still using that) with better components.
No regerts! <sic> but throwing this out for those of you who want to skip this learning step and get right to a proper lift the first time, go with something a little more trail proven and you won’t be “testing” to see what works best for you.
*** update***
Pictured below are the differences between a 18 month old ZONE life 3" spring, and a Currie 3" spring. Notice how the Zone springs have settled and arched
The Zone 4.25” lift is suggested heavily on the Jeep forums that have knowledgeable and very helpful members. This lift has all the essentials you need in or to run a 33” tire. And admiringly, at first, that’s all I really wanted.
I use to wheel 15 years ago in a 97 bronco on 35’s and detroits. I loved wheeling, as a winter activity when I was away from motorcycles, but sold my bronco to race…and decided after getting too old to get hurt on the road course after ditching a bike at 100mph+ to come BACK to wheeling. But wasn’t sure if I really wanted WHEEL…or just play and pose.
Like many suggested, I ordered the Zone kit an installed it. And it worked GREAT. I also got a set of Brown dog motor mounts to avoid dropping the transfer case. As well as sway bar disconnects.
But about 6 months after the lift I decided to join a local 4x4 club that’s 45 yrs old and actually does WHEELING trips once a month. Travel trips mostly, but its ACTUAL wheeling. And here-in lies the “problem” with the zone lift.
After 18 months (6 months of street posing followed by 12 months of actual east coast wheeling/crawling) The springs have “settled” about ¾” total and the front passenger settling 1”
In addition, the rear springs/shock now allow the rear to “toad-out” (bottom out/smack it’s ass) over small-ish humps.
The Zone shocks are OK on the street, but offroad there’s way too much movement allowed. A Currie Antirock helped SOME, and Ironman4x4offroad control arms further stabilized the flex, but as you can see in this video:
There’s WAY too much wobble involved for what I’m doing. Granted, I’m not on some mountain of rocks in Utah on Team ARB with Blaine running a support team, but we’re having fun out here.
As a result, Savvy 3” dual rate springs will arrive this week, along with Fox 2.0 shocks.
Now, that’s not to say those giving the advice to go Zone are wrong! They aren’t. Just understand, if you really wheel that Jeep, and flex it out more than a couple of times a year, that lift really isn’t going to last you very long. If you’re JUST looking for the clearance for 33’s and will likely be on pavement 99% of the time, this lift may serve you well for many years. But WHEELING your rig 2-3 weekends a month will merit about a 10 month lifespan on both springs and shocks. Once these springs and shocks arrive I will have replaced every item included in the Zone 4.25 kit (less the body lift, still using that) with better components.
No regerts! <sic> but throwing this out for those of you who want to skip this learning step and get right to a proper lift the first time, go with something a little more trail proven and you won’t be “testing” to see what works best for you.
*** update***
Pictured below are the differences between a 18 month old ZONE life 3" spring, and a Currie 3" spring. Notice how the Zone springs have settled and arched
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