Hey all, appreciate the forum and some of the more pragmatic views of lifts, and what is really needed. I know you are probably tired of these questions, so accept my apologies up front.
I hope to provide all the details you will need up front, but if I miss anything let me know.
Jeep - 2012 unlimited rubicon
4.10 gearing
plans on some extra weight, to include bumpers front/rear, tire carrier, and winch. Probably a skid for oil pan/transfer case.
This is not a daily driver at this time, but may turn into that in a couple years.
I was considering 33s, but I am pretty sure now that I will stick with 35s. I will want a quiet mud or aggressive AT tire, as I live in TX and any spots to wheel are over an hour away, and we are planning trips all over the place to do some exploring, so long highway days will be in the mix. Been kicking around the Kelly TSR, Hankook MT, Cooper SST or ST max, etc.
offroading will be mixed. Reasonable trips will include stuff I can clear in factory form, but the Superlift OHV park in Arkansas isnt too far off, so that iss a plan. Hope to run some more difficult trails, but I will probably be a bit cautious for a while as I am learning, and the wife as well.
I know I can fit 35s with a budget boost. I would prefer a coil lift with good ride. I dont know if I will ever go bigger than 35s, but who knows.
I was initially planning on something like a RK 1.5", flat fenders, and seeing how things went. I then decided a 2.5" made more sense, so the RK 2.5 looked good, looked into MetalCloak 2.5 duroflex, and now I am also looking at the Enforcer lift at 3".
From reading here I know a new front driveshaft will be needed. I will probably do the Rancho pipe kit as a temp fix, and plan on a new front driveshaft some time soon after that.
The Metalcloak has no front lowers, so adding those would put me around $1500 + shocks. Has front track bar, upper front arms, rear track bar bracket, bump stops, brake lines, etc.
The RK would be the Flex system with coils and front lower control arms, front track bar, and rear bracket, brake lines. would have to add bump stops, shocks, not sure what else.
The Evo has the coils, front arms, rear track bar bracket, brake line extensions, bump stops, sway bar end links. I think I would do the draglink flip kit so no front track bar is needed, and then I would need to add shocks.
All will be relatively close in cost, a bit under $2k to include shocks.
Will any of these be a problem, or not work well? I know the feeling about the MetalCloak springs on here - I like the design of the control arms and joints, but I dont know enough to say if they are better than anything else. I wasnt even looking at the EVO until I found this site, but the kit looks pretty good. But the 3" and need for the new front shaft sooner has me hesitant.
Anything else I should consider, things I am missing, etc?
Thanks!
I hope to provide all the details you will need up front, but if I miss anything let me know.
Jeep - 2012 unlimited rubicon
4.10 gearing
plans on some extra weight, to include bumpers front/rear, tire carrier, and winch. Probably a skid for oil pan/transfer case.
This is not a daily driver at this time, but may turn into that in a couple years.
I was considering 33s, but I am pretty sure now that I will stick with 35s. I will want a quiet mud or aggressive AT tire, as I live in TX and any spots to wheel are over an hour away, and we are planning trips all over the place to do some exploring, so long highway days will be in the mix. Been kicking around the Kelly TSR, Hankook MT, Cooper SST or ST max, etc.
offroading will be mixed. Reasonable trips will include stuff I can clear in factory form, but the Superlift OHV park in Arkansas isnt too far off, so that iss a plan. Hope to run some more difficult trails, but I will probably be a bit cautious for a while as I am learning, and the wife as well.
I know I can fit 35s with a budget boost. I would prefer a coil lift with good ride. I dont know if I will ever go bigger than 35s, but who knows.
I was initially planning on something like a RK 1.5", flat fenders, and seeing how things went. I then decided a 2.5" made more sense, so the RK 2.5 looked good, looked into MetalCloak 2.5 duroflex, and now I am also looking at the Enforcer lift at 3".
From reading here I know a new front driveshaft will be needed. I will probably do the Rancho pipe kit as a temp fix, and plan on a new front driveshaft some time soon after that.
The Metalcloak has no front lowers, so adding those would put me around $1500 + shocks. Has front track bar, upper front arms, rear track bar bracket, bump stops, brake lines, etc.
The RK would be the Flex system with coils and front lower control arms, front track bar, and rear bracket, brake lines. would have to add bump stops, shocks, not sure what else.
The Evo has the coils, front arms, rear track bar bracket, brake line extensions, bump stops, sway bar end links. I think I would do the draglink flip kit so no front track bar is needed, and then I would need to add shocks.
All will be relatively close in cost, a bit under $2k to include shocks.
Will any of these be a problem, or not work well? I know the feeling about the MetalCloak springs on here - I like the design of the control arms and joints, but I dont know enough to say if they are better than anything else. I wasnt even looking at the EVO until I found this site, but the kit looks pretty good. But the 3" and need for the new front shaft sooner has me hesitant.
Anything else I should consider, things I am missing, etc?
Thanks!