Newbie in eastern pa wanting feedback

So I'm a newer jeep owner. Purchased a 2011 flame red 2 door about 4 months ago now and I'm finally ready to start moding it. Not sure if this is the first thing I should be doing or not but I'm looking to throw a lift on it. I'm thinking 2.5in lift. Any recommendations and advice would be much appreciated.

Make a plan, what your goals are for the rig. Show rig, Trail Rig, or Hill Killer Dana 60 Slaying Monster. What size tire do you wanna run or do you have a lift height in mind? What kind of trails do you want to do and with what ease? How much do you wanna spend, and do you want to do the work or someone else? All kinds of questions, a plan is a must!

If you plan on wheeling your Jeep, the first thing you should do is get rocker guards and tow points front and rear if you don't already have them. AFTER that, you need to decide how big of a tire you are wanting to run and how much money you have to spend. So long as you stick with a 35" tire or smaller, a 2.5" lift would be great and if money is a concern, a coil spacer lift is what I would recommend.

Already have tow point front and rear right now but I'll have to look into some rocker guards. I wanna run 35's so the 2.5in lift will work fine from everything I've read so far. Even if I don't install the parts right away I want to start collecting pieces here and there so I'm not blowing up my bank all at once. So if I should be looking into rocker guards first any advice there would be appreciated and also any advice on certain types of lifts would be great too. E.g. What types of brands to look into and which ones to stay away from..

Hey Jim! good to see you finally post! make sure you start a wave thread tell everyone a little about yourself and post up for pics of your jeep.
http://wayalife.com/forumdisplay.php?11-Give-us-a-Wave

As Wayalife mentioned a good start for you would be some rocker guards and maybe some armor underneath for if you end up wheeling it one weekend with me. LoD makes some really nice sliders that are also side steps http://www.lodoffroad.com/xcart/product.php?productid=16186&cat=249&page=1 or evo makes some great sliders as well. they have a great package deal right now on sliders and rocker guards http://www.offroadevolution.com/store/proddetail.php?prod=Christmas_Package_3.

For armor underneath you should get an oil pan skid plate and if you have an auto you should get a transmission skid as well. once again EVO makes a really great system to protect all of the essentials underneath.
oil pan
http://www.offroadevolution.com/store/proddetail.php?prod=EVO.Protek.AUTO.Trans.Pan.Skid
whole system
http://www.offroadevolution.com/store/proddetail.php?prod=EVO.Protek.Skid.System

for a lift I would suggest a Budget Boost as ths will get you the 2.5" your looking to obtain for cheap and keep the factory ride. something like the teraflex BB with shock extensions would work perfectly for you.
http://www.quadratec.com/products/16190_0005_07.htm

for tires I would look into the Goodyear duratracs, Nitto trail grapplers, or the new Nitto Exo grappler (similar to the duratrac). the duratracs are the best snow tire on the market that is also an all terrain tire for great street driving. its new competitor is the nitto exo grappler. same type of tread design and is designed as a snow tire. based off of the design it looks like it may even be better than the duratrac. the trail grapplers are a mud terrain tire that are really quiet on the road and have great road manners as well. there tires are amazing off road in the mud and rocks.
goodyears
http://www.quadratec.com/products/92607_11XX_A_PG.htm
exo grapplers
http://www.discounttiredirect.com/d...o?pc=10213&tmn=Exo+Grappler+AWT&typ=Truck/SUV
trail grapplers
http://www.discounttiredirect.com/d...pc=40573&tmn=Trail+Grappler+M/T&typ=Truck/SUV

If you want to run a 35inch and wheel with the front swaybar disconnected i would recomend a lift closer to 3inches, otherwise you will suffer some minor rubbing at full flex with your stock fenders.

jknikos said:

If you want to run a 35inch and wheel with the front swaybar disconnected i would recomend a lift closer to 3inches, otherwise you will suffer some minor rubbing at full flex with your stock fenders.

Click to expand...

or trim your fenders :yup:

cozdude said:

or trim your fenders :yup:

Click to expand...

:thumb::thumb::thumb:

Just like everyone else said plan plan plan and for the love of all that is holy STICK TO IT. Too many times over the years I've settled for what I can afford right this second so I can go play right now only to find myself spending more money to upgrade or replace it shortly after, doubling the cost. My best advice, find what you really want and don't settle for anything else! It might take a while but do it right ONCE ( ie if you think you want 35s dont buy 33s to get you by, or if there's a certain suspension you want but it's just out of your price point, save save save). Just my two cents because I have spent A LOT of money over the years that probably add up to two new PR 60s on things that I've just replaced shortly after.