I'm keeping my JK at the stock height. It may get 33" rubber soon. I'm thinking along the same lines as you are. Better tires, roof rack, rear locker, aux lighting etc. My main reason for keeping it at factory height is the long-distance travelling it will do in the next 10 years. We want to travel across Canada from west to east and north to south. I can't give up too many mpgs. A JK with a 2.5 lift and 35" tires looks awesome, no doubt about that. But for what I do, summer and winter, the factory setup works just fine.

 

Low and slow my friend, LCG is the way to go...

 

Over the years when wheeling (jeep or ATV) in Colorado I have seen probably more stock or very mild jeep builds than I have seen hugely built jeeps. Jeeps just plain work and they go more places we'd ever dream in stock form. Add a winch and all is great.

Seems like most of the Colorado tagged jeeps I have seen over the years are stock height with no fancy mods except for good tires and a winch.

Add a locker and I cannot image really needing anything else.

I have seen early stock Rubicons (summer of 2003 I think) doing Holy Cross and Iron Chest. Look those trails up if you are not familiar with them. TOUGH trails. I watched the drivers smile while wheeling 'em.

 

Youre definitely right, lcg is the best. I'm lookin to do a 2.5" lift and 35's with flats, but that's because I like to use the skid plates as an accidental thing, not like sliders, like I currently do

 

I think a lift will be one of the last things i will do to Jeep.
I'm pretty happy with the stuff it can do stock so i am focusing on protecting it.
Ace rock sliders are on their way !

 

I had a 4in lift on my TJ and dont care for it.

My current Jeep 2012 will remain stock height, but I desperately need 34 or 35in tires to fill up the gap after trimming the fenders.

 

Yes you do...

 

The Jeep engineers got it right. So I'm not going to mess with success.
Quick discos and a more rugged tire for off highway will take me everywhere I want to go.
Great thread. Subscribed.

 

The jeep engineers also had to figure in MPG's and all the safety bs, so it's probably toned down quite a bit, I think a 2.5 lift is more suitable look, my .02

 

I'm not lifting due to lack of funds. :(