Happy 4th everyone...

Killing some time before the event... I am 1st time owner but long long time enthusiast. Heres the deal... I have JKU 08 and MDX. MDX was daily driver, kept it when I bought the jeep thinking I would drive 50% of the time. NOPE.. Didn't happen... MDX is great but I (and the my kids) just never drive it. Never. I am going to sell it free up some $$$ to pay off debt and that should leave me about 3k4k...Like most of you, I am fairly mechanically inclined, but with one vehicle busy work schedule 80-90% of the improvements I make are likely to be shop installs - at least I am guessing... So factor that into the 3k question

That said, it has been and will be my daily driver...definitely looking at tires and lift... It will not likely see much more that a dirt road, or light trail... 99% will be pavement.

I was originally thinking 33s and leveling kit. But after months of reading threads and seeing 35s - hearing peeps who get 33 and ultimately end up with 35s am inclined to do it right. I am thinking AEV rims or power coating Sahara rims and lifting 3 1/2 inches. Not sure how much$ left over.

What would you spend your 3k on w/ my variables. Also is the a lift that is a little on the dafter side or better put is there any danger in going cheaper? I want to do it right and would prefer not to learn the hard way. I might grow a pair and try to do some work myself - but nothing with the suspension...

Quality, still DD, and need to be a touch mire concerned about safety... I know I am screwed with gas...but is there anyone on this thread that did 35s and wished they didn't - i haven't seen a thread like that Haha....

What am I forgetting? I can also stretch the 3k to. 4.5k but that 1.5k I am thinking about stretching in small meaningful mods...

Thank!!!

BTW... I screw up all the time and mis judge the weather. I try not to get bent, but it's happened a little more than it should. Please tell me its no big deal... Doesn't smell. Obviously better To avoid. I just feel a little bad when it happens. I know stop laughing - I did just ask a stupid question.

KC

 

With a budget of 3k, and knowing fire roads/gravel trails, roads were the extent of offroading I would do. I would get a good quality budget boost (teraflex) for 4-500, then do the wheels and tires you wanted. The tires I want average 320 a tire, so thats 1600 bucks just in tires. Use factory rubicon wheels and spacers to fit em. Then find a used/cheap rear bumper and tire carrier.

 

35's for 3k installed is going to be tough but doable... I agree with the last post and I would go spacers and a teraflex lift. With the Teraflex you can get a kit with pucks instead of springs and shock adapters instead of shocks (product ID TF-1355200). This kit can be had for under $300 and is actually pretty easy to install if you can find some locals to help you.

Then you would you need some 1.5 inch spacers for the wheels which will run you $200... these can be installed yourself if you have access to a torque wrench to make sure you get them installed safely.

Then you can mount some 35x12.5x17's on your OEM tires for about $300 a corner (or if you want something close to 35 and a little cheaper you can buy metric tires 315/70/17 which you can get decent all terrains for about $250)... assuming you do all 5 thats going to be $1250 to $1500 just for tires... you would probably looking at another 200-300 for tax and installation.

So far we are at $2000-$2250...

As mentioned above you might have some problems running a tire that large on the stock carrier... it really depends on what tire you end up getting but I wouldn't put anymore than 80-90lbs on the stock carrier. You have a few options... you can run your spare in the trunk and get a "tramp stamp" to cover up the area where your OEM spare is for $60... or spend at least $600-700 for a rear bumper with carrier... or you can risk it running on the stock carrier but it might cause problems in the future...

If you want to get a nicer lift you can get the Teraflex coil lift with the shock adapters... instead of pucks for the lift it gives you new springs. This kit is a little harder to install but its more upgradable b/c eventually you can replace your OEM shock + adapters to something else later. This kit would be $150-200 more than the budget boost with pucks

 

X2 but i actually like coils. Get 2.5 teraflex coil lift with shocks and wheel spacers and get someone to help you install it here on the forum. It is Easy to do it yourself and save some $.I had a leveling kit on first now i have 2.5 coils with a 1"spacer for 3.5 total lift with 1.5 spidertrax spacers and 34"toyo mt 285/75/17. My mpg average is 16 and



its my dd as well. Good luck