I gave my wife my 12 JK after i got my 13 Ram 1500 and of course it wasn't good enough for her So we traded it in yesterday and got a 13 JK2. The dealer is putting on some accessories for us so i haven't taken delivery till Tuesday or something. Its getting 35/1250R18 Cooper Discoverer STT on XD Rockstars (Yea i know everyone has them .. whatever she wants them) 4" lift, front and rear mopar tubular bumpers, mopar tubular sidesteps, and a couple other off raoddy(that is a word right?) items my wife wanted . I asked what brand of lift and the specifics but as usual dealers don't know everything nor do i expect them to. They mentioned that the lift might be a Trail Master 4". although i can find NO information about that size lift from them. so i will look more into it tomorrow when i go to scream about them screwing up the replacement Mopar front tubular bumper. i told; rather I pointed to the one that i wanted sitting on another JK on the dealer's lot that had the bumper with the factory fog lights but the part that is on the invoice is for the one without the fog lights.

So any who. what do i need to ensure that i have all the needed things placed on.. drive shafts; gusettes; etc. yea i read the noob section and got a lot of useful info.. but I think that a lot of that information might be more geared to a person who is going to use more moderate to advanced trailing. SHE is not. well not in this on. remember that this is my wife's toy and not some crazy off-road vehicle.. yea we go trailing on worn-in trails at Tahuya but NOTHING crazy like MOAB and what not and NO rock garden at Tahuya.

So tires of 1250 width leads me to where i have to get a different backspacing on the wheel of 3.75-4.75 or something around that.. but i cant find the rockstars in a 18 with the sticky post's recommended backspacing. it appears to only come in a 5 backspacing... if i cant find it is the dealer even going to care if they even know about it. i really don't want wheel spacers but if i have to i guess i could.. anyone know a high quality brand (mind you i am safety minded. this is going to be hauling my kids to and from school as well....)

35" tires - gussets needed for what i will be doing with it? Do i really need to re-gear it. I got the 3.73s already....

4" lift- I am assuming that the lift is the cheapest they can find in a a 4" So what do i need to ensure it is done and installed for a long lasting vehicle operations. like drive shafts; i went to northridge website and saw a lot of options but don't know what it all means. Do i need a new track bar or what? etc etc

What am I missing? anyone?

And if anyone has a lnk to a 4" Trail master lift for a 13 JK2 please post so i can examine what kit might be installed and can get that changed if required.

I might end up going the easy route and just having them put in the Mopar 4" Fox lift kit, but before that happens i am open to suggestions as long as its a kit that addresses everything and isn't something that is overkill on its ability. i just want long lasting usability.

I would love to do all the work myself but i constantly battling home upgrades and resto work on a '69 AMX. Mabye i can start putting in that hardtop garage hoist that i always planned on so she can use the softy in the warm summer soon to come.... hrmm i wonder if it will fit in the garage at all now.. oops didn't plan that out very well did I.. eehh. Guess it will get the normal washington free perpetual car wash weather.


I hope all this makes sense as i write at 1AM abut to fall asleep. kids put on Duck Tales DVD and fell sleep in loft... I am mezmerized for some reason. LOL
Thanks for the info all.

 

You do not need a 4" lift for 35" tires. A 2.5 is all you need and knowing what lift depends on what comes in the kit and if the dealers installing it I would go only Mopar because it comes with everything you need and if something should go wrong down the road you know it will be covered under your warranty.good luck and welcome to the forum

 

a 2" will clear without rubbing on full turn of the wheels?
Thanks

 

It will clear just get wheels with 4.5" of back spacing or wheel spacers. I second the 2.5" Mopar life no need o go that high you will just run into more problems that you don't need especially for what your doing with it.

 

2.5" lift will be plenty for 35's, you shouldn't need to worry about a regear being that its a '12, yes I would have gussets installed, even if you don't take it off road.

 

Alright thanks again. I am off to the dealer to talk to them about that right now. I assume if it becomes an issue i can always install a 1" puck lift over the 2.5 lift. yes?

 

Well I got everything sorted out I suppose. The lift is a trail master 3" puck lift with new shocks. Not what I thought it was going to be but I can get a better one down the road. It'll be fine for the wife I think. I will be looking into gussets for the axles. As far as back spacing the wheels we are getting don't have that low of a back space 5" is the smallest amount available.

 

Okay I found out its a ruff country 4". But now because of the wheel spacing on the rock star rims they are trying to with a smaller tire. A 295/70R18. Instead of the 35x12.50. Before I make a huge deal about it... Can I put wheel spacers on and be safe? Or should I just go with the smaller size?

 

If the wife wants 35's, get her 35's. Scrap those wheels and find a set she likes that have the correct backspacing. If the dealership won't do it, go with the stock tires/wheels and take your business to Discount Tire or whoever is local to you. You might even drop down to a 17 or even a 16" rim to save some money.

Which 4" Rough Country lift? I'll assume the $500 one and not the $1200 version. Do a quick search on 'dropped pitman arms' and 'cam bolts' and see what you think. Wouldn't be my first choice.

 

Alright went with the 35 coopers. Have to keep the rock star wheels though. Wife says she'll deal with a little rubbing on full turn to have the whole package. If it gets out of hand maybe I will get lucky and they will fit on my Ram. Should be too much rubbing with the 4" lift. Still looking into high quality wheel spacers.