Looking for expert advice
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 441
Likes: 0
From: Sanger, TX
aye the thing to remember about stock rubicons, i they are already built for mild mountain goating along with off roading, lifts are more for the hard core crawlings, you might just wanna put your wrack on it and leave as is, or use 1 inch bumps to account for the extra weight, this way you still fit your garage opening, or just mod the door to go 6 inches higher, a local contractor should be able to do that for ya.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 441
Likes: 0
From: Sanger, TX
That is a lot of lift for an expedition rig--you will suffer because of higher COG, and if you're making room for tires larger than 35s, you will suffer because of poor gas mileage. I'm running 2.5" and 35s, as are the bulk of the folks with whom I travel who are in JKs, and we manage to make it over some pretty hairy terrain. Here are our a few of our credentials ... YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Yq51rHh8MY YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFjr3hSzEu4 YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__eRvYZ9TXY YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLkNU8d8w-c
JK Junkie
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,697
Likes: 2
From: Grosse Pointe, MI
Listen to these guys. What you are doing will not be " right the first time ". You sound like you want to build a mall crawlers that looks huge, and fits in the garage to keep it clean. If that is your goal, good for you. But if you want to use it and it be practical, 2.5 to 3.5 and 35s is plenty.
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Midland, Texas
I'd stick to as little lift as needed. The 2-door JKs are a bit of a challenge in the rear when lift height starts getting above 2.5"-3" (of actual lift). You start to push the stock driveshaft to its limits. Yes, you can buy an aftermarket, but there is a bigger issue with that. With a new driveshaft in the rear, you need to rotate the pinion up. On a 2-door, it is quite a bit. What you end up with is coil bow and a track bar bracket that is at a 15 degree angle. As the lift increase, the issue becomes worse. If you go that route, then the right thing to do is to cut the coil perches and track bar bracket off and weld new ones on (upside here is you ditch the crap stock ones).
I run the Metalcloak setup with the 6Paks. I'd recommend you stick with the ARB edition. Unless you plan to do some serious rock crawling, it is a headache that you get no value out of. The shocks need to be serviced regularly. They ride notably stiffer (my Dad has the same lift, but the OME shocks). You need to run the Overline fenders (the point of the 6Paks is uptravel, so if you don't make clearance for the tires, you have to use more bump stop and then you gain nothing from the shocks). Lastly, you'll want more back space if you do run those shocks and fenders. 4" or less.
I run the Metalcloak setup with the 6Paks. I'd recommend you stick with the ARB edition. Unless you plan to do some serious rock crawling, it is a headache that you get no value out of. The shocks need to be serviced regularly. They ride notably stiffer (my Dad has the same lift, but the OME shocks). You need to run the Overline fenders (the point of the 6Paks is uptravel, so if you don't make clearance for the tires, you have to use more bump stop and then you gain nothing from the shocks). Lastly, you'll want more back space if you do run those shocks and fenders. 4" or less.
Thank you for the info on the 6paks. I'm looking for functional and as maintenance free as I can get. I plan on Xenon, PS, or Overland fenders anyways. I planned on the new drive shafts for added protection and future needs. Perhaps the ARB edition will work.
Again thank you for the insight, this is the type of info I am looking for.
Last edited by gripenfelter; Jul 15, 2014 at 07:00 AM.
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Midland, Texas
Listen to these guys. What you are doing will not be " right the first time ". You sound like you want to build a mall crawlers that looks huge, and fits in the garage to keep it clean. If that is your goal, good for you. But if you want to use it and it be practical, 2.5 to 3.5 and 35s is plenty.
JK Jedi
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 6,222
Likes: 376
From: Southwest Reno, NV
Why 3.5" of lift? You would be better off with 37's and 2" of lift since you are looking at flat fenders. The 6 pack shocks would be a waste of money on an expidition vehicle as they are designed for max travel at low lift heights. Coil overs or ori struts will give you more flexibility in lift size and weight handling for the same money.
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Midland, Texas
Why 3.5" of lift? You would be better off with 37's and 2" of lift since you are looking at flat fenders. The 6 pack shocks would be a waste of money on an expidition vehicle as they are designed for max travel at low lift heights. Coil overs or ori struts will give you more flexibility in lift size and weight handling for the same money.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 284
Likes: 0
From: Happy Place
Perhaps if you share what defined your needs we can give better advice. Is your Jeep a DD? You mention high end manufacturers and parts but did not say why you chose them instead of something else.
A jeep right out of the box is very capable. My stock Jeep would take me @75 mph to a trail head where it would cross water and mud that was door high then climb up, down and over rocks and at then at the end of the day take me back home at 75 mph(I've read where they can actually go faster). Take a close look at the videos. At Buckhorn the green jeep is very well built, capable and looks great. The white jeep appears to be close to stock and runs the same mud and rocks and water crossings. Sure the green Jeep is capable of doing more but the white jeep did plenty.
You mention doing it right the first time. I believe in this. However I would add, do it right over time. Take some time on and off road to get to know your jeep. See what needs to be changed to meet your needs from your own experience not from internet posts. Find fellow Jeepers near you and run your stock Jeep with them for a while. Ask to ride in their modded jeeps. See if someone will let you drive one. I have a buddy with a 2 door lifted 4 inches on 37's. It looks great. However it is scary when off camber and frankly it is difficult to get into. Find some open space at the mall and try to park with just the driver side wheels up on the concrete parking stops. This will "lift" your Jeep a few inches. Now try hopping in and out. If you have a family have your wife and kids try to hop in and out. I'm only at 2.5" and 33's and raising my hood to check the oil has become a stretch for me. The point I'm trying make is that personal experience is far more valuable than internet advice. Go out and get your hands dirty with your Jeep.
Many people say that a stock jeep is under powered. Well I found that a stock Jeep handles very well. A heavily modded Jeep becomes sluggish and you may not like how it handles with hundreds of pounds of bumpers, winch, rails, racks, wheels, tires.........
Some things not mentioned are drive shafts, belly armor, gears. and OBA.
A jeep right out of the box is very capable. My stock Jeep would take me @75 mph to a trail head where it would cross water and mud that was door high then climb up, down and over rocks and at then at the end of the day take me back home at 75 mph(I've read where they can actually go faster). Take a close look at the videos. At Buckhorn the green jeep is very well built, capable and looks great. The white jeep appears to be close to stock and runs the same mud and rocks and water crossings. Sure the green Jeep is capable of doing more but the white jeep did plenty.
You mention doing it right the first time. I believe in this. However I would add, do it right over time. Take some time on and off road to get to know your jeep. See what needs to be changed to meet your needs from your own experience not from internet posts. Find fellow Jeepers near you and run your stock Jeep with them for a while. Ask to ride in their modded jeeps. See if someone will let you drive one. I have a buddy with a 2 door lifted 4 inches on 37's. It looks great. However it is scary when off camber and frankly it is difficult to get into. Find some open space at the mall and try to park with just the driver side wheels up on the concrete parking stops. This will "lift" your Jeep a few inches. Now try hopping in and out. If you have a family have your wife and kids try to hop in and out. I'm only at 2.5" and 33's and raising my hood to check the oil has become a stretch for me. The point I'm trying make is that personal experience is far more valuable than internet advice. Go out and get your hands dirty with your Jeep.
Many people say that a stock jeep is under powered. Well I found that a stock Jeep handles very well. A heavily modded Jeep becomes sluggish and you may not like how it handles with hundreds of pounds of bumpers, winch, rails, racks, wheels, tires.........
Some things not mentioned are drive shafts, belly armor, gears. and OBA.
JK Jedi
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 6,222
Likes: 376
From: Southwest Reno, NV
^^great advise, I was just posting up the same thing on another thread experience in the seat will go farther then mods in off road capability of the jeep. New guys tend to get too hung up on all the glitz and bling of big tires and big lifts where more experinced jeepers will build for actual performance gains.