rock Krawler custom legth CA's
Thread Starter
JK Junkie
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,440
Likes: 0
From: CT
<img src="https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=607979"/>
JK Junkie
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,863
Likes: 1
From: Bossier City, LA
JK Super Freak
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,476
Likes: 3
From: Mile High Colorado
And most of those are about 12 inches deep. I sat there and watched a mini van try to get through there and it bottomed out 3 times just trying to get through the lot.
JK Jedi
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 6,222
Likes: 376
From: Southwest Reno, NV
I am not bashing RK, just trying to give an honest assessment. They have an open tech thread for questions which is nice for their customers. I have just noticed a trend of increased rock krawler threads and the immediate jumping on of anyone that makes a counter claim to their products since internet brands bought JKO. This forum and that one are now just a big business to make money, not for really helping out people with questions. JKO is more like JK-F when Eddie ran the site and would push EVO, Northridge, Teraflex, and RK because they paid. Now you very rarely even see EVo mentioned on this site or at JKO. It just shows you what paid content does. Nobody that knows me can tell I don't push any brands even though I will mention companies by name from time to time. I try and educate people so they can make intelligent, informed decisions that will meet their needs. I have been approached by companies to write articles and do reviews and have turned them down simply because I don't want my reputation and integrity blemished. (it took a long time to convince everyone I am a big know it all prick)
For a new jeeper on the forum that is asking about lifts, regretting marketing points really does a disservice to them. For example using RK: I am new to jeeps and am looking for a 3.5-4" lift for it. Reply: Hands down get rock krawler, their x factor kits includes rear "mid" arms that stretch the wheelbase 1", the kit is upgradeable, and their new joints flex and ride is amazing giving you 60 degrees of misalignment. The arms are solid as well and will not bend.
Now these talking points really mean nothing and give no benefit to choosing RK over another brand. Just about any adjustable arm out there will allow you to move the axle 1", any kit is "upgradeable", the strength of the arms is in diameter and material. Their solid arms do give them slightly more clearance then a bigger tube but in return you gain more weight and are forced to use a smaller shank on the joint which limits the adjustability of the arms. There is now way you will ever need 60 degrees of misalignment on a bolt on kit, the ride will not be as good as stock because of the joints, "mid arm" is just bs. A front factory arm is around 26" a long arm is around 38" how the hell is a 27" length arm mid length? Mid length should be in 30"-34" range which would actually give you some benefit of a longer wheel base instead of just regaining the stock wheel base with the 1" longer arm at 4" of lift. People that insist on touting the benefits of the "mid" arm are just not being honest with others and themselves. No insult intended to anyone.
So the new jeeper buys the RK kit based on the recommendation and installs it. Then he notices the coils are bowed so he asks about that and is told to buy correction wedges. Then he notices his shocks are rubbing on the track bar so asks about that and is told to buy bump stops to limit the travel. He buys teraflex because people recommend them and it does not solve the problem. He then finds out he needs to use RK bump stops as they are designed for his "stretch". After putting a bandaid on his coils and limiting his travel he decides to "upgrade" his kit and get upper rear arms. After installing the uppers he finds out that he cannot set the pinion angle correctly and must "upgrade" the lowers as well by either buying new lowers or cutting the lowers. If it were me I would be thinking WTF? Everyone told me to buy this kit and look at all the issues I am having with it, was this really the best kit out there?
Then there is the 4"+ of actual lift that was gained from the kit since his jeep is new and light and is having handling issues and finds out that a drag link flip is needed to correct the steering geometry.
After all this money and effort this guy has gone thru to get his 3.5"lift to run to the mall and do those dirt trails twice a year at the jeep jamboree he can stand around and brag to other new jeepers about how great his RK lift is.
For a new jeeper on the forum that is asking about lifts, regretting marketing points really does a disservice to them. For example using RK: I am new to jeeps and am looking for a 3.5-4" lift for it. Reply: Hands down get rock krawler, their x factor kits includes rear "mid" arms that stretch the wheelbase 1", the kit is upgradeable, and their new joints flex and ride is amazing giving you 60 degrees of misalignment. The arms are solid as well and will not bend.
Now these talking points really mean nothing and give no benefit to choosing RK over another brand. Just about any adjustable arm out there will allow you to move the axle 1", any kit is "upgradeable", the strength of the arms is in diameter and material. Their solid arms do give them slightly more clearance then a bigger tube but in return you gain more weight and are forced to use a smaller shank on the joint which limits the adjustability of the arms. There is now way you will ever need 60 degrees of misalignment on a bolt on kit, the ride will not be as good as stock because of the joints, "mid arm" is just bs. A front factory arm is around 26" a long arm is around 38" how the hell is a 27" length arm mid length? Mid length should be in 30"-34" range which would actually give you some benefit of a longer wheel base instead of just regaining the stock wheel base with the 1" longer arm at 4" of lift. People that insist on touting the benefits of the "mid" arm are just not being honest with others and themselves. No insult intended to anyone.
So the new jeeper buys the RK kit based on the recommendation and installs it. Then he notices the coils are bowed so he asks about that and is told to buy correction wedges. Then he notices his shocks are rubbing on the track bar so asks about that and is told to buy bump stops to limit the travel. He buys teraflex because people recommend them and it does not solve the problem. He then finds out he needs to use RK bump stops as they are designed for his "stretch". After putting a bandaid on his coils and limiting his travel he decides to "upgrade" his kit and get upper rear arms. After installing the uppers he finds out that he cannot set the pinion angle correctly and must "upgrade" the lowers as well by either buying new lowers or cutting the lowers. If it were me I would be thinking WTF? Everyone told me to buy this kit and look at all the issues I am having with it, was this really the best kit out there?
Then there is the 4"+ of actual lift that was gained from the kit since his jeep is new and light and is having handling issues and finds out that a drag link flip is needed to correct the steering geometry.
After all this money and effort this guy has gone thru to get his 3.5"lift to run to the mall and do those dirt trails twice a year at the jeep jamboree he can stand around and brag to other new jeepers about how great his RK lift is.
