Rough country lift ?
#2
JK Jedi Master
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Austin <--> Colorado Springs
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Coil or Spacer? Which components are you thinking about adding? (and are you up to speed on what they do or whether you will/won't want any of them?)
RC is very popular with a lot of people just because of the big marketing budget and the rock bottom price tags they see. But, the quality seems to generally reflect that pricing structure. On the plus side, past posts indicate that RC is pretty good about honoring warranties on things like sagging coils and blown shocks, you just need to do the work again (or pay the labor to have those parts replaced if/when.) There are many people running these lifts and components that like the ride and have no issues, and it may be absolutely fine for your needs/use. But there are better quality options available if you are open to looking around a bit more. (just be prepared to put some of the price tags you will see into perspective - additional components, known quality, etc)
To take that further, as with any lift from any company, pay attention to the additional components that are, or are not, included. Does it come with bumpstops? Caster correction? (if so, what type of correction?) Brake lines/brackets? Swaybar links/brackets? Not generally an issue at 2.5", but have an idea of what you will do if/when the front driveshaft fails. Not an issue at 2.5", but for taller lifts the choice of steering correction can be a factor. etc etc
So I guess the moral of the story is to NOT choose a lift based on price alone. Do a little research on both the mfg and the components before you pull out the credit card.
RC is very popular with a lot of people just because of the big marketing budget and the rock bottom price tags they see. But, the quality seems to generally reflect that pricing structure. On the plus side, past posts indicate that RC is pretty good about honoring warranties on things like sagging coils and blown shocks, you just need to do the work again (or pay the labor to have those parts replaced if/when.) There are many people running these lifts and components that like the ride and have no issues, and it may be absolutely fine for your needs/use. But there are better quality options available if you are open to looking around a bit more. (just be prepared to put some of the price tags you will see into perspective - additional components, known quality, etc)
To take that further, as with any lift from any company, pay attention to the additional components that are, or are not, included. Does it come with bumpstops? Caster correction? (if so, what type of correction?) Brake lines/brackets? Swaybar links/brackets? Not generally an issue at 2.5", but have an idea of what you will do if/when the front driveshaft fails. Not an issue at 2.5", but for taller lifts the choice of steering correction can be a factor. etc etc
So I guess the moral of the story is to NOT choose a lift based on price alone. Do a little research on both the mfg and the components before you pull out the credit card.
#3
JK Jedi
Do yourself a favor and stay away from RC. They are big in pickup truck market, but their reputation with JKs sucks. The might be the absolute bottom of the barrel IMO, and that is saying something cuz there are some pretty shoddy lifts out there.
This right here.
There are a few ways that inexpensive lifts achieve their price tag. First is by omitting components. These might not be things that the jeep needs to be able to drive on the pavement, but they are things that you really do need to address. Bump stops, brake lines or brackets, caster correction, etc. The second way is by using subpar components and/or parts of components. I'd challenge you to hold a Rough Country track bar in one hand, and a quality track bar in your other hand (metalcloak, synergy, teraflex, etc). It's not JUST about the bar being adjustable. That is one of the most important components on the front end of that jeep. Consider the type of joints in the bar, and the quality of said joints. There is NO way anyone would look at the RC track bar and choose it over one of the others.
There are a few ways that inexpensive lifts achieve their price tag. First is by omitting components. These might not be things that the jeep needs to be able to drive on the pavement, but they are things that you really do need to address. Bump stops, brake lines or brackets, caster correction, etc. The second way is by using subpar components and/or parts of components. I'd challenge you to hold a Rough Country track bar in one hand, and a quality track bar in your other hand (metalcloak, synergy, teraflex, etc). It's not JUST about the bar being adjustable. That is one of the most important components on the front end of that jeep. Consider the type of joints in the bar, and the quality of said joints. There is NO way anyone would look at the RC track bar and choose it over one of the others.
#4
Super Moderator
I don't own a RC lift or have any personal experience with them. What I will say is being a member on this forum and other JK forums for quite a few years is that one of the most common discussions start out as "Help, having steering problems after lifting". Then that is typically followed by "just installed a Rough Country 3.5in or 2.5in lift". Based on just the quantity of these discussions I've seen, where the problem usually comes down to some inferior RC drop pitman arm, track bar, caster correction, or dual steering stabilizer, I would steer clear of a RC lift. RC lifts tend to be better in the truck world and even on the Wrangler TJ, but there seems to be a lot of problems with the RC JK lifts. The springs sagging over time and the shocks being garbage, riding like crap are other common problems also often discussed on top of the steering related issues I already outlined.
With that said, I do own a set of RC front adjustable lower control arms. At the time I bought them, I was unsure if I wanted to go with adjustable control arms or geo correction brackets for caster correction after lifting. I decided to go with the RC control arms since they were the only adjustable control arm at the time that were at a similar price point as geo brackets where I figured if I didn't like them and they didn't work out then I could more easily replace them afterwards with the least impact to the pocket book. I've had those arms going on 4 years now, with no issues. If I had to replace them I would likely go with the MetalCloak or Teraflex Alpine adjustable control arms instead since those arms have better joints and the their design bends are properly aligned unlike the RC arms. So I now realize the price of the cost savings of those RC arms at this time but they have worked out well for what I paid for them.
For the same lift amount as the RC 2.5in, at good value price points, I would avoid the RC 2.5in lift and look at the following instead. They'll be slightly higher price but overall are better quality and a better value overall in my opinion.
(All these lifts will give you just over 3inches of total lift)
- Metal Cloak 2.5in Rocksport Edition
- Mopar 2in
- AEV 2.5in Dualsport XT
Most anyone who has any of those lifts, have been pretty happy with their purchase.
With that said, I do own a set of RC front adjustable lower control arms. At the time I bought them, I was unsure if I wanted to go with adjustable control arms or geo correction brackets for caster correction after lifting. I decided to go with the RC control arms since they were the only adjustable control arm at the time that were at a similar price point as geo brackets where I figured if I didn't like them and they didn't work out then I could more easily replace them afterwards with the least impact to the pocket book. I've had those arms going on 4 years now, with no issues. If I had to replace them I would likely go with the MetalCloak or Teraflex Alpine adjustable control arms instead since those arms have better joints and the their design bends are properly aligned unlike the RC arms. So I now realize the price of the cost savings of those RC arms at this time but they have worked out well for what I paid for them.
For the same lift amount as the RC 2.5in, at good value price points, I would avoid the RC 2.5in lift and look at the following instead. They'll be slightly higher price but overall are better quality and a better value overall in my opinion.
(All these lifts will give you just over 3inches of total lift)
- Metal Cloak 2.5in Rocksport Edition
- Mopar 2in
- AEV 2.5in Dualsport XT
Most anyone who has any of those lifts, have been pretty happy with their purchase.
Last edited by Rednroll; 09-17-2019 at 07:15 AM.
#5
JK Enthusiast
I installed the RC 2.5" spacer kit at 10,000 miles. I bought the kit that includes the extension brackets for the shocks and brake lines. It also came with longer sway bar links to be installed in the rear after moving the OEM links to the front. I now have 110,000 miles and have had no issues. There was no caster correction, but I had it checked and it's within specs (just barely). I like that I was able to keep the original springs and shocks which maintains the factory ride.
#6
Super Moderator
Are we talking about a RC 2.5in spring lift or spacer lift? If a spacer lift, with shock extensions not too much there which can go wrong other than having to correct for caster.
#7
I just installed the RC 3.5 inch lift on my 2017 jku rubicon... im having some issues. I haven't thrown in the towel just yet but getting dang close! im not an expert at all so it could be something super simple. So with that said I think some of it will depend on how well you know what youre doing. I know just enough to get under the jeep and make a mess. Good luck, hope this helps.
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#8
Add me to the list of guys advising a better lift. RC gets its rock bottom pricing by not only production cost cutting. but their kits are generally incomplete, missing key items that will result in a proper handling vehicle. Why buy a $45,000+ JK, then install a $500 suspension? We have a club member who did just that and ended up with a mess. Save up enough money for quality and you won't be disappointed.
#9
JK Super Freak
I had the 2" spacer lift and the full-blown 3.5 or 4" lift (for get which it was).
The spacer lift was great - no issues.
The 3.5/4 was a nightmare in every possible way.
The spacer lift was great - no issues.
The 3.5/4 was a nightmare in every possible way.
#10
Super Moderator
Buy once, cry once....or ignore the folks here and do like I did- spacer lift, someone else's used unknown brand coils, Rock saggy Krawler lift, then Metalcloak.
If it's just spacers then they're all the same and you shouldn't be paying much for it. When you start getting into replacing more components, focus on the how's and why's, then buy once and cry once.
If it's just spacers then they're all the same and you shouldn't be paying much for it. When you start getting into replacing more components, focus on the how's and why's, then buy once and cry once.