It seems the more I read and compare the harder it is to choose. I just picked up a Rescue Green 2007 unlimited with 6 speed trans. Now I need the lift, I'm looking at 3 inches to keep cost down. I want to run 35x12.5 X ??. The questions I have are:

1) what lift kit, I know it will be used mostly on the street but it will see a limited off-road use

2) what tire do I choose, A local shop recommended Fun Country 2

3) wheel size I was planing on 17x8 or 9 but have been told 16 work well and would save dollars
Looking for a black wheel, also what about steel ( pros and cons)

4) I hate the top, it does not seem any easier to use than the one on my old TJ years ago, is the Bestop Trektop a good choice, I love the look

Thanks in advance for the help

 

Well, i am running 35x11.50 goodyear wranglers on a 2" OME HD lift, it works perfectly

I don't wheel that often myself, but when i do it's mild. The lift has a better ride than stock IMO. And the HD coils are good if you wanna add more weight, Bumpers, winch, tire carrier, etc..

I'm running 16" pro comp alloys.
Don't do steel. They are never a perfect circle, and tend to bend easily.

Haven't had experience with the trektop, but i heard it's nice. Just a pain to put back on. People mainly use it for days at a time.

 

For a lift a lot of people run the TeraFlex 2.5" BB or coil lift, and they all seem happy with it.

16's will be fine and will keep tire cost down, and you can find a ton of black rims in that size. Dont get steel for reasons mentioned above.

Tires is a whole different ball game. Do you want mud terrain or an all terrain? Several popular choices are

Goodyear Duratracs
Goodyear MTR-Kevlar
BFGoodrich KM2
BFGoodrick T/A KO
The Nitto Line
and there are several with Coopper Tires...

People will say good and bad things about all of them, but they are all good tires and it will come down to what YOU like best and cost.

 

i run 33 nitto trailgrappler, hook up fine for moderate wheeling,look goor and just a slight bit of noise,it is deff. not over loud at all

 

I really like the DuraTrac's

 

Do yourself a favor and don't get the Trektop. It is a piece of junk. The first time I put it on part of the threading came out and created a slight separation from the side and to the top. The rear trackbar that connects the rear window to the tailgate broke the first time I took it off. The rivets aren't big enough for the hole they drill and it pulled right through. Could never get it to line up properly. It seemed too small and wouldn't seal the rear driver door well. After the first hard rain, it started to leak and progressively got worse. If it rained the water would puddle up in the middle over the front and if you started to drive and turn or push the water off from inside the vehicle it would pour right down the inside of the front driver and passenger side doors. I drove with it down to Florida from PA and back(and I only had it for a month) the bolts that attach the door surrounds wore holes through the top from friction. Overall it was a pure piece of sh!t. I was completely upset with it. I returned it and got my money back...

As for the tires, I have 285 Duratracs and they are great. Very quiet and are awesome in the rain and snow. I haven't had them in much mud, but they have done well in the "light" mud I have had them in. I love these tires. I have been thinking of getting 315s for my other set of rims...

 

go with mtr/k, I have a rescue green also. Look great. Wish I had at least a 3" lift instead of 2.5.

 

I had steel wheels on my TJ with no problems for 3 years. Rust starte to bubble the paint around the welds after 2 salty road winters but you get what you pay for. I'd buy them again.

 

I have a 2010 2 door with the teraflex 2.5 system (coils and shox) and am running 34.5 Nitto trail grapplers on the stock 18 inch rims. Run trails pretty hard, love the tires, always tacky and even for their size still feel pretty comfortable. Loud tire in my opinion, but I like the tire noise hahah.

I would say go for a 3 inch lift if you can, 2.5 is as high as you can go on the 2 doors without running into driveshaft issues, if i had an unlimited, 3+ for sure.


Goodluck!

 

Overall I would say I tolerate my Trektop.

It was my first purchase after I got my jeep with a hard top. It is LOUD, I can't have a phone conversation with the top up due to flutter. With the top off, I can actually hear people better.

As stated above, the water will pool in the middle, just try not to disturb it until you get into your jeep and close the door. Then you can direct the flood based on your turns.

The rivets for my rear trackbar that connects the window to the tailgate also pulled through on the second use. I just replaced all of them with little bolt, washer, and lock nuts and they work fine now. My trektop ripped within a week and Quardratec, as my intermediary, got me a replacement top for free shipped within a week, and the rip didn't impact functionality.