I'm starting to look for a lift for my JK, maybe 2 or 3 inches. Could someone tell me, what are the performance advantages of a standard lift vs. a budget boost lift of the same height? Is it worth the extra couple of hundred dollars?

 

i would like to know too.

 

A BB gives you the stated height, it's just a puck placed on top of the coils. Most coil lifts are taller than the stated height, sometimes considerably taller. (TF coils are known to be very tall...)

If you add a lot of weight to a BB lift, you'll notice that your stock coils compress, which may lead to bottoming out the coils over bumps. New coils are the better option in this case.

As you go higher, you will want more components to bring you back to a 'stock' ride. If budget is a concern, a BB may be the better option, as they are generally lower and you can get away with less components.

If off-road performance is your main concern, the coils will flex better. (Lots of people bash their BB's plenty hard, and they hold up fine, that comment is strictly regarding flex)

 

You should decide on the tire size then go from there, which is usually 35"s and a 3" coil lift on the 4 doors. Then decide on a budget, you can go cheap or go all out.

Stop by jeepfest in new castle this weekend, they'll be a ton of lifted jk's to look at. We will be there with pop up, stop if you have any questions.

 

I agree with you on all but this. You will have the same load handling as if it had no pucks. Even longer coils compress under heavy weight. If you install your bumpstops you should not be able to bottom out your springs. An if you bottom out your springs with the pucks you would have done it with out the pucks. An, for the coils I have seen for lifts some are softer then factory to help allow them to have a better ride and flex easier. Others are so stiff you hit a bump and there is 0 movement in the coil, an it fills like your in the moon rover when you hit a speed bump.

 

I am currently running a Budget Boost of 2.5". After putting about 40,000 miles on my lift and tires, i can really say that it would be more worth it to save up the extra money and go with a nice coil lift. With the coil lift, you can build up more with eventually, (example:3/4-1" spacer) Also, i believe a coil lift would ride better. New coils will be graded for a different weight rating for larger tires, which would improve your ride over the stock coils. Off road performance will be better as well, although my BB has taken much abuse and held up well. I like to say that my BB is worth every cent of $140.00 but no more then that. I recently got a 2.5" coil lift to replace my 2.5" BB, however i have not gottten around to installing it just yet. When i get it installed i'll be able to surely tell the difference both on road and off road.

 

You are assuming the BB they buy comes with extended bumpstops. Look at most of the posts on here from people upgrading from a BB to coils - compressed coils from added weight is a common complaint. So whether it is coils stacking or bumpstops contacting each other prematurely, the result is the same...

 

I agree with you. If you take the time and do your lift right, you will have a longer life. If you go cheap you will pay in the end. That being said. A mall crawler could get away with no bumpstops. But at the same time these are the people that are show and no go. They tend to look at the price tag. If you start out with a soft coil and use a BB on it and over load it you will cause it to sag. An that is where I say do your homework and do it right. Now if you start out with a heavy coil and use the BB you will have the same as a heavy coil lift.. Make sure you install your bumpstops and understand the loads your jeep can take. If you go with a BB and 4 wheel hard expect to replace your coils. Even if you go with the longer coil your just buying time. At some point you will have to replace the coils BB or coil lift at some point in time. There are pros and cons to both. So do your home work on what your going to do with your jeep. For me It is cost effective to use a BB for my jeep. I do not have to flex mine alot. an I am not hauling heavy bumpers. I plan to get a winch down the road, but my coils are the heavy duty coils. if you have to use a leveling kit on a lift, you are compressing the springs already. I mean that if you sag with a winch you are loading your springs.