I have read tons of great threads about lifts and tire/wheel upgrades & choices...

How does one go from stock to 35's in steps?

I mean to do it right I have to jack it up, add the new bigger tires and either spacers or new wheels, and then I have to buy a new bumper/tire carrier to handle the 35" spare...

Do I do the lift and save up till I can do the tires plus $$$ bumper/tire carrier?

On top of all that I have the 3.21 gears...

Part of me is tempted to just get some really good 33" tires and do a leveler or budget bump and wheel with that for a season and go bigger next year?

Matthew

 

My advice...save, save and do it right the first time. When I upgraded I bought my lift and it sat in the garage for a few months until I got the tires. Installed all that and threw my spare in the back for a few months until I got a tire carrier. I have a Rubi, so changing gears isn't a big deal for me but you will def want to.

If you go with 33s, you're going to spend more in the long run if you turn around and get 35s a year later.

 

Yeah I'm still kicking myself for not getting a rubicon but there were none to be found with dual tops and six speed manual, price wasn't even the issue, I just hadn't had a Jeep for a while and was really missing it...

Didn't even tell the wife, just surprised her with a new Jeep in garage one day!

I just need to finish weeding through all the choices out there and lock down my choices, that's a big ordeal with there being so many damn vendors and so many opinions

Matthew

 

I am in this boat and am rowing hard and fast. Like afpilot82 said - save up and do it right.
I added a bit of armor (rails etc) then saved for the lift - I did a RK 3.5" and I have a 2012 2dr so I also added new
drive shafts for the build, at the same time I did C gussets and control arm skids and since it was all apart I added
RCV axle kit This is about as far as I got (new rims are in the garage waiting for shoes, I started down the wrong
path) - my next update will be rear bumper (doing LOD shorty with
carrier) - then I'll get new gears since mine is an auto and I have 4.10s, I'll add new HD rear axles at this time - then
I'll get new shoes. I figure it will take me about a year or so to get there but I think it is the right path.
This way I also get to wheel it and not worry about it along the way.
Looks a little "funky" with stock tires and all.... but its okay for now.

 

Same idea with me. I got a new JK with 33" tires levelling kit but wanted to go for a real lift with shocks and 35" tires.

I´ll go for a 2.5" lift kit soon. So it still looks ok with the 33" but is good for 35" with flat fenders.
After the 2.5 " lift I planning on some good shocks, if I don´t buy the AEV kit with the Bilsteins.

Ok, I´ll go some time with the 33" tires. Buy some other stuff like Bumpers, tire carrier, skidplates, C gussets and so on.
Last thing I´m going to get are flat fenders. After this last mod I´m ready for 35" tires.

With you and 3.21 gears, at least with 35" tires I think regearing is a additional must.

But that´s my plan, they way I hopefully will/can go.

 

My next step is the AEV armor set for the oil pan, tranny and drive shaft

Then probably save up for lift+tires+tire holder/rear bumper

I just want to go wheelin as much as I can with my local club so I have more info to base my build on, should make the decision tree a bit more informed as to the priorities in relation to where I'm gonna be Jeeping...

Matthew

 

Dude what does this mean? You say this on every post you reply to lol

 

You could build it to run 35's in stages just be smart and research your build you just need a ton of patience so your not cutting corners to achieve an immediate result. I bought everything over the course of a 6 month period then installed it all.

 

This is how I did it. Just save and get the pieces you need to do it at once. Lift, wheels, tires. I had my lift sitting for a while because I didn't think it would look good to be lifted without larger tires. Once the 35s came, put everything on together. Left the fifth wheel sit for awhile until I had cash to do a new bumper.

Plus, I was able to sell my stock tires for a little money back to a local guy since mine had low miles.

If you really want to do 33s first, then plan on waiting until they have no tread left or it will be a waste of money.
If you don't want to buy new wheels then you have to buy wheel spacers to lift that you might not need with new wheels with correct backspacing.

Doing it together will save you money in the long run.

 

I would lift it and get some spacers to run some 35's on the factory wheels. Thats how I did it. You can always pick up some wheels later