I just got back from a weekend at Moab. Overall I’m very happy with how my Jeep worked. However, there were some climbs that I just could not do because I would high center when cresting the climb. I know that we should only lift for tire size, I’m on stock axle housings and 37’s. Going 40’s and one ton axles isn’t happening… at least not for a while. I want to progress my build to be more capable so I’m thinking about lifting another inch for a slightly higher frame clearance. Shocks and suspension setup aside, is this a bad idea? Right now I have 3” lift and I feel like I had too many limitations on the break over angle and maybe adding an inch of lift will help. Is my logic flawed and maybe I’m just at the limits of my setup?

Id also like to increase my articulation but to do that I need taller shocks and will need to do something to fit larger shocks as far as the upper mount location on the frame side. The front is easy since there’s room to weld in a taller shock hoop. But the rear is kinda limited on space. Anyone have anything clever for the rear that doesn’t require cutting into the body? I’m not totally against cutting into the body but I don’t have the time to take on a major project like that.

 

There is aways going to be a bigger rock or steeper break over. Just get a draken 8" lift.

 

Regardless of their stellar fabrication skills, I’ve heard that friends don’t let friends use draken. And I thought we were friends?

Fair enough about there always being bigger obstacles. Maybe I’ve reached the peak of my build and I want more? Haha. I know my Jeep will never be a buggy so maybe I’m best to leave well enough alone.

 

Curious to hear what trails you ran on the trip and what climbs you thought you'd be high-centered on.

Off-topic, but I thought of TheDirtman's articulation this weekend when watching the rig at 3:08 on this video (you guys might have already seen this contraption) -

 

I was limited on a few obstacles. The left line on Potato Salad, a large climb just before the cliff on metal masher, there’s a small section of rocks shortly after you enter hells revenge that has a line on the left side, and on Poison Spyder there’s a couple climbs that were steep with a break over that was a bit too much for my Jeep. Granted, these are all somewhat gnarly obstacles but I feel like if I had the clearance that I could have done it.

As for the video, I’ve seen videos of those before. That’s pretty cool.

 

I generally tell my customers to build their jeep for what they drive 90% of the time. Don't compromise a daily driver comfort so you can get over that waterfall you do twice a year. If you want to run buggy lins build a buggy. Each their own though most want 4" of lift and 37's to look cool.

 

Even though I hate it, sometimes I need to hear logic from someone else. My Jeep does 99% of what I want it to do. It still impresses me with where I can take it.

It does have its glitches I need to work out such as noisy cheap dv8 bump stops, limited flex due to shocks, and lack of power. But overall I’m satisfied and need to remember I’m not driving or building a buggy.

Thanks for the input!!

 

It's been a lot of years since I did Poison Spider Mesa, but I don't recall anything that exceeded what my Wrangler could do. It was on 33s and a 2.5" spacer lift at the time and I was following a friend in a two door on 35s. Perhaps you're just underestimating the capability of your rig?

 

Kind of surprised to not hear The Dirtman touch on the lowest hanging fruit scenario when folks start trying to justify going higher for belly clearance.

So here goes.....

Even if you do decide to go higher with a lift, the lowest thing hanging under your Jeep will still be the axle bell housings and aint no amount of lifting going to raise that up since that is only solvable by going with larger tires. So is there a reason you seem to be getting hung up on the frame and not the axle bell housings? Or have you thought about even if you did lift for that additional belly/frame clearance that you'll still have the same problem but be hanging up on your axle bell housings instead?

Oh the rabbit hole you will be chasing down to get over that extra bump!

 

My issue has never really been axle clearance. I can place my tires carefully to keep the axles out of the way. My only gripe was the belly clearance when cresting a climb over a wall or waterfall type obstacle.