To lift or not to lift?
- Thread starter Szydd
- Start date
A 2 inch lift can improve clearances and allow for larger tires, and can be done with less aftermarket parts than most lift heights. However if you don't off-road there's little use in lifting the vehicle other than for personal preference. A nice rule of thumb is that owning a jeep isn't expensive, modding it is.
Good idea. No real reason to lift a rig when you reside in the northeast.
As others have said, a 2 or 2.5" isn't that bad. This would be shocks, springs, adj track bar, SYE if you're cool/TC drop if you're lazy like me. Some get vibes, others don't after a lift. YMMV. If you just wanna run 31's you can do a 1" body lift.
Just don't cheap out. It'll drive proportionally to how quality the work and parts are.
ChasUGC
TJ Enthusiast
A stock Jeep TJ is ten times better than a Prius for light off roading. Camping, light excursions are well handled with a Jeep Wrangler TJ alone. Big tires and a lift are just "insert pun" unless you want to do some serious Off roading. Then, if you have a "Rubicon", just do it. A Rubicon can handle "middle of the road" off roading, with no problem, stock. I've modded my Jeep just for the light off road camping trips. But, it is still mostly just show. But, it is fun. I remember a freeway underpass was flooded, shortly after I got my Stock '97 TJ. All these cars(Prius and Camry types) were stuck in the flood, along with some Big Rigs. I shifted into four wheel drive and drove through it, like it was nothing. I said to myself, "This is why i got a Jeep". My girlfriend just beamed. Climate change won't stop my TJ. No lift needed.
To lift or not to lift-
To ask us that question is kind of funny. For most of us we don’t even consider it a question.
I didn’t even know there was a choice.
The answer is 2-4 “.
I’m just having a little fun with you- To some extent it’s a bandwagon man.
A stock jeep can be beautiful and enjoyable, as well as surprisingly capable.
To ask us that question is kind of funny. For most of us we don’t even consider it a question.
I didn’t even know there was a choice.
The answer is 2-4 “.
I’m just having a little fun with you- To some extent it’s a bandwagon man.
A stock jeep can be beautiful and enjoyable, as well as surprisingly capable.
Wrong. There’s one certain young member of this forum that regularly drives from Westchester County NY to lower Mass on his day off for some real nice 4-wheeling. @jxv1247 Posted last week his day trip to Mass.
If you need a reason to leave your Jeep stock it’s to avoid the crazed rabbit hole of Double adjustable CA’s, short arm or Long arm. Ruff Country or Metalcloak.Vanco Big brakes or two feet on the brake pedal. I mean one would be crazy to go this route.
A reason to go for it? Reread the above paragraph.
Best thing one can do is have multiple Jeeps.
This is the way.
Piggybacking on this, @Szydd, that's kinda where I was coming from with the transfer case drop. You can do it minimalish... if you just want a tall Jeep with big tires. For you, if you just want it to look cool it's really not too hard. Even though there's no trails around you and you won't have, say, JMT's or AndyG's jeeps, it's still gonna look cool 30 feet away when you're grabbing beer at a gas station.
I had a 2.5" lift on 31's. Looked pretty good to me.
My daughter's TJ is a completely stock Sahara automatic. It drives absolutely amazing. We have no plans to ever modify it. It does great on forest service roads and easy rated trails.
Yep, I can assure you there’s places in Mass to wheel, and ones that are public that is . I regularly drive my tj 2 hours plus to wheel. My suggestion is get involved with a club , and go from there if you feel like you may be interested in trying out some trails. Feel free to shoot me a message if you would like . I started with a bone stock 98’ sport, and slowly have built it over 7 or so years to get to where it is today. I had just as much fun on 31’s as I do today . I daily drove it all throughout college on 35’s, and while not ideal it worked. It's been all over the east coast, from Maine to Tennessee.
To answer the question, a 2.5” lift and 31’s is still extremely practical to drive on the street, as well as more than capable enough to get your feet wet when it comes to off-roading. You don’t need to go down the path of adjustable control arms, slip yoke eliminators, or any of the headache that comes with larger lifts.
Here’s a few of the places that are legal, and open to the public.
(ignore the fact this ones not a jeep..)
To answer the question, a 2.5” lift and 31’s is still extremely practical to drive on the street, as well as more than capable enough to get your feet wet when it comes to off-roading. You don’t need to go down the path of adjustable control arms, slip yoke eliminators, or any of the headache that comes with larger lifts.
Here’s a few of the places that are legal, and open to the public.
(ignore the fact this ones not a jeep..)
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If you're asking the question in absence of a need, leave it alone and focus on maintenance.
I did a 1" lift with H&R springs so I could run 31s. Cheap, fast, easy.
WARNING! There are many people on this forum who have no problem spending your money.
Looks like you’re new to the TJ universe. I would just drive it as is and see how you really use it and see if you really need to add a lift. Hone your off road skills first. TJs are a money pit because we make them that way. Once you start modifying them you are continually chasing the next weak point.
Looks like you’re new to the TJ universe. I would just drive it as is and see how you really use it and see if you really need to add a lift. Hone your off road skills first. TJs are a money pit because we make them that way. Once you start modifying them you are continually chasing the next weak point.
deadbeat son
TJ Addict
If you have to ask, the answer is no.
That is the beauty of a Jeep. Your Jeep, you do what you want with it. Stock will take you down a lot of fire roads. A 1-2" lift and 31 tires will take you a lot more places and it just goes from there. Go play with it until it won't take you where you want to go and then fix it till it will.
I drove for a few years with no lift and 31’s. Plenty of dirt tracks and a few lumps, it did ok and hardly any rubbing.
Ended up lifting it when my shocks needed replacing anyway.
Ended up lifting it when my shocks needed replacing anyway.
OP
/adds a Rubicon to the list
Yes, wise words. I have always been a function over form type.. but this jeep has got me all amped up like a teenager lol. Thankfully my wife (I know strange to hear) is great at reigning in my enthusiasm. I'm ready to buy 50 acres in western mass just to wheel while this jeep is still on jackstands...
This jeep will need a frame much sooner then later so for now its purpose will remain a tool for teaching my kids to wrench and drive a stick, and hopefully help convince the wife that I need another Jeep ... or two for me.
@jxv1247 saying there no place to wheel in Mass was a bit of a generalization. I really meant there isn't a great place very near me, at least not like when i was young and we could mud on the local farms (always had a tractor to pull us out ) and trail off the high tensions and gas lines.. all of these places have either been replaced with housing and/or access has been blocked off. For reference I live right outside Worcester. Great pictures also, really love seeing that stuff.