I am getting ready to pull the trigger on a TF 3" lift. At the same time I am trying to get some other things done as well while staying in budget. After the lift I will have about another 1500.00 for other mods. I am thinking of doing gussets and ball joints on my front or I was also thinking about a locker (arb or ox). Needless to say the money isn't there to do both. So here is my delima... I will be running my stock tires for another 15k -20k miles or so (about a year of driving for me). When I do get new tires I am thinking of the 315x70x17 duratrac tires. I could do the lockers but then if I have to regear (currently 3.73 and thinking I will go to 4.88) I would basically be paying 2x the labor/installation costs if I do lockers now and gears later. But if I wait until I get the larger tires then I either have to come up with a large chunk of change for tires, locker, and gears or I wait and do the gears and lockers a little later after the tires. I am wonderign if there are any 2011 jk owners out there who have 35" tires and haven't re-geared? Since there is no programmers out for the 2011 jk yet, what are you doing to make the stock gears/performance more tolerant?

 

I have 3.21 gears on a manual. I am getting 4.88 tuesday just had to wait for the first appointment. So I have been with a 2.5 lift and 35s for about 2 weeks. It really sucks lol, you can get around pretty ok I do find I stay in 4th and 5th more. The interstate sucks in a 70 mph zone I drive about 60 unless I drop to 4th I can get 70. I've dropped about 4 mpg, because of not having gears so I expect to go back up 2 mpg after getting gears since I can utilize 6th again. Minus the gas loss though city driving isn't too bad. I had gone from 33 to 35 and 33 was better but 6th kind of sucked too just not as bad as the 35.

 

You could always take it to a tuner to squeeze a little power out of it

 

Thanks for the response. I'm thinking of sticking with a tire on the "large 33" size (something closer to 34) until I can afford to regear and put a locker in at the same time.

 

That sounds like a good plan. Toyo MT is a "good size" 33" tire.

I would wait on your balljoints for now also. ...unless they are already getting bad.

lockers, gears, gussets: all at the same time will save you labor (if you plan to do them all).

you could also get a ProCal to adjust for tire size, turn your TPMS off, etc.

There is a local guy running a 3" terra, front LCA's and 33" KM2's. I think he is a member on the forum also. white JKU, XD Addicts with 33" KM2's. I'll have to go back and see if I can find pics...or get some at our next M&G.