theleesullivan

I'm new with Jeeps and right now everything is still stock on my 2012 JKU. Like everyone else thats not good enough. I'm looking into getting a BB with 33s or 35s, but everywhere I look I read oh you will need to get 5.13 gears, wheel spacers, this that and etc. What really do I need. I will be doing some offroading but no hard core wheeling considering I live in Louisiana and this is my everyday vehicle. Please help I just dont want to screw up my Jeep by not getting something need. Thanks

Yellowfin

If you want to run 33's, then just get your lift of choice and maybe a set of wheel spacers. If you plan to wheel it at all, get a set of quick disconnects for the front sway bar. And that's all you'll need. If you want to step up to 35's, it's doable without having to regear your axles, but be aware that your performance & fuel mileage will suffer. With the new 3.6L and 5-speed combination, even with 37" tires, there's really no need to gear lower than 4.88's, so with 35's, that'd be the recommended ratio. Not absolutely necessary, but again, you will eventually want to because of the drop in performance due to the added weight of larger tires.

So to recap here's a list of what you'll need

1. Lift (BB or coil lift)
2. Wheel Spacers
3. Front Sway Bar Quick Disconnects
4. Tire of choice
5. Calibrator for speed (AEV ProCal is inexpensive--$150-- and gets the job done)
6. Regear to 4.88's if you decide on 35's or larger.

And again, the gears don't have to be done at the same time as the lift. I drove my '11 with 37's and stock 4.10's for a year and a half as a daily driver before I finally regeared to 5.13's (3.8L engine) and it was liveable, but acceleration sucked the big one.

Hope this helps.

CSJK77

I have 315/70/17's (34.6" tire) on my '08 with a rough country 3.25" lift on MB TKO wheels (-6) I have 4.10 gears but LA is much flatter than MA.

Rough Country makes inexpensive lifts that should be plenty especially since you're not going to be going hard core. I paid less than $400 shipped for my kit and it took half a day in my garage to install. It's the same as their 2.5" with the addition of .75" coils. It also has the brake line brackets, track bar bracket and sway bar links which the 2.5" does not have. That's why I went with the 3.25 over the 2.5. I liked that both kits had new shocks and springs. For wheels, I went with MB TKO with -6 spacing.

All said and done, wheels/tires/lift was about $2500.

Everyone has an opinion, do what works best for you and the type of terrain you will be mostly driving in. LA is pretty flat (unless it has changed since I was there), I would not worry about 5.13 gears.

I bought a Superchips Flashcal to set my speedo but if you have a '12, your dealer might (should) do it for free. They have for me in the past.

BigSteve

If you haven't done so, start here https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/modi...bie-has-18617/ there is a lot of good info in that post. Another consideration that you did not address is wether or not you are going to be keeping the stock wheels. If you keep the stock wheels then yes you will want spacers. If you go with aftermarket wheels then you will want something with around 4.5 inch of back spacing. For 33's you don't really need a lift unless you want one for looks. For 35's a 2 inch budget boost will work just fine. Without knowing what your transmission is I would say something around a 4.10 would work just fine for 33's and around 4.88 for 35's. That being said everyone has their own preference for how to gear.

Delux2769

If you plan on keeping the stock wheels, and getting larger tires, then you'll want/need spacers. I've been running Rough Country 1.5" wheel spacers, costed $118 shipped for 4 to my door.

BB lifts are the same. You'll be happy with whichever you get. I've ran both TF and RC 2.5" BB, no difference in the feel of the spacers.

With your 2012's new engine, and you living in flat Louisiana, you don't need to regear. I've got a 2008 with 3.21 gears and 33" tires, and do just fine. Do I want more power with better gears, yes, do I need the new gears, no.

Here's mine with 1.5" wheel spacers, stock tires and wheels, and 2.5" BB.




It now looks different with my 33"s and RC 4" lift.

zero_traction69

I am running at 285/75r17 toyo open country it's a big tire around a 34. Here is my run down I have a rubicon and I am happy with a 4.10 gear it's a little under power but it's live able. I have a manual too. Befor I did my lift I was running.

Rubicon unlimited springs and shocks payed 150 bucks for an inch of lift.

I also had a 2in front spacer and 1in rear. I was sitting total about 2.5inches. With this set up. The spacers are day star and I payed about 70 bucks for both. The only thing I would have added would have been front sway bar links be sides that everything worked good never had a single problems took it all over the place and kept up with everyone.

I also have super chips and an exhausted. Heavy front and rear bumper so u might notice more out of this set up.

This is by far the simplest lift. Just changing spings shocks and adding two spacers. Everything oem stays. I did like this but I finally saved up and did a true 3.5in lift

Befor

zero_traction69

After my lift

zero_traction69

And as far as wheels go and tires my complet set up with 5 was about 1800 bucks. Kmc enduros and 285/75r17 open country mts. Any good tire and wheel shop will help you. Figure out what off set to do so u dont rub.

Also the only other thing I did was I trimmed my rear pinch seams in the bottom back side front and rear

theleesullivan

Thanks alot guys it's helping alot it seems it's really many ways to go and right now I can't do anything I'm in Mexico for another month away from my jeep