Needed Info: 2014 (2 door) JK. Runs very light. 315/75R16 tires with 4.25 BS wheels. PSC Brawler Lite up front w/ X2O synthetic winch. About 135lbs over stock. Rear has PSC BFH bumper. With crossmember gone its same as stock. I have a soft top, no spare and back seat out. I'm currently running the stiffest JKUR stock springs in the front and rear with a .75" spacer up front. This has netted me 1.75" in the front and 1.75" in the rear. When I'm fully flexed out, my rear tire barely scrubs the rear fender. You can hear the treads smacking and pulling on it. But it's not enough to tear the fender off or cause any real damage.

I'm a "once every few weekends" warrior, but I do have some fairly gnarly ruts and decent sized rocks on my favorite trails.

So would I be better served by picking up a RK 2.5 stock mod with proper bump stops and shocks (I've already decided on this lift as it's the only one that should net me a true 2.5"-2.75" and can be added to as I see fit). Or should I just pick up a set of PSC flat fenders? Which route is going to give me the best mix of street manners and true amount of up/down articulation. I know that some of the more extreme and incomplete lifts will mess with geometry and actually limit flex. Just wondering, with my current setup, which route would provide the best on/off-road mix.

Thanks in advance for any help. And while I greatly appreciate answers to my questions. I don't want this to turn into a brand war.

 

Cut your factory flares and see if that gives you the clearance you need. If so then go with the flares. If not then you can order the lift.

You really only need a little longer shock with the coils you've got if you're satisfied with the ride. You won't booger up the street manners and you'd gain more travel without dropping a bunch of cash.

 

It does ride a bit softer than I would like it to. I guess since I've never had a quality aftermarket lift before, I just don't know how much of a difference the new coils and shocks are going to make as opposed to keeping my coils I have now, and just freshening up my old stock Rubi monotubes with some Bilsteins and slapping fenders on it for clearance.

 

A pic to give an idea of the room you get with flats. I have a psc fr/rr and alum front flares, with 285/70s so a little under 33in.

 

Interesting statement. My 2.5" OME got me 3" and can be "added to." Many factors go towards what any lift will actually get you and ANY lift can be added to.

Have fun.

 

I say that because I've called Synergy, RK, ARB (OME), Teraflex and RK was the only manufacturer that guaranteed I'd get between 2.5 and 2.75 of lift, due to how light the Jeep is. Everybody else's 2.5" lift was almost certain to break 3", but RK uses their 1.5" coils for the 2 door, making their true 2.5 lift height a bit lower. Or so they're telling me...

 

My 2cents.
I would cut the fenders because I like the look.
Get the RK 1.5" coils for the 4 door, netted my buddy almost exactly 2.5" (he has a front bumper and winch, but other than that not much armor at all) he got the Rancho 9000s with them and it rides great.

Not sure if there any difference between the 1.5 for 4 door and their 2.5" for a 2door, you'll have to ask them. But they are nice coils.

 

The 1.5 for the 4 door are their 2.5 for 2 door. From what they are telling me, that's why that particular lift is close to true height. I don't really want to cut my flares, because I personally don't like the look at all. So if I cut them --then I decide not to go flats --I'm stuck with them, as I'm not spending money on factory flares.

 

I have a similar set up to you. 4 door coils up front (#18), psc flares and 315/70r17 tires. I'm still running factory shocks, I'll upgrade to a longer shock eventually but it performs really well how it is. I drag my belly on everything but that's what you expect keeping it low. If you're not going to be running any bigger tire I say leave the suspension as is and put some flat flares on.

 

i went with the aev 2.5 because i hate the look of cut fenders but like the look of them stock.