rob_engineer

Other than looking really cool, do the pros of adding a lift and larger tires outweigh any cons of keeping it stock. What are advantages of larger wheels & lift. I can see that there will be a tiny increase in undercarriage height off the ground which could help in clearing obstacles and water fording. For those of you with lots of off roading experience, is a lifted jeep really more capable than a stock one, all other things being equal? I assume there are more negatives with a lift for normal city & highway driving compared to stock.

jedg

The first few paragraphs of Dirtman's thread...


https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/modi...-lifts-288269/

rob_engineer

Wow. Thanks. Lots of good info there. One reason I ask is because I'm an engineer. I know engineers have budget constraints but they generally will be trying to make the proper design when it come to suspension, etc. I try to keep most of my stuff close to stock. There are exceptions. For example, I know my Harley has some horses held back do to the need for emissions control, so I throw on aftermarket exhaust, intake, and tuner to get more out of it. In that case, it improves over stock in every way except emissions and noise.

jedg

you bet!..

jadmt

slap a cam in the Harley and really wake it up and run cooler at the same time. If you have a TTS or similar tuner find a tech who knows how to really tune it and you will be even more amazed at how smooth your Harley can be.

I think if you are just going to run on dirt roads then stock is great if you are going to actually use 4L then taller tires which need a lift are required. I did the rubicon trail last august and I was glad I had 35's and a 2.5" lift. Going to do dusy ershim this august and again I know I will be glad I have 35's and maybe even 37's.

TheDirtman

I think I said this in my write up but tires, gearing, & lockers is where you gain performance in wheeling along with driver experience on how to drive off road. Lifts are necessary for tire fitment and do very little in making a jeep more capable off road unless you are doing a major re-engineering, bolt ons are not going to cut it. Trimming the front and rear overhangs, raising the lower link mounts, pushing the axles out, stubby bumpers, delete the tire carrier all help off road way more then just lifting the jeep to get better approach and decline angles.

16FW

I totally agree with dirtman, but here is another big consideration.

Larger tires, and lifts tend to make vehicles less stable on the highway. You may find that if you do too much lifting, you will end up with a "trailer queen".

Note, I am new to JKs, but I have been driving offroad for nearly 40 years.

TheDirtman

Larger, wider, and heavier tires will typically compensate for highway stability issues on he JK up to a point. When you get 4"+ of lift is where the extra width can't keep up with the instability the increase in lift height causes. Geometry starts to suffer pretty bad at these heights as well.

jadmt

2.5" with flat fenders works well for 35-37's.

rob_engineer

Maybe another way to ask: If I went out wheeling with my stock JKU with 3.73 gears and duratrac tires and you went out with your lifted JKU with bigger tires and appropriate gearing for that size tire - where would you be able to go that I would not be able to go? Where would I get stuck and you not get stuck? Are there things I would be able to do better in my stock jeep?

I recall a few years ago someone posted old black & white video of a Model T type vehicle with skinny wheels doing amazing stuff in deep mud.