1. Welcome to Jeeps.net!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Jeep discussion topics
    • Transfer over your build thread from a different forum to this one
    • Communicate privately with other Jeep owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Opinions on a Wheel/Tire body lift setup

Discussion in 'Wrangler JK (2007-2017)' started by Quintin11, Mar 8, 2018.

  1. Mar 8, 2018 at 3:14 PM
    #1
    Quintin11

    Quintin11 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2017
    Member:
    #915
    Messages:
    16
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Paul
    Vehicle:
    2021 Snazberry Pearl Gladiator Rubicon
    None yet!
    Hi, all.
    Been lurking a lot here, appreciate the great information and help.
    I saw a JKU last weekend that I really like the look of, and talked with the owner for a bit. Here is what he has done:
    Teraflex 1.25 inch body lift kit
    XD 17x9 wheels
    BFG 35x12.5x17 tires

    He is running stock fenders, and mentioned if the suspension is really working, he does get a small rub against the rear fender. I would want to put the high fenders on with this setup, I think.
    Anyway, since I don't really mud or rock climb, I really liked the way this Jeep looked, with the bigger tires.
    Any thoughts are appreciated, I think this is what I am looking to do.
    Thanks in advance!!
    Paul and Diane
    2017 JKU Sport
    ps.. next question would be, where might I best look for tire/wheel combinations? I peeked at TireRack.com, but have no experience with them.
    Thanks.
     
  2. Mar 8, 2018 at 4:09 PM
    #2
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine Moderator

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2016
    Member:
    #2
    Messages:
    4,068
    Gender:
    Male
    I'm not a fan of body lifts myself. With the 3.21 gears (I think) the Sport has, you might want o also consider re gearing.
     
    DustStorm4x4 and JKBob 25 like this.
  3. Mar 8, 2018 at 5:52 PM
    #3
    aggrex

    aggrex Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2016
    Member:
    #203
    Messages:
    4,832
    DE
    Vehicle:
    Backcountry '16
    Tuffy>AEV>TTO>JW>STech>EVOcage>MagnaFlow>SpiderTrax>RockHard>TF>SpringTail>67design>Bolt>GPCA>Curt>
    The 1.25" body lift achieves the poser goal to run 35s on the street. If you want more action from the JK try some flat fenders and/or a small lift to get the look and flex you can use on trails. Had decent experience with TireRack in the past for regular vehicles but check out the wheel+tire offerings from Quadratec for example.
     
    JKBob 25 likes this.
  4. Mar 8, 2018 at 7:11 PM
    #4
    JKBob 25

    JKBob 25 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2017
    Member:
    #1197
    Messages:
    3,874
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Bob
    Jersey Shore, NJ
    Vehicle:
    2016 JK Wrangler Sport
    Hey @Quintin11. Not a fan of body lifts either. Yes, you will achieve the look your going for. But there's more that goes into just the lift. You'll have to extend other things such as the steering column, as where a suspension lift, lifts the entire vehicle. Granted, you will have to make other modifications to or replace control arms and track bars to keep the factory ride. And.....you can leave the stance where it's at. Replace fender flares with flats. And tuck in 35s. I know. Decisions..Decisions.
    Here's my 16 JK. I have a 2 inch lift. I added adjustable track bars to keep it centered on axles. A control arm relocation kit to keep axles in stock position so you roll over bumps, and not slam into them. Also, I'm running 35s on 17 x 9 wheels with flat fender flares. Just to give you a visual.
    20171224_131836.jpg

    Edit. Tire and wheel combos. As aggrex posted. Check out Quadratec. They have tire and wheel combo deals. Mounted, balanced with tpms.
     
    DustStorm4x4, aggrex and chris4x4 like this.
  5. Mar 9, 2018 at 9:01 AM
    #5
    OFFGRID

    OFFGRID Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2016
    Member:
    #317
    Messages:
    2,018
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Peter
    Houston
    Vehicle:
    1979 Jeep CJ7, 258, TH350, NP208
    Howell fuel injection, header, HEI distributor, TH350, NP208, SOA lift with YJ springs in the front & GW springs in the Rear. AMC20 with G2 1 piece chromos trussed, Dana 30 with G2 chromos and 760x ujoints and MM Stainless Hubs, Geared 4.56. Tom Woods shafts, Metal cloaks, Caged, 37" Toyo MTs.
    If I were to ever do a body lift it would not be more than 1in. I guess the quarter inch won't hurt...with time it'll comopress. I say this because I love going to Moab, and will be going there often seeing as how this last November I bought into Moab Motorsports. In Utah the max allowed body lift by law is 1in. Anything more than that is deemed unsafe in a rollover. Other than that there is nothing wrong with them. You combine that with a teraflex 2.5 in spring lift and you can run 38s with High line fenders like metalcloak. . . possible 40s with the right control arms. In the end; buy what you like and build what you want.
     
  6. Mar 9, 2018 at 9:09 AM
    #6
    Prerunner1982

    Prerunner1982 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 4, 2017
    Member:
    #1745
    Messages:
    1,356
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jon
    Vehicle:
    93 XJ 2 door
    Skip the body lift and cut the fenders or get after market fenders to provide more clearance. If you still need a little room some small coil spring spacers would be ok.
     
    JKBob 25 and boondoc89 like this.
  7. Mar 9, 2018 at 9:31 AM
    #7
    boondoc89

    boondoc89 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2017
    Member:
    #912
    Messages:
    772
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    alex
    Vehicle:
    08 JKU
    3 inch zone lift. Fox 2.0 shocks. 35 inch nitto ridge grapplers. Bushwacker flat fenders. No name steel bumpers front and back for now.
    This!!
     
    JKBob 25 likes this.
  8. Mar 9, 2018 at 10:18 AM
    #8
    Blue Baby Sound

    Blue Baby Sound Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2017
    Member:
    #2005
    Messages:
    301
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jeff
    Vehicle:
    All the world's indeed a stage And we are merely players Performers and portrayers Each another's audience Outside the gilded cage
    Build threads in sig
    Guess I'm the odd man out here, I have a BL on one of Jeeps and it serves its purpose well.
    If you just need a little lift it's a great way to clear larger tires and not have to modify the suspension, although it will change your COG just as any lift will. They're simple to install too, no other mods necessary (for autos)

    On one of our Jeeps we put on the Teraflex BL because the rear gate was rubbing the rear metal bumper when loaded down heavy on our overlanding trips.

    Down side is the gap it creates with the grill and stock rear bumper.

    All in all though, I think it's an OK option.

    Let the tongue lashings begin :fistbump:
     
    JKBob 25 likes this.
  9. Mar 9, 2018 at 10:42 AM
    #9
    Prerunner1982

    Prerunner1982 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 4, 2017
    Member:
    #1745
    Messages:
    1,356
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jon
    Vehicle:
    93 XJ 2 door
    I guess there always has to be that one guy in every group.... :duel:
     
    JKBob 25, chris4x4 and aggrex like this.
  10. Mar 9, 2018 at 10:47 AM
    #10
    Blue Baby Sound

    Blue Baby Sound Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2017
    Member:
    #2005
    Messages:
    301
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jeff
    Vehicle:
    All the world's indeed a stage And we are merely players Performers and portrayers Each another's audience Outside the gilded cage
    Build threads in sig

    And it's usually me :)



     
  11. Mar 9, 2018 at 10:50 AM
    #11
    Rc Jeep

    Rc Jeep Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2016
    Member:
    #190
    Messages:
    465
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ryan
    Vehicle:
    '16 Rubicon
    Evo mfg front coil overs Evo mfg rear coil overs Jks drag link flip Je reel 1310 front & rear driveshafts 37" Nitto trail grapplers 17x9 atx slabs Evo mfg quarter pounder w/stinger Evo mfg rear fascia w/ d ring mounts
    I'm with the rest. If budget is true concern I would get a spacer lift before a body lift. Suspension lift would be ideal, but as other have stated there are other costs associated with it.
     
    JKBob 25 likes this.
  12. Mar 9, 2018 at 11:59 AM
    #12
    OFFGRID

    OFFGRID Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2016
    Member:
    #317
    Messages:
    2,018
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Peter
    Houston
    Vehicle:
    1979 Jeep CJ7, 258, TH350, NP208
    Howell fuel injection, header, HEI distributor, TH350, NP208, SOA lift with YJ springs in the front & GW springs in the Rear. AMC20 with G2 1 piece chromos trussed, Dana 30 with G2 chromos and 760x ujoints and MM Stainless Hubs, Geared 4.56. Tom Woods shafts, Metal cloaks, Caged, 37" Toyo MTs.
    To me a 1 in body lift is not worth the work involved, but at least it is relatively unnoticeable as opposed to the 3in body lift that is legal here in Texas. I know guys that run them all of the time without any problems. In fact it is an easy way to do a 6 in lift on a TJ and older when going more incurs all kinds of changes and expense that would have to be made, but is it the rightway to do it? This has been the debate as far back as I can remember. I believe it really depends on your use. If you are going to use your vehicle for street mud and mild offroading (dirt roads & beach) the 3 in body lift is okay, but if you are wheeling hard core I would not use more than a 1in and I would only use the 1in incorporated bushing mounts (1 piece body mount and lift together). It is a safety thing for me and my style of wheeling.
     
    DustStorm4x4 and chris4x4 like this.
  13. Mar 9, 2018 at 4:20 PM
    #13
    Gurrrfuss

    Gurrrfuss Member

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2018
    Member:
    #2161
    Messages:
    5
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2016 Compass Sport SE
    My advise......be careful!!!
    I've had jeeps since my 1975 CJ5.
    It had a 2.5" lift, big ass Power Cat tires, cut out fenders, wider fender guards, headder pipes coming out by the front wheels, and a very beefy suspension.
    Once, I took 2 wheels, onto the gravel, of the side of the street, preparing to make a right turn. I applied the brakes, spun left, then the right wheels caught traction with the road.
    Instantly I was up on the 2 passenger wheels, driving across traffic on 2 side wheels. I had to decide whether or not to hit a car ahead of me, up on 2 wheels, or roll it. So, I didn't want to hurt anyone and decided to roll it, into the grassy center median.
    When I struck the center median, on 2 wheels, I went airborne, rolling over to the left 2 tires on landing. I managed to bring in back to all 4 wheels, after maneuvering around the car, that I almost hit. I came back to all 4 wheels with a solid THUD. There was no soft give to the suspension. My left hip struck the body ( next to the seat) so hard, that I bent it out by 4 inches, screwing my hip up. NO OTHER DAMMAGE TO MY CJ5!!!!!, AT ALL! There was obvious wear on the sides of all 4 tires.
    Since that day I have made every effort to keep vehicles completely stock, including all factory replacement parts.
    I get it. It looks cool, but your going to have to make a decision one day:
    "Should I swerve, to avoid an accident, or hit the object squarely.?"
    Unfortunately, I have to recommend hitting the object squarely.
    Swerving and rolling is a sure fire way to get killed....no kidding.
    For that reason, I drive my 88' Cherokee at the speed limit, no stereo on, and keep double following distance from the cars ahead of me.
    If I have to drive off-road or in gravel, I keep it at 15 MPH.
    You should cut out the fenders, buy aftermarket fender guards, and realize that you are radically altering the center of gravity way too high.
    Drive accordingly, think WAY ahead of your position and take turns at a crawl.
    Ignore tailgaters, don't get coaxed into speeding up, drive how you need to, screw them, they can pass you.
    I did jump the CJ5, 15 feet once, and could drive over curbs squarely, at 45 MPH, and not feel the impact.
    I sold it, for the same price I bought it for, 3 years later. The previous owner, a cop, had done all the modifications.
     
    Last edited: Mar 9, 2018
    JKBob 25, DustStorm4x4 and chris4x4 like this.

Products Discussed in

To Top