Jeep Wrangler Forum banner

2.5 or 3.5 lift ????

2K views 12 replies 11 participants last post by  BeverageGuy 
#1 ·
Good morning all: Now that my Wife has Her own 2016 Unlimited Back Country, I get to play with the 2012 Wrangler. I did install a leveling kit when we got it, and 31" tires, but didn't want to lift it due to the fact it was Her daily driver. Well now that it no longer provides that service, I am going to lift it. From some of the threads I have read here, I saw some issues with going too high (drive shaft extensions, etc)??? Even though I am going to lift it, I still want to be able to be comfortable on the highway, off roading won't be my primary use. So my question is, should I do a 2.5" lift with 33" tires, or the 3.5" lift with 35" tires??? My gears are only 3.21 and I am not that mechanical, at best I can change a part, I know my limitations and accept it!!!! I am going to have the job done at a 4 wheel drive place, so once it is done, it is done, and I don't want any regrets... Input, advice, comments, & help would be appreciated.... Thank You BeverageGuy...
 
#2 ·
You can do a 2.5 with 35s as well. You can cut your fenders or get flat fenders if you have a lot of weight (bumpers, winch, etc) but i know a few guys that run 2.5 and 35s in my group and have no rubbing issues.

The limitation to 35s will be your gears. I know one guy in my group running 3.21 with 35s, but he is re-gearing pretty soon. I run 33s with 3.73s and love it.

Here is my set up on my JKU Sport, installing in the next week or so:

33x12.50r15 general grabber at2.
Rancho 2 inch sport lift with 9000 series shocks
#60 rear springs from a hard rock edition.

Ill let you know how it all turns out, but there are many threads on this lift. Good luck with your build!
 
#3 ·
I had a 2" puck lift with 35's and zero issues rubbing on the factory fenders on-road. Slight rubbing off road. The backspacing on your wheels will make a big difference in rubbing.

I recently switched to a 2.5" spring lift (that nets me closer to 3-3.5" actual) with the same 35's and there are zero issues rubbing on or off road.

I have 3.21 gears as well but I also have a manual trans. I can't speak for the experience with an automatic trans, but 3.21 gears have never been an issue for me but I also get to choose when to shift.

Just keep in mind that most lift kits list their height as the minimum lift of a fully armored Jeep. If your Jeep has factory fenders, plastic bumpers and no winch you're most likely going to sit a lot higher than the advertised height. A 3.5" lift might leave your sitting closer to 4.5-5" which would be really tough on your drive shafts.

If there's a local shop in the area familiar with lifting Jeeps you should just go there and pick their brains a little bit. Tell them what you want to do and they should be able to steer you in the right direction.
 
#7 ·
in the 3.8 perhaps ?
2012+ will move them, sure it won't be a Corvette, but it'll move ok.
I would not fear 35's with 3.21's auto or not, unless you're doing heavy crawling,i felt for comments such as yours, and regretted not doing 35's right from the get go.
Is it an optimal gearing for such a size ? no, but it's not as horrible as some make it to be.
 
#5 ·
I'm running 3.5" RK lift with 35's & I'd recommend a 2.5" lift with 35's. There would be less changes to the geometry of the jeep with a 2.5" lift.
 
#11 ·
I'm in the other camp... 35's with 3.21 just feels like crap. I have 34's and 3.73 and still would have preferred to be at 4.10's.

So gearing is an issue in my opinion.

I personally like the look of 35's on a 3.5 and 33's or 34's on a 2.5. 35's on a 2.5 is on the bump stops too soon in my opinion...
 
#12 ·
Press, Why would you think 35's and 2.5 lift is on the bumpstops too soon ? you mean the tire rubbing the factory fenders and thus more bumpstop is needed ?

I did an RE 2.5 lift originally with 33's, with no weight, it ended up being almost a 4" lift, lol, even my wife noticed (and she's not big into Jeeps or offroading and what not), the Jeep looked a little weird because after lift the tires looked small, this is just preference though, i wasn't sure at the time, but once the wife made the comment, then my brother in law, and couple of neighbors, i knew something was a little a miss :)

I went lower with the OME coils, and they rode a lot nicer to top it off, Jeep is now on 35's, and i'm not into my bumpstops any sooner or later compared to the RE springs. (though i had to change the front OME springs i had because the extra weight the Jeep has sagged the 2616's , so yes, she was on the bumstops sooner, though more of a matter of the spring not being matched to the weight of the vehicle, the OME 2618's fixed that, and restore my 2" lift)

I had to shave the flares with 35's though, running 2" bumpstop front and rear, so if you really want to keep the factory flares, you really need at least 2.5" ore more. I didn't go that high because i think 2" is enough for everything i do, and i wanted to go higher, i'll go with 37's :), which btw i think could accommodate with 2" lift.
 
#13 ·
Okay.... Thank you everyone for your input. So it is looking like a 2.5" lift, & most likely 35" tires??? Next question, can 35" tires fit on a 9" wide rim??? Right now (after the leveling kit) I put on Addict Black/Machined 18 x 9 18 offset (The Wife picked em out, @ the time it was Her Jeep!!!) & Falken Wild Peak 285/65/18's.... The rims look great, but a pain in the but to clean!!! Oh Yea... Funny someone mentioned comparing the performance to a Corvette... My other toy is a 2015 Corvette Stingray...
 

Attachments

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top