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4" lift pros vs cons

1K views 26 replies 9 participants last post by  RVCJK19 
#1 ·
I'm about to get a jk soon and I'm thinking about a 4" lift. I'm wanting to go out wheeling with ppl and go on adventures. I don't care for impressing ppl I just want to be able to anywhere without a problem and I it will be my main transportation as well. So a-z what do I need to know before I consider going threw with it?
 
#2 ·
Cons - tons of money will be involved. Assuming your gonna run 37-40" tires (that's what a high lift is there for). The prerequisites for that is beefing up your axles, and a regear. You'll also need bigger brakes. Take daily driver out of the equation because MPG will take a huge hit.

Now if your gonna run 35's or less, consider a 2.5 lift.

Pros - those big tires are head turners.
 
#3 ·
I was thinking about 37" also I don't drive very much only a mile and back to work every day so I'm not very worried about gas. First I'm trying to figure is it to much for going off-roading, mudding and very other adventure you can put a jeep threw. Second how much money and work will be required for a 4". I just started educating myself on lifting it and so far there is so much stuff needing to be done I had no idea. I thought you threw a lift on and that was all.
 
#6 ·
I was thinking about 37" also I don't drive very much only a mile and back to work every day so I'm not very worried about gas. First I'm trying to figure is it to much for going off-roading, mudding and very other adventure you can put a jeep threw. Second how much money and work will be required for a 4". I just started educating myself on lifting it and so far there is so much stuff needing to be done I had no idea. I thought you threw a lift on and that was all.
Most people will probably tell you that the skill and experience of the driver is just as important (if not more important, in some cases) than whatever modifications you have done to your Jeep. Stock Jeeps with a skilled driver can go quite a few places some would not expect.

By the same token, a Jeep on 37s with all the technological marvels one could imagine might not go as far with an inexperienced driver.

I am guessing that for the type of off-roading that most people are doing, 35s and a 2.5- 3 in lift are more than enough. There are exceptions, of course.
 
#7 ·
Why so high?
 
#8 ·
NM, just saw 37s. You're looking at big bucks.
 
#10 ·
#14 ·
Not too many places that 35's cant go and 37's will... But the difference in $$ is astounding. A 3" on 35's looks like a pretty big Jeep. In fact, a 2.5 with flat fenders and 35's is a really good off road Jeep. But it can still be run comfortably on a beefed up front D30 axle where the gears to run 37's become sketchy on a D30.

Speaking of gears, what gears do you have? 3.21's will suck, even with 35's...
 
#19 ·
The lift kit itself is just the admission price after the initial vehicle purchase ;-)
Frankly, lifting a Jeep is sort of like the child's book "if you give a pig a pancake" - in summary, one thing leads to another and you can find yourself pretty far down the rabbit-hole before long, giving credence to the saying JEEP = "Just Empty Every Pocket"

The least efficient approach is to do a lot of re-work if you know the desired end state. This is common when constrained mostly by budget, but don't just try to keep up with all the cool built rigs you see online.

My advice has always been to fix the loose nut behind the steering wheel first - get used to your vehicle, improve your skills, drive the heck out of it and see what it can do stock - then adjust any shortcomings in equipment or driving style. The most fun I've ever had in my several decades of 4-wheeling and jeeping were in a stock TJ.

That's my $.02
 
#20 ·
I'm about to get a jk soon and I'm thinking about a 4" lift. I'm wanting to go out wheeling with ppl and go on adventures. I don't care for impressing ppl I just want to be able to anywhere without a problem and I it will be my main transportation as well. So a-z what do I need to know before I consider going threw with it?
You don't need a 4" lift and 37's to do that.

You can do plenty with a stock JK.

A budget boost, armor and good 33" tires will be even better.

Go with a 2" to 2.5" lift, armor, good 35's, and a winch....and that is about the max you can go without dropping tons and tons of cash and without murdering your day to day driving.

Best advice, drive is stock for awhile. Get to know the vehicle and your own limits. Then go from there.
 
#21 · (Edited)
We can start by saying to do it right, at 4"+ you'll want a kit with:

Drag link flip
8 Adjustable Control Arms
Front and Rear Track bars

I'd say any kit with those will have the other needed parts.

Something like this:

SYNERGY MANUFACTURINGÂ*::Â*Jeep JKÂ*::Â*Synergy Jeep JK Stage 3 Suspension System, 4/4.5" Lift

Quality shocks... (non reservoir $550)

A front drive shaft. (Krawl $450)

Gearing change. ($1500)

Front axle gussets and truss. ($750)

Wheels and tires. ($2500 at least)

I'm guessing around $10k to go 4" and 37's and still have less than desirable gears in the front axle...

Just my opinion. And you still don't have recovery gear, bumpers, winch, tire carrier and the rest that's needed, which is another $5k.
 
#25 ·
Completely agree. That's why we are so aggressive in recommending the 2.5-3" lift with 35's. It's so much easier to do and if you aren't a dedicated rock climber, it will do everything you want it to do...

My inspiration for building my Jeep was this one from a fellow member. It's actually a 3" lift with 34's. But I loved the look and it will go anywhere that I can possibly see myself going.

 
#27 ·
I started doing little mods to mine all while saving for my lift and tires. I also researched the hell out of what i wanted and asked tons of questions. I couldn't be happier with what i went with. Keep reading up on things!!!!
 
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