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Lift for 285/75/17 - 2017 JKU Sahara

13K views 37 replies 17 participants last post by  huntingbigun 
#1 ·
New Jeeper here. Thanks to all the helpful members on WF, I have learned a lot reading over the past couple months! I have read through much of the 200+ pages of "Beginners Guide to Lifting..", the 60+ pages of "Largest tire on JK...", another 60+ pages of "The most popular lift setup on WF", etc. Not to mention softtops, LED tail lights, rail doors, head liners... :pc-ouch:

Anyway, I have a JKU Sahara on order (just went D1 last week!) and have decided on Nitto Ridge Grapplers 285/75/17 after seeing some this week. JKU will have 3.73 gears and is mostly DD for my wife, but possibly some local trail riding - nothing extreme. Also, planning on 17x9 wheels (actual choice TBD), with ~4.5 backspace. No "armor" mods planned other than nerf steps, HD tire carrier - if needed.

After reading all the forum information, I was going to get the "popular Wrangler Forum 2.5" lift kit" with LCA, track bar, shocks, etc. Talked with some local shops and the dealership. One shop said 2.5" kit is fine, one shop said it's too much and would look overlifted. Most of the posted photos I can find look good. That shop recommended a 1.5" kit (TF 1351500) and, separately, the Jeep dealership said I only need a leveling kit - so now thoroughly confused. :pullinghair: FWIW, I am fine with the cost of the "Popular Kit" along with the options.

Sorry for yet another "what do I need" thread, but I could use some advice. Thanks in advance!
 
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#3 ·
Anyway, I have a JKU Sahara on order (just went D1 last week!) and have decided on Nitto Ridge Grapplers 285/75/17 after seeing some this week. JKU will have 3.73 gears and is mostly DD for my wife, but possibly some local trail riding - nothing extreme. Also, planning on 17x9 wheels (actual choice TBD), with ~4.5 backspace. No "armor" mods planned other than nerf steps, HD tire carrier - if needed.
You described my jeep exactly.
I went with the AEV 2.5" (actually netted 3") with geo brackets. Handles awesome around town and those nittos are super quiet.

 
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#4 ·
If you plan on offroading make sure you have bump stops or you'll hit your fenders if you disconnect the sway bar. I have 295/75r16 + TF leveling kit and just got back from a weekend offroad trip. I rubbed the fenders a bunch with the stock bump stops.
 
#5 ·
You may want to consider the Mopar 2" lift kit. It includes everything that you need, rides very well both on and off road, and won't void the warranty on your brand new Jeep. If you were going to spend more time off-road, then I would consider other lifts but for the value the Mopar lift is pretty nice and looks great with 285/75/17 tires. Good luck with your decision and enjoy it when you get one installed...


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#7 ·
Any of the premium 2.5's would be great with that setup.

The AEV 2.5 Dual Sport - ADD Geo Brackets
The Mopar 2" - ADD Geo Brackets
The Metalcloak 2.5 Overland Elite Rocksport
The Teraflex 2.5 "WF Most Popular Kit"
The JKS J-Spec 2.5 - ADD Geo Brackets

All excellent choices for a quality build.
 
#14 ·
Thanks for this list Pressurized, very helpful! Your build thread is great and I hope to understand all of it one day! It looks like you started with the TF lower control arms and now have the Rancho Control Brackets?

stillcrazyman - great looking Jeep, I like the Mammoth Boulder Black wheels. Yours are the first I have seen. Spending a lot of time looking at wheels, also. The Recoils, like d2mini has are on the list, so are AEV Pintlers, Deegan 38 Pro 2's, and others.

robbie61 - Others may correct me, but I have been looking at 17x9 or 17x8.5 wheels with 4.5 - 4.75 backspace (4.5" preferred).
 
#8 ·
I have those tires on my 15 Willys JKU with a Teraflex leveling kit and 1.5" spacers on stock rims. I haven't disconnected the sway bar and have no rubbing on the fronts. The rears will rub the fenders pretty good off road. I have flat fenders ready to go on after Winter and that should cure it. I don't want to lift it anymore until it's not my dd and camper tow vehicle.
 
#10 ·
I run 285x75x18s AT2s on my '15 JKU-HR. I have 4,10s, and my only comment is that I wouldn't run these tires with 3.73s. Most of the 285x17s are pretty heavy, plus an average build adds weight. I will say that I drive a lot of steep hills, even on the highway. I'll often spin the engine at 4,000 RPM if I want to cruise close to 80 mph. Maybe on the flats the 3.73s will make the added weight less of an issue.
 
#11 ·
I run 285/75R17 Terra Grapplers on an AEV 2.5" lift, no problems with rubbing when disconnected and I have stuffed them pretty damn far into the wheel wells.
 
#13 ·
5.2 would be preferred, but no less than 4.75 if you want them to tuck nicely.
 
#16 ·
I run 285/75/17 falcon all terrains on my 2014 JK auto with 3.21's maybe 4drs have issues but I go up all the passes around SoCal 2000-2400 rpms no problem in 5th and fourth gears. I have a 3.5 Rubicon express lift and 1.5 wheel spacers on stock 17" rims. been all over Anza Borrego no issues. I think you will be fine with 3.73's. 3.21's are at the bottom of the efficiency scale for that size tire. 3.73 are in the middle and 4.10 and above are at the top.
 

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#21 ·
I imagine that a 4-door weighs considerably more. Plus, I have a heavy winch up front and perhaps 300# of gear in back. If I want to climb a 5%-6% grade on the highway at even 70 mph, I'm taching 4,100 RPM. It's basically 3rd gear to pull hills, even in town. I'm not complaining, and I'd say 3.73s may be okay in the hills if you run lo-range more often, and 4.10s provide more than enough climb/crawl/brake in lo-range. One of the issues is that the outfit remains a little under-powered, IMHO, but way better than my '08 JKUR.
 
#20 ·
Sounds like ~4.75 is better - great to know and I will adjust accordingly!
I run 5" on my 285x75x18s and ran 5.2" on the 17s. I can't see any advantage to anything less than 5". AEV rims are 5.2" in 17". I think you're always better off keeping your wheels tucked in a little more. For one, you'll get a little less blowback and dust inside. It also keeps your overall width a little closer to stock when you have to squeeze between rocks.
 
#22 ·
I carry about 200 of gear in the back and also have winch bumper and winch plus a fridge full of stuff on some trips. only problem so far is forgetting coke get shook and getting sprayed when I open
 
#23 ·
This is more or less the build I'm planning for my '17 JKU Willys W. 285/75/17 with Mopar 2" lift.

Is the general consensus here that running 285/75/17s on the stock 17x7.5 wheels (pre-lift) will rub with high articulation and at max turn?

I can only afford to put one item on at a time, and my preference is to do tires, then lift, then wheels (I actually like the stock Willys wheels for now). I don't plan much rock crawling so articulation shouldn't be a problem and I can put a few washers in to cut the turn radius temporarily if rubbing will be a problem. I just want to make sure I'm not limiting anything else.

Like the OP, these stickies were a lot of great information to digest for a first timer! This post was great.
 
#25 ·
Yes, the 285/75-17 is only 1/4" shorter than 35's. You can drive delicately with them, but they will rub all over when doing anything but going straight down the road.
 
#26 ·
I'm guessing if a person flat fendered the rubbing would to little to none?
 
#29 ·
Okay, <1", but >1/4" :). My 285x75x17 AT2s were 33" on the ground, at 32psi on AEV 17x8.5 rims. In the same thread, Jeff had mentioned that his 35x12.50x17s on 17x9 rims were 33.5" at 26 psi. I'm guessing that the rim width and psi differences add/subtract a touch from a totally equal comparison. My 285x75x18 AT2 are 34" at 28 psi.
 
#30 ·
Thanks for all of the replies!

For others who are looking at a similar lift, after way more hours than I expected, reading dozens more pages here and on other sites, I have decided to get the "Most Popular lift on WF" option:
TF 2.5" lift,
Rancho 5000 shocks, and
Rancho GEO correction bracket.
I will pair this up with Nitto Ridge Grapplers (275/75/17) and AEV Saltas.

I seriously considered the MOPAR 2" lift after reading 90+ pages - especially if you can snag it on the $785 special, but I think the MOPAR kit uses TF coils and the Rancho 5000's seem to be a better option than the Fox's (although plenty of people have their own opinions!) The so-called warranty on the MOPAR kit was appealing, but my dealer wanted $3k for parts and install!! :lmao: And then they told me that the GEO correction bracket would void the kit's warranty - so much misinformation out there!

Now I am trying to decide if I want to attempt a self-install, which would be challenging, but seems doable - and educational. I can get a local shop to install for $450, so it is not a cost factor (I will probably spend more than that on tools) - just deciding on whether to take the leap.
 
#31 ·
Do it yourself! Its really not very difficult. Its all bolt on and if you follow the instructions, you can get it done in +/- four hours. Use that $450 for something else you want. You just need a big floor jack and some large (4 ton) jack stands.
 
#34 ·
Quick update: Installed the lift and then had Discount put on the wheels/tires.

- Have a slight rubbing on the front dam when in reverse and wheels are at full turn, will require slight trimming.

- at 33 psi, these tires are measuring 3.2", is this consistent with what others have? They look fine, I just want to calibrate the procal correctly.
 
#35 ·
Quick update: Installed the lift and then had Discount put on the wheels/tires.

- Have a slight rubbing on the front dam when in reverse and wheels are at full turn, will require slight trimming.

- at 33 psi, these tires are measuring 3.2", is this consistent with what others have? They look fine, I just want to calibrate the procal correctly.
Yes, air dam trim is pretty normal on tires that are near 35's.

Where is the picture??
 
#38 ·
Plan on doing Nitto 285/75/17 with Mopar 2 inch lift on my 17 JKU Winter could someone give me the height to bottom of the front bumper and the payment, I will pull this with my coach and need check hitch height using the 7/8 tow holes with blue ox adapters on my Aev bumper will have winch as well

berrimatti great pic sealed the deal lol
thanks and great site

Happy trails
 
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