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Offroad - 35s and Flat fenders vs 35s and suspension

5K views 21 replies 15 participants last post by  Zenman323 
#1 ·
Does anyone have any actual experience offroad on a Jeep with 35's and Flat Fenders vs 35's a lift?
I am considering the Metal Cloak Hardline fenders and 35s for my Rubicon, rather than going with a lift. I had a TJ with a 3.5 lift and it just seems like a lot less headache to keep the factory suspension unmodified.
I am not considering looks or mall-ability, I am just curious if anyone has real world experience comparing these two options offroad.
Thanks
 
#4 ·
I went with both I originally got a 2.5in lift and still had my 35s rubbing the fenders, not terribly but enough it annoyed me so I got flat fenders an now no rubbing. Now on a different suspension there may be no rub. The 35s and flats may work on the street but if you plan to flex the suspension it may not be enough
 
#7 ·
You will lose 2.5" of chassis clearance but retain factory driveline angles. For a 2 door I would say that is a good trade off. For a 4 door I would probably go with a lift. Also important to remember that flex and articulation has nothing to do with lift, that depends entirely on shock length. You can run longer shocks with the stock springs, just need to add some bump stop to prevent the shocks from bottoming out.
 
#8 ·
Don't forget though, if you add longer shocks, you've changed the driveline angles because the axle can droop further (assuming disconnected). I'm running the Metalcloak 2.5" lift with ARB shocks that were included which are the long travel version (most sites list them as for 3-5" of lift or slightly more even). Even though the lift is only 2.5" and the driveline is ok on the street, disconnected and with exhaust spacers the stock driveshaft can still hit the exhaust crossover. Thankfully that's only happened to me when it's up on a lift or a CTI trailer (I'm assuming since the slip joint boot hasn't been damaged).
 
#10 ·
Trim your stock fenders, buy new ones or get some kind of lift, or do both and get some 37's. Have you checked into beefing up the front axle housing, 'C's and ball joints? I have done all of that and am still waiting to get CroMo axleshafts. Still planning on staying with 35's...
 
#11 ·
Does anyone have any actual experience offroad on a Jeep with 35's and Flat Fenders vs 35's a lift?
I am considering the Metal Cloak Hardline fenders and 35s for my Rubicon, rather than going with a lift. I had a TJ with a 3.5 lift and it just seems like a lot less headache to keep the factory suspension unmodified.
I am not considering looks or mall-ability, I am just curious if anyone has real world experience comparing these two options offroad.
Thanks
Sounds like you are looking to wheel it. I have both 35's and a lift and trimmed stock fenders. I find it the best of both worlds. I just wheeled it last weekend and it did fine. In rocks and it flexed without issue. Save yourself 600+bucks and do the fender trim mod. My TF 2.5 lift is perfect. J/K's don't have to be lifted like the TJ's so a 2.5 is more than enough for most. Some people even run 37's on a 2.5 lift with flats. I'd say if your wheeling to get adjustable LCA's or the geo brackets but you will give a little clearance up with them. I have Rancho 9000XL shocks which let it flex nicely. Not a hardcore rock crawler but still a decent set up. Check my signature for details. A 2.5 lift is very doable and it keeps the Jeep driveable on and off road.
 
#13 ·
The 2.5" lift was my first plan, but then I started looking at the new Metal Cloak Hardline fenders and thought it would be great to have 35's and the stock driveline angles intact. However, from the info here, is sounds like 35's will fit with the fenders, but not really work offroad.
 
#17 ·
I trimmed my fenders and did a budget TF 2.5" lift on my new JKU and it seems ok. As someone said earlier, I wouldn't try to wheel without some sort of lift on a JKU because high centering is a real problem even with 35s.

I put an AEV 3.5" on my last Jk, which was a 2-door. I also did flat fenders and it was just too much lift. My Jeep looked like it could hold 40s and it did screw up the driving a bit too much.
 
#18 ·
With a 2.5 inch lift , 35's and stock fenders you need to run about 3 inches of bump stop, flat fenders 1 inch. So stock with flat fenders you will need at least 3 inches of bump stop and I am not sure with the stock suspension that you will have any upwards travel at all.
 
#20 ·
You could definitely run 35's with flat fenders, you will need to adjust the bumpstops, perhaps 1" more in the rear to avoid contact with fender pinch well, but I never ran 35's stock so I can't tell you exactly what's needed.
I'd say though, a small lift with springs and longer shocks would be a lot better than anything the factory suspension might give you, performance wise. I run 2" OME springs, and have 25" extended shocks in the rear and 27" extended shocks in the front, I have an aftermarket DS in the front thought, if you want your factory front DS to live a long life, stay with 24" extended in the front. I think the factory ones are 22" extended ?

A small lift can go a long ways, just check what my 2" frankenlift does, and I can drive at 80mph with one hand :)


20160527_104910 by Wrangler RSM, on Flickrhttps://flic.kr/p/HackMw
 
#21 ·
Took this from the Metalcloak website, off the 2.5/3.5 Rocksport lift. I know you can run 35's with no lift, on good maintained streets. (no potholes or sudden dips). Just have to remove the front air dam, and Rubicon Rock rails. I'm running like that on a 2015 Unlimited Rubicon until I can get time to install the lift.

I bet with no lift, 35's and flat fenders you would still need alot of bump stop.



BUMP STOP SIZING RECOMMENDATIONS:

2007+ Jeep Wrangler JK with Recommended Old Man Emu Long Travel Shocks

Tire Size
31" 33" 35" 37" 40"

MetalCloak High Clearance
Overline Fenders 2" 2" 2" 3" 4"

MetalCloak Overland Fenders 2" 2" 3" 4" NR

Stock Fenders (not trimmed) 2" 3" 4" NR NR

Generic Aftermarket Fenders
(Poison Spyder, Xenon, Bushwacker)2" 2" 3" 4" NR

http://www.metalcloak.com/JK-Game-Changer-Suspension-Rocksport-Edition-p/7131.htm
 
#22 ·
Hi Brian - I can answer your question with a real world side by side. My buddy and I both have 2-door 2015 Rubicon's and we are both running 35" KO2's. He has metal cloak flat fenders and no lift, I have an AEV 2.5" lift with stock fenders.

We were flexing on rocks the other day and although he has all the fender clearance in the world his tires were contacting the pinch seams and his bump stops were being crushed. That convinced him that he needs a lift.

I have rubbed my stock fender once at full flex, but wheel it all the time with no issues.
 
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