So i’m looking to buy a 02 tj from VA where their inspection rules are a lot less strict. It has a 6” lift with 35s on it but it needs to pass MD inspection. MD inspection states that the length from the bottom of the bumper to the ground cannot exceed 20” and currently we’re at 27.5”. Any ideas on how to lower it? I have stock wheels but tires are trash. What’s the smallest i can go tire wise?
MD inspection
kat in the hat
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So i’m looking to buy a 02 tj from VA where their inspection rules are a lot less strict. It has a 6” lift with 35s on it but it needs to pass MD inspection. MD inspection states that the length from the bottom of the bumper to the ground cannot exceed 20” and currently we’re at 27.5”. Any ideas on how to lower it? I have stock wheels but tires are trash. What’s the smallest i can go tire wise?
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Welcome to the Forum, from Cave Creek AZ.
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Welcome Aboard! I am not familiar with inspections we don't do them in my state but I don't know if I have ever heard someone ask the smallest size tire they could run. The TJ ran different wheel sizes depending on engine and trim level as well so without the wheel size its is tough to say how small you can go. The smallest stock size on the smallest rims was ~28 inches high I believe. Either way I don't think you are going to be able to drop 7.5 inches in your tires alone you will have to lower or completely remove the lift. Others may have better ideas or ways to get around inspections, as I said I am not familiar with them.
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Yeah from what I’ve heard from friends is that i’d have to probably lower it and get different tires, or just pay someone a heck of a lotta money to pass my inspection 😬
I grew up in Maryland and remember the nightmares of getting vehicles through that process. You will have to lower the suspension to get down to the level they are looking for. 6" is a huge lift for a TJ on 35's. Is it a long arm lift? If it is still on short arms I would be looking at reducing the lift down to 4" anyways for driveability. Then throw a set of stock tires and wheels on and try to go through inspection....20" bumper height is not very high...it will be tough to get there without major changes. I always got dinged on headlights not in alignment and wipers need replacing....oh and you can have no rust holes in the body or floor. God a hated those inspections. They nit picked EVERYTHING.
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Yeah, its got a long arm lift so there's really no other option than getting a lower lift and smaller tires which I don't think I want to do
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20"?? That can't be. Just out of curiosity I just measured my bumper height on my stock 2020 Gladiator Overland and it measured 22". I'm sure there are plenty of vehicles that exceed that.
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I think it's 20" for passenger cars and 28" for SUVs.
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Here is a resource:
20 inches
Bumper height shall be no higher than 20 inches for Class A passenger vehicles and no higher than 28 inches for Class E light trucks or Class M multipurpose passenger vehicles.
Section 11.14.02.07 - Bumpers, Md. Code Regs ... - Casetext
https://casetext.com › section-11140207-bumpers
Maryland Lift Laws | Vehicle Modification Rules
https://www.liftlaws.com › maryland_lift_laws
Maryland has a bumper and frame height restriction of 20 inches for cars and SUVs and a 28 inch limit for trucks. On the positive side, there are no suspension ...
20 inches
Bumper height shall be no higher than 20 inches for Class A passenger vehicles and no higher than 28 inches for Class E light trucks or Class M multipurpose passenger vehicles.
Section 11.14.02.07 - Bumpers, Md. Code Regs ... - Casetext
https://casetext.com › section-11140207-bumpers
Maryland Lift Laws | Vehicle Modification Rules
https://www.liftlaws.com › maryland_lift_laws
Maryland has a bumper and frame height restriction of 20 inches for cars and SUVs and a 28 inch limit for trucks. On the positive side, there are no suspension ...
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Not that it was on my list to start with but cross Maryland off my list of a state I would ever want to live in. That seems crazy to me.
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The irony is that they only do this inspection on initial sale/registration in MD. Yet, they can sell a vehicle to an out of state resident, without passing said inspection. There are no safety inspections after that, so there's a ton of cars on the road in MD that are death traps. There's an insanely large number of disabled vehicles on the side of the freeways.
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correct because i’m pretty sure a 2dr classifies as a passenger vehicle not an suv or truck so the bumper height has to be followed as 20”. a gladiator is classified as a truck so you have the extra 8in
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yeah it’s ridiculous, thank god you only have to do state inspection when you buy a vehicle so you can do aftermarket stuff after state inspection. just makes it harder for people buying used :/
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RIGHT it’s insane!! but i’d rather it just be at the time of buy and not contact ones soooo 😂
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yeah that’s where i got my number from, and called my mechanic who does state inspections to verify :/
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for real, cheap gas too for these gas guzzlers 😂
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Bolt on a 7 inch extension of steel to the bottom of your bumpers and your good to go and unbolt it after your inspection
If I understand all of this......the claim is that your Heep is considered "car" and not an suv?
I'm sure the insurance folks might have something different to say to that AND the MVA also.
Back in the day, and yes I was a state inspector in MD, your Heep is, was and always will be considered a class M vehicle.
See post # 9.
I'm sure the insurance folks might have something different to say to that AND the MVA also.
Back in the day, and yes I was a state inspector in MD, your Heep is, was and always will be considered a class M vehicle.
See post # 9.
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