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General Forums => The Mess Hall => Topic started by: outrunthemoon on December 07, 2008, 12:54:38 PM

Title: questions from a newbie
Post by: outrunthemoon on December 07, 2008, 12:54:38 PM
hey,

so I hope I'm not repeating questions too much & I have a bunch of questions.

p.s. don't laugh at my questions I really have no clue about all this stuff.  :puzzled:

Eventually (probably next summer/fall) I would like to get a lift kit on my TJ. Now here comes all the questions. What is better to go with body or suspension? What is the best size to go with that would add a little bit of a lift but where I wouldn't have to change tires/gear ratio or anything like that....or is it possible? I don't want to spend over $500. I was looking at a few places online that sell 1-2" for under $300. JC Whitney seems really expensive compared to other sites I've looked at but I may be looking at two different things. The other website I was looking at was http://www.roughcountry.com/jeep_tj_2.html

Also, how do you tell tire size? Compared to a few wranglers I've parked next to mine have seemed larger....but I don't really know anything about that either.

I would like to get in touch with other jeep owners in CT. I looked on the map but there are only two. I figured there are more on here & that having some one who knows a lot actually look at my jeep will be able to help more.

thanks!

oh here's a picture of her:

[img width= height=]http://a212.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/53/l_5028b19bc53eb116aa686049863e683b.jpg[/img]
Title: Re: questions from a newbie
Post by: smashcoast on December 07, 2008, 02:19:14 PM
A suspension lift is better than a body lift. A 2" spacer lift runs about $300 and is easy to install an will easily clear 31x10.50 tires and there is no need to regear.

I put on a RE BB and the ride is pretty close to stock. I have a pick in the introduce yourself with it on.I have 31x10.50 BFG AT's on it and there is plenty of room for them.

Also 31x10.50's will fit with a stock TJ with no lift just fine.
Title: Re: questions from a newbie
Post by: smashcoast on December 07, 2008, 03:03:00 PM
http://img501.imageshack.us/my.php?image=seaworld048dz0.jpg
Title: Re: questions from a newbie
Post by: chardrc on December 07, 2008, 03:19:57 PM
x2 on what smashcoast said. spacers will be the easiest and cheapest mild lift...
Title: Re: questions from a newbie
Post by: outrunthemoon on December 07, 2008, 03:27:40 PM
okay this is going to sound stupid but what is an RE BB?
Title: Re: questions from a newbie
Post by: Tsd on December 07, 2008, 03:46:26 PM
okay this is going to sound stupid but what is an RE BB?

Itīs a Rubicon Express Budget Boost 

http://www.quadratec.com/products/product_search.php?cn=Rubicon+Express+Budget+Boost+Kits&c=15&pn=16300+400%2C16300+415%2C16301+600%2C16301+601&h=&spg=&cv=

http://northridge4x4.com/proddetail.php?prod=RE-7030

:beers:
Title: Re: questions from a newbie
Post by: FourbangerYJ on December 07, 2008, 05:38:06 PM
To tell tire size look at the side of the tire. It will have some numbers like 235/75/15 or 31/10.50/15. ETC. Depending on who made the tire the size of print will vary and location on the side of the tire.
Title: Re: questions from a newbie
Post by: stan98tj on December 07, 2008, 06:10:06 PM
mine was a rough country 2.5" lift for $300. comes with springs and shocks and is fairly easy to install. Free up a few hours and grab yourself a few friends-the going rate is usually a case of beer. Anyway, i was able to keep my 31" tires and it gave me some real good clearance. i wheeled the hell out of it yesterday and i loved the results-lots of flex and hell, it looks damn good too! 
i looked around for a long time for the best balance price/lift size/practicallity and this was pretty much the best all around-ur getting all that for $300, can't really beat that.
i also looked at spacers and budget boosts too while i was shoppin around but in the end i said why spend 300 on spacers or a body lift when i can spend 300 and get springs and shocks and be up 2.5" rather than 2"
Title: Re: questions from a newbie
Post by: FourbangerYJ on December 07, 2008, 09:45:01 PM
Are you going to put bigger tires on after the lift?

When you get a chance see what size you are running now.

You should beable to search on google or whatever to see if there are any 4x4 clubs near you if you want to get in touch with local Jeepers.
Title: Re: questions from a newbie
Post by: outrunthemoon on December 07, 2008, 10:14:46 PM
eventually probably, but that isn't on the list now because it's too expensive for the moment. I'll still be a poor college student until next winter. Then i'll be a broke college grad  :flush:

I'd like to see what tires I have on now. And depending on the size I may just wait until I can save up enough for tires & a lift. Depending on safety & looks. I don't really know what is/isn't safe as far as tire size & lift height.

Tomorrow when I go out to the jeep to check if I got a ticket I'll check the numbers and I can go from there I suppose.
Title: Re: questions from a newbie
Post by: smashcoast on December 07, 2008, 11:08:56 PM
When I got my jeep it needed tires bad so I checked around and found out what the biggest tires I could fit under the jeep were and bought them.

I spent about $800 on 5 31x10.50 BFG AT's and Cragar 15x8 black soft 8's.

I would get the tires now, then think about the lift you want later.

Get some MT's over AT's if plan on doing any sort of wheelin.
Title: Re: questions from a newbie
Post by: stan98tj on December 08, 2008, 12:26:38 AM
those look like 31s to me, the way they're stuffed up in there. mine looked like that before i put my lift in..and i was able to wheel with just my 31s for a while and without any issues.
Title: Re: questions from a newbie
Post by: DodgeMudder on December 08, 2008, 09:06:45 AM
I would like to get in touch with other jeep owners in CT. I looked on the map but there are only two. I figured there are more on here & that having some one who knows a lot actually look at my jeep will be able to help more.


I'm going to give you a tip on this, Check out EC4WDA.org, and find a local club in your area to get involved with you will learn allot of the basics faster and easier working with a local club than you will online, it will also give you the ability to look at others Jeeps in your area and get a chance to talk to owners about what they have done.
Title: Re: questions from a newbie
Post by: FourbangerYJ on December 08, 2008, 10:14:59 PM


Tomorrow when I go out to the jeep to check if I got a ticket

Parking must be a real treat if you need to check everyday to see if your ticketed or not. :eek:  :wall:
Title: Re: questions from a newbie
Post by: Mozman68 on December 09, 2008, 07:01:02 AM
It does look like you have 31's on there already which is great....I agree that a 2" budget boost (spacers for your springs) would be the best option.

If you go any higher than that your Jeep will look like it is riding on roller skates.

Check out my build thread to see a Jeep go from bone stock to 31's on stock to 31's on a 3" lift to 35's on a 4" lift.

MozMan's Rig Build Thread (http://4bangerjp.com/forums/index.php?topic=2750.0)
Title: Re: questions from a newbie
Post by: lanulos89 on December 09, 2008, 07:34:57 AM
nah those cld be 30's, my friend tj is the 65th edition, has those rims nd came with 30's
Title: Re: questions from a newbie
Post by: outrunthemoon on December 09, 2008, 07:48:07 AM
Parking must be a real treat if you need to check everyday to see if your ticketed or not. :eek:  :wall:

haha no i parked in the professors garage over the weekend and the weather was terrible sunday night so i didn't feel like moving it to walk across campus in it
Title: Re: questions from a newbie
Post by: outrunthemoon on December 14, 2008, 01:35:09 PM
31 X 10.50s I finally remembered to check today. which makes me excited because I'm not going to feel like I have to buy new tires any time soon  :doggy:

although by all your responses I'm still confused on what I should put on my jeep. whether to get spacers or a rough country 2.5" lift which is close in price to the spacers.
Title: Re: questions from a newbie
Post by: stan98tj on December 16, 2008, 08:24:58 AM
ha knew they were 31s...that stuffed look is exactly what mine looked like before the lift. anyway-i still say rough country 2.5 suspension lift-for 300 bucks u get more lift and spend less $$ then the other options-plus a suspension lift is better on the trail then a body lift. and u wont have to upgrade the tires. i tested my lift for the first time 2 weeks ago-great results. check out jeepforum.com thats how i found out about it-theres a bunch of their members runnin this setup and they've provided pics and reviews etc. ill let ya know when i put my pics up if ya wanna see what it looks like. i do have a video if ya wanna get an idea as to what the rough country lift and 31s looks like-- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uc-KlBSzOw4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uc-KlBSzOw4)