Recommendation for a lift kit

I have a few months to go before I get in to it but wanted to see everyones opinion. I'm looking to get a 4 in lift with 33's and new wheels. Depending on the size of my bonus my budget for both the lift and the tire/wheel combo is between $2k and $2.5k. I was looking at the rough country 4in lift with the N2 shocks, and I really like the look of the Goodyear's MT/R with the kevlar. If you know of better or cheaper options, would love to hear it.

Thanks!

The tires sound like a good choice.
As far as the lift goes, sometimes you are better off making your own,(build a kit).
The springs don't care what brand arms you are using , same goes for shocks, sway bar links, track bars etc.
Mix and match the best of all the brands, depending on your budget.
You might need a slip yoke eliminator kit too!

Shop around, LOOK FOR DEALS, sounds like you have a bit of time to shop around to get the best prices on parts individually.
What ever you do, DON'T get control arms with fixed bushings or arms that do not have some kind of flex joint etc.

Otherwise in time they will stress out upper and lower frame brackets, sometimes they rip right off especially the upper brackets....
My 2 cents, I'm sure someone else out there has a different opinion on this.
JKS OR CURRIE CONTROL ARMS AND TRACK BARS, METAL CLOAK SPRINGS, BILSTIEN SHOCKS, CURRIE ANTI ROCK, ETC

Or if you're uncomfortable piece-mealing your own kit, Zone makes a 3" suspension + 1.25" body lift kit that comes with everything. It's pretty cheap, too! I'm sure it's not the best available, but I daily drive it comfortably and I haven't broken anything bashing it offroad either. Might free up some funds if you want to buy other stuff with the refund.

I have 3 inch bds springs in my jeep, the zone stuff is made by bds.
I wouldn't skimp on track bars though, and would get currie/jks.
You can buy bds springs by the pair, you do not have to buy a kit to get them, same with most brands.

I'll bet if you search around you can get some bds or crown stainless steel brake hoses at a good price.
I worked in a shop that installed alot of bds and zone kits and as far as their low budget kits go I would only use their springs and brake hoses .
Their stuff is getting better but..I wouldn't hesitate to buy different brand parts.

a 4-inch lift with 33 may be a little bit off. I would put on 35's or just go with a 2.5 lift.

33s with 3 inch is ok but the wheel wells start to look a bit spacious with 33s and 4 inch lift

Markmmaark wrote:33s with 3 inch is ok but the wheel wells start to look a bit spacious with 33s and 4 inch lift

So why does the description of most 4 in lifts say max tire size is 33's? Wont there be more work involved getting 35's? Axle upgrade etc?

Rear end / Axle upgrade ( for longevity, durability and piece of mind), lower gearing ( to make up for loss of power due to tire size change), HD steering upgrade, different bump stops etc,,,
Probably end up snapping an axle if you have a dana 35 rear end.and you wheel it,,, I did. Especially with 35s on it,
Other stuff too,

Markmmaark wrote:Rear end / Axle upgrade ( for longevity, durability and piece of mind), lower gearing ( to make up for loss of power due to tire size change), HD steering upgrade, different bump stops etc,,,
Probably end up snapping an axle if you have a dana 35 rear end.and you wheel it,,, I did. Especially with 35s on it,
Other stuff too,

Why only the rear end? With 33's should I think about regearing? I'm sure these are changes in the future, but for now I'm looking to improve a little at a time.

What do you have for gear ratio right now?
Did you look at tag on differential cover to see what it has.
Is it an automatic trans or manual.
Dana 30 front end is fine with 33s and works with 35s.
Regearing would depend on what you have right now but you can put put 33s on it as is i'll bet ya.
I have 33s with 3.73 ratio with a 5 speed with a dana 35 rear and a dana 30 front.
It goes ok, it could use gears but budget says stay like this for now.

Not sure what I have. I haven't checked yet. Can't you always reinforce the front axle?

You won't need to re-gear right off the bat with 33s, it just won't be enjoyable. Ask SaxManClay about running 33s with 3.07 gearing (which I'm assuming you have - send Chrysler your VIN through their website and request a build sheet). We ALWAYS upgrade the rear axle because the Dana 35 is weak as a twig. People have been known to break shafts with 31" tires driving on the street, let alone 33" tires (extra weight/rolling mass) on the trails.

You can fit 33s with 4" of lift. You can fit 35s with 4" of lift. Honestly though, go with 31s or 33s if you're not ready to dump the extra money into upgrading everything else (steering, braking, gearing, axles) to properly run 35s. It's not worth it to do it half-assed.

Yeah 33s with 307s is the pitts on the street and in 4 wheel hi forget it,
it sucks the life right out of it.

I have the worst gear ratio: 3:21 and I have 35's and its ok. Most likely you have 3:73 and should be fine.

Besides that you dont have to do anything else. 35's will fit fine with a 2.5 teraflex or rock krawler.

He could have 307s for all ya know, best to check only takes 2 minutes.

Your best bet is probably to take a look at some of the jeeps that some of us other members own.
See what they have and what they have to say.

Maybe at a club meet and greet or at one of the trail rides.
DON'T RUSH IT, especially if you are new to it.
You can end up wasting a lot of money...and time..

Bearstylez wrote:I have the worst gear ratio: 3:21 and I have 35's and its ok. Most likely you have 3:73 and should be fine.

Besides that you dont have to do anything else. 35's will fit fine with a 2.5 teraflex or rock krawler.

He's driving and asking about a TJ.

Likelihood of 3.07 is higher than anything else in his case.. Also, it's important to keep in mind that there are a LOT of other things to upgrade before running 35" tires with a TJ. It's not as simple as doing the same thing to a JK. They are two totally different beasts that require a LOT of different things to run 3 foot tall tires appropriately and safely.

Thank you Ryan WHEW.

So I did a search on Chrysler like Ryan mentioned. It says I have a Dana 44 rear axle and 3.73 gear ratio. How can I confirm that?

By the tag or did you do it by vin number?
If you did it by vin, look under rear at diff cover and read tag.
Or look to see if it has a steel fill plug or a flat rubber one, that will confirm wether it is a 44 or not.
That would be great if you have that ratio and have a 44.
I don't have a pic of cover but the 44 has a very different shape than a dana 35.

By VIN. I'll get under and take a look.

If that is what you come up with by looking up vin then chances are that you have a dana 44,
that's awesome!
If you're really lucky, you could have a limited slip differential.

Took a pic. It has a metal plug.

Congrats! That there's a D44

IT'S A BOY 44 Pass out the cigars, your a lucky man!