Alright, Im a noobe ive had my '04 Rubi for a little less then a year. Unfortunatally I can't drive it bc I am over in Iraq, so if you all could do some trails for me that would be awesome! Seeing how I can only read articles and look at pictures Im doing the second best thing, Im planning the upgrades of my TJ. I have pretty much everything down Except the lift. I started off wanting the Fabtech but as I kept reading mags and online posts I realized that No one had a Fabtech lift. So I was just wondering what the reason was, if any? So as I read up and searched I found out that the majority of people run Rubicon Express. I looked them up and they have a lot to offer which is great. I also looked at Rusty's and ProComp etc. Im a former VW owner so when it comes making them fast and look sexy, im pretty good but when it comes to lifts, I couldnt tell you what I need and what I can do with out. Thats where im hoping you guys will come in. I know ive learned alot on VWVortex.com from other dubbers so im hoping for the same in the Jeep community.

Im looking for a 4" lift, I plan on mounting DC Crushers 33". I want to do it right the first time. I dont mind on what it costs me, but I dont want to go over board. Thats one of the things I plan on doing with some of the money I make over here in the desert. I will be doing some Moderate off roading, but I want to be equipped for heavyer. I will be also driving it on a semi daily basis. Also, as you know I have a Rubicon so, correct me if im wrong I wont have to change the gears right? They should be fine with 33's no? Anyway I really appreciate your input. If anyone has any comments, questions, concerns please let me know and ill address them promptly. Thanks again guys!  

the rubicon express is a great lift.  

wel my feelings on this question is also do it right the first time. i found through my own experiance that if you go mild at first you will only learn later through getting stuck a bunch that you should of went a little bigger. then you have to spend more money and do more work. i understand that you want to drive it on the street still as a daily driver and dont want to go too crazy. what i would suggest is to get a long arm kit on about a 6 inch lift. try http://www.4wd.com/productdetails.aspx?partID=13092
and i would go with a 35" tire. if your gonna do it do it right the first time.  

I say no more than a 4" and by all means a long arm and the 35's with at least 4:88 gears. I'd recomend 5:13's for 35's.
even with the 33's 4:10's stink and 4:56 is border line gutless. I run only a 2.5" lift with 34's that are 34" tall, I had 35's on it till they wore out. http://www.aev-conversions.com/products/highline/ has a highline fender kit that give another 3" of tire clearance with out a suspension or body lift.

when the tj gets over 4" of lift the become not so desirable to drive on the street.

this one has only a 2" OME lift, 1" body lift and the highline fenders for the 38" iroks.


 

i would go with a rubicon express super flex 3.5 or 4.5 inch lift the 4.5 has bigger springs as well as some more stuff such as upper control arms.  both are pretty good lifts from what i hear. both are short arm but are the best of the best short arm.  

i would go with a rubicon express super flex 3.5 or 4.5 inch lift the 4.5 has bigger springs as well as some more stuff such as upper control arms.  both are pretty good lifts from what i hear. both are short arm but are the best of the best short arm.  

the 3.5 would be good for 33s while the 4.5 would work with 33s and could fit a 35. if the 35s are a little big a 1 inch body lift would help.  

why use a 5.5 or 6" when yo can have this on 35's with 2.5"?
no t-case drop, sye, or 300$ driveshaft need either. the center of gravity is low and the handling is near stock. the travel is as long as the shocks will allow these are for a six inch lift.



now


stock

 

nice pics mud.  

yeah nice pics...is that mt hood behind you or helens?  

yep its hood  

and dont forget its also only as long as the brake lines and sway bars will let it droop. those will need to be matching lengths to your shocks. and some good bump stops so you dont shove the 35s up into your fenders.  

oh yeah and i am a fan of low center of gravity but the way your talking bout lifting you can high center it alot easier. i admit the most common place to get hung up on is axles so you want bigger tires. thats the only way to lift an axle. but what about the low belly and rubing the crap out of your rocker panels. im not saying jack it to the sky but it does help to go up a little more so its not just all down travel.  

I get the same flack about the short lift all the time, funny thing is they get hung up on things I glide right over and have problems with side hills and obstacles that have no counter obstacles to keep them from going over....the control arms of the long arms hang lower than my skid. no one will ever catch me laying underneath the jeep polishing the skid, It serves its purpose.



there are some advantages to the height but the lower the better. for a daily driver a 5.5" lifted TJ stinks to have to drive all the time, its only fun for a while.

unless you have an aftermarket sway bar, or never unhook the stock one, you have no clue what the short lift can do, or a tall one for that matter, mine is hardly ever hooked up unless it's going on a road trip over a 100 miles. obviously the brake lines get relocated or swapped out for longer ones  

i was just saying if you do still have a sway bar on yer jeep it would haf to let you droop. i just took mine out all together. im not knocking yer choices just saying it has its pros and cons. just like my choices have there pros and cons.