To lift, without increasing tire size?

Starcrwzr · **Posted:** Mon Sep 11, 2006 5:32 pm

Do I gain an advantage over a stock KJ if I lift it without increasing the tire size (presently 225/75X16)? I know you need to lift the vehicle to get more clearance over larger tires, which gets you more ground clearance overall, but would lifting my KJ by 2" get me anything if I don't plan to increase the tire size until the stock tires have worn down? Should I just wait until I'm ready to replace the tires, or do the lift now? My biggest reason for lifting is to get more snow clearance.

Starcrwzr

NJ KJ · **Posted:** Mon Sep 11, 2006 5:56 pm

if you do a coil lift it gives you a way better ride and has a nicer stance... however the 2inch of ground clearence is not the much of a help if u dont get tires to go with it... i had same tires as u on mine stock and hatd them they were terrrrrrrriable in the snow....

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Mon Sep 11, 2006 6:12 pm

Actually the lift will help out quite a bit. It will increase your approach angle...helps with the front engine skid area particularly. It will increase your breakover angle...helps with getting hung up over small hills, rises and obstacles ( especially your muffler and rocker panels ). It will increase your departure angle...helps with draggin your booty end. I would defintely get some rocker protection and all the skids you can.

WIth IFS lifting the front will actually give you much more clearance on some velnerable parts. You can always add tires next time you need them.

jason thompson · **Posted:** Mon Sep 11, 2006 6:28 pm

Starcrwzr wrote:

Do I gain an advantage over a stock KJ if I lift it without increasing the tire size (presently 225/75X16)? I know you need to lift the vehicle to get more clearance over larger tires, which gets you more ground clearance overall, but would lifting my KJ by 2" get me anything if I don't plan to increase the tire size until the stock tires have worn down? Should I just wait until I'm ready to replace the tires, or do the lift now? My biggest reason for lifting is to get more snow clearance.

Starcrwzr

This is almost a trick question because the answer is yes and no at the same time let me explain
On a KJ with the IFS system the front diff is "sprung" or it moves with the body so if the body goes up so does the front diff by that much in this case 2" at the front diff
How ever the rear is not ,so in order to get the rear diff 2" off the ground you will need to add 4" of tire here is why.
Tires are measured either metric ,225/75, or inches 30X9.5, wich are almost the same tire so to move the rear diff up 2" you would need 2" more on the bottom of your tire wich would mean 2" more on top of your tire or 4" of tire in other words IT CAN NOT BE DONE ON A KJ YET

now back on topic if you lift your KJ 2" the whole thing will go up 2" except for you rear diff and a portion of your front end at the tires
if you lift a TJ 2" both diff's stay the same it is tires that help get there diffs up

would it help to lift it now YES
do you need to squeze the biggest tire that will fit with out ripping through the sheet metal of your rig NO
just look at the numbers on the tires and think about it in real world terms if you put a tire on that is 1-1.5" over stock it will likely rub on some thing
wich will cause you to beat and bang and deface you jeep like crazy and the gain will only be 1/2-3/4" now go look at you jeep and how big it is and put anything by it that is 3/4" thick? not even a drop in a bucket right? is it worth all the head aches to gain that or could you keep the stock tire size with the lift and go out wheeling every chance you get learn how to handel your rig like a pro and not need to destroy it?
The answer is yes. I know because I did it and do it every time I wheel either my TJ in wich I can follow guys with 4" of lift and 33's and all I got is 2.5" of lift and 30's. I will say that in mud I get my butt handed to me but other than that I am good
Or I can follow almost any stock TJ ,nonrubi, in my wifes KJ ,stock KJ, the ability to wheel comes down to driver way more than rig
will I beat the crap out of either to prove it? NO! but can I realy do it yes [/list]

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Mon Sep 11, 2006 8:17 pm

Heck ya it will help. I dont know what all jason said b/c its way to much to read, but it will help a ton. I ran my stock tires for along time with my lift. I must say that I notice a HUGE difference with new tires, but I did alot of stuff that I wouldnt of done without the lift on stock tires. You just need alittle more speed in mud. :wink:

jason thompson · **Posted:** Mon Sep 11, 2006 9:37 pm

Jeepjeepster wrote:

Heck ya it will help. I dont know what all jason said b/c its way to much to read, but it will help a ton. I ran my stock tires for along time with my lift. I must say that I notice a HUGE difference with new tires, but I didnt alot of stuff that I wouldnt of done without the lift on stock tires. You just need alittle more speed in mud. :wink:

Jeepjeepster= likes to post & doesn't like to read :wink:

JK dude you gave the short version

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Tue Sep 12, 2006 3:38 pm

I run stock tires (235/70R16) with a frankenlift. Looks and rides great. Much improved offroad. As was mentioned before, the rear differential will still have the same radius/2 clearance, but everything else under the jeep will have a little more clearance. It's a noticable difference - I wheel with non-lifted liberties, and we'll go through a mudhold or through a rocky section, and I when they scrape going through, I don't. Good enough for me! Plus, the liberty really just LOOKS better up a couple inches.

jake105 · **Posted:** Wed Sep 13, 2006 12:09 pm

What are you waiting for? 2.5 inches doesn't seem like much but it makes a HUGE difference, even with the stock tire size.

S5W · **Posted:** Sun Sep 17, 2006 11:12 pm

I would very much like to know what, approximately, the clearance under the front skid is with a lifted (Frankenlift or similar) Liberty. I measure about 6 1/4 with my stock 06 Renegade and its 235/70 R16 tires.

If I get it lifted I'll likey go with 245/75 R16s is they won't rub.

Thanks,
Ed

Neal · **Posted:** Sun Sep 17, 2006 11:59 pm

You will gain another 6 inches at front skid, a total of 12-13 inches front skid clearance with the lift and tires.

S5W · **Posted:** Mon Sep 18, 2006 9:46 am

Neal wrote:

You will gain another 6 inches at front skid, a total of 12-13 inches front skid clearance with the lift and tires.

I must be missing something here. How does a 2 1/2" lift and tires that are a total of 1 1/2" taller give me an extra 6 inches at the front skid?

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Mon Sep 18, 2006 10:39 am

06Renegade wrote:

Neal wrote:

You will gain another 6 inches at front skid, a total of 12-13 inches front skid clearance with the lift and tires.

I must be missing something here. How does a 2 1/2" lift and tires that are a total of 1 1/2" taller give me an extra 6 inches at the front skid?

Most people get more than 2.5in of lift with the franken lift. With just the OME lift and 30" tires, I have around 8.5-8.75in under the front skid. Before the tires, I had around 8" under the skid. :wink:

moose · **Posted:** Mon Sep 18, 2006 10:49 am

Jeepjeepster wrote:

06Renegade wrote:

Neal wrote:

You will gain another 6 inches at front skid, a total of 12-13 inches front skid clearance with the lift and tires.

I must be missing something here. How does a 2 1/2" lift and tires that are a total of 1 1/2" taller give me an extra 6 inches at the front skid?

Most people get more than 2.5in of lift with the franken lift. With just the OME lift and 30" tires, I have around 8.5-8.75in under the front skid. Before the tires, I had around 8" under the skid. :wink:

It has to do with AllJ giving you 2.5" above factory spec rather than what you have on your KJ (see their site for more info). I parked my renny next to a sport rental and was coming up an inch short :oops:

(and you know that rental car company's aren't lifting their jeeps) So when I get my Frankenlift, it should give me 3.5. No more inferiority complex for me, I'll be able to shower at the gym - I mean park in the parking lot - with my head held high...

(hey, I'm ALMOST an order of magnitude behind Jeepjeepster on number of posts - I need to slow up

)

S5W · **Posted:** Mon Sep 18, 2006 10:55 am

Moose,

That is an interesting tire size. Don't you think it will rub alot?

Ed

moose · **Posted:** Mon Sep 18, 2006 11:02 am

06Renegade wrote:

Moose,

That is an interesting tire size. Don't you think it will rub alot?

Ed

Not sure yet. Some folks have run them (but not many). They are narrow, and I'm thinking about a spacer to push them out an inch so they don't get into the suspension. Should provide a better bite at Moab on the slickrock (but not in sand and mud)

Starcrwzr · **Posted:** Mon Sep 18, 2006 11:03 am

Quote:

I parked my renny next to a sport rental and was coming up an inch short :oops:

(and you know that rental car company's are lifting their jeeps)

Is this true? My Sport was a rental before I bought it. Do the rental companies lift their Jeeps? How can I tell? What is the stock height for a 2005? Where do I measure?
[/quote]

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Mon Sep 18, 2006 11:06 am

No, I seriously doubt any rental car co. would spend the time or effort to lift a Jeep or any of their other rental vehicles.

moose · **Posted:** Mon Sep 18, 2006 11:09 am

Starcrwzr wrote:

Quote:

I parked my renny next to a sport rental and was coming up an inch short :oops:

(and you know that rental car company's are lifting their jeeps)

Is this true? My Sport was a rental before I bought it. Do the rental companies lift their Jeeps? How can I tell? What is the stock height for a 2005? Where do I measure?

[/quote]

Sorry,I edited it to AREN'T. My brain goes faster than these old fingers will type some days... I'd think they'd be too horrified by the liability of a rolled rental to consider any lift (besides the extra cost). No, it's just standard male inferiority complex issues. Who wan't to find out you're at least an inch shorter than the next guy...

Starcrwzr · **Posted:** Mon Sep 18, 2006 11:14 am

moose wrote:

Quote:

Sorry,I edited it to AREN'T. My brain goes faster than these old fingers will type some days... I'd think they'd be too horrified by the liability of a rolled rental to consider any lift (besides the extra cost). No, it's just standard male inferiority complex issues. Who wan't to find out you're at least an inch shorter than the next guy...

OK, you're probably right, I just got my hopes up a little. Trying to save a few bucks while getting my KJ ready for Moab.

To lift, without increasing tire size?

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