New Rockkrawler 3.5" Lift

fdezone · **Posted:** Wed Jul 19, 2006 8:44 pm

I know they don't have a good reputation, but I just came accross this today. Their previous lifts are apparently gone. They've seemed to have found another approach. The following excerpt is from their website.

"The Rock Krawler 3.5 Inch X Factor System for the Jeep Liberty has been engineered to give you the most ability for your Jeep Liberty with ease of installation, performance and durability in mind. Rock Krawler replaces the factory lower cast factory strut forks with new high quality laser cut steel units that are 3/16 thick and they have a cool aggressive look. This maintains the factory travel range and ride quality from the OEM front strut. Where other entry systems stop is where we excel. Rock Krawler provides high quality extended front sway bar links that puts the front sway bar back in the factory operation position so not an ounce of highway handling is lost. In the rear, harmonically matched long travel rear coils replace the factory coil springs. Double adjustable rear lower control arms with a massive bushing at the frame and Krawler Joint at the axle open up the rear’s travel and articulation range. The rear suspension is completed with a set of Rock Krawler long travel rear shocks that mount can up for exceptional ride quality! This is the best 3.5 Inch system on the market for Liberty’s."

Liberty 3.5 X Factor System ($940)

Liberty 3.0 Entry Level System ($647)

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:08 pm

Seems like they are missing some parts in that description to make a lift at all...longer sway bar links but what is the lift in the front? I assume it is the replacement for the cast factory lower strut with the (I assume) taller steel "aggressive" part. So the lift is just raising the strut up...to a larger degree than the clevis lift. I wonder if they even looked at the CV angles? lol

Lifting that high in the rear without addressing the A-ARM Spacer on the rear axle is also asking for trouble...it is maxed at 2.5" of lift. Unless someone makes an adapter to lower the rear A-Arm cross member...

fdezone · **Posted:** Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:10 pm

The lift up front comes via the longer strut forks. No clue how this will affect the ride. I like the extended sway bar links though. Still waiting on JKS.

Jeepin Al · **Posted:** Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:23 pm

I agree with Mr. Darby! Once you get around 3.5 to 4 inches the rear upper ball joint is stressed like the front OEM ones. I solved that problem with a new tri-link. The guys at Jeff Daniels Jeep (in Pa.) have installed a 3.5-4 inch on Joe Jeeper's (MA) KJ, and they did some job. They needed to rotate the rear, as I did, they used a spacer for the OEM tri-link diff attachment and cut the spring perches off and re-welded them on. They didn't need to replace the rear driveshaft.

They took the CV joints apart and cut them down so there would be more pitch or angle with binding on the outter shell. They work great so far. They used my upper arms to achieve a really simple but good lift.

I ran out of time, so I had them lower my upper arm pockets in the front to mount my arms lower. Took all the bump steer out. I hate paying someone to work on my KJ, but time is getting harder to come by.

Give me about a week and I will have something written up about the 5.5 jeepinbyal lift! It may come to market by the end of the year, however, no matter how we try there will be some welding.

I would like to get the Rock Krawler forks and try them out with my lift.

Al

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Wed Jul 19, 2006 10:15 pm

Tell me why if they made extended sway bar links they wont make sway bar disconnects. Thats a new way to get a lift, if only if wasnt 3.5in and cost so much. Thats stupid they would charge that much for that.

Also, that cannot be the actual forks; it doesnt have enough room for the cv to move up and down.

waddy whiteguts · **Posted:** Wed Jul 19, 2006 10:22 pm

Needs longer front bumpstops. Without them shocks will die.

pixeldzn · **Posted:** Wed Jul 19, 2006 10:25 pm

On top of that, for them not to be here asking us to talk about it and test it is like ignoring Disneyland when planning a family trip. :roll:

kolesy · **Posted:** Wed Jul 19, 2006 10:50 pm

Quote:

Rock Krawler replaces the factory lower cast factory strut forks with new high quality laser cut steel units that are 3/16 thick and they have a cool aggressive look.

Just what I want in a bigger lift, a cool aggressive looking peice of steel in my wheel well!! COME ON!!!

Good advertising guys! :twisted:

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Wed Jul 19, 2006 11:07 pm

pixeldzn wrote:

On top of that, for them not to be here asking us to talk about it and test it is like ignoring Disneyland when planning a family trip. :roll:

W/ the way we pick things apart, especially their other lifts, can you blame them?

JediJeeper · **Posted:** Thu Jul 20, 2006 11:05 am

pixeldzn wrote:

On top of that, for them not to be here asking us to talk about it and test it is like ignoring Disneyland when planning a family trip. :roll:

Well, uh, considering the overwhelming anti-RK comments that flow freely on here... if you were they would you spend any time on here?

I for one am glad to see another lift approach for the Liberty. There is not a lot out there for building up the little guy and getting more interest and parts coming from aftermarket sources really helps.

-Adam

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Thu Jul 20, 2006 11:59 am

JJsKJ wrote:

pixeldzn wrote:

On top of that, for them not to be here asking us to talk about it and test it is like ignoring Disneyland when planning a family trip. :roll:

W/ the way we pick things apart, especially their other lifts, can you blame them?

Well, you'd think that since we are their potential market they would want to make an effort to not repeat their mistake. So that lift kit is on the market, are there any photos of it installed in anything?

I looked to see if they posted any images on their site. Looks like they've been hacked:
http://www.rockkrawler.com/images/

KJ04 · **Posted:** Thu Jul 20, 2006 3:02 pm

So,
who's gonna be the first kid (guinea pig) on his block to own one of these new kits???

dirtykj · **Posted:** Thu Jul 20, 2006 4:23 pm

KJ04 wrote:

So,
who's gonna be the first kid (guinea pig) on his block to own one of these new kits???

Not me that's for sure ...

jeepkj02 · **Posted:** Thu Jul 20, 2006 4:36 pm

KJ04 wrote:

So,
who's gonna be the first kid (guinea pig) on his block to own one of these new kits???

I'm pretty sure that those kits will make those CV angles so crazy!!

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Thu Jul 20, 2006 5:02 pm

The lift obviously isn't on a working KJ that has done any testing. At 3.5" of lift and just those parts included,,,The UBJ is not only resting against the Strut but pushing on the strut,,,and the CVJoints are being worn out just standing still...

The way they advertize it...it seems like they are saying it is a 3.5" lift. But the other lesser value lift is called the 3.0 xfactor. Maybe, just maybe, the name does not signify the amount of actual lift...

We, L.O.S.T., do not assume that makers of aftermarket Liberty pieces should clear them here...that would be a little elitest in my book. What L.O.S.T. needs to do is call and find out more about the lift.

So I called and the tech that was there (not the engineer who designed the lift) said that it is a 3.5" lift and a dealer near them is going to sell a Liberty like that off the showroom floor. He said it drives great but they had not taken it off road for testing as he knew anyways. When I asked him where the UBJ was in relation to the strut/spring, he could not tell me at the time. His explaination was that the lazer cut aggressive steel replacement part pushed the strut up and away from the UBJ and they had no problems.

I think that they have not really tested the rig and will find out the problems that we all have encountered when lifting KJ's even near 2.5". He also said the CVJ and front axles were just barely at a downward angle. I have a feeling that if it is working as well as they say, it is not a 3.5" lift...and if it is really a 3.5" lift, then they haven't taken the time to test and find out the problems that setup will do.

The good part is that they are developing ANYTHING for Liberties

fdezone · **Posted:** Thu Jul 20, 2006 9:17 pm

Man this won't win me any friends on this board, but I don't think the Frankenlift is all it's cracked-up to be. It's promoted as the fix all when in fact it creates the need for additional purchases to correct it's defeciences, i.e. Al's Upper A Arms. I installed the lift myself and have taken it to numerous offroad shops. All have agreed that the CV angles are to extreme. I've driven the crap out of my KJ and the angles are still extreme. You may disagree and claim I installed the lift wrong or the shops in my area must s*ck or something, but that's just not the case. I'd venture to say that most people running Rusty's are happier (minus that SNAFU they had with the rear shocks). My personal experience combined from what I've read on this forum, from time to time, is that it is a major contributor to torn CV boots. It's not just me. I've run a lot of lifts on numerous vehicles over the years and have never had to literally beat the crap out of the vehicle to get the suspension to "settle." If you want to promote the Frankenlift as the superior aftermarket suspension set up then maybe it should include extended, quick disconnect, sway bar links and upper A Arms.

This is not a shot at the Frankenlift. They have a great reputation on this board and outstanding customer support. I'm just saying there's room for improvement. I'm just curious why no one points it out. I mean we got FNG's on the board that read these hyped up reviews and spend good money on their lifts just to be disappointed when they realize it'll require additional parts to correct.

I'll try to support any pioneer aftermarket company that goes out on a limb to create something for the Liberty. Boulder Bars, Rusty's, and Rock Lizard all come to mind and are definetly worth supporting. That said, I feel it's a little hyprocritical that we criticize all others.

Cacher123 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 21, 2006 1:34 am

Quote:

Looks like they've been hacked:

Nothing like someone who is obviously smart enough to hack a site then can't think of anything intelligent to put in it's place! :roll:

USAFCOP · **Posted:** Fri Jul 21, 2006 1:48 am

I do not think it is a matter of criticizing all others, as it is Rock Krawler's reputation for not properly testing products prior to distribution. A lot here in Co Springs has a silver KJ on his lot with the 7 up kit on it. He is asking $14000 for it, and has not had any bites on it for 3 months. $14000 is the lowest blueboock for a bone stock '02 sport. Here is why it is still there... 62000 miles, one knuckle is brand new, the driverside, you can see the stress fracture in the top of the knucle, the Passenger side is welded to reinforce the RK part that was damaged (I asume) when the original knuckle broke. Others on here had their jeeps completely ruined by that kit, and when they called RK, RK blamed anything but their design, and claimed that it was thouroughly tested off road, I have never seen any pics, nor heard of anyone that has seen a RK 7-up kit off road that works.

As for flat out endorsing the frankenlift, I know it gets a lot of praise here, because in essence it was designed by the LOST West guys by taking the best of what was available at the time and making a piecemeal kit with the help of All J and now All J sells it.

It does have its deficiencies yes, does it lead to more mods to make it better, yes, but all kits do that. As far as needing Al's arms, you should not, my Franken lift had bumpstops on the struts (on the kit I just put on COLOKEV's Saturday, it was part of the puck) to force the knuckle to hit that instead of the UBJ hitting the spring.

I am not trying to say you are wrong, because in many ways you are right, the Frankenlift does get a lot of great press here, and so does Jeepin'by Al, and Rock Lizard, but that is because they are all members and have chosen to associate with us to help promote a product line for the KJ. As Darby said, we do not expect them to come advertise to us, but if you do and you honestly pay attention to our inputs, it builds a rapport and confidence in your business, as you said All J has awesome Customer Service.

As for beating the suspension to make it settle, I did not have to, mine settled after 2 moderate trails. I got the Arms from al for the serviceable ball joints, not the ubj contact.

All kits have flaws, all kits have a few greats, it is up to the consumer to decide what is best for their use.

I agree for the FNG's they need to read the posts and decipher facts from opinions. Everyone wheels different, and everyone has an opinion. I believe there is a tech write up in the tech section about the lifts that were out a year or so ago, it may need updated as new kits are on the market.

I know this is long, and I do not mean to attack anyone here, I am just adding my opinion and some info for the Newbies/FNG's that may read this thread.

meduncan · **Posted:** Fri Jul 21, 2006 8:48 am

Can't wait to read your write up on your 5.5" lift Al. Timing the release of that kit for the end of this year would be awesome. I'll be getting a year end bonus around January and I've been given permission to use it all on upgrades to the KJ.

Any ballpark on what the lift might cost?

Jeepin Al · **Posted:** Fri Jul 21, 2006 9:30 am

Not to hi-jack this posting, go to the MA section and look at the 5.5 lift posts, I have costs there, and some pictures. It just cost me another $1500 to get the pockets "invented" and welded in, pictures will follw soon.

Add that to the costs shown. It ain't going to be cheap, cheaper than a SFA, but not cheap.

I am still waitng for some left over parts from Wally's SFA conversion to see if I can get that Dana 44 working in the front. (HINT HINT!) That would take care of the diff problem.

All these mods we should just go out and by a TJ Rubicon and be done with it, but I like my Liberty and the looks I get when I follow a TJ on the trail and go just about everywhere he goes! Anyway when the wrangler guys are eating dust, I have my air on and the windows closed. I did a dusty trail ride at Camp Jeep like that last year, 90 degrees, air was on windows closed, nice!!!!! Makes Moma a happy camper not getting dirty! No over heating problems...add a little water wetter, make sure your radiator is clean and the way you go! And there is room for Mr. Otto!

New Rockkrawler 3.5" Lift

Who is online