So, where do I start. Here goes...

Last Sunday my buddy Dave and I were to install the [edit: Rusty's coil] lift on the KJ Rene. We dropped off the wheels and tires at NTB in Bolingbrook, IL @ 9:45am, and headed back to his shop to install the lift. The wheels were the stock wheels from the Rene, and the tires were 245/75/16 General Grabber AT2's. The lift install went really well. After completing the lift install and front brakes, we called NTB @ 2:45pm to check on the status of the wheels and tires. The response we got was "we're having a really hard time getting the tires to bead onto the rim. We've got one done, we've been working on them since you dropped them off, and we'll give you a call when we're done.
Soooooo, we give them another 1.5hrs and decide to just go there to make sure they are actually working on the tires. When we walk in, one of the guys we were dealing with heads right to the back to start attempting to get the tires mounted again. "Aren't we in National TIRE and Battery?" I thought. How difficult does this have to be??? Yet again, they need more time, so we head across the street to get something to eat. Needless to say, the monkeys at NTB never could get the others to bead up, forcing me to use my buddy's truck for the night and bringing the tires to a real tire shop (Waukegan Tire) where they had no problem getting them to bead. The guy at NTB even said, "If you find a shop that can mount those, call us and let us know how they did it!". was all I could do.
Jump forward to getting the truck aligned, where they couldn't do the alignment due to the outer tie rod ends being worn, which would explain the "loose" and "wandering" steering I've slightly felt for the past month or so. Next day, call in to work, get the tie rod ends replaced, and get the truck aligned. Now all good.
I won't go into how I put @ 150miles on the Grabbers before swapping them out since I seemed to have forgotten that I drive 44.5 miles each way to work. We all know that I'm selling them for a great price (see for sale forum). I love the tires and wish I could run them every day. I do have a slight vibe that I think is coming from the driveshaft @ 2k RPMs after the lift. I'll have to research that. I think I read somewhere here that it is because of the rear being lifted, altering the driveshaft angle. Added one upper spring isolator in the rear, and did the clevis lift with two 2" conduit lock nuts in the front. CV angle looks good, and I will upload a pic of the angle shortly.
I have to thank my buddy Dave for helping me out and letting me use his shop (www.performanceautowerks.com) in Plainfield, IL. He also said that if anyone here needs assistance with a lift, to contact him.
And now.....pics!! Enjoy!!

Do you have a garage? If so, just buy some additional wheels (steel and used for a great price) and put the Grabbers on those or go the other way and get decent wheels and add daily driving tires to them and swap out when you plan to off-road. Probably cost about the same yet still give you the ability to still get off-road.

_________________
===
New KJ Gear - Desert Armor Flak

2004 Renegade Light Khaki - 4" JBA Lift - Rock Lizard Products: Komodo Dragon Rear Bumper, Prototype Winch-mount Front Bumper, Super Skink Sliders - All J's Super Tranny Skid II - 31" Firestone Destination AT's on Moab wheels - Cobra 75W CB w/ stock Antenna mod

[b]Retired, US Military

Looks awesome. Hopefully worth the trouble. I keep seriously considering a lift, might wait until after X-Mas.

Thanks! Yeah it was worth it. To me, it shows that Rusty's did their homework. The ride is better than stock. When I had the Grabbers on, it handled amazingly. Now that I have P-rated tires on it, there is some sidewall flex in the tire, but not bad. Overall, I love it. Totally transforms the truck. It seems so intimidating when you first look at it with the lift on it! Totally looks like a true Jeep when it's lifted.

Don't get me started!! That's totally what I want to do, but I've really gotta concentrate on paying off the fiance's ring, and didn't plan on buying two sets of tires in two weeks! Gotta also concentrate on moving closer to work near the first of the year to cut down on the drive mileage. THEN maybe I'll consider doing the second set of wheels, and probably pick up another set of Grabber AT2's.
Must.......fight........impulse...........buy.........