Skyjacker

dmc23 · **Posted:** Sat Aug 06, 2005 11:24 am

Hey everyone Im new around here. I posted once last week and like I said I went from a huge Dodge ram to the Liberty......I love it...Now I know Im beating the dead horse a little. But I havent heard anyone mention the skyjacker poly kit or their lift. I work in an aftermarket store out here in PA and sad to say I can answer most stuff on the full size trucks and others but the liberty is a whole new realm for me. I just got an 05 Renegade and its great now I look at a lift and I need a roof basket and a couple little odds and ends since I get to buy at cost Everything on this site has been pretty helpful so far and its nice not to see alot of bashing going on here compared to some others sites I belong to.

Skyjump136 · **Joined:** Tue Jul 05, 2005 6:50 pm **Posts:** 1633

Welcome to the site!

I really don't know of anyone running the spacer lift (didn't even know they had one) so I can't give any feedback there. The SJ spring lift works for some, but I had problems. Got too much height and tore up a CV joint. The upper balljoint also tends to contact the spring quite hard with this lift. Like I said, others have had okay results though. The most popular lifts are the Rusty's coil lift (www.rustysoffroad.com) and the Frankenlift built by All J Products (www.boulderbars.com).

j33per · **Joined:** Sat Aug 06, 2005 2:10 pm **Posts:** 4

I would forget about lifting your KJ. All you're going to do is running your KJ on tip-toes unless you're going for a lift along the lines of the AEV Mojave Grand Cherrie. I have installed two different lifts and both have no end of issues so do yourself a favour, stay stock!

skrracing · **Posted:** Sat Aug 06, 2005 3:12 pm

Hey J33per, man that really seems odd that you would say leave it stock. I have personally lifted over 200 KJs. Yes I said 200. I have installed almost every lift on the market today but one...

I could not even begin to say how many KJs I have been out on the trail with that have lifts, from the So Cal area all the way to Moab and then all the other guys in other clubs across the US and I just cant even believe you would say leave it stock.

We also have a ZJ and an XZ in the driveway as well. They are both modded like no tomorrow...But the 2.5" lifted KJ does a great job out on the trail when modded. Sorry man but you might need to hook up with any of the KJ clubs and go wheel with them to help get you back on track. later...Clint

Skyjump136 · **Joined:** Tue Jul 05, 2005 6:50 pm **Posts:** 1633

Yep, J33per that's not typical. What lifts have you tried?

j33per · **Joined:** Sat Aug 06, 2005 2:10 pm **Posts:** 4

Early in 2003 I had a RRO OTT fitted and four months later a Skyjacker. The first was an utter disaster. The second a poor patch up job. My decisions were made primarily on the basis of advice given on this board at the time.

SKR Racing; Lifting a XJ is an entirely different ballgame altogether. I have had two TJ's and have extensive experience with a 2.5" Skyjacker, 3.5" RE SuperFlex and a RE Long Arm. On my current TJ I have a 2" OME with Tummy Tucker. (http://www.j33p.org/rr_view.cfm?ID=1&view_sort=4)

As far as I know, the only lifts available for the KJ are ones that make the KJ tip toe. I would be delighted to learn whether things have moved on. On the basis of my experience, I maintain the best way to go is to stay stock.

hoss75 · **Posted:** Sat Aug 06, 2005 5:17 pm

DMC, I'd say 95% of those who are lifted on this site are happy with their lifts. I can't comment on the SkyJacker but I've had Rusty's 2.5" coil lift for about 6 months now and I love it and so do many others. Same with the Frankenlift. Oh, I should add that ride quality actually seems better than stock.

Skyjump136 · **Joined:** Tue Jul 05, 2005 6:50 pm **Posts:** 1633

Man, I was probably the 1st or 2nd to try the SJ when it first came out. Sorry about your problems, but I'd disagree that anybody was highly recommending that lift on this board. :shock:

That lift was/is a gamble as far as I'm concerned. There are some happy customers, but I'd say the majority of comments are not so good. If only you had seen my posts maybe it could have saved you some troubles!

krazz1e · **Posted:** Sat Aug 06, 2005 7:05 pm

Lifted mine with 3k on the odo. Now have 21k. No problems here, and actually it rides better.

Just do your research before buying the lift (like the ott) and you'll be fine. Don't listen to j33per. Sorry.

Guest · **Posted:** Sat Aug 06, 2005 9:56 pm

Hey dmc23, although I am currently stock, I plan to add a Frankenlift from All J as soon as I get the chance. As somewhat of a newbie here myself. I've come to learn with that lift, you can't go wrong.

jpzkj · **Posted:** Sat Aug 06, 2005 11:55 pm

I've got the Frankenlift / SkyJacker combo and think its great. Installed the Daystar at about 3K on the clock and then upgraded to Frankenlift about 12K...no troubles and wheel it pretty hard. 35K on the clock now....Im happy w/ my lifted, locked KJ

3rd times the charm Jeeper ! go for it

:lol:

j33per · **Joined:** Sat Aug 06, 2005 2:10 pm **Posts:** 4

The issues that I have had resulted from taking my KJ off-road. After each outing I have had problems with my ball joints. The SJ kit was properly set up in the first place. The KJ sports all the goodies like TrueTrac up front, ARB bumper, fuel tank skid, boulder bards, transfer skid, winch etc. What I mean to say is that I really was looking to make the KJ my off-road vehicle of choice. Some of the members that have been around a little longer may remember that I took part in the Croisiere Blanche in France in 2004 only to drop out on day one as the front diff cracked.

As for doing research, I certainly did that and followed posts by all of the respected guys on this very board and made upgrade decisions on the back of that.

Anyway, please put me right! Is there a lift out there yet that doesn't make the KJ tip toe? (like e.g. the Grand Cherokee AEV Mojave).

hoss75 · **Posted:** Sun Aug 07, 2005 9:37 am

They all still (until Superlift comes out with there's) make it, as you say, 'tip-toe' but they've been refined so you are not constantly blowing out components.

jpzkj · **Posted:** Sun Aug 07, 2005 1:54 pm

I've been here since '03 and remember the skyjacker posts....ALLOT was said about the balljoint contact at fullest droop.

You might be happier with the Frankenlift or Rustys.

But if you compare the 2.5 lifted KJ with a lifted solid axle vehicle your bound to be dissapointed if the only concern is offroad ablities. All around , the KJ is very capable with the right equipment.

Good luck

skrracing · **Posted:** Sun Aug 07, 2005 3:33 pm

again, I have other jeeps that have tons of lift with tons of flex...I have wheeled for over 25 years... And I still say for what the KJ is ...It does an outstanding job. I have been on many trail that the 6" lifted, 35" tire, flex to the end of the world guys are on in my 2.5" lifted 31" tire KJ has been on and did not have any problems.

This is an old subjust. If you want to lift then lift. If you dont then dont. There is always some bigger and better out there. Some lifts work better than others but that fits all jeeps. As far as being on the tippy toes...drive a TJ on a 6 in lift and then you can talk tippy as well. Again old subject.

Mod you KJ and go have some fun... Thats what it is all about... its not the type of vehicle, its not the type of mods, it's not the highest, biggest or any of that stupid crap... It's all about getting out on the trail with a bunch of cool guys and having fun.

Please dont let this turn into a mine is better thans yours.

SethX9 · **Posted:** Sun Aug 07, 2005 7:03 pm

Quote:

Please dont let this turn into a mine is better thans yours.

But mine is better than yours.......Oh, wait........what were we talking about again?

:wink:

j33per · **Joined:** Sat Aug 06, 2005 2:10 pm **Posts:** 4

I have no axe to grind or a wish to make derogatory remarks about the KJ. Nor do I wish to make a statement about this is better than that or any of that nonsense. I also have no commercial interest in people making one decision over the other and am not affilliated to any one vendor or the other.

My point is simple: The little gain in ground clearance has cost me a considerable amount of money and on balance it was the wrong decision to lift the KJ. It is my humble opinion that this gain [in ground clearance] has had an overall negative effect on my KJ whereby it has suffered ball joint issues and uneven wear on tyres whatever aligning I have done or adjustments made in workshops that know what they're doing.

So, beware of all the pro's and cons and make an informed decision on whether to lift or not. Keep having fun playing off-road with the KJ because as Clint says, that's what it is all about.

Joe Jeeper · **Posted:** Mon Aug 15, 2005 10:10 pm

Lifted mine with a 4WD Hardware lift advertised as 2'', got 2 1/4 in front and 3'' in back, running 245/75R16 MTR's, did it last year have had no problems.

Joe

uvalax236 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 16, 2005 11:42 am

My lift is better than your lift Clint... :lol:

J33per, I have had my Rusty's coil lift on since February and I have nothing but good to say. Its a great lift! I have had no problems at all with it and if I had to do it again, I would go the exact same way again.

WV(0)IIIIIII(0) · **Posted:** Tue Aug 16, 2005 2:45 pm

Quote:

Mod you KJ and go have some fun... Thats what it is all about... its not the type of vehicle, its not the type of mods, it's not the highest, biggest or any of that stupid crap... It's all about getting out on the trail with a bunch of cool guys and having fun.

Still stock and having a blast. The only problem with not having the lift is after a hard day of wheeling over rocks your bones feel like it did all the work of the suspension that you don't have.

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