So I started building my CRD into a nice destination vehicle and I'm very pleased. I've been able to load up all my camping gear and tools and still maintain 30+ MPG on the highway when heading to and from campsites and trails on the weekends. With the current cost of fuel and my enjoyment of the outdoors I couldn't be more pleased. I built a very nice storage system in the back in conjunction with a Mopar dog guard and I can now keep everything I need for up to a week of camping, air compressor, basic tools, second battery, ditch bag, etc in the truck at all times. The only thing I really need to do is fuel it up and add the cooler full of steaks and brews and I'm off!

I've been hemming and hawing about lifting the truck I think I've decided that I do not need it for the types of trails I'm hitting. I just don't think the trade-off will be worth it. Long gone are the days of 36's and less than 10MPG. I've got a big-ass Rover for that.







I'm thinking about just going with a stock size or one size up Goodyear MTR and being done with it. It should give me all the traction I need, decent road wear and worse case I can use the winch that will be mounted soon via the Detours setup if I get in a sticky situation. The problem is that that doesn't address my issues with load bearing suspension capability. I plan on loading this little sucker up and taking trips to the Carolinas, Utah, Mexcio, etc...gear inside and some times even towing an Adventure Trailor. Does anyone have any suggestions on a setup that would offer some more stability and strength but none or little lift? I'm used to solid axles and big clunky Rovers with a lot of room under them...if you can't do what you want with the stock setup you just cut it up and make it work. I'm not going to go that route with this rig as it's my DD and I want to keep as close to stock as possible. There just doesn't seem to be a whole lot of options out there for these rigs in HD setups that don't yield a ton of lift. Is it possible to do a lift like a Frankenlift and not "lift" it?

Thoughts or suggestions?

, J

The CRD Frankinlift will net you about 2" of lift and you will gain OME 790 front coils(500lbs vs stock 410lbs) and the OME948 rear HD coils.This will allow you to run 245/75 MT/R's.Add Jeepin By Al's UCA's(GEN4.5's),JE Reels HD front CV's(non-shaved ones),Yukon HD rear 8.25 29-spline alxes,and MOOG K3199 LBJ's and you will have stout suspension/drivetrain.Then it up to you about adding lockers and gears,but make sure you get skids and recovery points first.Expect about 2-3mpg loss from the lift and MT/R's though,not bad if your already getting 30mpg's.

W/ a Rover like that, Why The Heck do you even take the KJ!?!?! That thing is Killer. Diggin' the Tj flares!

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99 TJ
71 C101
04 KJ
03 SFA KJ Sport
LOST JEEPS So-Cal

I second the Frankenlift CRD. It does not have as much lift as the gasser versions (no spacer, like the gas versions). If you stay with smaller tires, say 235/75/16's you won't get much of a fuel hit. I have 245's and some other junk, (taller original CRD frankenlift-- with the spacer, lots of tools and a lightbar) and I get 24-27mpg in mixed driving.

I only have to step up a tad to get in. If you don't have the spacer and get smaller tires, you will hardly notice the extra height on a day to day basis. The ride will be 150% better, especially with a load.

X's two on what TJKJ said.

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MUDD'S MOTORSPORT'S We do IFS lift installs ,
03 OVERLAND EDITION /Kilby-Skidrow-Mopar-4XGuard skids/ 2.5 inch TOTAL CONTROL JBA coilovers -JBA Arms/MOABS-31 FALKEN WILDPEAK AT3W / 4.10's etc, 04 Kilimanjaro Edition loaded, plus 05 KJ limited

I want your Rover. that thing is amazing. I want a set of simex tires soo badly.

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2003 limited 3.7L V6
Vader Edition

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3219059

Lol! No you don't! It's a witch and it's always broken down. I love it though... It's a major part of me! I love the TJ flares as well. I've got a set of pocket flares that I just need to install.

So the CRD Frankenlift net's 2". That's a bit more than I was looking for... Might not be so bad though. Does anyone run Gas shocks in the rear? Billsteins or anything like that?

Ranchos work great for me, haul a lot in mine, lots of weight on mine plus pull a enclosed trailer a lot of the time. No problems in over 75,000 miles of being lifted.

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MUDD'S MOTORSPORT'S We do IFS lift installs ,
03 OVERLAND EDITION /Kilby-Skidrow-Mopar-4XGuard skids/ 2.5 inch TOTAL CONTROL JBA coilovers -JBA Arms/MOABS-31 FALKEN WILDPEAK AT3W / 4.10's etc, 04 Kilimanjaro Edition loaded, plus 05 KJ limited

so it sounds like you will sell it to me for a deal right??

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2003 limited 3.7L V6
Vader Edition

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3219059

That's what i'm saying. Use the money you'd spend on tires and a lift and buy gas for the Rover!!!!!!!!

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02' Sport- SOLD

07' Dodge Ram Quad Cab 1500 4x4
Yeah it's got a hemi!

I was looking for this thread. I think your Rover was on the SPEED channel this weekend. I thought first...that Rover looks familiar, where have I seen it....hmmmm...

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2002 Jeep KJ Sport 3.7L 4x4

245/75-16 Mastercraft Courser HSX, 16x7 Cragar, 2" OME MD Lift, ARB Bumper
AEM Brute Force Cold Air Intake, Flowmaster Super 44 Muffler

Currently working on: Full service on transmission & bed-lining ARB bumper

viewtopic.php?f=43&t=84650

Yes, it was...

Keep an eye-out my CRD will be on there soon as well. I've been working for the past 3-4 months on an E.C.O. "Environmentally Conscious Operating" Jeep Project with them. It should be a pretty cool project taking place over the next year or so. I plan on using it to tow the Rover. LOL!