GeorgeW

Hi Guys,

I am new to the board and XJ lift possibilities.

Have been researching lift options and I think I want to add 1.5-2 inch Roughcountry shackles to the rear. How do I confirm the rear stock leafs are not toast?

My XJ 4WD has 180k highway miles on her but did not show rear sagging untill I had the heavy class 3 hitch installed about 6 months ago. I should have known better, but needed a hitch to haul a trailer with light boat. A lighter, class 1 hitch would have been enough but UHaul didnt have any that fit. Oh, well.

Any thougths comments would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

George

jeep98b

If putting a hitch on made your rear sag then you most likely have toasted leaves. Look into a lift with rear leaves. Shackles will lift it in the rear and spacers or springs will lift the front but the rear will still sag due to the saggy rear leaves.

91 Laredo

I dont think the hitch is your problem, I've installed a few class 3 hitches on Jeeps and they dont weigh enough to sack the rear of your truck out. Now towing a boat w/ a 180k on your leafs is a different story.

If you want to bring the rear end back up w/o breaking the bank I would add some full length Add a Leafs to the rear. I had an old set of Rustys lift leafs and they were sagging/wrapping badly. Added a set of Rustys AAL and solved the issue. Make sure you look at full length AAL's.

TrekkerJmm

Hi and welcome to CF, if you look at the leafs and they are bowed backwards then its time for new ones. Mine were starting to go and I added 1-2inch shackles to bring it back up. I would go for a full leaf kit though if I were hauling a boat IMO...Tj

GeorgeW

Thanks guys. I just ordered the roughcountry shackels. Will see if it fixes the problem and follow with long add on leaf if necessary. I only haul the boat 2/year.

This forum though has me excited about off roading. I have 4WD but never use it - not much snow round here anymore (washington DC) I have access to 55 acres of rolling terrrain with many rocks, ruts, dips, banks and deer....

GeorgeW

Forgot to ask: where is a good place to snag full length AALs - Rustys?

wicked_xj

check ebay

jeep98b

I had a rustys full AAL and spacer and it leveled out great.

GeorgeW

Thanks for all the input.
I was able to cancel the Roughcountry shackles pending what is best to do. They seem good guys and I will probably end up ordering from them.
I looked at the rear leafs and they are flat as a pancake and the ends may even be south of horizontal. Seems like I now have the following options:
Replace the rear leafs with HD springs, use AAL, or go for a lift kit. I am new to the lifting concept but it could make sense as I have rough terrain to cross. If i go this route, it opens a whole new area of consideration ie how high?
I will only occasionally go off road and most mileage will still be highway miles. I also do not want it to look to far removed from stock. Does anything below 4 inches make sense, perhaps 2 ?

GeorgeW

Have decided to replace the 180k springs with HD Crown replacements. Quadratec offered the best deal.
Thanks for the input.

REWSTER

the XJ stock is a very capable truck i wheel mine with no lift on it yet i do have a 3" waiting to go on so if you plan on lifting it than 2 or 3 inches will prolly be fine for what your saying you would use it for any thing higher you start to get in to SYE and driveshaft angles and all that,