I'm new to jeeps and I'm looking for the best lift for rock crawling mudding and trails. I want this jeep to do it all. I know there's other things to do besides just a lift but I figure the lift and suspension is the best place to start

 

id go with a 4.5 lift. sum 31's, and go from there. u dont wana go to high due to it being to tippy. im sure u will do some undercarrage armor, thats a given.

 

5" lift, wider wheel base, trimmed fenders for axle articulation and clearance, flexible springs, soft shocks, lots of body/underbody protection.

 

The first thing to ask yourself is how big of tires do you want to run? Can you afford the extra costs involved in lifting more than a few inches, as it gets more and more expensive the higher you go. What area do you live in? Find some locals that have XJ's and get an idea of where you want to be with your own.

 

Thanks for the input. In all honesty this will probably be more of a mud trail hunting rig. I live in south carolina. Is the same set ups you mentioned goin to be best for those applications?

 

Yes, but you shouldn't have to worry as much about articulation.

 

yea i would do the 4.5 with 32s then if you need more flex cut those fenders (check for write ups) but that is a nice all around height but it does require more work than a 3inch mostly with driveline angles and needing a slip yoke eliminator (sye) bc the transfercase drops only help so much. Granted i do daily drive mine with just a tc drop but overall it would be so much better w/ the sye.

 

Do you keep better center clearance without a Tcase drop?

 

Get a rear differential locker. It will make a huge difference for crawling and mudding.

 

Worse on road driving.

 

...If it's an auto, or you have it locked all the time.

 

Selectable lockers are expensive.

What does manual vs auto have anything to do with the road manners of a locked rear?

 

3' lift


/thread

 

So dont lock it, LSD it, and what role does the trans play....

 

Automatic locker. Not entirely unlike a LSD.