Right now I have a 3.5" lift and 29" tires (P235/75/15) on my cherokee, and I'm wondering if going any bigger would be any better, or if I should work on something to get me more articulation. I have a 682 RTI score, 45 deg max approach angle and 35 deg max departure angle. I really would like to get up to 1000 RTI, but I'm not sure how to get there.

 

RTI scores are great sig mods, but really get you nowhere. do you have:

upper and lower control arms with flex joints
adjustable tracbar
long enough shocks
swaybar discos/no swaybar

 

So u got a 3" lift with 235/75/15 .I got a 3inch lift that i need 2 install but thought about saving 4 tires and then doing the whole lift +tires.Ur jeep doesnt look bad at all with ur size tires i heard they would look like doughnuts but urs dont.

 

With a 3.5" lift you should be able to go with 31" tires easily..Now if that pic is with the lift then there is no way you have 3.5" cause 31's aren't going to fix very well if those tires are 29's..I would remeasure the front and rear for actual lift.. On the front measure from center of rim to bottom of fender flair and stock is roughly 17.5" and subtract that from the number you get. Read stock is 17", measuer same way and subtract 17" from that number.

 

I agree with above.


Also are you disconnecting your front swap bar when you run up the RTI ramp?

And judging by your pic I'd say your closer to 2" of lift rather than the 3.5" you said. Something just don't seem to add up..

 

I double checked it, the guy who did it (my dad) said it was a 3", it's a 2" with 29" tires. The RTI was as is, I don't have a releasing sway bar.

 

id say depending on what type of wheeling u r doing, depends on how much u wanna dump in to it. i myself have the 2" spacer front and 2" shackle rear, i recently added grand cherk. springs up front and new packs out back. mine is being built for crawling so the wheel wells are being trimmed to run some narrow 35" tires. if ur in to mud i would look at an agressive tire and no more than a 3.5 or 4" lift, or for rocks about the same exept get sway bar disc. ect,ect, the list is endless so be carefull cause the xj bug will bite and when it does theres no turning back.

 

I've already caught the XJ bug. I'm planning on crawling, there isn't much mud in CO

 

well in that case u r going to want to keep center of gravity lowand have a soft susp. with lots of flex. the cheapest way is to remove ur sway bar end links and drill some 1/4 inch holes in the studs, then place a pin like u would find in a reciver mount and a grade 9 washer back on it, this alows u to remove the pins easily and have a ton more flex in front and rear. second i would upgrade to a long arm set up. i finished mine and they work so sweet and i only have the 2" on it. i flex it with a fork lift at work and got a front tire about 4feet off the ground b4 the rest lifted. i would trim the fender wells also, but im not afraid of body damage it just adds to the usuale wheeling storys. ill sent u a pm with some pics of my last jeep and u can get some ideas. the whole thing only cost around 2500.00 when i was all done.

 

I need something that'll cost about half of that. Any recommendations to be able to pinch a penny here and there? I'm on a really tight budget.

 

well i what size tire u gonna run? im runnin 33" and the 2" lift and fender trimming works good for me. i wouldnt run anything wider than a 10.50 i think cause my 12.50 wide rubs like a, well u get the idea. hey this march ill be in ur kneck of the woods doin some wheelin maby well hook up.

 

a 235/75R15 is approx 30" not 29"

 

id say the a 2" budget boost would do fine or u could go with grand cherokee sprins for 2" and a 1" coil spacer front for 3" and iin the rear i would go with a new spring pack or even modify a pack out of another rig. i did one for a solid axle on a isuzu rodeo and mis mached packs it worked pretty well. have u check out rustys off road yet? look in the builders section and unde rthe susp. pars area.

 

I'm running a 2" with spacers and shackles and 30x9.50s. just put in new spring packs. Helped alot. The old ones were shot!!!!

Not a hole lot of flex though!!

 

So right now, my plan is to get a 3" lift kit (new springs, leaves, and shocks) for about $500. Then after I get that installed, I'm going to get some sway bar releases, by the way those might improve your articulation, Mr. Guywhopostedaboveme.

As for the tires, I'm going to try to get my hands on some not-too-wide 30" tires, give my jeep a little more umph.