After owning my new-to-me '99 Sport for two weeks and having plenty of suggestions on what to do with it, i.e. 3" lift, blah, blah, blah...
I've come to the conclusion to keep it completely stock.
I will be replacing the leafs, shocks, coils and whatever else it needs.
I've been underneath to look around and now know the leafs are flat. I'm also guessing the coils are weak as well.
By replacing all I've mentioned, I'd be willing to bet it will sit higher and look nicer.
Right now it's got 235's, (shot), which really don't bother me that much so they will stay the same size.
It rides pretty quiet with very little rattles or creaks.

I don't know how much money I'll be saving going stock vs. a 3" lift but it's safe to say I'll be saving.

Thoughts?

 

Pretty much doing the same. In redoing the suspension on my '96 I'm trying to duplicate the "Upcountry" XJ option that was offered buy the factory which gave a 1" lift above std. I've got the rear suspension done so far.

As far as the rest of the vehicle goes there are modifications I like that can be done which are improvements over stock. Also I'm not above doing modifications that make it easier on me for maintenance or that eliminates any problems I come across while using the vehicle.

 

You could do a compromise. I like the way a 1.5 lift looks if you are trying to maintain the stockish look and ride. It just looks like a factory off-road package.

 

Right now I believe ~1.5" is where I'll end up. Rear is about that now.

 

What earl said. Upcountry clone plus 235/75r15s look pretty good. Plenty of lift for backroads and fishing but low enough to let your girl in without showing her unmentionables

 

Here's what I've got so far. Rear is 1+" higher than the front. Jeep is sitting on level ground. Wife took pic with a cell phone.

 

What wheels are you runnin' Earl?

I have Upcountry clone as well. I'm at 1.5" front, 1" rear with P235/75r15

 

Beautiful XJ there. I live in the dirt so staying clean isn't an option. LOL

They're 235 Falken AT3W's on 15x7 Black Rock Dunes w/4.25" backspacing. Ran out of time to do the front. Needed to put it on the road for a bit. Hope to get it done before winter. May go with Rustys 2" coils rather than the Moogs w/spacers. I've got my shackles set at 0 but can go to +3/4". Couple hundred more miles and I need to check the torque on things.

 

Yeah, I don't get to play in the dirt nearly as often as I'd like... Thanks for the wheel info. I've been looking for 15x7 wheels with backspacing around 4.5", so those might be the ticket. The Rusty's coils sound like a good option, but I will say that the Moogs are comfortable and flex really well. I'm shock-limited on extension with 3" Bilstein 5100s.

 

compared to a 3 inch kit you should save a bit, but you could lift 2 inches for right around the same price as stock. But I always like a nice, clean stocker

 

Anyway, back on topic Ricksxj....

The thing is, you will spend the same amount staying "stock" as you will with these 2" upcountry clone lifts. So, why not? The Upcountry is how they all should have looked from the factory to begin with, IMO.

EDIT: LOL Martlor13 and I thinking alike...

 

 

tbh thats what im trying to do with my jeep. I am gonna put all terrains or something on it with a slight lift, Then may put limited slip diffs in the front and back. Its a weekend warrior and my daily driver so nothing crazy atm lol. The occasional mud pits that i stumble across i destroy and trail runs that sorta thing. But meaty tires are a must. I just gotta redo the front end on mine with brakes and many other things and it should be good!

 

Pretty much what I am trying to stick with also. A couple minor mods like a lunchbox in the rear and a stock height spring redo, I am going to stick with stock. They really do have a good balance of road handling and off road capability right out of the box.

I like how mine corners tight like a sports car on the road yet it has taken me everywhere I needed to go off road with no problem as long as I pick a good line through it. After hanging a rear wheel in the air just a couple times, I realized that it would be a huge advantage to make at least this one change.

And I think 235's are what these should have come out with stock.

I had a fully spooled lifted big tired tricked out Bronco II and realize I really only needed all that out of true necessity reasons once or twice. I also realized it was not practical at all for everyday driving. So I'm going along with you, the fewer mods the fewer reoccurring problems and re-tuning that needs to be done.

 

They certainly are very capable out of the box. Add a front swaybar disconnect and a lunchbox locker, and they're much more than capable.