If I do get the lift, the 3" is not oversized (not to say the 4.5 is)
I can run my current wheel/tire set up
In addition, in the future I can either add to the lift or sell it on the forum
and it gives me time to save for 31x10.50's

The biggest reason I hesitate going with the 4.5 is that this is my first lift
and its on alittle bit of a budget.
I might not need all the add ons but I do like replacing 15 year old parts that the previous owner(s) may not have replaced.
One other thing I have considered with this lift is a daystar bushing kit, like most vehicles- the factory ones looks worn and cracked.

 

there is an option on the rough country kits to do the 4.5" lift with a 3" leaf pack and shackle. you could order the kit with that option and only install the 3" leafs saving your shackles till you get tires and order some cheap fatbobs 3" coils they are $100. your option will run you $919 with the tracbar and adjustable lowers. the 4.5" kit is $829.99 and the coils are $100 so for $10 more you can swap out to 4.5" when you get your new tires. oh and the 4.5" kit comes with a tcase drop kit so you could skip the SYE

link to the coils

http://store.fatbobsgarage.com/_jeep...001-p7612.aspx

 

CD, all this time I haven't even looked at that one!
I like your idea
Going that route I am able to decide later about going to the 4.5
I get a lift AND its a good bang for the buck.
Over all I think it would make the most sense.
ALSO they offer their new rear leaf drop, saw it on their youtube channel
That leaves other options for upgrades too

hmmmm - perhaps I will be pulling the trigger on this by the end of this month
(or should I wait for the return of RE/ 4WD to put something on the market?)


Yall have been a big help!
Glad to be a part of Cherokee Family, and the Jeep Nation.

 

i wouldn't trust RE until i see some new reviews after the take over you never know if they cheap out or not. i would hate to get my hopes up for them to turn into a cheap chinese knock off company.

 

ah, good point!

I believe my upgrades will come later but I really like the idea that I could pull the trigger on this within the next 2 weeks

This is gonna be Flippin Awesome!

 

I went with the Rough Country 3" series II kit and like it so far. I have 500+ miles on it and will admit with mine, I'll eventually need an SYE. I have a vibe around 30 MPH that did not go away with the TC drop. RC accidentally sent me parts for a 6" kit which included the new style X flex adjustable control arms and swaybar disconnect. They told me to keep what I got since the cost of shipping back to them from Alaska was so expensive. I installed the control arms and I had a clunk in both lowers after 100-200 miles, not impressed. I went back to the 3" kit's non- adjustables for now. I may upgrade the ends with better quallity ones at some point, but for now the non-adj. ones work just fine. I use mine for 70% DD duty, and my offroading will be pretty mild. I found my tires and wheels, 31 x 10.5, on craigslist for $500 which were off of a 2001 Mazda and only had a thousand or so miles on them. My rough country kit cost $600, and you can get a discount off the forum here. So with freight to Alaska I have less than $1500 in mine so far. I admit, 4.5" would be better, but for me 3" was fine and fixed my sagging rearend problems.

 

AK, thanks for the response - your pics didn't come up btw

 

The joint issues seems to be a very very common problem with their kits. I was actually going to purchase their long arms kit but with all the stories of how ****ty their control arm joints are im going to leave that one alone.

 

x2

 

Also before going bigger lift do you have any recovery on your jeep. If not then I would recommend getting some before bigger lift

 

X2

 

theirs always the option of doing a junkyard build, i'm doing a 6.5" junkyard lift till i get my finances worked out and can afford a coil conversion, this thread has a few option for a real cheap 4.5 but i know alot of the time you loose any ride quality you may have remaining. not sure if thats an option you would want to consider but i figured it was worth putting the idea out their

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/bud...herokee-58797/

 

If you keep beating yourself up on price your never gonna lift it. I've lifted alot of jeeps and I now run a rusty's hybrid. I run Rusty's 4.5 coils ($149.00) on the front, a s10 bastard pack on the rear ($20.00 from the JY), and your choice of shock in your budget. The thicker s10 leafs gives the factory feel back to the jeep even though it's taller and let's me pull my pop up camper and utility trailer without fear of breaking springs. Here's a pick of my xj pulling a fully loaded pop-up and family over 300 miles through the WV mountains and wheeling while we were there. My jeeps (3 xj's) have this lift and no SYE's, T-case drops or vibes, but I might just be getting lucky....LOL

 

i got a 2000 cherokee that ran amazing with no lift no nosie no squeak no thing .....put a rc 4.5 lift in my truck and it all went down hill from there..... my truck squeaks at turns. squeak hiting speed bumps.... if u hit a pot hole it sounds like u just ran over a log doing moc 5 ... ive thought my neck broke from how stiff my truck rides.. but i gotta say one thing i ****ing love it if u want ur car 2 sound like a **** box and drive like one get a rc 4.5

 

I took the leap of faith on wednsday...

since then I have been alittle uneasy.

I ordered my RC 4.5" X series

Nice chunk of change was taken out of my account (about 5 mins later)...

however...

Yesterday I had sent them a message on live help, since there was no confirmation email or tracking # sent out.

The reply was "it will appear once UPS scans the items"

39 hours later - still no email

I will not complain until after
the "6 boxes" do not show up on Monday by 1700

Think I might go fishin this weekend and rely on patience.