I have a Wrangler, and as I recall from reading the comments on Jeep forums a number of years ago that you would be better off with Skyjacker rather than Rough Country.
This thread is useless without pics!
It’s been a while since I’ve lifted a truck so this is just a general guideline. Skyjacker generally gives a better ride but cost more. You want to make sure you replace any steering components that no longer have the correct geometry. Shocks are a big one for ride control too. It would be a good idea to compare spring rates, the higher the rate the stiffer the ride but you don’t need a high rate spring for height. It would probably be a good idea to discuss these things with who you buy from and maybe even a local spring or off-road shop.
http://www.wranglerforum.com/
You will find excellent feedback and advice.
Check out the vehicle specific forums like post 5 said. Those guys will know the quirks of your rig better than anyone. I have ARB on my rig but it is an FJC and my criteria was serious off road use. Don’t underestimate how hard it is to do yourself. Suspension can be a bear.
They aren’t too bad, old man emu systems are better.
Anybody ever use Rough Country lift kits?
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No, but I once had a rough night with this gal from the Oasis in Nantucket.
I have an 84 Bronco. Have been asking around and everybody is telling me “Skyjacker”. I’m thinking that’s the way I’m going to go. Saw another Bronco with 6 inch Skyjacker suspension lift kit and I loved the way it looked! Had 35x15s on it.
I put a RC 3” lift in an ‘80 K10 some years back. Worked out very well, I was happy with it. (and the 33’s!)
Nice. What engine is in that thing?
Hello fellow Jeeper.
I currently own a 1979
CJ7 and a 2006 Wrangler
Rubicon, and am a
mechanical engineer by
trade.
I’ve owned a Jeep of one
model or another for many
years. I ran a Skyjacker
2” lift on a J10. Very
bouncy stiff ride. The
spring rate was too high.
Switched out the
Skyjacker for a set of
Rancho Springs with a two
inch lift. The ride is
much improved. Tires are
BFG 32X10.50X15. Sidewall
flex is minimal which
illuminates some of the
bounce. Shocks are Rancho
RS9 adjustable.
The springs on the Rubicon
are coils, ProComp
3” lift, RS9 shocks,w/a
Rubicon Express short arm
kit.
I wheel with a friend who
ran a Wrangler Skyjacker
coil suspension kit
(bushings, springs, shocks,
track bar, and steering
stabilizer). After he
borrowed my Jeep for a day,
he has set his up the same
as mine.
If you aren’t going to utilize it off road don’t lift it. Jeeps have enough rolling problems as it is.
Find out what the spring rates are. You want the softest springs possible.
Skyjacker if you are going to trail it. Rough Country if it will be a mall cruiser. Be aware Rough Country has a rep for the parts not fitting exactly. Not sure it is deserved because older Jeeps are all over the place with frame dimensions.
Fwiw, another vote for ARB's OME suspensions.
I've installed their springs, shocks and struts on my current truck and on last truck and am very happy with their products.
They make the good stuff.
Hey,
I just did this to my CJ7 about two months ago. Rather than use a kit, I decided to buy the individual parts to get what I wanted at each step. It was a little more expensive, but the ride of the OME springs is amazing both on and off road.
And I heard terrible things about Rough Country, but nothing too bad about Skyjacker if you want to go the kit route.
If not, you can do the same thing I did:
Get OME lifted YJ springs - the HD ones - all rears. You will need 4 degree shims (at least on the front because your steering will be jacked up otherwise) and because the front springs are mounted backwards, make sure you put the shims on the correct way. There is already a 2 degree shim on the OME spring - look at how it’s mounted to see which way to turn your new shim (it will be opposite because the spring is facing backwards...).
Get a set of Rocky Road YJ “boomerang” shackles front and rear. These come with the hardware and are greasable - you should buy new eye bolts and nuts for the rear - 1/2 13 x 5” (these will naturally not be greasable). Also, the nuts that ship with the shackles are not “nylock” nuts, they are one-use lock nuts that have to be “punched” out if you want to remove them - and you really need an impact gun to mount them so new nylock grade 8 nuts should be bought if you don’t want to deal with that. Look online for pics of how the shackles get mounted. And McMaster-Carr is the place for the nuts and bolts.
I used MORE YJ shackle hangers on the front and the Rocky Road heavy duty hangers on the rear. Both are good, but the RR shackles come with a “third hole” for mounting along with a self-tapping hex screw. This adds a third mounting point that I needed because one of my hanger bolts broke in the frame and I couldn’t get it out.
For bushings I used Daystar poly non-greasable. I had to use a drill press to drill grease holes in the steel sleeves. I honestly don’t remember if Daystar sells a greasable kit. Maybe they do and I forgot to buy it, LOL. I just improvised when presented with the problem.
Rubicon Express Spring Under U-bolt skid plates and Rubicon Express u-bolts and nuts - all very heavy duty.
Skyjacker Black Max shocks.
And I am about to install Rocky Road extended shock mounts (yes, you will need them) and I have new Skyjacker extended bump stops that mount under the u-bolts because you don’t want your new shocks to be bump stops.
Most of this stuff can be bought from Quadratec - but you can find cheaper prices by looking around and buying from different sources.
If you need info or part numbers, I would be happy to help - just email me.