Rough Country/Rubicon Express Lift, which one?

[Rockwell]

Hello

Looking for opinions please. I can get either a 4 inch Rough Country lift or a 3.5 inch RE lift. Both are about the same price. Which is best? Both state I will be able to run 33s.

Also, is either of these lifts better for the "do it yourselfer"? Either easier to install?

Rough Country 4 inch:
Front Coil Springs
Rear Coil Springs
Front & Rear Track Bar Brackets
Thick Wall Tubular Transfer Case Lowering Kit
Front & Rear Sway Bar Links
Front Lower Control Arms
Rear Lower Control Arms (Not shown, just recently added to kit.)
Drop Pitman Arm (Power Steering Only)
4 Hydro Shocks w/Black Boots

Rubicon Express 3.5 inch
COIL SPRINGS TJ 3" FRONT
COIL SPRINGS TJ 3" REAR
T-CASE LOWERING KIT YJ/TJ 1"
SWAY BAR END LINK FR.TJ STD. 3.5"
SWAY BAR DISCONNECT ADAPTER BRACKET TJ-ZJ
S/B END LINKS REAR TJ
BUMP STOP 2" FRT XJ/ZJ/TJ
BUMP STOP 1.5" REAR TJ
TRACK BAR BRACKET TJ REAR


Thankya Kindly :D

[rockdawg]

While I have no personal experience with either kit I am not a big fan of rough country lifts. The rubicon express kit is a very popular kit and I have heard some good things about them. The rubicon kit comes with bumpstops, so that is a plus. If you go with the rough country kit do NOT use the drop pitman arm. It actually creates bumpsteer instead of eliminating it. When installed the draglink is no longer parrallel with the trackbar. Thats why it is not included in the rubicon kit. Both kits should be easy to install.

[njedgexj]

i vote for the rubicon express kit....im running one of there kits and alot of other ppl i know have there stuff and like them alot..

[ROCKREADYXJ]

Hello

Looking for opinions please. I can get either a 4 inch Rough Country lift or a 3.5 inch RE lift. Both are about the same price. Which is best? Both state I will be able to run 33s.

Also, is either of these lifts better for the "do it yourselfer"? Either easier to install?

[XEON]

I vote Rubicon...

[ROCKREADYXJ]

Looking for opinions please. I can get either a 4 inch Rough Country lift or a 3.5 inch RE lift. Both are about the same price. Which is best? Both state I will be able to run 33s.

Also, is either of these lifts better for the "do it yourselfer"? Either easier to install?



Are you looking for cheap kit or a good kit? whats more important that you install it or that kit preforms better?

I would suggest the RockKrawler kit they are jeep aproved. Thier short arm flex kit is completely do it yourselfer friendly. Then they have thier short arm severduty kit which gives you a rear triangulated 4 link eliminateing the track bar and increasing handling and articulation. If you would like any more info on theese kits and the RE or Ruff Country kits feel free to contact me I am in Orange county not to far from vernon. I have some stuff here that you can compare. RE and RC use .125-.25 wall tubing and RockKrawler uses 1.75 solid stock round bar quite a difference. I posted in vendor section that all RK kits are 15% off

[Rockwell]

Looking for opinions please. I can get either a 4 inch Rough Country lift or a 3.5 inch RE lift. Both are about the same price. Which is best? Both state I will be able to run 33s.

Also, is either of these lifts better for the "do it yourselfer"? Either easier to install?



Are you looking for cheap kit or a good kit? whats more important that you install it or that kit preforms better?

I would suggest the RockKrawler kit they are jeep aproved. Thier short arm flex kit is completely do it yourselfer friendly. Then they have thier short arm severduty kit which gives you a rear triangulated 4 link eliminateing the track bar and increasing handling and articulation. If you would like any more info on theese kits and the RE or Ruff Country kits feel free to contact me I am in Orange county not to far from vernon. I have some stuff here that you can compare. RE and RC use .125-.25 wall tubing and RockKrawler uses 1.75 solid stock round bar quite a difference. I posted in vendor section that all RK kits are 15% off

Well, Im looking for a GOOD CHEAP kit! LMFAO!!! :P

Seriously though, I am trying to get the best price I can due to budget restrictions at the moment. However, I will NOT get a cheap kit that performs like garbage just for the sake of lifting my Jeep. To answer your question, it is more important to me that my kits performs as best as possible for the money I can spend. I simply thought doing it myself might save a few bucks so I can put that towards rims/tires. I also like to get my hands dirty, I love working on things but I will admit, most of my time is spent on tractor trailers, not suspensions. Ive never even come close to installing a lift before. You know the deal, I want a Kenworth but can only afford an International at the moment! LOL

I would be more than HAPPY to give you a call and stop by, you can show me whats best. I would love to support a local vendor to my area as well as a member of this group and have someplace to turn as I start my 4X4 adventure. I have lots of questions and above all, I want to do it right.

You say RockKrawler is Jeep approved, am I to take this as I will have no warranty issues if this kit is used?? Ill give you a call tomorrow, in fact, if your in the shop I can even stop by at some point tomorrow.

Thanx for your input! (Everyone else to! THANKS!!!)

[NJ_04Rubicon]

I vote Rubicon...

X2 on that.

Personally, I think you should go with the RE4.5 Super-Flex Kit and just downsize your springs to a 3.5. BTW, if I'm not mistaking, the 3.5 springs will give you a 4.5" of lift height allowing you to fit 33's, the 4.5 springs will give you a 5.5" of lift height, allowing you to fit 35's, you're also get the UCA, LCA front and back with the RE4.5 Super-Flex Kit. I have shopped around for prices on this kit and found that http://www.4x4groupbuy.com are pretty much the cheapest around, they gave me a price of $889.00 for my SWB 2004 Rubicon. they wanted $1855 for the RE4.5 LA kit. I hope this helped!

later..

[dmxjg35]

i speak from experiance with my xj, got with the re kit, i got a cheapo skyjacker kit, and my bro got the little bit more expensive re kit, wow what a diff, the re kit came with much more stuff for a few bucks more and was much better made, my parts are all rusty after a year already. You will be glad you went with the better kit belive me, its not worth it to save the few pennies, to be like make and turn around in a year or 2 and want to go bigger and get a better brand of lift kits.

Also deff install it yourself, a place is going to get at least 300 to install a lift, if you can read directions and have tools its worth it doing it your self. Heck your in vernon, id even help ya if you needed help. ive never done a wrangler before but it cant be that much diff then an xj.

[Rockwell]

i speak from experiance with my xj, got with the re kit, i got a cheapo skyjacker kit, and my bro got the little bit more expensive re kit, wow what a diff, the re kit came with much more stuff for a few bucks more and was much better made, my parts are all rusty after a year already. You will be glad you went with the better kit belive me, its not worth it to save the few pennies, to be like make and turn around in a year or 2 and want to go bigger and get a better brand of lift kits.

Also deff install it yourself, a place is going to get at least 300 to install a lift, if you can read directions and have tools its worth it doing it your self. Heck your in vernon, id even help ya if you needed help. ive never done a wrangler before but it cant be that much diff then an xj.

Hey man, THANKS! I may without a doubt take ya up on that if your up for it. We dont even have to get it done under any time pressure. I do have the tools, garage (even heated it for working on stuff in winter) and a Big Ole Bar-B-Que along with a nice ole fridge for the brews!. Seriously, what a nice offer!

Im really leaning towards RE, Like you point out, go the cheapo route and you`ll pay more in the end. Plus, I want reliability when im offroad. I would LOVE some help and as I said, never did this before. Ill let ya know how it turns out, as to which lift I choose, and actually, im in Highland Lakes, which is even closer yet!

Ya just gotta love this group!!!!!!!!!

[XEON]

Let me know if you need help. I have helped install like 3 or 4 lifts already. :D

[matt6669]

hey i as well would definitely be in for installed a kit. I helped install my brothers (dmxjg35) and i've installed mine.

I went with the re4.5 inch kit, i was the one with the black xj you were behind me a couple of times. i can tell you definitely go with the rubicon express kit. I don't know how much you want to spend on a lift kit but if you can afford the 4.5 go with it. The 4.5 gives you quite a bit of lift, but its not so high that off camber situations its going to kill you. Also its not so high that your going to feel too too tipsy. Go with the 3.5 and i can guarantee you that you will want more lift. I love my re 4.5 kit, it came witheverything, the directions are a little shady but you'll have all these guys helping you you won't have a problem trust me esp since your truck is like brand new!! if you promise to have steak there im soooo in haha just kidding. But if you can afford it, go with the re 4.5 (i believe they sell a long arm kit) for the 4.5 i saw somebody with it that actually parked there wrangler next to mine while it was at work, all i have to say it is was a work of art. omg i would of traded jeeps in a heart beat. Check out some of the alternatives with re. The one downside with going with the 4.5 is you'll almost positively need an sye and custom ds. Even with the 3.5 inch you will need one sooner or later. With both kits you should be able to get away with a transfercase drop for a little while, but your next upgrade should be the sye and ds.

if you need anymore information or anything don't be afraid to ask.

Matt

[NYWheeler]

RE makes a great kit but make sure you talk to Joe about the Rock Krawler kit also. They make an awsome product.

[flippy71]

i got the skyjacker 4" single flex on my 05 unlimited rubicon and it seems to work great. no vibration and better on road then it was stock. offroad compared to stock is like going from a nice ride to a "smash on the pedal and see how far i can fly" ride. without shattering your spine :D

[dmxjg35]

garage (even heated it for working on stuff in winter) and a Big Ole Bar-B-Que along with a nice ole fridge for the brews!.



that sounds like the starts for a perfect install party LOL im deff down! and highland lakes is only like 25mins from me. I was actually looking at buying a house up there till i found out how much the lake due was :mad:

[Rockwell]

i got the skyjacker 4" single flex on my 05 unlimited rubicon and it seems to work great. no vibration and better on road then it was stock. offroad compared to stock is like going from a nice ride to a "smash on the pedal and see how far i can fly" ride. without shattering your spine :D

I hear that BIG TIME Rick, it took Jenny and myself until Wed to stop feeling the pains from the WHIPLASH!!! I dont think I would go on rock trails like the one we were on pure stock ever again! At the very least, I probably should have grabbed a wrench from my bag and disconnected the sways. Now I know!

[Rockwell]

garage (even heated it for working on stuff in winter) and a Big Ole Bar-B-Que along with a nice ole fridge for the brews!.



that sounds like the starts for a perfect install party LOL im deff down! and highland lakes is only like 25mins from me. I was actually looking at buying a house up there till i found out how much the lake due was :mad:

Actually, I have a great set up for a Mod Party! Lots of land, 2 bay garage and my neighbor has a pool. Maybe Ill hold an official Bar-B-Que for Tri-State this summer. Would be loads of fun! I pay ZERO lake dues. I along with about 7 other homes in Highland Lakes do not have to pay lake dues and the only catch is... we cant go in the lake! LMFAO!

Hey I want to send a HUGE thank you to everyone for all the feedback and support. I was tellin Jenny about all the offers to help install the kit and she couldnt believe it! She said "These people only met you once!" Very Kewl! You all certainly gave me lots of things to think about. Im still heavily leaning towards the RE 3.5 for reasons of price and quality. I know theres better set ups and bigger and what not, but budget consraints to play a big role :mad: The RE 3.5 would at least get me in the ball game and from I have read, it is an upgradeable lift.

Lemme research a bit more, and ill be sure to let you all know when I purchase!!!

Thanx again everyone.

:wtg:

[XEON]

I am game to help :D

[flippy71]

the RE kits are nice, i was looking at them before i got the skyjacker. the thing i did'nt like when it came to price wise was that the 3.5&4.5 did not come with shocks,steering box protector, and the 4.5 recomends a bunch of other dodads that make it all work correctly. maybe thats different now. anyway thats what i found out when i was on the hunt for a lift. :) good luck.. choose wisely grasshopper :lol: i just love that saying, quiz: where did that phrase come from?