Rough Country Combo lift advice?

WsRpAoNrGtLtEjR · 11-10-2008, 11:52 PM

After researching different lift kits and prices for my 2000 TJ Sport, I am almost ready to decide on the Rough Country combo , which includes a 2.5" lift, 1.25" BL, and transfer case spacers, all for $390. This should fit my desired 33"x12.50 tires with decent flex. This is my daily driver, and I will only hit some easy/moderate trails occasionally, so I'm not that concerned with hardcore offroad capability, but I want something a little bigger and better than a BB. I was wondering if anyone was running this lift and if they had any advice on how the ride quality is, (is it much worse than stock?), if the lift does really sag down to 2" after a while (I'll have the soft-top on most of the time, maybe a hardtop for the next winter but no heavy bumpers or winches), and just the overall quality of the kit. If you have any advice whatsoever, I would greatly appreciate the help. This is my first lift kit installation, and could use all the help I can find. Thanks guys!

**rubidriver** · 11-11-2008, 12:06 AM

This is a pic with just the RC 2.5 kit installed (no BL), with 31s

This is the OME 2.5 kit with HD springs (no BL) with 31s

With 33s (no BL)... still has more clearance with 33s than the RC does with 31s

The RC simply doesnt give 2.5" as it suggest, if you really have your heart set of it I would get a 2" spacer for the front and a 1" spacer for the rear to level/lift it up a tad more than the 2" (rear) 1" (front) your going to get from just the springs.

**rubidriver** · 11-11-2008, 12:17 AM

Im not dissing RC or anything because I think their kit is a good little spring/shock upgrade. But I do not agree with their kit gaining 2.5".

Ive heard alot of happy customers with the kit, just havent seen any that got the advertised 2.5". Mild spacers on top of the RC springs (front spacer being around 1-1.5" taller than what ever size spacer you decide for the rear, to compensate for the rake).

This guy shows meausrements before and after the RC kit.
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f9/rubicon-rough-country-2-5-inch-lift-623493-post5907956/

SKIBUMM · 11-11-2008, 12:30 AM

I have the RC and I got 2 3/8 rear and 3 1/8 up front (with 3/4 inch spacer). The ride is better than stock on small bumps and similar on larger ones. You will need a spacer up front if you want you jeep level. If you are fine with the factory rack then you will not need the spacer.

WsRpAoNrGtLtEjR · 11-11-2008, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SKIBUMM

I have the RC and I got 2 3/8 rear and 3 1/8 up front (with 3/4 inch spacer). The ride is better than stock on small bumps and similar on larger ones. You will need a spacer up front if you want you jeep level. If you are fine with the factory rack then you will not need the spacer.

What brand of spacers would you recommend and where can I buy them? Would they then limit flex siginificantly or not that much? And sorry, but what do you mean by the factory rack?

**Imped** · 11-11-2008, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubidriver

This is a pic with just the RC 2.5 kit installed (no BL), with 31s

This is the OME 2.5 kit with HD springs (no BL) with 31s

With 33s (no BL)... still has more clearance with 33s than the RC does with 31s

The RC simply doesnt give 2.5" as it suggest, if you really have your heart set of it I would get a 2" spacer for the front and a 1" spacer for the rear to level/lift it up a tad more than the 2" (rear) 1" (front) your going to get from just the springs.

It's not that the RC kit doesn't yield 2.5" over stock, because it does. It's that the OME lift yields significantly more than 2.5" over stock, which is fine as well. My RC 2.5 has a ton of clearance with 31's and I could see mine fitting 33's with just a little less clearance than the OME.

Zennashton · 11-11-2008, 10:55 AM

The RC lift seems to give 2" or less lift to jeep Rubi's and the full 2.5 lift to non Rubi's, which makes sense. The RC springs were designed for a stock jeep, If your jeep has after market weight like from wench and bumpers you wont get the full 2.5. If you wont 3" of lift go with hd ome springs.

**Imped** · 11-11-2008, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zennashton

The RC lift seems to give 2" or less lift to jeep Rubi's and the full 2.5 lift to non Rubi's, which makes sense. The RC springs were designed for a stock jeep, If your jeep has after market weight like from wench and bumpers you wont get the full 2.5. If you wont 3" of lift go with hd ome springs.

I agree with everything you said except for the fact that rubis have VERY little extra unsprung weight than any other tj. It is negligible. Therefore, the RC springs should give the same amount to any stockish tj, everything else being equal. RC's lift does as advertised....2.5". It gave me just a tad (again...negligible) over 1/4" over my 2.25" bb on non-sagging stock springs front and rear.

Zennashton · 11-11-2008, 11:23 AM

Thats true imped4now, the difference on a Rubi being it comes with a higher spring rate then most other jeeps which means they don't sag as much. If you took your 2004 stock springs and put them on a Rubi its a good chance the Rubi would sit a 1/2" or so lower then it did with its stock springs.

**RCXTREME** · 11-11-2008, 11:23 AM

If you look at the first pic of the red rubi, you will notice it also has a diff fender flare which hangs down farther than the stock flare.

WsRpAoNrGtLtEjR · 11-11-2008, 11:01 PM

Thanks for the info guys; so this whole thing about the Rubicon springs being different; so would installing the RC lift on a stock 2000 TJ (like I'm gonna do) give you more or less clearance than installing the same lift on the Rubi? I just don't want to spend $ on a 2.5" lift and only get 1" or 1.5" if thats the case. I won't have any heavy accessories for now either, so I think that'll help prevent sagging...

WsRpAoNrGtLtEjR · 11-12-2008, 12:01 PM

Bump for another question: Even if the RC does lift my Jeep 2.5" or so, will the Jeep be level, like the stock set up? I heard the rear might be noticeably higher but I don't understand why that would happen if the stock set up is pretty level...

WsRpAoNrGtLtEjR · 11-13-2008, 11:50 AM

Has anyone used the actual new RC Combo that comes w/ the 1.25" BL? Seems like a good deal, but are there any problems?

**rubidriver** · 11-13-2008, 12:20 PM

Stock set ups are hardly ever level, level means the front and rear are the same height, when it comes from the factory it is lower in the front (just because it comes that way doesnt mean its level). The RC kit will have a low front end too, which is easily fixed with a spacer of about 1-1.5".

**athos76** · 11-13-2008, 12:33 PM

I just received my combo kit two days ago, but have to wait for the weekend to install it. Looks great in the box... Might paint it black...silver doesn't compliment my Impact orange...