What's everyone's opinion on Rough Country suspension lifts?

[joet7287]

I'm looking for an affordable lift to get in the next few months and Rough Country has one that I like.

http://www.roughcountry.com/jeep_tj_combo_2.html

What does everyone think of Rough Country? Is their stuff good? Is this lift worth buying?

Also, what else do I need to consider when lifting my Jeep? Advice on lifting my Jeep is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
-Joe

[Jerry Bransford]

RC suspensions wouldn't be on my short list, they have not earned much of a reputation for much of anything other than having a pretty darned stiff ride due primarily to the shocks they use. If you like a really stiff ride, you might like it though. What I'd probably do if that kit is in the price range you need to stay in, I'd buy it minus their shocks and instead, buy better riding shocks like Old Man Emu, Skyjacker Hydros (not their Nitros), or Rubicon Express Monotubes (not their twin-tubes).

[clmsnfan123]

So do you mean that pretty much as long as you buy different shocks then any RC lift is fine

[RCJEEP]

Here is 50 pages about this lift. I don't recall anyone saying this kit had a bad ride. Most say it is as good or better thans stock. It is designed to give a quality ride using progressive rate springs and our performance 2.2 shocks.

If you have any questions, we are here to help.

Rough Country 2.5 inch TJ lift kit.

[Jerry Bransford]

Originally Posted by clmsnfan123

So do you mean that pretty much as long as you buy different shocks then any RC lift is fine

I'm only commenting on that one lift kit, I don't know their entire lift kit line.

Where many lifts get a stiffer-than-necessary ride is from their shocks. And many that include gas-charged shocks ride stiffly because, generally speaking with some very notable exceptions like OME and RE's Monotube, they aren't valved specifically for a vehicle with the lighter weight of a Wrangler. For example, that's why ProComp's ES-3000 shocks are so stiff riding when installed on a Wrangler, those particular shocks were valved for heavier vehicles.

There's only a few gas-charged shocks including Old Man Emu, Rubicon Express Monotube, and a specfic Wrangler-valved model of Bilstein's 5100 shock that have a good ride when installed on a Wrangler.

I'm just saying if it were me, I'd go ahead and buy the RC lift you are interested in but if it were me, I'd go with one of the several shocks I listed that are known to provide a good ride when installed on a Wrangler.

[imped4now]

RC recognized that they were getting poor reviews due to the rough-riding nature of their kits and totally redesigned the shocks and coil springs. I spoke with a rep in person and currently run the new 2.5" kit with the 2.2 shocks and it rides great.

[Jerry Bransford]

That is very good to know. I'll be on the lookout for a TJ with their newer springs and shocks to see if I can get a ride in it and check it out. Thanks for that comment imped4now, that was very helpful.

[RCJEEP]

Originally Posted by imped4now

RC recognized that they were getting poor reviews due to the rough-riding nature of their kits and totally redesigned the shocks and coil springs. I spoke with a rep in person and currently run the new 2.5" kit with the 2.2 shocks and it rides great.

Thanks imped4now... This has been a goal of ours for over a year now. We have checked each shock, Hydro, Nitro and Performance 2.2. We spent time with each shock and valved tweaked and tested with each application. The "stiff" comments and then saying that OME, Skyjacker, Rubicon are better confuses me. During our revalving process we actually compared our shocks to some of these brands... finding that many were valved very closely to ours. Actually some of these shocks come off the same assembly line as ours.

Please don't write us off as "Stiff" kit, due to past comments. We have put extensive time and resources into improving the ride quality of our kits.

[joet7287]

This is all very good to know. I think when I get the money I'll be buying that lift that I linked to in the first post.

[SKIBUMM]

I just put this lift on my daughters jeep and I am very pleasanly suprised at the ride. I have riden a bunch of different lifts mostly in 4 inch range including Terra Flex and RE and I like the ride in the RC 2.5 better. I thought about a 2 inch BB but with it being a 97 with original suspension I thought it was time to upgrade with new coils. I too was leary about the ride with RC and thought that if the ride was not too good I would get different shocks in a year. I have no plans to get new shocks. I would say that this takes up small bump much better than stock and when it is a good sized bump like a speed bump you can really feel the coils kicking and and getting stiffer the more you depress. I have an OME on my FJ and I put the ride in the same class as it.

[joet7287]

Originally Posted by SKIBUMM

I just put this lift on my daughters jeep and I am very pleasanly suprised at the ride. I have riden a bunch of different lifts mostly in 4 inch range including Terra Flex and RE and I like the ride in the RC 2.5 better. I thought about a 2 inch BB but with it being a 97 with original suspension I thought it was time to upgrade with new coils. I too was leary about the ride with RC and thought that if the ride was not too good I would get different shocks in a year. I have no plans to get new shocks. I would say that this takes up small bump much better than stock and when it is a good sized bump like a speed bump you can really feel the coils kicking and and getting stiffer the more you depress. I have an OME on my FJ and I put the ride in the same class as it.

Awesome. I don't know anything about OME, but I'm glad to hear that you had a good experience with the RC lift.

[chutta]

I've got a driver side lower arm that strips out, it being replaced once under warranty. Not going to bother further and replacing the sleeved arms with something fixed.

[WarriorM]

I've been running the RC 4" lift for about a year and a half. I was very unhappy with the shocks that came with the kit. Very stiff, a couple of them had an annoying squeak. RC gave me a great deal when I upgraded to the new 2.2 shock. Much improved ride. Still stiffer than stock, but not in a bad way. I think, for the money, this is a solid lift for your Jeep. I have no experience with other manufacturers' lifts, but I'm very satisfied with my 4" RC lift. Oh, by the way, their 4" lift was actually closer to 5.5". Has settled a bit, but still more than 4".

[imped4now]

Originally Posted by joet7287

Awesome. I don't know anything about OME, but I'm glad to hear that you had a good experience with the RC lift.

Old Man Emu is renowned as the finest riding suspension available, just FYI.

[sport44]

rough country is a very good lift, iknow people who have them and the only complaint is that they ride al little hard dont listen to some on here they think they know it all, i would however if i was doing this i would slap on some ome shocks which would probably be around 200 or so. Id also look in some rancho rs9000's.