The Jeep, particularly the Jeep Wrangler, is arguably the first sport utility vehicle, and to this day it’s one of the most popular. While drivers of many other SUVs are content to drive their vehicles just the way they rolled off the assembly line, Jeep drivers are notorious tinkerers, always looking for ways to modify, improve, and overall lend a one-of-a-kind personal touch to their rides. One of the most common modifications is lifting the suspension, bringing the Jeep higher off the ground to better clear obstacles. Before you commit to a lift, however, we’d like to tell you what to consider when purchasing a Jeep lift kit.
Do I Really Need This?
If you love your Jeep but prefer to keep it constrained to the highways and side streets, a few extra inches off the ground won’t do much for you. Yes, a higher vantage point can give you a fuller view as you drive, but it’s not as if your un-lifted Jeep was exactly a soapbox racer to begin with. Lifting a Jeep is an expenditure for the off-roaders among us, the adventurous drivers who want to break free of conventions and go where the roads are gravel, dirt, or rocks. Those additional inches may not seem like much when you’re sitting on the road, but when you’re rolling through the great outdoors, more space to clear tricky terrain can be the difference between seeking thrills and seeking repairs.
DIY or Trust the Pros?
You may be an experienced Jeep driver by now, someone who has taken the roads less traveled and the routes that aren’t even roads at all. Still, racking up the miles behind the wheel doesn’t make you qualified to perform your own modifications on your Jeep. If you don’t have the time or the inclination to ride out the learning curve and do it yourself, you’ll want to entrust your mechanic with performing the labor. Suspension lifting is a challenging task, and an experienced specialist will know how to install your kit on your behalf. This way, you won’t have to worry about anything going awry at the worst possible moment—for example, out on the off-road trails, miles from home and miles from any help.
How High To Lift?
Part of what to consider when purchasing a Jeep lift kit is how high you want to go. The average lift kit will give you an additional one to three inches. If you’re a novice to modifications, remember, too, that it’s not just about lifting the Jeep’s suspension to gain those added inches—allowing more space for bigger tires can give you up to an entire foot over a factory-standard Jeep. With that in mind, you may not want to go too far on the actual lifting itself. A lift kit that gives you an additional four inches or more can come with an additional set of problems for your Jeep—pushing the suspension to the limit can make it more susceptible to serious damage and breakdown.
Van Rundell is a writer and author who specializes in transportation, travel, guidance, health & fitness. With over 10 years of experience in the industry as a driver and an entrepreneur, he has seen it all. His tone is professional but friendly with a dash of humor thrown in for good measure. In past, he has been advising, educating and writing about transport for the public and professionals alike.
A qualified fitness instructor with over 5 years’ experience as a personal trainer and group fitness instructor, Van brings his deep knowledge of health and exercise science to his articles on health & fitness.
