Let's talk body lift.......

In a couple different threads Gonzojohn and I have offered some input on body lifts. Of course everyone has a "take" on what is good and what is bad when it comes to lifting your Jeep. Ask 10 different Jeepers and get 10 different answers.

When I did my frame off resto/mod I went with a 3" body lift and homemade lift shackles to clear the 33"x12.5" tires since I could not afford a suspension lift at the time.

My thought is this: on early Jeeps (pre-1972? can't recall the exact year of the change) when the frame was narrower, I can see wanting to keep the COG as low as absolutely possible to reduce chance of rollover. When the frame got wider, I would logically think it OK to boost the body and Jeep a few inches. Admittadly, a 3" BL may very well introduce more body roll than a body set on 1/2" spacers, however, some/most of the body roll comes from the stiffness of the springs and tire air pressure - yes?

Keeping in mind that I did not build my Jeep for a road rally rig, I built it for low speed manuvering which requires good clearances all the way around. I do firmly believe in the addage "only lift your Jeep as much as you need to get the best flexibility and suspension performance". Lifting your ride just to say you have the tallest Jeep is for the poser/trailer queen, IMO ;-)

I suppose that going with more backspacing on the rims and running wide tires will help reduce rollover, the downside is you are going to have trouble in the tight spots on the trails where width is a factor.

Let's open this up to some civil discussion. More than a simple "body lifts are bad" response is appreciated.

 

I personally have zero body and lots of suspension lift. I don't trust more then about 1" of body lift. It puts too much stress on the bolts that hold the whole thing togther.

For a 1 inch lift I would say go down and buy a bunch of hockey pucks. they are 1" thick and tougher then the average puck in a lift kit.

 

1" body is the max for me. part of it is looks because BL look cheap to me. The arguement for keeping a JEEP narrow to me does not work. 99% of trails today that are cut are cut to fit modern Jeeps not old ones. Modern Jeeps have a 60" WMS to WMS we are what 51" wide or there abouts, that means we have 9 extra inches to be able to play with out on the trail. I would gladly use up some of that extra width for stability.

 

No use for body lifts. Seen too many after some use that fatigue the floor sheet metal and start to crack around the puck. I'll just wait and save money until I can afford suspension lift of some type, cheeper in the long run than sheet metal.

 

I concur with Lavman.
The whole idea of lift is to provide enough room for the tire of your choice.
I'm running 4 3/4" reinforced shackles, military wrapped HD springs, and a modified 4" Bronco Body lift. This gives me ample room for my 33X12.5X15 Remington Mud Brutes in all but the most severe maneuvers. I've had no problem catching alot of air if necessary & the wraps keep me from breaking main leafs.
If I want aesthetics, I'll put a Gremlin body on my frame or buy a Ferrari. Jeeps are inherently tough-ugly.
I personally think a well-installed spring kit with the correct tires looks fantastic, as does a well installed body lift. I do personally think that the new widetracks with large offset wheels look like slot cars, and I know that they would never maneuver some of the tight trails that we have/make. Granted, They are safer on-road. Not many people know how to stay within "the envelope of his machine", a pilot's phrase. I've had to get Jeep & my Broncos up on any combination of tires in one maneuver to avoid accidents & never flipped to date & Thank God to this day for the way I rebuilt Jeep and the tire pressure chosen.
The sole place that anybody would even notice my body lift kit is at the rear & you have to see it to believe how much it's appreciated.
I have enough suspension travel with my shackled & wrapped set up and sometimes we have to make our own trails or sidehill an old 52" tire (on Rockwells) rut.
My body is secured well. I'd rather break a body bolt (never happened) than break a main leaf (stock leaves and wraps can be pulled & jacked back into shape 2, maybe 3X max - I've done it).
I believe in prudence & being more than prepared for what I may encounter.

Peace,

gj

 

A JEEP done right is a beautiful thing, done wrong and it is the most god awful ugly thing you have ever seen.

The short ones look the best, but those long ones are nice also

 

Well put - done right for serious business off the pavement, as well as a decent DD.

gj

 

I think Mack Off Road Articulated Dumps, 966 loaders & AWD Case Backhoes are beautiful (as well as my Mother & Baby Sis - Sandra Bullock is a spitting image of my Sis). To each his own.

gj

 

A Jeep done wrong is better than some vehicles I've seen that the owner's thought were done right. A Jeep's smile is unbeatable.

 

Good quote about things getting worse.
Whenever knew I'd be spending a night in the woods if I tried a challenge, I would turn to my shotgun rider and ask "What do you think?" After all, the shotgun man does the walking, health permitting. The Cap stays w/the ship.

gj

 

Yes, agreed, especially the LWB ones

 

but I wouldn't compromise safety in obtaining that goal

you have modified your Jeep the way YOU think is best and works for you.
Long extended shackles for lift purposes are a bad idea, IMO.
IMO you are better off with a spring lift kit.
The body lift and amount is up to you.
As mentioned previously, on older models it's harder to accomplish with pedals through the floor boards; but it can be done.
33's IMO aren't that radical and difficult to make room for; usually a spring lift is all you need; I personally don't like wheel spacers.
If you are jumping the Jeep, that is an entirely different ball game.
You need all you can get......and more
If your suspension is set-up properly, for whatever Jeeping you do, than I don't believe a body lift (more than 1") is neccesary.

 

I agree re: wheel spacers. I ran 1" (steel & aluminum) spacers on my D60 rear to bring it about inline w/my D44 front, but was never comfortable with them & eventually gave them all away. They cause extreme lug stud fatigue, especially when mounted on old studs that already stretched to wheels without studs.
I've never seen or heard of a military wrapped suspension kit - Fact is - everybody complained so much about their rough riding suspension lifts that the manufacturers had to start producing soft lift kits. How long does it take to get a replacement spring from a lift company?
I ride securely on eleven (11) front springs (2 wraps) in front. I can portapower & pull them back into shape twixt re-archings.
Why is there no mention of axle trusses? I know that not everybody runs axle upgrades.
You can fab a good truss from 1/4" cable, some 1/8" inch aluminum wear plates, 4 cable clamps, & a turnbuckle. This homemade kit doesn't hang on roots & stumps like a storebought.
Driving in the NJ/NY area, I never know when I will have to jump a divider or curb, or take Jeep up on one side in order to save somebody's life.


gj

 

My Rough Country 2.5" is also. Come to think of it I don't think I have ever seen a real leave spring lift kit that was not.