Hi guys , I have been scouring the web and all the different Jeep forums and discussions about lifts and have seen a lot of different lifts and ideas. I want to see what everyone thinks would be the best option for me for what I want to do , and keep the price fairly reasonable. The Jeep is a DD , not going to be used for extreme off road , just basic trails for the odd fun , and will also be used for towing a camping trailer (has class 4 tow package). Right now I have the stock 225/75/16 tires , but my next set was thinking maybe going to 245/70/16 or even going to a 17" rim like the Rubicons had.

Now I have seen guys that have used 2" or 3" spacers for the lift , then you get the lifts that incorporate the F<R swap and add new front springs , shocks , then can go crazy and add new CA , adj track bars , etc.That can get pricey pretty fast as I saw OME springs , but add shipping to Canada and your looking 400+ just for the springs.For that price I could get the 3.5 Rough Country kit , or the Rocky Road kit for 500.And yes I have read both are not the best , but do have most of the parts needed , other than an adjustable track bar.

Right now I have a NP249 and also have the CV style shaft , but I am going to a Pick and pull and grabbing a NP242 (100 for the case , 20 per drive shaft) and gonna swap to a U joint shaft also.A pulled case at a junk yard they want 750 , so they figure their time is worth 600 , ouch!! I don't plan on going over 3.5 max lift as I want to keep a good ride on the street , and have a little lift and flex for when I do go off road.My last truck was an Isuzu with 4" suspension and 3" body lift , but I don't need that with the amount of time I have off , I have limited time to play hard.

I would like to try and keep the costs under 500 if I can , so feel free to give your opinion as to what I should do for a good ride on road , mild lift without a lot of hard core off road use.Would spacers affect the ride and also do the require changing the track bar or control arms or just longer shocks?

How about this, I can pick up another set of front ZJ V8 springs from the pick and pull , 10 a spring , keep my stock ones on and throw a 3" spacer on the front for the lift there.I can then add longer shocks , and if needed pick up an adjustable track bar for 140.If CA are needed can get some adjustable and some quick connects for about 200 for both.

Has anyone done this to keep costs down?I saw some 3 front spacers on Ebay for 39.I am not sure how the ride would be like this , but with heavy springs in back and stock in front I would think it would be fairly close to stock.

You might check the American Expeditionary Vehicle web site and look for their information on springs.

Keep in mind they reference the TJ/JK springs. However, the ZJ should not be much different.

Spacers will help and I did not find them to impact the ride or drive of my Cherokee. I used 1" spacers.

Any lift will change the steering geometry. Go for the adjustable track bar.

Don't know about the control arm issue. My Cherokee 3" lift came with new control arms.

If you had the factory tow package, you may already have the heavier springs. Again, the AEV website has very good writeup about springs.

I took a look at that site you suggested but it didn't really offer anything I was looking for. Another option I just looked at was a set of F and R 2" spacers.If I only went with 2" , would I have to change anything else? I do have fairly new Monroe sensa trac shocks , and it seems there are split opinions about a 2" lift. Some seem to think you need longer shocks where others say no , only if you go more than 2" , and with 2" it shouldn't make it so you need a new track bar.The price is right too , about 60 for the spacers , and a quick easy job to put them in.

As for heavier springs with the tow package , I can't find anything about that in the build sheet.I am currently searching google , but no luck yet.

Check this thread:

http://www.4x4wire.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=1256484&Main=1256361

Don't know about shocks and the 2" spacers...