“How Much Does It Cost To Lift A Jeep?” There’s a pretty common saying out there that definitely applies to Jeep lovers. Men don’t grow up, their toys just get bigger. Let’s be honest, nobody buys an off-road vehicle, such as a Jeep, to go to and from work. Nobody drives a Jeep to haul groceries around, and they certainly don’t use it for its questionable fuel efficiency. No, people drive Jeeps for one reason and one reason alone. To explore. To go literally anywhere. Jeep owners love the fact that the vehicle challenges expectations and can go virtually anywhere. Need to drive up a stupidly steep incline? No problem. Need to drive through insane mud or cross a deep river? Any modified Jeep is able. With all this being said, it shouldn’t be surprising that these oversized toys can be expensive. After all, buying a Jeep outright isn’t the end of the story. To actually get to the cooler places, you rock rails. You’ll need skid plates, locking differentials, stronger axles, bigger and way more aggressive tire setups, and so much more. But even with all of that in mind, one question stands out among the rest. In this article, we’ll be discussing everything you’ll ever need to know on the topic.
To start off, raising a Jeep is quite difficult. It’s definitely nowhere near as easy as just slapping a few parts together and tightening a few bolts. It takes a lot of planning, preparation, and man-hours. It will also cost you quite the pretty penny. There are dozens of kits out there to choose from, but so many owners out there just don’t know how to choose. Should you be missing the relevant experience, who will you hire to get it installed? That’s right, the cost of the actual kit and tools isn’t enough. Installation costs still exist!
It’s popular for prospective Jeep owners to read an article about lift setups and components and come out with more questions than they did on the way in. Fortunately for you, we’ve written this article specifically for you. By the time this article concludes, you won’t need to read anything else, for you’ll already know everything you need to know. With that being said, let’s dive headfirst into all things Jeep lift kits.
Jeep Wrangler Lift Kits – What are they?
Most people know that lift kits raise a vehicle higher into the air, but most don’t really know what they actually are. What is happening underneath the vehicle to obtain that result? To put it in relatively simple terms, a lift kit is anything that lifts the cab of your Jeep away from the road. Options include a suspension lift, where control devices and other parts are strengthened and extended. It could also simply be a body lift, meaning the body is slightly raised off of the frame. Each kit will be different, so be sure to check out what you’re buying before you check out. Based on your needs, certain kits will be better for you that won’t work for others.
Jeep Lift Kits – Why should I get one?
Jeep Wrangler lift parts are usually bought to challenge a lot of goals. The first is clearance issues. It’s somewhat self-explanatory, but if you want to drive over big rocks or through deep mud, you’ll need lots of high clearance. Clearance, for those unfamiliar with the term, is how much room there is between the cab and the road. The bigger the lift, the bigger an object it can go over. Not to mention you’ll be able to river cross far easier with more clearance as well. Another popular justification for a lift kit is that they raise your sightlines. You will be positioned much higher off the ground, and be able to see over other cars. A lot of people prefer this for when they’re in traffic or going over very rough terrain. A third popular justification for a lift kit is the way in which you enable adding bigger wheels. Bigger wheels are great because you can get more aggressive tread, which of course allows for cooler and better off-roading ability. Last but certainly not least is the cool factor. Most add lift kits simply because it looks cool. And they’re not wrong, lift kits look awesome.
Regardless of what you’re told by your fellow owners, a lift is definitely not a necessity. There are plenty of owners out there that don’t add a lift at all. Frankly, if you’re not planning on doing crazy offroading, getting large wheels, or anything else regarded in the last subsection, you may not even want one. And that’s okay. Your rig is supposed to reflect everything about you. If you don’t want to go hardcore offroading, there’s no need to lift your vehicle.
Lift Kits – Which one should I get?
When choosing a lift, you need to factor in your needs. What do you want to do with this lift? Why do you want it? Will it be just for looks, or should it be tough enough to tackle even the mightiest of trails? Another factor you’ll definitely want to think about is your budget. What dollar amount are you willing to spend on this lift kit? What’s your maximum amount? Lift kits can be expensive, so you’ll need to plan accordingly. Do make sure to keep accessories and other parts in mind. For example, changing the height of your truck may require new mudflaps to keep it road legal. You might need new rims, new wheel setups, and more.
Body Lifts – Are they right for me? How do they work?
As mentioned earlier, a body lift moves the body of your Jeep a few inches off of your frame. It’s super cheap. All a mechanic needs to do is insert blocks. Do keep in mind that body lifts tend to be the lowest you can get in terms of height. Since you’re not changing your suspension components and only adding blocks, it can get a little tricky after just 2 inches of lift. Stock pieces are designed to work at a specific height. 2 inches is within the range, but anything more is not. If you lift it higher anyway, your parts are going to wear out quickly and break very easily.
For those that are unfamiliar, we’d like to clarify what we meant by the body on frame. Feel free to skip this paragraph. A body on frame vehicle is exactly as it sounds. A body secured to a frame. Unlike most modern crossovers and SUVs, Jeep Wranglers are body on frame. All suspension components, axles, drivetrains, and all other similar components are attached to the frame. Your engine, transmission, and exhaust systems are as well. The rest of the Jeep includes the cab, the engine bay structure, storage compartments, and everything else similar to them.
To clarify this a little more, all you need to do is refer to most modern-day pickup trucks. Since they need to be rigid enough to haul heavy loads and tow heavy trailers, their frames are solid like a Jeep. The cab and bed are both simply bolted onto this frame. For a long time, it’s been very rare to see a unibody strong enough to offroad or haul something heavy. However, as of late, there have been quite a few entering the market. The first was definitely the Honda Ridgeline. Despite the lack of harsh welcome into the industry, Honda’s pickup is quite capable and has won quite a few trucks of the year awards. New additions to the industry like Tesla’s cyber truck and Rivian’s adventure vehicle are also examples of pickups straying away from the solid frame (body on frame) design. Jeep however has stuck to the body on frame design for over 3 decades now. I guess the old saying if it ain’t broke don’t fix it, is a new Jeep motto.
We really want to make clear that body lifts are not what you need if you’re planning on off-roading. Yes, you can fit bigger wheels because of them, and they do look good, but your frame (or the bottom of your Jeep) won’t be any higher off the ground. Chances are, if you add bigger wheels it will only give you an extra inch of lift.
Budget Boost Lift – Are they right for me? How do they work?
This particular option isn’t necessarily a real lift kit. Instead, it’s more of a boost. By putting an extension on your existing components, you can achieve up to 2 and a half inches of lift. Most have the appropriate accessories and accompanying parts. For example, in some kits, you may get sway bars that have been extended. In others, you may get brackets for your brake lines. Similarly to a body lift, if you lift too much, you may cause quite a bit of damage. Since you’re only boosting certain parts, instead of replacing your entire suspension, your stock suspension components will now have to handle the strain of new angles. Angles that they weren’t actually designed to be at. Unfortunately, you won’t get a fantastic amount of strength out of this kit like our next options. It does however let you put on some larger wheels. On the JK models, you can actually fit 33” tires with a boost. Pretty darn good if you ask us!
Suspension Lift Kits – Are they right for me? How do they work?
Suspension lift kits are by far the best way to get that extra clearance and off-road ability. The previous options were more additions, but suspension lift kits are more of an upgrade. First of all, a suspension lift will raise the frame upwards instead of just the body. Secondly, since you’re upgrading all of the components, and said new components are working together, you’ll only experience normal wear and tear. Not damage from inaccurate operating angles. These lift kits allow you to raise the vehicle for more than the last two options. This means bigger tires, more aggressive tread, and more. Do keep in mind that you can now add heavier parts to your Jeep and not have to worry about it falling apart. The entire system as a whole will be stronger. To put this into perspective, look at it through a systematic lens. A system works together to produce something. Each part of the system has been fine-tuned to work together perfectly. So what happens if you just replace one of those parts? The whole system is thrown off. Suspension lift kits on the other hand take this into account, and not only upgrade the lift, but everything else it needs to work as well.
So what does this type of lift kit come with? First of all, most of them are based on a shock or coil extension. Either that or a complete replacement. Alongside these parts are everything you need to make the Jeep function as it would at stock. Meaning you won’t have to worry about angle problems and such. Most of these kits will provide you with bump stops brackets, track bars, transfer case kits, modified control arms, and more.
So is this particular lift kit right for you? The first thing you’ll definitely have to do is see whether or not a suspension lift kit fits into your budget. They can be quite expensive, so if you don’t have the cash right now, this type of lift may not be for you. You’re also going to have to think about how much offroading you do, as well as how difficult your trails are. If you offroad a lot, and the trails you visit are quite treacherous, we definitely recommend you get this option over the others. One last thing to think about before buying this lift kit is maintenance and monitoring. In order for this lift to work well for you, it’s going to need constant monitoring. You’ll always need to be on the ball about correcting and tweaking certain measurements and angles. You’ll need to keep track of how the components are keeping up. You’ll need to grease them when appropriate, and just all in all stay vigilant. For serious off-roaders this should be no problem.
Long Arm Lift Kits Versus Short Arm Lift Kits
A lot of customers get confused when they’re tasked with choosing between a short arm lift kit and a long arm lift kit. Let’s talk about how they’re different, along with the benefits of each. First of all, a short arm lift kit is cheaper. It’s probably the most common suspension lift kit out there. It comes with all the parts we mentioned in the previous section, and it’s actually quite easy to install. They call it a short arm lift kit because the various components use stock mounts. Not only do these kits use your factory mounts, but they include new technology and parts that ensure everything works despite the various angle changes. Most short arm lift kits will get you anywhere from 2 inches of lift to 6 inches of lift. Far better than a boost or a body lift. You’ll notice this particular system gives you great ground clearance, is very strong and provides a lot of flexibility with little to no breaking issues. One of the best parts of a short arm lift kit is the fact that you don’t need to do any welding, sanding, or metal working to get the job done. It’s as easy to put together like Lego. If you’re looking for a great driving experience, we definitely recommend you stay under 3 and a half inches of lift with a short arm lift kit. Anything over and the quality tends to drop slightly.
Longarm lift kits are an entirely new story. These are one of the most expensive setups to go far, but they are by far the most rewarding. They are the toughest, most advanced setups you can get. Not only will they provide you with a crazy amount of lift, a lot of room for wheels, and a crazy amount of durability, your ride quality will stay the same at virtually any height. This means you can lift them higher than short arm lift kits and still stay comfortable. The main difference here is that long arm lift kits don’t use stock mounts like the short arm options. Instead, all of the factory mounts are removed. This means a lot of metalworking, welding, and cutting through metal occurs. New mounts are put in place, and then the kit is installed. One thing to definitely take note of is that long arm lift kits take up considerably more space underneath the vehicle. This shouldn’t really be a surprise considering some of the new components can be quite large.
So let’s talk about which one is right for each person. First of all, a short arm lift kit is definitely the option for those with a smaller budget. They get the job done really well, and they don’t break the bank. However, they limit you to a lift of about 3 and a half inches, are considerably weaker than long arm options, and rely on stock mounts. The long arm options are definitely the option for people with big budgets. Considering you need to redo large portions of your frame, it shouldn’t be a surprise that it’s going to be expensive. This type of upgrade is one that’s on for the long haul and is for sure the type of upgrade that takes a while to install. This means you’ll be paying a lot for the parts and components, as well as the man-hours. So if you don’t have your own shop, you’re looking at some pretty hefty labor bills. The actual parts for this type of suspension are what really brings up the price as well. Sure, the short arm parts are designed to be strong, but long arm lift kits are designed to do the possible. They’re designed to let you explore trails that are nearly impassable by any other vehicle. They make it so that you can go Overlanding for weeks with little to no repair or maintenance. If you want strength, durability, reliability, and more, the long arm lift kits are for you. And that isn’t to say the short arm option isn’t durable as well. It’s just a tier lower.
Larger Wheels and Tires
Now that you’ve gotten a nice lift on your Jeep, it’s time to consider getting yourself some bigger tires. Not only do bigger tires make your Jeep look better, but they’re more functional. They’ll let you traverse more terrain, like mud, sand, and even water. Not to mention they’ll act as an extra layer of protection. In some cases, your tire size may even add more lift to your vehicle! Let’s talk about some of the specifics, shall we? On a YJ Wrangler, you’ll need a lift of about an inch and a half in order to get 31-inch tires. On a TJ Wrangler, you’ll need a one-inch lift. For 33 inch tires, you’ll need a 4-inch lift on the YJ and a 3-inch lift on the TJ. For 35 inch tires, you’re going to need a 6-inch lift on the YJ, and on the TJ, you’re going to need a 4-inch lift kit. You may also want to consider spaces to lessen the chance of the wheel rubbing against your wheel well. For 37 inch tires on a TJ, you’ll need a 6-inch lift. For 37 inch tires on a JK, you’ll need 3.5 inches of lift. Both models will require about an inch of wheel spacing.
As always, we definitely recommend you visit your local mechanic’s shop for more information on your tires. A lot of the time there is no standard, regardless of what models are out there. Vehicle wheel wells tend to shape and warp over time, making it very difficult to come up with an accuracy rating. Regardless, your mechanic will give you that answer you need for this one.
Fenders and Mud Flaps
As we’ve mentioned in depth several times, lift kits can change the operating angle for a lot of different components and mechanisms. This includes the various moving parts that spit up mud and water behind the vehicle. Typically the mudflap or fender would catch this material before it hits the car behind you, but after lifting your Jeep that protection becomes either minimal or obsolete. In order to protect the vehicles behind you, and stay legal on the road, we recommend you invest in a nice pair of fenders and mud flaps. You can get them for relatively cheap, and they’re fairly easy to install on your own. Each product should come with its own installation instructions and kit.
Steering and Speedometer/Odometer
One thing we have not mentioned is the effect of the lift on your actual driving mechanisms, such as steering and the various meters. If you change your tire size, you’ll need to get your car “updated” or “recalibrated”. If you fail to do so, your various gauges may present incorrect data considering they’re using the same settings as your stock (or previous) set of tires. Your steering may also need a refresh, for new parts and bigger wheels may have put the alignment off a little bit. Alignment isn’t a big issue. To put this in perspective, imagine you’re on a highway. You let go of the wheel, and the vehicle veers slightly to the right. Unless the road is angled, you should be tracking straight. If you notice this problem on your Jeep after the lift, we recommend you get a steering alignment done. This goes for all cars on the road, regardless of whether or not you’re driving a Jeep or a Prius.
Kit Inclusions
Do keep in mind that a lot of kits come with the above items. A lot actually include mud flaps and fenders designed to work with the new component orientations. Some shops even sell their kits with a free steering alignment thrown in. This is why it’s always good to do your research on Jeep lift kit options before buying one. You’ll never know what deal crosses your path. Especially since a lot of them are limited time only. This means every time you start looking, you may find something different. At first, it may be a bit frustrating, but eventually, you’ll begin to notice that there are some pretty good deals coming up. Unfortunately, these deals aren’t always available on lesser quality lift kits like boosting or body lifts. Most of the time they’re available on options like short arm lift kits and long arm lift kits.
Drive Shaft Replacement
Fortunately for most Jeep owners, the stock driveshaft on Jeep Wranglers is strong enough to handle most lift kits underneath a 2 and a half-inch lift. However, if you go above that point, you risk damaging the driveshaft. For those unfamiliar with what a driveshaft is, it’s basically a spinning pipe that transfers power to your wheels. It’s attached to the rear side of your transmission and is sent downwards towards your rear wheels (since most Jeeps are rear-wheel drive unless locked in). You may also need to change the various sub shafts that connect your wheel to your differential in the rear.
Disclaimer
We would like to point out that any damage done to your vehicle after reading this article is not our responsibility. You are responsible for cross-referencing all information, as well as consulting a professional mechanic before doing any strenuous work. This article is simply a collection of the most accurate information at our disposal up to the point of publication. With that being said, everything in this article is one hundred percent accurate (to the best of our ability of course).
Final Thoughts
We hope this article on how much does it cost to lift a Jeep helped you answer all of your questions. Driving a Jeep can be fun, but driving a lifted Jeep is even better. For more information feel free to reach out to us at any time. Our highly trained Jeep experts will provide you with the best information and advice they can muster. With that being said, enjoy driving around your newly lifted Jeep, and we wish you a hassle-free off-road experience.
As a final note to Jeep owners, make sure you note that if you get the wrong gear, and go offroading in a tough place, you may get stuck. Getting stuck leads to vehicle damage, and of course in rare cases, bodily harm. We recommend that you take some safety courses or at least go out with experienced off-roaders before you go off on your own. We also recommend that you always traverse with other people, rather than solo. Safety equipment is also a definite must when offroading, for if you miss any of it, things can go very wrong. We wish you the very best. Have a great offroading experience.