Need Advice - 4WD shop in North AL

[jmowens]

OK, so I'm tired of running stock. --let me 1st say that I'd rather not do my lift myself -- I don't have anything more than basic tools... I'm very accident prone, and not only do I ride in my XJ daily to work and home, so do my 5 year old and 2 month old daughters... so I don't want to screw up something!!

I live in the Huntsville AL area, and today I went to the major off road shop here to get a quote on a BB installed - I've searched quite a lot, so I know that I can fit 31's (on stock wheels) with 2" with rubbing on LCAs as long as I don't flex it out much (I don't -- just mud for me -- I drive it daily -- can't afford to tear it up on some rocks).
Well 1st the guy told me that if I put 31s on with only 2" I basically won't be able to turn at all... on top of that the "great price" he quoted me for a 2" BB - $235 - is for the kit only!! :doh: So he says it'll be $600+ installed, and something like another $50 if I wanted it aligned afterward... Didn't exactly instill confidence.

So, for any of you in North AL, is there a good shop you would recommend that's not gonna try to charge me $600 for a budget boost?

Thanks!

 

[ferret063]

contact cj8rckcrlr on here, he has worked at rocket city offroad and dixie offroad and is workin on opening his own shop in huntsville. he usually does side jobs at his house.

 

[yellowxj]

Wont turn at all huh? Thats funny.

a straight BB kit with out shocks should only be around $100 from a bunch of different sources....install time...depends on what obstacles you run into...shackle or AAL or block(yuck) in back...could run into problems that would run up the hourly cost of putting it in (siezed shackle bolts, nuts breaking loose in the unibody)...

So it was $600 total price range minus the over priced kit for $235 equals $365 for labor...thats about 6 hours at $60/hr...that might be book time for the kit, I dunno...maybe do some research, see if the lift kit manufacturor has the time listed on their web site that it commonly takes to install it. $60/hr isnt outrageous where I'm from for a mechanic to charge, find the time though...if the manufacturor says it only takes 4 hours to install you might be able to use that to negoitiate a better price...at a different shop...you might just have sticker shock
The alignment should be done though.

 

[yellowxj]

http://roughcountry.com/jeep_xj_1.html

So here the roughcountry kit comes with shocks for $239? and lists a 2-4 hour install time.

So the price for the kit is dead on if it comes with shocks...but the labor time might be a little off. 4 hours at $60 is $240 for labor...if they only charge $60/hour...could be $80/hr...

sorry...I'm bored and been drinking a bit...hope I was constructive and coherent

 

[Jess]

On on of my DD's I have just cut the fenders and am running 31's on stock rims with only slight rubbing. If you don't mind some cutting you don't even need the BB.....just a thought.

 

[XJ FREAK]

Hey man I am new to the group but the 3.5 inch lift on my 88 from rubicon express was easy. I had my freind (a tech) come over and help me because i did not think i could do it but it turned out good. kit cost me about 800

 

[jmowens]

On on of my DD's I have just cut the fenders and am running 31's on stock rims with only slight rubbing. If you don't mind some cutting you don't even need the BB.....just a thought.

Got any pics of that?

 

[popsmrf]

hey buy your kit yourself and take it down to big 10 on the parkway. ask to speak to robert gaines. he has been in the 4wd hobby since jesus was a tricycle motor, and knows what he is doing. he has built some of the baddest 4x4 trucks around. by the way...best alignment man around.

 

[Jess]

sorry......just saw your post-I have none right now, but I will take some and post them up in the next day or two.

I think it looks good and it stays on the street...the most extreme thing it gets it curbs in parking lots.

 

[ChuckstrPT]

contact cj8rckcrlr on here, he has worked at rocket city offroad and dixie offroad and is workin on opening his own shop in huntsville. he usually does side jobs at his house.

x2. He seems pretty capable. The lift thing isn't really that hard. I did mine in my garage (with air tools). Actually did the entire rear by myself. I started to loosen some things the night before my buddy was coming over to help. Everthing loosened up nicely (pre soaked in PB blaster) so I just kept going. Before I knew it, the rear was done. Next day we had the front done. Was pretty straight forward. If you are paying to have it done, you might as well go all the way, and get springs....I'm on 3 inches. I wouldn't do all that labor just for a budget boost. It's the same work for the full suspension, and you get so much more. Oh, and my 3 year old, and 1 year old love riding in Daddy's Jeep......:viking:

 

[ChuckstrPT]

So, looking at our signature, I'm guessing you've already got the 3 inch suspension on there??:doh:

 

[Archdukeferdinand]

I've heard a couple of accounts of fitting 31x10.50s on stock with just a little trimming. Since there's no such thing as a body lift on a cherokee without some serious cutting and welding, why not get as much height out of a BB as you can? 2" just to fit the tires might as well be more. Go to 3". If you get driveline vibes, a transfer case drop is $30, you can get plenty of drop to match 3-4" of lift. Not the best way to fix it, but cheap and effective.

I run a '97 with 3.5 " of home-installed spacers and AALs, I have 31x10.50s on and can't rub the tires on the stock LCAs and minorly trimmed fenders when I'm trying to. I don't flex quite as nicely as my buddy with the YJ with the professionally installed skyjacker lift kit and 33s, but I spent $110 on my lift kit shipped, and can keep up in most cases. Its my DD, and no doubt it drives like a lifted vehicle but it handles the mountain roads fine, evn without swaybars. My mom has a 3" lifted 95 with 32s on stock flares, and it drives great. Can't flex it all the way out, but it looks tough, works as a DD during the winter. Even with more rubber, her XJ has better handling manners because of the anti-sway bars.

Either way you go, its easy to build a DD with 3" of lift for cheap.

 

[shortxjdoug]

I've heard a couple of accounts of fitting 31x10.50s on stock with just a little trimming. Since there's no such thing as a body lift on a cherokee without some serious cutting and welding, why not get as much height out of a BB as you can? 2" just to fit the tires might as well be more. Go to 3". If you get driveline vibes, a transfer case drop is $30, you can get plenty of drop to match 3-4" of lift. Not the best way to fix it, but cheap and effective.

I run a '97 with 3.5 " of home-installed spacers and AALs, I have 31x10.50s on and can't rub the tires on the stock LCAs and minorly trimmed fenders when I'm trying to. I don't flex quite as nicely as my buddy with the YJ with the professionally installed skyjacker lift kit and 33s, but I spent $110 on my lift kit shipped, and can keep up in most cases. Its my DD, and no doubt it drives like a lifted vehicle but it handles the mountain roads fine, evn without swaybars. My mom has a 3" lifted 95 with 32s on stock flares, and it drives great. Can't flex it all the way out, but it looks tough, works as a DD during the winter. Even with more rubber, her XJ has better handling manners because of the anti-sway bars.

Either way you go, its easy to build a DD with 3" of lift for cheap.

without swaybars a budget boosted cherokee will amaze you with how well it flexes....

 

[jmowens]

So, looking at our signature, I'm guessing you've already got the 3 inch suspension on there??:doh:

Yeah, bit the bullet. I bought a 3" Rough Country aal ... go ahead, flame on ...

Anyway, got it 2 days after I placed the order. My 18 year old brother-in-law and I put it on over the weekend... I updated my sig, but totally forgot about starting this thread.

FWIW, I really like the Rough Country lift. It doesn't seem that rough to me, actually better than it was stock - it felt like you were in a boat -- 182K on original shocks = really bouncy ride.

Installing the kit wasn't that bad - If I can do it, anyone can. I only had 2 problems - Broke every single stinking rear upper shock mount, even after 3 weeks of PB Blasting!!! - and had never searched on removing the stock steering stabilizer... 30 minutes later and a lotta hits from a 3 lb. sledge... finally got it off!

Anyway, got it done without having to pay someone! I like it, and actually got about 3.5 front and 3.75 rear. Yes, I have driveline vibes, but I ordered a X-case drop from Rusty today!

 

[jmowens]

Now I just gotta get my 31's!! looks very silly with around 3.5" lift and 225s!

 

[256offroad]

Now I just gotta get my 31's!! looks very silly with around 3.5" lift and 225s!

haha now you know how i feel i am ridin on a 4.5 inch lift on 30s....yea it looks silly but i can stuff the helloutta them tires....and i went with the rough country 4.5 inch lift from james aka cj8crwlr....and i installed it by my self...not much trouble with myn...haha...

 

[jmowens]

Well, I got my tires - OK Tire on the Parkway set me up with some Kelley Springfield Safari DTR's. Looks a ton better, and that tread does a lot better in the mud than the street tires I did have!

256offroad, what color is your XJ? I don't think I've seen you around town... only other lifted XJ I've seen is a black one that looks to have 4-6 inches of lift and about 33s... I see him many afternoons driving south on the parkway covered in mud...

 

[256offroad]

Well, I got my tires - OK Tire on the Parkway set me up with some Kelley Springfield Safari DTR's. Looks a ton better, and that tread does a lot better in the mud than the street tires I did have!

256offroad, what color is your XJ? I don't think I've seen you around town... only other lifted XJ I've seen is a black one that looks to have 4-6 inches of lift and about 33s... I see him many afternoons driving south on the parkway covered in mud...

myn is primered maroon with herculiner on the rockerpanels....it is on 15inch chrome wheels with old buckshots....i have seen that black one driving around, ill post a pic of myn soon...

have you seen my cousins? it is green with a roof rack on rubicon wheels, with a long armed 6inch lift and a black brush guard...

 

[jmowens]

myn is primered maroon with herculiner on the rockerpanels....it is on 15inch chrome wheels with old buckshots....i have seen that black one driving around, ill post a pic of myn soon...

have you seen my cousins? it is green with a roof rack on rubicon wheels, with a long armed 6inch lift and a black brush guard...

Yes, saw him in the medical district about a month ago, but we were heading opposite directions...

 

[256offroad]

yea here is a pic of my jeep...