Rough Country

Im running the 4.5 lift with the AAL. I got the kit because it was cheaper than the rest.

the good:
-Good lift and easy install
-Fast shipping and good customer service
-Easy to upgrade

the bad:
-I too had the problem with the shock bushings but I belive it was because they are too small. Had them shred and bought new bigger bushings

-control arms have the zerks in a really bad spot (get clipped off) I may redrill and move if i keep the arms

-AAL sagged over time (due to large speaker box in back, my fault)

-spring clamps are cheap but thats what you are paying for

-TB relocation sucks (all of them do, its just a bandaid)

Overall I really like the kit, I have been upgrading every part of it since I bought it.

-tossed the TC drop due to SYE
-new rear full packs from RE
-tossed TB drop for RE1660 HD trackbar and HD bracket
-new upper shock bushings up front (Im running the nitro options)


So been running it for over a year now and still stand by it. Flexes well I have no real problems.

e9c5c005.jpg
 
I'm just curious, whats the spring rate on their coils???
 
I also run the 4.5" with AAL... Not bad! It flexes crazy with alot of fender cutting on 33x12.5. I noticed the mismatch of leaf packs, and my jeep sat quite funny. I fixed that with a block, but I wish to take that block out ASAP....... A little note on the TB relocation bracket, just drill another hole a few inches away on the stock bracket and place your Trackbar there. It will temporarily solve your problems without the flexing and eventual breakage that the TB reloc. bracket puts on the stock TB bracket. Change to a HD trackbar immediately! It'll save you more money than you think.... and add to the fact you won't hear and feel a POP every little bump you hit. =/. I wouldn't buy the kit again due to my investigations with DPGOffroad... but it's an awesome starter kit for a 16 year old <----!
 
Grimuss99,After reading around here and other web sites,trying to put together a lift kit which I was looking to get 3",your kit kept coming up for best priced.I hope I didn't waste my money.I am not looking to climb rocks or hard trails.All of my off road will be muddy field roads and low bottoms with 2'-3' of water.In the pass,I had aways used 3 and 4 wheelers to go were I needed.Now with the cost of $8,000-$9,000 for a new 4 wheeler,I just couldn't see killing another bike!Besides the price of 4 wheelers,I am to old to get a wet @ss in winter anymore!I will be posting here how the kit was installed by a first timer with the goods and the bads.My XJ is a 1999 sport loaded that has never been off road.All nuts has been oil down at this point waiting for the kit instalation.
Oh,by the way I do hope I get it by mid week coming.Look for a kit being shipped to louisiana.I made the order friday afternoon.Thanks Paul R
 
GRIMUS99XJ said:
shoot me a pm if you need it taken care of still i WILL take care of any customer service issues you may have

I bought the Rough Country 4.5" lift through JC Whitney, so I am not sure if I should contact them or you about this:
When I first installed my lift the Jeep sat almost even, but after I took it on 1 trail ride the AAL has already sagged to the point that the rear end is around 2" lower than the front. My leaf springs are flat again??? the only lift int he rear end that I can see now is the extended shackle. Is this common or can I get this replaced? I was planning on just replacing it with S10 leaves, but I like how well the lift rides now (not sure why everyone else thinks it's so rough?). All I carry in the rear of my XJ is my 2 kids & a spare tire. I have had this lift on less than a month & am very unhappy with the AAL sagging THAT quickly.

I also did not receive the correct hardware for the passenger side swaybar top end link. I had to use a bolt I had on hand & couldn't use the thick retaining washer, so I ended up losing this piece while driving. Can I order this piece? I contacted JC Whitney, but all they sent me to replace it was the swaybar link itself. No hardware or upper "connector" & it took 2 more weeks to get here...

On another related note, when I ordered the kit it took 2 weeks to get here & along with the above-mentioned hardware, I was also missing all the shock boots. They shipped those to me with the lost link when I contacted them.

Pics of the Jeep right after the install of the lift can be found here:
http://s25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/jfiscus/93 Jeep Cherokee/
newlift1.jpg


I don't have a pic of it now with the saggin going on, but even then the rear end looked a lot lower.
 
I am very glad to see a manufacturer take an active role in working with their customers in an open forum such as this...I am in the process of installing a 4.5 kit in one of my MJ's....I have beat the living snot out of a 3" kit in one of my XJ's and broken nothing...yes it was stiff....but it softened up some after a few well hit holes....we aren't talking potholes....we are talking serious tire swallowing mud holes....at speed...

With the 4.5 kit, I will comment that fit and finish is far better than I expected...the hardware is well packaged...and the instructions are improved.

Keep up the good work, stay involved with the customers....provide good service...you can't go wrong...maybe the 6.5 X kit for the OTHER MJ...
 
GRIMUS99XJ said:
sent you a pm

I called grimus99 (Jason) and talked to him about my experience, he said he'd get me some replacement parts shipped out right away, free of charge. GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE!

Thanks again!
I'll definitely keep on recommending Rough Country to all my fellow wheelers.
 
MudDawg said:
I am very glad to see a manufacturer take an active role in working with their customers in an open forum such as this...I am in the process of installing a 4.5 kit in one of my MJ's....I have beat the living snot out of a 3" kit in one of my XJ's and broken nothing...yes it was stiff....but it softened up some after a few well hit holes....we aren't talking potholes....we are talking serious tire swallowing mud holes....at speed...

With the 4.5 kit, I will comment that fit and finish is far better than I expected...the hardware is well packaged...and the instructions are improved.

Keep up the good work, stay involved with the customers....provide good service...you can't go wrong...maybe the 6.5 X kit for the OTHER MJ...

x2 on the active role on an open forum.

I have the 4.5" kit also, ran it for two years with 2" coil spacers and 2" blocks in the rear.( I know, I know, bad idea.)

Front coils are great, still running them with the coil spacers(have added a bumper and winch, and they're staying strong); lift blocks are gone, went with a 1.5" lift shackle and some heavy duty leaves a couple weeks ago, cuz my 4.5" rough countries were sagging(had a lot of weight in the back and 2 years of wheeling, to be expected) and one lift block had broken in half a couple weeks ago, sparking the new HD leaf packs.

Never even ran the shocks, cuz I had the spacers, so I needed longer shocks anyway.


Adam
 
I've got a 4.5" RC lift that was on there when I bought the Jeep... supposedly the previous owner mainly bought it for looks and to drive to his house in the mountains because his driveway wasn't yet finished... I was looking on the site and it's got swaybar discos for $50... how well do these work? And it says it's got two holes for 4.5" and 6" lifts... Would having those holes there cause any problems structurally in the future? Trying to decide if I should buy those or just make my own.
 
Bdiddy11 said:
I've got a 4.5" RC lift that was on there when I bought the Jeep... supposedly the previous owner mainly bought it for looks and to drive to his house in the mountains because his driveway wasn't yet finished... I was looking on the site and it's got swaybar discos for $50... how well do these work? And it says it's got two holes for 4.5" and 6" lifts... Would having those holes there cause any problems structurally in the future? Trying to decide if I should buy those or just make my own.


It is not the best discos that are out there but they do what they are supposed to, So for the money i would say you can't go wrong
 
I have there discos on my 89 xj, so far they are great, i forgot to pull the pins today an drove in to a dry river bed, it was a 2 foot drop almost rolled it. The pins slide out real easy after i did the drop, they didn't bend or break, i give this site a 10 out of 10.......
PS nothing got broke but my pride, had my dad with me. there is a spot in that seat now ha ha
 
i've had the 3" AAL kit installed for 7 years now with no sagging. have replaced the front shocks once since then. I would say definitely worth the $300 i paid at the time!
 
Is there a way to tell if I have the RC leafs? The lift was already on the Jeep when I bought it, but the leafs are pretty much flat and need replaced but i'm not sure if I can just get some leafs from a s-10 or the like, or if I need to get more of the RC 4.5" lift leafs? Any help would be dandy.
 
Bdiddy11 said:
Is there a way to tell if I have the RC leafs? The lift was already on the Jeep when I bought it, but the leafs are pretty much flat and need replaced but i'm not sure if I can just get some leafs from a s-10 or the like, or if I need to get more of the RC 4.5" lift leafs? Any help would be dandy.

Mine had a paint stamp on the top of the packs, they said ROUGH COUNTRY, then a part number. not sure otherwise.

Adam
 
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