Jeeps are the best means of travel if you love off-road driving. But to have a smooth experience, a regular older Jeep is not enough. It must be a Jeep that has lifts installed. So, do you have any idea how much to lift a Jeep?
There are many options to choose from in terms of Jeep lift. If you take the leveling lift kit, it will cost you between $200 to $1,000. A slightly better but expensive option is the body lift kit ranging between $400 to $11,000. And the most expensive option will cost you anywhere from $12,000 to $14,000.
Before you choose which lift you want to get, be sure to know which suits your Jeep. Different Jeeps have different preferences. So, learn all the details before you choose the perfect lift.
Table of Contents
What It Means To Lift Jeep
While driving off-road, you must have felt those bumps. It is inevitable if you want to enjoy a bit of the drive.
But it is detrimental to not only you but also your Jeep. While driving on such a road, you might knock the underside of your Jeep with a slightly steep curve!
To avoid such a scenario, it is best to increase the chassis height. In the case of regular old cars, there are tons of ways you can raise or lower the chassis. But for Jeeps, there is only one.
If you want to raise the chassis height, you will have to lift your Jeep. And to do so, you must make use of lift kits.
When lifting a Jeep, it literally means lifting or raising the Jeep. The tire frame of the vehicle can be raised as high as six inches by this method.
And does it help with the off-road experience? It undoubtedly does! But even before you ask about the price or cost of lifting your Jeep, you need to know whether you can raise your Jeep or not.
Considerations Before Lifting
Finding out that lifting your Jeep helps you with your off-road experience, many of you might be excited to get lifted. But there are a few things that you need to consider before you even think about raising your Jeep.
These things are a must if you want to get the bang for your buck. Here are some of the preconditions that you need to pay attention to.
Driving Habits
If you use your Jeep for daily commute activities, you don’t need to use a lift kit. You are not expected to do off-road driving on such routes. But if you are into off-road drives, then a minimum of a two-inch lift is best.
Model Of The Jeep
Different Jeeps have different chassis designs. This makes it so that not all lift kits can be used with them. Thus, if you are thinking of using a suspension lift kit, you need to check whether that kit can be used with your Jeep or not.
Preferred Tire Dimension
Not all lift kits are capable of lifting the Jeep the same amount. Depending on the size of tire you wish to install, the lift kit you use will vary.
For leveling kits, the highest lift is about 2 inches. On the other hand, the limit is 6 inches for suspension lift kits. So, get the equipment that will help you fit your tires properly.
Budget
Last but not least, money is the most important fact to consider before getting a lift kit. The price of a lift kit starts from two hundred to several thousand dollars.
This is the price for the equipment alone. There are also a few other auxiliary expenses that you will have to consider.
Different Lifting Options For Jeep
There are quite a few options to choose from if you are looking for a Jeep lift kit. Their price range varies depending on the manufacturer, but they have a standard price.
Depending on the amount of rising you want, you will have to choose one of the lift kits from the following.
Leveling Kits
Many Jeeps have the frontal tire section lower than the rear one. This causes the Jeep to have an uneven lift.
A leveling kit adds about an inch or two to the frontal part of the Jeep. It might seem negligible, but it is enormous compared to the default chassis height.
As the name suggests, a leveling kit levels the vehicle. So, if your Jeep has a frontal height that is lower than the rear, only a few inches, this kit will surely raise it by that much.
But for further lift, a different kit will be required. Since it only readjusts the lift of the Jeep body, it is the least expensive option among all the possible kits.
There is no need for a suspension change in this type of kit. Thus, the built quality is maintained, and the handling of the Jeep is not changed.
So if you are looking to lift your Jeep while keeping the quality intact, you will have to spend about $200 to $1,000 and use a leveling kit.
TeraFlex 1155200 JK is one of the best options you could go for.
Body Kits
The next option you can choose is the Body lift kit. This lifting kit is similar to the leveling kits but is much better.
This is because if you use this kit, you will be able to lift not only the front but also the rear side of the Jeep. And the best part is, it will cost you about $200 more than the leveling kit if the requirements are low!
Depending on the amount of lift and the model of your Jeep, this price can range from anywhere between $400 to $11,000.
The high-end body lift kits tweak the suspensions of the vehicle. This changes the performance and handling quality of your Jeep. So, if you are okay with the subtle changes, and don’t mind spending a bit more, then this lift kit is perfect.
One of the best body lift kits available in the market is TeraFlex 4152100. This body kit is cheaper compared to the other options, but its performance is top-notch.
However, before you get this particular model of the body kit, you should check whether it’s compatible with your vehicle or not.
Suspension Kits
When it comes to lifting, you should get a suspension lift kit if you are not panicked about the cost but the looks. This is the costliest of the bunch ranging from $12,000 to $14,000. And they have a solid backing for such ludicrous pricing.
The installation process of a suspension lift kit is quite complex compared to others. So, there is no way to DIY the customization.
Moreover, the entirety of the suspension is to be changed while installing this kit. But the best part is that you can lift your Jeep to six inches by using a suspension kit.
There are varieties of suspension kits one can choose from. Here are some of the best options.
Leaf Spring Suspension Kits – Icon Vehicle Dynamics ICO95225
Coil Spring Suspension Kits – ReadyLift 46-2729
Long Arm Kits – Traxxas 8140 TRX-4
Short Arm Kits – ReadyLift 49-6030
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
For casual Jeep drivers, there is no need to lift the Jeep. They can still do it to make their ride stand out. But for off-road drivers, lifting one’s Jeep is a must. This ensures enough clearance room beneath the vehicle to install larger tires suitable for off-road driving.
After installing a lift kit, the Jeep does face some performance issues. The overall power output and the mileage per gallon of fuel are significantly reduced. Moreover, the tires might get misaligned, causing some handling issues. Such errors can be avoided by taking professional help and getting better lift kits.
Depending on the type of lift kit you use, the cost will vary. The cheapest option is the leveling kit, and the costliest one is the suspension kit.
For the first one, you will have to spend somewhere between $200~$1,000. And as for suspension kits, it starts from $12,000 and can go up to $14,000.
Installing a lift kit other than the leveling one messes with the built-in suspensions. Thus, the warranty of your Jeep might be voided if you get a body or suspension lift. But this can be avoided if you get lift installation done through the dealership. This keeps the warranty intact.
One can easily install a lift kit following the below video if they have the necessary tools available. But such an action is not recommended.
A slight mistake during the installation process can cause serious life-threatening situations. Thus, it is highly recommended to seek professional help for lift installation.
Final Words
For a Jeep, the off-road experience has to be the best. Or else, what is the point of having a Jeep? The easiest way to spruce up this experience is by installing a lift within the Jeep. But you have to know how much to lift a Jeep.
Well, that will ultimately depend on you. You will have to spend anywhere between $200 to $14,000, depending on the amount of lift you want. Remember, the lower the cost, the lower your Jeep’s lift will be!
