Jacob Ochs Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 I am thinking of ordering the 4.5 rough country kit for my MJ, is there anyone here that has it that could give me advise and post a picture of theirs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incommando Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 Most people dislike Rough Country. The quality is considered poor and they create a "rough" ride. Kits are missing parts way too often. There are better options out there but you have to be careful: Hellcreek makes awesome rear springs but uses Rough Country front springs in their kits. Rocky Road is another company that has had a lot of bad press for customer service and over-stated product claims. Zone is getting a lot of good press. Their list price is a few bucks more than RC but you can get them cheaper on ebay and by asking for a quote on Pirate. http://zoneoffroad.com/suspension-lift-kits_jeep I did not know better and used a RC 4.5" kit on my first XJ. Parts were missing from the box and I got nothing but the run-around from them. For example the list clearly stated (then and now) that the kit includes extended sway bar links. Mine did not. Upon talking to them repeatedly and not getting anywhere RC finally said that they were not going to ship them as the kit no longer includes them but they were accidentally left in the component list. They are still "accidentally" in that component list on their website. This lead me to checking the net about these shysters ( something I should have done beforehand) and learning that such issues are common with RC. A post on here got going pretty good and the best that the main RC cheerleader could say was that he liked them because they have always sent him free stuff like ball caps when they mess up. :doh: My '88 on 32x11.5's with the RC 4.5" but I would not buy from them again. The ride quality was poor and I was not impressed with the flex. I am piecing a good off-road ready SOA together now but it is planned for 5.5" of lift.. I will have about $800 in it but that should be complete including shipping. That will also include more components, like adjustable control arms, and better quality stuff from vendors like Rubicon Express and Iron Rock Off Road, then a kit like RC's. Some listed SOA's you find are far from complete and will cost you about $300 more than stated (and more than mine) to complete them and hundreds more than that (about double the posted price) to duplicate it and that is without shipping charges. Before deciding on a lift and tires, though, be honest about what you want from your XJ. If it is a daily driver build it that way. If it really is almost trail-only build it that way. A popular SOA lift thread on here is very upfront about the lift being for looks and on-road use at the cost of off-road ability as they do not intend to ever go off-road. So it is important to build for what you will honestly be doing with your jeep for the foreseeable future as that builder did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yxmj Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 I am up in Canada...and even with the lower Dollar and shipping I found the best Deal to be from Rusty's Off Road. I Recently put a 3" on my sons XJ. (Springs and shocks) The Shipping was fast (even to the great white north) The kit came complete, everything advertised was included new and shiny. Install instructions were included and easy to follow (and available on their website if you lose your hard copy). By myself about 4 hrs right in the driveway. :thumbsup: Just my 2 cents . :MJ 1: . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacob Ochs Posted April 2, 2014 Author Share Posted April 2, 2014 Thanks guys! I was mostly just getting it for looks and on road use, what would be the best kit that's 4.5 or above in a 500$ price range? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incommando Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 I am sold on the zone myself Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacob Ochs Posted April 2, 2014 Author Share Posted April 2, 2014 Does zone come with shocks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desertmike Posted April 3, 2014 Share Posted April 3, 2014 I changed lift kits several years ago to an RC 4.5 long arm. Works fine and rides better than the last kit. Not a DD though it is street legal. Put a Rubicon Express 3.5 superflex with rear springs on the wifes XJ. That setup rides really good. Got shocks with both kits but don't know if they were included. Both have Iron Rock adjustable track bars with the bracket. Don't forget to use castle nuts on the track bar bolts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incommando Posted April 3, 2014 Share Posted April 3, 2014 Does zone come with shocks? Yes it does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tactical Bacon Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 To me, it seems that RC cleaned up their act a couple of years ago. Seems that most of the complaints I've seen are around 3-4 yrs or older. My personal experience with them has been excellent and I'm personally acquainted with one of the employees there. YMMV, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incommando Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 The rough ride complaints remain as far as I can tell. Against my advice a buddy put an RC 4.5" on his xj last fall. Rides like crap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tactical Bacon Posted April 5, 2014 Share Posted April 5, 2014 I call it stiff but I don't see rough. It's what the majority of my club runs and we're all happy hunky dory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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