JK Level 2 Build - Suspension, Regear, and 35 Inch Tires
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Trail Jeeps Level 2 Build Package for the JK Wrangler represents the best way to take your Jeep to the next level using the best components, wheel keeping the budget in mind. Using common sense, high quality upgrades, this packages gives you everything you need to properly set up your JK for a 35 inch tire with excellent street handling and great off road performance while providing a blank canvas for future upgrades. For a 35 inch tire, Trail Jeeps strongly recommends regearing the differentials to minimize performance fuel economy losses associated with larger tires.
Compatible Vehicles: 20017- 2018 JK Wrangler (all trims)
JSPEC JK Wrangler J-Konnect 4DR 3.5-inch system
The JKS JSpec line of suspensions offers some of the best, most complete suspension systems for the daily driven Jeep! Quality, USA made components include JKS's awesome dual rate coil springs, and are designed to be paired with Fox shocks. These kits offer better than factory street ride and drive, which quality, low maintenance components that are capable of being taken off road over and over again.
The J-Konnect 3.5 inch JK Suspension system features JKS's maintenance free, bombproof front and rear fixed lower control arms that correct caster in the front axle and push the rear axle back into the wheel well for perfect alignment for a 3.5 inch suspension lift. It also includes an OE style draglink flip, a must have for JKs lifted over 2.5 inches, that flattens steering and track bar angles that eliminates "bump steer" and provides crisp steering. This is the perfect suspension for a JK that you drive every day that still sees trail during the weekends. It can be upgraded in all sorts of ways to accommodate even better off road performance in the future!
The JKS J-Konnect JK Wrangler Suspension System includes the following components:
Front+Rear Dual Rate Coil Springs designed to great ride and improved performance across any terrain.
Front+Rear FOX 2.0 Adventure Series IFP specifically valved for this suspension system for improved performance on and off-road with Fox 2.0 Performance Series IFP and Fox Performance Elite 2.5 upgrades available.
Front Adjustable Track Bar and Rear Track Bar Bracket to correct axle positioning under vehicle.
Front Sway Bar Quicker Disconnects and Brake Line Brackets to allow for increased offroad articulation.
Front+Rear J-Link Lower Control Arms for improved strength and caster correction.
Front+Rear Track Bar Support Braces to improve strength and protection.
HD Drag Link Flip Kit w/ Track Bar Bracket to improve steering angles for better handling.
Front+Rear Bump Stop Extensions to properly limit suspension up travel.
SteerSmarts YETI JK/JKU Sector Shaft Brace with Frame Side Track Bar Reinforcement Bracket
Trail Jeeps strongly recommends a sector shaft brace to guard against premature steering box failure on any lifted application with a factory steering box.
The YETI XD™ JK/JKU Sector Shaft Brace With Frame Side Track Bar Reinforcement Bracket was engineered to bolt onto the stock track bar mount on the frame. The purpose of this piece is two-fold. First, the sector shaft support is meant to help minimize the aluminum and steel steering gears from flexing/deflecting/moving when cycling your steering system side to side. The second part of the product is to reinforce the frame side track bar mounting location to help minimize the deflection of this frame side bracket and ensure that the mount doesn't break under extreme stress.
JK Alpha HD Adjustable Spare Tire Carrier & Adjustable Spare Mount Kit 5x5
To fit a 35 inch spare tire on a JK Wrangler, a spare tire carrier upgrade is required for strength and accommodation of a spare tire larger than 33 inches. Trail Jeeps recommends sticking with gate mount carriers for simplicity, one handed opening and rattle free performance on the street and trails.
The Teraflex HD Alpha Carrier and Spare Tire Mount is our go-to spare tire carrier solution, featuring a beefy hinge assembly, adjustability for carrying up to a 40 inch spare, along with back up camera and license plate support all in an easy to operate package with great fit an finish.
Revolution JK Rubicon Ratio Gear Package (D44-D44) w/Koyo Bearings
Trail Jeeps specializes in driveline and differential upgrades, and we strongly recommend regearing your JK Wrangler for anything taller than a 35 inch tire. The JK 3.8 and 3.6 do their best to keep your Jeep moving, but struggle to move larger tires, especially at elevation. When you regear, you are increasing the engine and transmission's leverage on the tires, getting precious torque back that is lost with the addition of larger tires, keeps your transmission in its proper gears at highway speeds, and drastically decreases wear on engine and driveline components. As an added bonus, a JK on 35s that has been geared properly experiences minimum fuel economy loss, that translates into real increase in range and reduces money spent at the pump.
Trail Jeeps likes to regear to 5.13 for a 35 inch tire, especially when pulling a trailer or regularly driving into the mountains. For manual transmissions or Jeeps that see a lot of highway driving on flatter roads, a 4.88 gear is also a consideration and can provide additional fuel economy if driven for long distances.
For our gears, Trail Jeeps sticks with Revolution Gear and Axle exclusively for reliable, quiet operation, predictable installation characteristics, and for their solid warranty policy. It is also worth nothing that Revolution Gear and Axle is an American, veteran owned company, who we have had an awesome relationship with for years. Their gears are cut in South Korea, which is the place to go for OE quality gears. Watch out for gears made in China.
*Gearing is available for Sport/Sahara and Rubicon applications. It is worth noting that Sport and Sahara Wranglers do not come with locking differentials, and that now is the perfect time to add a locker if you plan to hit the trails! In order to install a locker, you have to perform gear job labor, and a locker goes in with gearing for free, with only a couple additional labor hours required for wiring and switch ware.
*Sport/Sahara 30 spline Dana 44s with a tow package and factory 3.73 gears come with a Trak-Lok limited lip differential, which is very prone to failure at higher miles. 75% of the Trak-Lok differentials we inspect have chipped spider gears, we will not install gears on a compromised Trak-Lok. It is recommended that Sport/Sahara owners should be prepared to replace the carrier or upgrade their rear axle to an Eaton E Locker if the Trak-Lock or open differential is worn. Contact Trail Jeeps for more info on this common problem.
Here's more info from Revolution Gear and Axle on their gears:
Gear Packages from Revolution Gear and Axle include Front and Rear Ring and Pinion Gear Sets and Master Install Bearing Kits.
Re-gear your 2007-18 Jeep Wrangler JK with one of our most popular gear packages. Complete your 4x4 Jeep build with parts from the brand that off-roaders have trusted for decades. Our mating Master Install Kits offer a comprehensive bill of material with all the components needed to overhaul your differential ring and pinion gear set.
Enhanced Capability and Performance: The optimized gear ratio improves torque delivery to the wheels, allowing for better traction and control. Towing performance is improved when you install the correct gear ratio for your vehicle setup by providing increased torque at lower speeds, making it easier to pull heavy loads without straining the engine. This means smoother, more efficient towing, whether you're hauling a trailer or carrying gear for your next adventure.
Increased Fuel Efficiency at Highway Speeds: Contrary to what one might expect, the right gear ratio can contribute to better fuel efficiency. By optimizing the engine's RPM at highway speeds, the ring and pinion gear set helps maintain a more efficient fuel consumption rate, saving you money and extending your journeys.
Superior Strength and Durability: Revolution Gear and Axle is renowned for their commitment to quality. All ring and pinion gear sets are made from high grade steel using precision gear cutting and heat treatment processes that meet or exceed Original Equipment standards. This results in a product that not only performs exceptionally but also withstands the rigors of both daily driving and extreme off-road conditions.
Easy Installation and Quiet Operation: With over 40 years of manufacturing experience, Revolution Gear and Axle ring and pinions are preferred by installers for smooth and consistent setup. Our gear sets offer quiet operation, ensuring a comfortable ride without the annoying gear whine often associated with aftermarket gear sets.
All Revolution Gear and Axle Ring and Pinion gear sets are backed by a 2 Year Warranty against manufacturing defects. With products that have been Street, Off Road and Race proven, you can count on Revolution Gear and Axle products to be the most trusted in the aftermarket.
Nitto Ridge Grapplers (35x11.50R17 LT) x5
The Nitto Ridge Grappler is an excellent all around off road tire for the daily driver, and was chosen for this package for its excellent all round performance. It has excellent street manners, slings mud like a mud terrain (until things get really gooey) and climbs rocks like a champ. This is probably the most capable off road ready daily driver tire out there. It does fine in the rain, but does suffer from mediocre performance in the ice and snow, in which case you might consider a Recon Grappler, BFG or Mickey Thompson Baja Boss AT, or Falken AT4W. The 37x12.50 Ridge Grapplers is the default tire for this package, but All Terrain and Mud Terrain options are available at no change in pricing..
For a Stage 2 JK build, Trail Jeeps recommends keeping tire size increases to a 35 inch tire in an 11.50 inch size for factory wheels, and 12.50 wide for aftermarket wheels. A 35 inch tire is the limit for factory fenders, bumpers and body. It also is the limit for non-Rubicon axles, and the recommended limit for Rubicons that see off road use. For Sport and Sahara JKs, we recommend keeping an open differential and if you plan on off-roading, you might want to considering upgrading to a stronger Dana 44 front axle. For Rubicons, the factory front axle can handle moderate off road abuse with a 35 inch tire, but even so, if it's going to see a lot of off road action, we recommend upgrading axle shafts and balljoints for strength and trussing the front axle to keep it from bending over time.
This tire can be had for 17 or 18 factory wheels. A 35 inch tire requires and upgraded spare tire carrier for your spare.
Other tire options are available for this package, and performance wheel upgrades are available!
Spidertrax Jeep 1.5" Thick Wheel Spacers x2
A 35 inch tire installed on a factory wheel does require a wheel spacer to push the tires out and make room for the additional space needed to turn the tire, providing clearance against the frame and control arms. As long as a quality wheel spacer is used, Trail Jeeps has no problems with wheel spacers. We only used Spidertrax wheel spacers for their strength and quality. Wheel spacers do require a little bit of additional consideration when removing and reinstalling, and must be inspected before reinstalling if repairs or brake replacements need to be done.
Spidertrax wheel spacers are made of 6061T6 aluminum and are manufactured right here in a Colorado!
If you opt to upgrade your wheels to a performance aftermarket set, spacers will not be utilized.
Adams Driveshaft JK Front 1310 CV Driveshaft Solid U-Joints [Extreme Duty Series]
The front driveshaft is always recommended for trail use with a lifted suspension, and is always included in 3.5" and up suspension packages from Trail Jeeps. The factory driveshaft, while strong enough, usually goes bad by 70,000 miles with the front going out first. The fat factory front driveshaft also hits the exhaust loop on 12-18 JKs and requires replacement for the suspension to cycle.
Adams Jeep JK 1310 driveshafts are the strongest driveshafts on the aftermarket. They use only the best driveshaft components made by American companies Spicer and Neapco, and are proudly made in Las Vegas Nevada, USA.
Price: $11,580