Ground Clearance: How Much is Enough?

[Brendon Holt]

So one of the things I'm looking to do more of with the KJ is overlanding type trips deeper into the mountains and surrounding landscape here in Montana (and beyond probably). I've never been super interested in hard off roading or driving through very hard trails just to do it.

So one of the questions I have is, how much ground clearance should I shoot for for those purposes (knowing that there is no magic number, just looking for a general idea)? My all stock KJ on 245/70/16s sits at about 8" under the front skid and the rear diff now. So, what's a good number to strive for as a general rule?

 

[Doing10to20]

I would say 2.5 in lift would be more than enough and you dont have to spend alot...I trail the hell out of mine and daily drive it and I've kept the budget low.

 

[tommudd]

DDing it is all in mind set. I DD'd my 04 for years with 32s and 4.5 inches of lift can see ground clearance in the picture beide this, don't ask what it was/is cause they figure means nothing to me at all
Its all in how you drive up and over things

Tire height is what gives you more height, but also we are limited to how big of a tire you can use with any lift

 

[Brendon Holt]

I would say 2.5 in lift would be more than enough and you dont have to spend alot...I trail the hell out of mine and daily drive it and I've kept the budget low.

Yeah, I think the OME lift is a for sure in the future. And probably going up to 245/75/16s. Maybe a 31? Can you fit a 31 with the 927/948 lift? I guess I could add the clevis lift and isolators to add more height if I need it. I don't really wanna deal with re-gearing because it sounds like finding 4.10 gears has become kind of a pain in the ass.

DDing it is all in mind set. I DD'd my 04 for years with 32s and 4.5 inches of lift can see ground clearance in the picture beide this, don't ask what it was/is cause they figure means nothing to me at all
Its all in how you drive up and over things

Tire height is what gives you more height, but also we are limited to how big of a tire you can use with any lift

Ha, I'd def DD your KJ too (well, any of them actually)! I don't mind DD'ing a lifted KJ at all. And it sounds like a KJ on an OME lift is a pleasure to drive. Also, good point about picking the right line.

I know tire height gives you more clearance in the rear because solid axle, but it's that thing where you need the lift to fit bigger tires, right?

 

[tommudd]

with 2.5 inch lift, a 31 inch tall tire, ( 245-75-16 or 265-70-16 , same height ) and 4.10 gearing perfect combo
oh on 7 inch wide wheel and 4 inches of backspacing

 

[Doing10to20]

with 2.5 inch lift, a 31 inch tall tire, ( 245-75-16 or 265-70-16 , same height ) and 4.10 gearing perfect combo
oh on 7 inch wide wheel and 4 inches of backspacing

That would seem to be the best combo
I personally ride on 255/75/17 bfs and I've had the duratec both very good tires ..no regear tho so crappy gas mileage ,but it does the job well on highway and trails..i personally wont regear a 17yr old jeep especially with 4.10s so hard to find off the crd and them being expensive if going new

 

[Jo6pak]

Don't forget the skid plates.
You'll still want the insurance when "enough" clearance become "not enough"

 

[Brendon Holt]

Don't forget the skid plates.
You'll still want the insurance when "enough" clearance become "not enough"

Mine does have the factory skids which is great. It even has a skid plate on the gas tank. I'm not sure what package it came with from the factory but whoever bought it in the first place way back on '02 set themselves up with a pretty sweet little rig. It has the limited slip as well.

 

[TorrentIV]

with 2.5 inch lift, a 31 inch tall tire, ( 245-75-16 or 265-70-16 , same height ) and 4.10 gearing perfect combo
oh on 7 inch wide wheel and 4 inches of backspacing

So close, looks like all i need are 4.10s now

 

[Brendon Holt]

That would seem to be the best combo
I personally ride on 255/75/17 bfs and I've had the duratec both very good tires ..no regear tho so crappy gas mileage ,but it does the job well on highway and trails..i personally wont regear a 17yr old jeep especially with 4.10s so hard to find off the crd and them being expensive if going new

What kinda MPGs do you get with those monsters on there? And how noticeable is the drop in power? The terrain is pretty varied here since we're basically in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains so I'm worried going too big without a re-gear would make it feel underpowered on a day to day basis. I think 245/75/16 would be as big as I would go.

 

[TorrentIV]

I'm interested too, currently running 3.73, 245 70r16, and getting 13-16 mpg for now. This evap code isn't helping though I'm not sure if it hurting much either.

 

[Doing10to20]

What kinda MPGs do you get with those monsters on there? And how noticeable is the drop in power? The terrain is pretty varied here since we're basically in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains so I'm worried going too big without a re-gear would make it feel underpowered on a day to day basis. I think 245/75/16 would be as big as I would go.

I get about 15 to 17 a galloon... power on the trails dont notice a loss at all..on the highway/streets it feels ok you do notice a bit of slower acceleration but you can still pass, to get to some of these trails in Az you gotta go north into Flagstaff or sedona and I've never been under powered when driving up in elevation ..it just depends on personal preference I guess ,it's an old jeep they're slugs, to me it feels good..if it was an issue on the trail I would of adjusted but it isnt

 

[Brendon Holt]

I get about 15 to 17 a galloon... power on the trails dont notice a loss at all..on the highway/streets it feels ok you do notice a bit of slower acceleration but you can still pass, to get to some of these trails in Az you gotta go north into Flagstaff or sedona and I've never been under powered when driving up in elevation ..it just depends on personal preference I guess ,it's an old jeep they're slugs, to me it feels good..if it was an issue on the trail I would of adjusted but it isnt

Oh that doesn't sound too bad. The KJ has more grunt to it than my old WJ with the 4.0 so I would imagine it'd be something like going back to that, and I never really found the WJ hard to live with in terms of power.

 

[randymorris]

I get about 15 to 17 a galloon... power on the trails dont notice a loss at all..on the highway/streets it feels ok you do notice a bit of slower acceleration but you can still pass, to get to some of these trails in Az you gotta go north into Flagstaff or sedona and I've never been under powered when driving up in elevation ..it just depends on personal preference I guess ,it's an old jeep they're slugs, to me it feels good..if it was an issue on the trail I would of adjusted but it isnt

Where about in Arizona are you? I’m in Phoenix and I love to go up to the Rim area most often.

 

[Doing10to20]

Where about in Arizona are you? I’m in Phoenix and I love to go up to the Rim area most often.

West side phx

 

[Doing10to20]

Oh that doesn't sound too bad. The KJ has more grunt to it than my old WJ with the 4.0 so I would imagine it'd be something like going back to that, and I never really found the WJ hard to live with in terms of power.

Yeah hear ya I got a lifted 91 xj, so I feel the same way

 

[tommudd]

LOL, saying a regear is not needed
Have you ever actually driven one with larger tires and 4 . 10s ?
Makes a huge difference for sure ,, PLUS it's not only for gas mileage , the transmission continually is hunting for the right gear, keeps shifting back and forth, more wear and tear on it , plus runs way hotter.
4.10s came in 4 cylinder gassers , not CRDs stateside

 

[tommudd]

I get about 15 to 17 a galloon... power on the trails dont notice a loss at all..on the highway/streets it feels ok you do notice a bit of slower acceleration but you can still pass, to get to some of these trails in Az you gotta go north into Flagstaff or sedona and I've never been under powered when driving up in elevation ..it just depends on personal preference I guess ,it's an old jeep they're slugs, to me it feels good..if it was an issue on the trail I would of adjusted but it isnt

LOL :0

 

[tommudd]

That would seem to be the best combo
I personally ride on 255/75/17 bfs and I've had the duratec both very good tires ..no regear tho so crappy gas mileage ,but it does the job well on highway and trails..i personally wont regear a 17yr old jeep especially with 4.10s so hard to find off the crd and them being expensive if going new

Sad a 32 inch tall tire on 2.5 inches of lift? No room for any flex, have to run way more bumpstops, and power way down no matter if you admit it or not .
PLUS off road you would not notice it, you have low range so having lower gears , while helpful , can be worked around off road. On road is where you really need 4.10s with larger tires, due to the shifting, mileage, extra wear and tear. As far as the costs, I've bought 500 dollar 4x4s in the past ( been building them since 1972 ) and spent more than what I paid for them in lifting, regearing etc. But to do or build one right it's the only way.

 

[Brendon Holt]

Sad a 32 inch tall tire on 2.5 inches of lift? No room for any flex, have to run way more bumpstops, and power way down no matter if you admit it or not .
PLUS off road you would not notice it, you have low range so having lower gears , while helpful , can be worked around off road. On road is where you really need 4.10s with larger tires, due to the shifting, mileage, extra wear and tear. As far as the costs, I've bought 500 dollar 4x4s in the past ( been building them since 1972 ) and spent more than what I paid for them in lifting, regearing etc. But to do or build one right it's the only way.

Tom, how hard are the 4.10 gears to find nowadays if one wanted to do the re-gear? I feel like I remember some recent posts of people having a hard time locating them out of the 2.4 equipped Libertys.