New to Overlanding, Help!

[LilWayne]

As someone who doesn’t know a lot about cars I figured a Jeep would be a good platform to enter the car scene on. Even with the bolt on accessories I’m still lost because I don’t know the first thing about suspension or wheel sizes or any other vital upgrades to prep my gladiator for off-roading while having a fun time with some friends. Can anyone help me select some parts?
This is what my local OK4WD recommended v

Jeep Gladiator 2.5" Premium Lift Kit 2020+, JT

If you’ve been searching for the ultimate lift kit for your Jeep Gladiator JT 2020+, then look no further. Our all NEW JT suspension systems were designed to meet both your demanding off-road AND on-road needs. Available in both 2.5" & 3.5" lift variants, all 8 of the adjustable control arms...

www.claytonoffroad.com

 

[M Rose]

For what that kit has, look some more... seams kind of steep

 

[diabetiktaco]

As someone who doesn’t know a lot about cars I figured a Jeep would be a good platform to enter the car scene on. Even with the bolt on accessories I’m still lost because I don’t know the first thing about suspension or wheel sizes or any other vital upgrades to prep my gladiator for off-roading while having a fun time with some friends. Can anyone help me select some parts?
This is what my local OK4WD recommended v

Jeep Gladiator 2.5" Premium Lift Kit 2020+, JT

If you’ve been searching for the ultimate lift kit for your Jeep Gladiator JT 2020+, then look no further. Our all NEW JT suspension systems were designed to meet both your demanding off-road AND on-road needs. Available in both 2.5" & 3.5" lift variants, all 8 of the adjustable control arms...

www.claytonoffroad.com

So, OK4wd is a great company. I'm friendly with the owner and staff and would never speak poorly of them in any way. However, you'll pay for their knowledge there so keep that in mind. If you've got a wrangler I'd suggest checking out The Road Chose Me on youtube. He will walk through his Jeep in detail. I met him at Expo east and he's a super awesome guy. Good luck!

 

[Boostpowered]

I'd suggest you become mechanical especially if you plan on going far off the beaten path. If it were me I'd build it at least to the rubicon trails minimum requirements that will get you through most everything else in the continental United States.

 

[USStrongman]

Gladiator aftermarket prices are steep right now. There are lots of people wanting JT parts and not a ton on the market yet, so there is a premium to pay.

Find a good 4wd shop in you area and look at the rigs they build. You can tell a lot from the either nice rides or clapped out POS's that are in their parking lot. Start there. They always ahve a preferred vendor they like so you may get biased opinions.

Also check out wranglerforums.com and go to the JT section. LOTS of info about lifts, wheels, tires, gearing, equipment, vendors, etc.

 

[Jedi]

I'm going to depart from the wisdom being shared and tell you not to do anything with your vehicle until you have taken it off-pavement a few times. A JT or JL is a capable vehicle straight out of the showroom. Get a better understanding of how you intend to use it (rock crawling or forest road, for example) and an understanding of how to put the existing vehicle to good use.

It is important to remember that every time you change something on a vehicle you introduce new dynamics into the performance of the vehicle and possible modes of failure that can impact your reliability in the field... not a great thing for an overland vehicle.

 

[ZanSTI]

The biggest thing to consider when lifting is always; where do you plan to Offroad, and what kind of off-roading do you plan to do?
The Gladiator has an outrageously long wheel base so high centering your truck is far easier at stock height. My first time taking my rig off-road in Uwharrie national forest I had to stifle a chuckle when a family in a stock rubicon 4-door JK was high-centering over every small hump on an easy trail.

With this in mind, Wranglers can fit very large tires with little to no lift if you have the appropriate wheels and fender modifications.Your best option is to figure out what you want to do with the Jeep, match that to appropriate sized tires for your trails goals, and then match your tire sizing to a suspension/fender modifications that work best for your plans.