Jeeps and lift kits go together like peanut butter and jelly. If you own a Jeep, chances are you’ve lifted it, or at the very least, thought about lifting it. But not all lift kits are equal – some of them are complete trash and will make your Jeep miserable to drive on the highway and around town.
Now, there are a few ways to maintain the ride comfort of a stock Jeep while still getting a few inches of lift, and that’s what we’re going to be talking about today.
We’ll first go over the 5 best jeep lift kits for a daily driver, and then we’ll give you a few tips on how to best set up your Jeep for a comfortable ride. Let’s get started!
Note: You need to keep the stock shocks, springs, and spring rate in order to make a Jeep comfortable while lifted. Because of that, all products below are spacer lift kits and do not come with aftermarket shocks or springs.
The 5 Best Jeep Lift Kits for Daily Driver
 Advertising | Best Overall 1. Rough Country 2.5″ Series II |
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 Advertising | Best Value 2. MotoFab Lifts 2.5″ Front & 2" Rear |
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 Advertising | 3. Rough Country 664 2″ |
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 Advertising | 4. Rough Country 63400 2.5″ |
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 Advertising | 5. KSP 523 2.5″ |
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1. Rough Country 2.5″ Series II (07-18 Jeep Wrangler JK)
- Front Lift: 2.5″
- Rear Lift: 2.5″
- Fits: 2007-2018 Jeep Wrangler JK
- Max Tire Size: 35″
The best way to get a few inches of lift on your Jeep and maintain ride comfort is with a good-quality spacer kit – ideally, with extended sway bar end links, and there’s no better choice for the Wrangler JK than the Rough Country 2.5″ Series II.
The kit comes with absolutely everything that you need to properly lift your Jeep JK, including extended sway bar end links, and it’s not too difficult to install. In fact, the instructions that come with it are surprisingly good considering how often we get terrible instructions with Jeep parts.
Now, the important part is that this lift kit will allow you to squeeze 35″‘ tires under your Jeep with no rubbing in most cases. However, it does depend on whether your tires are true to size and the overall suspension sag from wear and tear. Tires that are true to size 35″ will easily fit and won’t rub even with heavy articulation.
The only disadvantage of this kit is that 2012 – 2018 Wrangler JK models need an additional exhaust spacer to clear the front drive shaft. Though, the spacer costs around $30 and is a pretty easy install.
Bottom Line
For Wrangler JKs made between 2007 and 2018, the Rough Country 2.5″ Series II is definitely the way to go. It’s one of the best, jeep lift kits for daily driver, and it’s not too expensive either. You’ll have a hard time finding a kit that contains track bar relocation brackets and extended sway bar end links for this price.
Pros
- Comes with extended sway bar end links
- Maintains stock comfort and stability
- Easily clears 35″ wheels
- Good price-to-performance ratio
Cons
- 12-18 Wrangler JK models need an additional exhaust spacer
2. MotoFab Lifts 2.5″ Front & 2″ Rear (07-18 Jeep Wrangler JK)
- Front Lift: 2.5″
- Rear Lift: 2″
- Fits: 2007-2018 Jeep Wrangler JK
- Max Tire Size: 35″
If you’re short on cash but still want to get a few inches of lift on your Jeep, the MotoFab Lifts 2.5″ Front & 2″ Rear Lift Kit is a great budget-friendly option that will get the job done without breaking the bank.
Now, this lift kit does not come with extended sway bar end links or track bar relocation brackets, so you’ll have to buy those separately or just do without them for a bit. However, it’s really well made (in the USA, mind you) and it’s very easy to install. In fact, the entire kit can be installed in about 5 hours.
With this kit installed, you’ll be able to fit 35″ tires with no issues whatsoever. The only time you’ll have to worry about rubbing is when you’re doing some serious off-roading, but we wouldn’t recommend doing that without extended sway bar end links and track bar relocation brackets anyway.
Bottom Line
The best part about this kit is that it’s very affordable, especially considering that it’s made in the USA. It’s also backed by a lifetime warranty, which is always nice to have.
To that end, if you’re on a budget and you need a good lift kit for your daily driver Jeep, this is definitely the way to go.
Pros
- Best value
- Fits 35″ tires
- Maintains stock ride quality
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- No extended sway bar end links
3. Rough Country 664 2″ Lift Kit (6-10 Jeep Grand Cherokee WK/Commander XK)
- Front Lift: 2″
- Rear Lift: 2″
- Fits: 2006-2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee WK/Commander XK
- Max Tire Size: 32″
If you own a Jeep Grand Cherokee or Commander from 2006-2010, then you’re in luck because Rough Country makes an excellent 2″ lift kit for your ride.
This lift kit is very simple – 2 front shock spacers and 2 rear shock spacers – but it does the job very well. In fact, this is one of the best-selling lift kits for Grand Cherokees and Commanders for a reason.
After installing this lift kit, you’ll be able to fit 31″ tires with no problems whatsoever, but it’s also possible to squeeze in 32″, though it will be a close fit. There may be some rubbing with the inner fender plastic, but it shouldn’t be too bad. If it is, it’s easy to trim the plastic out of the way.
If your Jeep is a bit rusty, installing this lift kit will be frustrating, but you can save a lot of time by spraying all of the bolts with WD40 and letting them soak overnight. That and a decent impact wrench will make your life a lot easier. In most cases, the installation shouldn’t take more than 5 hours in total.
Bottom Line
If you own a Jeep Grand Cherokee or Commander from 2006-2010 and you’re looking for a lift kit that won’t break the bank, this is definitely the way to go. It’s simple, it’s effective, and it won’t rub even with 31″ tires.
Pros
- Will clear 31″ tires without problems
- Can fit 32″ tires after timing plastic fenders
- Quick and easy installation
- Good value
Cons
- None
4. Rough Country 63400 2.5″ Leveling Lift Kit (20-22 Gladiator JT)
- Front Lift: 2.5″
- Rear Lift: 2.5″
- Fits: 2020-2022 Jeep Gladiator JT
- Max Tire Size: 35″
The Rough Country 2.5″ 63400 Leveling Lift Kit is a great option for those of you who own a 2020-2022 Jeep Gladiator and want to maintain stock ride quality and comfort while adding a bit of clearance for larger tires.
This lift kit comes with shock spacers, bump stops, and bent sway bar links, which is everything you need to lift your Jeep Gladiator properly. It’s also relatively easy to install – the entire process shouldn’t take more than 4 hours if you’ve never worked on suspensions before.
In terms of tire size, you’ll be able to fit up to 35″ tires with this lift kit installed. And, best of all, it won’t negatively impact your ride quality one bit. If anything, you might even find that it improves the way your Jeep handles thanks to the increased clearance.
Bottom Line
When it comes to the new Gladiator JT, Rough Country has you covered with this excellent 2.5″ lift kit. It’s easy to install, it provides everything you need to lift your Jeep properly, and it won’t impact ride quality at all. All in all, it’s a great option daily driven Gladiator JTs.
Pros
- Comes with bent sway bar end links
- Fits 35″ tires
- Maintains stock ride quality and comfort
- Easy to install
Cons
- Bit pricey
5. KSP 523 2.5″ Full Lift Kit (18-22 Wrangler JL)
- Front Lift: 2.5″
- Rear Lift: 2.5″
- Fits: 2018+ Wrangler JL 2WD & 4WD
- Max Tire Size: 35″
Last but not least on our list is the KSP 523 2.5″ Full Lift Kit, designed for 2018-2022 Wrangler JL models. It’s a great choice for all brand-new Wrangler JLs, and it’s one of the best lift kits for highway driving.
This lift kit comes with everything you need to get the job done right, including 2.5″ coil spacers, sway bar links, and more. Furthermore, the front and rear sway bar end links are made from slightly thicker steel than the stock links, so they’re less likely to bend or break.
The entire process of installing this lift kit shouldn’t take more than 4-5 hours, even if you’ve never worked on suspensions before, though, we found the instructions to be a bit lacking.
As for the maximum tire size, you’ll be able to fit up to 34″ tires without any problems or rubbing. However, if you’re planning on running larger tires (35″ should clear but will likely rub with articulation off-road), we recommend getting aftermarket front control arms and even more offset sway bar end links.
Bottom Line
The KSP 523 2.5″ Full Lift Kit is a great choice for all 2018-2022 Wrangler JLs, especially if you’re looking for a lift kit that will level your Jeep and maintain comfort while driving. It’s pretty easy to install and it comes with everything you need, though we recommend getting aftermarket front control arms and end links if you’re planning on running larger tires.
Pros
- Includes front and rear sway bar end links
- Easy to install
- Great value
- Allows for 35″ tires
Cons
- Poor instructions
How to Choose the Best Jeep Lift Kit for Your Daily Driver
Now that we’ve gone over some of the best jeep lift kits for daily driving, it’s time to talk about how to choose the right one for your needs. Here are a few things to keep in mind.
Spacer Lift Kits vs Suspension Lift Kits
The first thing you need to decide is whether you want a spacer lift kit or a suspension lift kit. Spacer lift kits are less expensive, easier to install, and retain the factory shocks and springs, which helps to keep the Jeep comfortable for daily driving and highways. Because of that, we highly recommend going with those.
However, if you want to get serious with wheeling, then you’ll need to invest in a suspension lift kit. They are much more expensive and more difficult to install, but they allow for proper suspension travel for serious off-roading, and in some cases, similar ride comfort to stock.
Choose a Lower Tire Load Rating for More Comfort
Another thing to keep in mind is the load rating of the tires you’re planning on running.
Though it might not seem like it, the tires on your Jeep play a big part in soaking up bumps and vibrations, and the higher the load rating, the stiffer the sidewalls will be. That’s why we recommend choosing a tire with a lower load rating for your daily driver, as it will help to make the ride more comfortable.
Jeeps come with C-rated tires from the factory, and we recommend sticking with that or going down to B-rated tires. Anything higher than that is just overkill for a daily driver and will make the ride pretty harsh.
Maximum Tire size
The last thing to keep in mind is the maximum tire size you can run with your lift kit. Most 2.5″ kits will allow you to run up to a 35″ tire without any problems, but if you want to go larger than that, you’ll need to get creative with aftermarket parts or look for a taller lift kit.
In general, we don’t recommend going any taller than 2.5″ for a daily driver, as it will make the ride too harsh and decrease suspension travel.
Final Thoughts
There you have it, everything you need to know about choosing the best jeep lift kit for your daily driver. Just remember to keep the load rating of your tires in mind, and don’t go taller than 2.5″ with a spacer lift kit, unless you’re planning on doing some serious off-roading.
Now get out there and start building your dream Jeep!
Eddie is the co-founder of CarCareCamp.com, and the site’s primary contributor.
Under his belt, Eddie has a bachelor’s degree in Automotive Electronics Engineering and almost a decade of experience working as a semi-truck technician (specializing in electrics).
