Now that the Rocky Road lift kit has been out for a while, and several people here have installed them, I was wondering what your experiences have been with it? I understand that it works perfectly well on pavement, with just a mild increase of tilting at turns, but what about off the pavement?

If I have understood things correctly, the lift kit basically alters the amount of travel the suspension has so that instead of the vehicle 'sitting in the middle', with more or less equal amount of tire movement available both up and down, with the lift kit the vehicle sits closer to the 'up' end of travel. There is some flex available, certainly, but if normally the tire could move, say, 4" down before lifting from the ground and the lift kit would change that to 2", wouldn't a lifted Patriot have one wheel in the air from the drop of a hat? I am wondering how this will affect the capabilities of the Patriot on the trail.

It used to be that articulation was a whole lot more important than it is today. If you lifted a wheel in the air it was like having that wheel on ice. It would spin and you would go nowhere. With today's traction control systems it doesn't matter so much.

Of course there is more of a bump when the seesaw tips and the wheel comes down, and the other corner goes up. Jus make sure you take along your anti-seasick medications.

If I have understood things correctly, the lift kit basically alters the amount of travel the suspension has so that instead of the vehicle 'sitting in the middle',

The patriots springs and shocks/struts are single units not separate like on other trucks. This means the springs are shorter and mounted to the shocks/struts to form one unit with an internal travel limiter. The RRO lift spacer mounts between chassis/unibody and the shock/spring combo unit. This does not take any travel away from the shock or suspension like your stating. However it does change the fact that when the shock bottoms out by hitting its limiter the truck sits higher than it did prior to being lifted, while the amount of travel remains the same as it was before.

Hopefully that makes sense.

The patriots springs and shocks/struts are single units not separate like on other trucks. This means the springs are shorter and mounted to the shocks/struts to form one unit with an internal travel limiter. The RRO lift spacer mounts between chassis/unibody and the shock/spring combo unit. This does not take any travel away from the shock or suspension like your stating. However it does change the fact that when the shock bottoms out by hitting its limiter the truck sits higher than it did prior to being lifted, while the amount of travel remains the same as it was before.

Hopefully that makes sense.


excellent explanation........:smiley_thumbs_up:

Not to be a Bas#$rd but JeepJim and Jeepster arn't correct on this one. The length of the axles and control arms are the major limiter in suspension travel on the Riot and all rigs with IFS. This is why hardcore wheelers hate IFS systems. Follow the link below and check out posts 5 and 6 then 13 and 14, it should clears it all up for you.

http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=548

I won't argue, however I know for a fact that you have not changed the limit of travel only the position of the same length of travel Now if you were to change the shocks, springs and bump stops with ones of different length. Then and only then would you be changing the amount of travel and since the RRO lift does not replace springs, shocks or bumpstops and instead changes the mounting point of the stock shock/spring combination system I am correct in my statement.

Your own reference even states this...
-- It has struts on all corners. Adding new (longer) springs would be easy to do, but remember the limits of IFS. As you gain height, you are only increasing compression travel at the cost of extension travel. Fortunately, the Patriot suspension design does have good travel numbers, so another 1" of lift would be a good fit, especially if the spring rate was consistent with the load you carried.


To be 100% techically correct the rear of the patriot does not have struts. Struts are used when only a lower control army is used and the rear of the patriot has a multilink suspension that has a combined shock/spring system similart but not exactly like a strut. Struts do not pivot at both ends like shock do as well.

Now your gonna make me look like a Ba#$%rd

Take a look at all significant lift systems for any make truck on the planet with IFS and you will find they all use brackets to drop the diff and lower front suspension and often add CV shaft spacers to get the rig in the air. The reason is to move the suspensions pivot point further from the frame. This gives lift while keeping compression and extension travel near stock while raising most of the vehicle but not increasing clearence at the diff. To gain more diff clearence larger tires are then fitted.

You are 100% right that the RRO Spacers do not change the available stroke of the struts at all , but the lower control arm IS pushed down into its available downward/extension travel by the spacer thus limiting the available unloaded/downward extension. And because the struts have not been changed they will bottom out before reaching the upper compression limit of the stock control arm because the strut is pushed away/down from the body by the spacer while keeping all other suspension points the same.

This is why a simple spacer is good but not the best, and why Chrysler spends millions of dollars developing a well rounded system and the aftermarket often (read always) has comprimises that we either live with /ignore or choose not to live with.

Add to all this babble from me the length and extension capacities of the CV shafts and you can see the limits of a simple lift on a machine as complex as a RIOT :doh:

Now your gonna make me look like a Ba#$%rd

Take a look at all significant lift systems for any make truck on the planet with IFS and you will find they all use brackets to drop the diff and lower front suspension and often add CV shaft spacers to get the rig in the air. The reason is to move the suspensions pivot point further from the frame. This gives lift while keeping compression and extension travel near stock while raising most of the vehicle but not increasing clearence at the diff. To gain more diff clearence larger tires are then fitted.

You are 100% right that the RRO Spacers do not change the available stroke of the struts at all , but the lower control arm IS pushed down into its available downward/extension travel by the spacer thus limiting the available unloaded/downward extension. And because the struts have not been changed they will bottom out before reaching the upper compression limit of the stock control arm because the strut is pushed away/down from the body by the spacer while keeping all other suspension points the same.

This is why a simple spacer is good but not the best, and why Chrysler spends millions of dollars developing a well rounded system and the aftermarket often (read always) has comprimises that we either live with /ignore or choose not to live with.

Add to all this babble from me the length and extension capacities of the CV shafts and you can see the limits of a simple lift on a machine as complex as a RIOT :doh:

Agreed, however what u mention are usually on more expensive lifts. u have to remember the RRO lift falls more into the lines of a budget lift.

Now I agree with what your saying... But what you stated at first was not 100% true.

DOCKBOY,
Wait a minute here! When I had my suspension apart, there was still travel to be had BEFORE I bolted the struts back up..............I made sure of that or the lift package was going back to RR fast .So how does the lower control arm fit in to you idea of it limiting travel? This was EXACTLY the same in the rear! That is one reason RR came up with the thickness of the spacer in the first place. As not to allow suspension "BIND" to be the limiting factor. Your theory is almost insulting to some of us as we would be pretty stupid to add parts to purposely bind up our suspension, don't you think? As far as Chrysler spending millions, I'll accept the higher COG and more sidewall flex as part of the characteristics my rig contains in regards to handling and if I happen to pooch a CV joint from UNSPECIFIED ANGLES, I'll spring for the $65 bucks for a fresh one and call it a day!!!!!!!!!!!!
hvac59

is that all a new CV joint costs?

Yes,
That is an aftermarket price at wholesale. That is also the whole shaft, in case you did'nt already assume that. I would not argue with the dealers shop if they even denied the claim on warranty. They have been good to me and you know what they say "if you play, be prepared to pay". That was another part of the decision to stay conservative in the mods dept., to prevent lifetime warranty problems. When I pick up my skid plates this week, I'll check the OEM pricing on that shaft also.
hvac59

I agree, its just a whole lot cheaper than I thought... :D

Oh oh, now I am a Ba$%rd, let me clear this up a bit.

HVAC59, I never ment to imply that the RRO lift reached or exceeded the limits of the Riot suspension, only that these limits are the limits and one must be concious of them. I am more than confident in fact that RRO did their homework and are providing an exceptional product at an exceptional value.

From the conversation, I assume nobody has actually taken a lifted Patriot to a trail yet? :)

Tony, I just got my lift kit in the mail two days ago... (RRO had my kit on back order due to lack of bushings) and I will not have time to actually install it until either the end of this month of the beginning of next month. After that I plan on sharing my opinions prior to the replacing the stock tires and after the 245/65/17's go on... and obviously on and off road.

Groovy! I am looking forward to reading about your experiences.

From the conversation, I assume nobody has actually taken a lifted Patriot to a trail yet? :)

dont know about a patriot, but have seen a thread about a compass somewhere.

Tony1911,
I'll post some pic's for ya' of a Patriot with the suspension stuffed next time I go on the trail! Sorry I didn't do that already......
hvac59

i dont give a **** about all this techinical bs i just will pay to have it done. i just want to know how much it will cost, if i can get a lift kit, and how dope 22's will look on my riot

i dont give a **** about all this techinical bs i just will pay to have it done. i just want to know how much it will cost, if i can get a lift kit, and how dope 22's will look on my riot

I do I wasn't going to put a lift kit on just wanted to get the taller springs from the FDII. The more I see pictures of the lifted patriot the more I may just get the kit. I want to know how its holding up and if anyone noticed axle binding in the front. I bought a similar kit for the 05 dodge dakota I had. It was for the front and installed on top of the struts. The axles binded up and I had to take it off. I know the front end is different on the patriot then the dakota but just want to be sure its a good kit.

i dont give a **** about all this techinical bs i just will pay to have it done. i just want to know how much it will cost, if i can get a lift kit, and how dope 22's will look on my riot

Perhaps you could be bothered to give a ****e about using the search function, then?

(Edit: Bah, automatic censorship. Yaaaaaayyy... :/ )

Tony, I got finally installed my lift last week, however couldn't get it in to get the alignment done until wed. So far its not too bad on the street but does pull to the drivers side but its not too bad. In oder to go straight I have to hold the wheel at 12:30 position. Once the alignment is done I'll be hitting trails Thursday or Friday. Hopefully mounting my tires this coming weekend.

Ick. The pulling sounds unpleasant. Looking forward to hearing how she handles on the trail! :)

Ok, got it aligned yesterday and mounted my 245/65R17's today! Sitting with 11" ground clearance now boys! In about twenty minutes I am going to hit a couple of soft-roading and possibly some mud trails (no awesome rock crawling around that I have found) just to get some shots in the woods.

Darn it Jim, now I need the tires also! :( I knew this would happen....

They look good! You never actually mentioned if they rubbed, or were spaced? Or, I just wasn't reading throughout, don't forget to post pics of them on my lift pic thread!

WhatARiot, I am coming for ya... lol ! go check my Soft-Roading adventure on CarDomain.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2653175

Here's a teaser shot:

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/2653000-2653999/2653175_21_full.jpg

NEVER! Lift should be here next thursday (if they don't delay it!) and then I'm sure it'll take about a week to get it put on, so I'm not far behind you... ;) You are right under me now on CD not for long with that lift.

But what I haven't told you is about the custom graphics, emblems, and vinyl I am currently working on... Mine will be unique. :p

I was thinking of vynil as well, but in the last almost year I still can't think of ANYTHING that would look good to me, and trust me, I've been through almost all the options.... there is one, that I might do, just to see, you know, but I doubt it can really get any better... but I like to be proven wrong.

I'm glad you're stoked on the lift and new tires Jim, but you gotta admit a stock 2X4 compuss can drive grassy fields. I hope you find some better terrain to use the lift! I realize Europe can be difficult in finding legal offroading.

I did some fun logging roads in northern France a long time ago in a Nissan Patrol. You might want to investigate those possibilities. Sorry, but I have no idea where that was (I was 16 and happily being driven there by a friends father)


<edit> I just learned that a photo doesn't do a trail justice. And when you're locked in the heat of battle with a tough section of trail, you don't think about the camera.

NEVER! Lift should be here next thursday (if they don't delay it!) and then I'm sure it'll take about a week to get it put on, so I'm not far behind you... ;) You are right under me now on CD not for long with that lift.

My lift is supposed to be delivered next Wednesday. :banana: Now if I just had a Patriot to put it on... :doh::icon_rolleyes:

Darn it Jim, now I need the tires also! :( I knew this would happen....

John, checked out cardomain today? :p

paid for my custom Jeep stickers today too...

Damn I knew I should have taken a screen shot... now your back on top. :(

So how many people have given there rides a good run with the lift?
Any testing on gravel, sand, dirt roads or beaches?

Anybody?????

Or have people just put the lift on for some more day light and looks?

nothing too rough but behaves well with such a difference in ground clearance BUT

it put the ESP BAS light on.

got it checked today and its because steering wheel is off slightly to the right. makes the esp computer think the vehicle is turning but isnt so its confused.

fault cleared and just need wheel centered.

bloody computers!!!!!!

I'll be taking mine off road out in the Arizona mountains soon...I've just got to get the lift installed this weekend and then get a more aggressive set of tires.

Anyone else experimented with the lift off-road? We do some pretty crazy **** and don't want anything to break. Also, I read somewhere that if installed by a Jeep shop, warranty will not be affected (depends on the shop). Has that been the experience of those who've had the shop install? I'd want to see something in writing, of course; which would probably be a deal breaker. As for the clunking some have heard front right, I get that with my non-lifted FDII. Sounds like the helper springs on my old Ram bouncing on a rough road. It's under warranty, so I don't worry too much.

http://lift-kits-4you.com/simages/lift-kits_mainfeature.jpg

I installed 6" Fabtech Suspension Kit for Nissan Titan on my car...

It's great. This system includes Dirt Logic 2.5 Coilover shocks, providing incredible suspension dampening capacity for off-road use with a good highway ride, a 1/4” thick differential Skid Plate, Sway Bar links and Impact struts....

You mean you installed a lift kit for a Nissan on your Jeep?

It's nice and all we can get that RRO body lift kit, but a suspension lift kit would be swell.

I ordered in online from RRO on Wednesday afternoon, and got an instant confirmation email, and now on Friday I have an email from UPS saying there's a shipment coming to me for this coming Wednesday!

Excellent service so far. I must have got lucky and they had inventory of the lift kit.

BUMP to hear more on lift after effects?