Why tires, bumpers, and a winch should be your first mods - NOT - a lift kit
While it isn’t super scientific, the diagram below is spot on for the JL Wrangler.
Jeep has done such an amazing job with the suspension and drivetrain on the new generation Wranglers, and I have seen a bone stock Willys JL do things a TJ Rubicon would have struggled to get over. The one key area that the JL still struggles with from the factory is grip and front + rear clearance. The fact of the matter is that the stock tires, even the Rubicons A/Ts suck; and the DOT requires factory vehicles to have massive bumpers that get hung up on absolutely everything.
Check out the relative performance gains of bumpers, tires and a winch vs the common “lift and lights” most people make their first mods.
The most common issue stock Jeeps have on the trail isn’t lack of flex, nor getting high centered, or de-seating a tire bead, none of that. It’s getting hung up on, or sometimes completely ripping off the stock bumpers; I've seen it again, and again, and again, and again.
Another huge reason to get bumpers first is to get real recovery points and a winch, if budget allows. Being a beginner you're going to get in a pinch and need a recovery more often; there's nothing wrong with that we all did! It’s called seat time! When you do need a recovery, having a winch and true clevis recovery points will make your life WAY easier! Both for you and the Jeep helping you out, this makes things easier, faster and most importantly… SAFER.
Hopefully I was able to help you learn something today, and if you got to the end thank you so much for reading! If you are in the market for bumpers please think about Off Road Concepts, we put our heart and soul into our products!
Use code: lucky15 at checkout on any bumpers! :)
Happy Wheeling and see you on the trail!