Clayton Off Road x Jeep Gladiator Rubicon | Overland Plus 2.5" Lift Kit Installation | Driveway DIY

Here's my walk-through of the installation of the Clayton Off Road Overland Plus 2.5" lift kit on my 2020 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon. This was accomplished in 4 days of part-time work in the driveway, solo, with basic tools.
Components:
Clayton Off Road 2.5" Overland Plus Kit
Falcon SP2 3.3 Front and Rear Fast Adjust Shocks
Falcon Nexus EF 2.2 Fast Adjust Steering Stabilizer
RockJock CurrectLync Steering Kit
Super Springs Sumo Springs Front and Rear Bump Stop Replacements
00:00 Introduction
00:52 Inventory
03:17 Initial Measurement
03:39 Rear End
09:35 Front End
15:09 Conclusion

[@manuelbustamante8184]

This is awesome. When I bought my Rubi Gladiator, I though how great of a ride it is from my old 2013 JK with a 3.5" lift and running 38". I did not wanted to lifted this one, but now I think I am going to have too, too much lift envy. Great video, cheers

[@TerraOutdoors]

It took me literal years to decide on which lift to go with. I considered all options, and settled on this one. I'm not disappointed. I will say, it gave a good bit of extra height over what was advertised, but I'm 99% sure that is due in part to my upgraded bump stops and the HD rear springs, so I can't fault the lift for that. It's more than I wanted, but now that it's done I'm actually quite happy with it. I'm considering 37s or 38s now once my 35s give out. We'll see. All in all, no regrets on choosing this lift. I'll have a walkaround/impressions video up in the near future.

[@midwestiowashooter]

Just picked up their Clayton's full performance kit and HD spring swap and can't wait to give it a shot. SmartCap& RTT is heavy. Gotta roll on the stock 33s for awhile but I can live with that.

[@TerraOutdoors]

Nice! Yeah, it's a heavy setup for sure, but the suspension has been handling it like an absolute champ. It rides better now fully loaded than it did stock without any camping gear onboard. I'm very happy with the performance so far.

[@mikethompson7406]

Just ordered my 2.5" Overland Plus yesterday. Went with the Fox 2.0 remote reservoir because I'm poor. I hope 2.5" is enough on my JLUR running Wildpeak 37s. Installing on March 17!

[@TerraOutdoors]

Nothing wrong at all with the Fox route. Those are good shocks! I have a feeling it'll be enough. This lift made my 35s look small, so I think 37s would fit perfectly.

[@ProvectusGroup]

Just wanted to let you know that I’m highly impressed with your videos and this is what I do for a living. Also, thank you for your service. Just wanted to share some love. I’m new to jeeps (raptor baby) and have learned quite a bit from your vids. Plus he music choice usually has my head bobbing lol. Again, thanks bro. I’m sure I’ll be getting in touch. I do have a few questions.

[@TerraOutdoors]

That means a lot! Appreciate it. I wish I had more time and opportunity to put videos together. I enjoy taking the trips and logging them. Love the Raptors as well! Awesome machines for sure. For sure! Reach out any time.

[@carlcvplow2432]

I have the exact same lift on my Gladiator, even the same Red Rubicon. I got mine on Black Friday as well. I will say I absoutely love the ride compared to stock, feels so much more connected to to road. I'm also running Nitto Ridge Grapplers 37 x 12.50 17. Kudos for you doing the install solo, I was able to do it in a day with a friend. Enjoying your content, just subscribed.

[@TerraOutdoors]

Awesome! I'd say I'm a bit biased towards the Firecracker Red Jeeps... Good to hear that you've had good results with it. I agree with you: It feels far more planted than it did before. The excessive body roll I used to experience is now non-existent. I'll be doing the initial hardware check/re-tightening when I get back home from my business trip. Hopefully everything is still nice and snug. Did you see a similar increase in height? How are you liking the 37s? Those may be in my future as well... Appreciate the kind words, and thanks for the sub!

[@carlcvplow2432]

@@TerraOutdoors The 37's are great for helping out with the breakover angle. In total with the lift and tires I gained about 6" at my fender measurements. Went from 41 stock to 47.

[@carlcvplow2432]

I'm also on Gladiator forums, Sempe-Fi is my screen name.

[@TerraOutdoors]

@Carl cvplow Same here. TheHops. I don't post as much as I used to, but I'm still around! Dang, that's some height! I definitely wouldn't mind a bit of extra angle. I still have maybe 15K miles on my current tires. We'll see, when the time comes.

[@jorgelrod]

37 on 2.5? any rubbing on full flex??

[@yakitoriPB]

You put your rear sway bar end link on incorrectly. The nut faces outside and the ball socket faces in towards the differential. I know cause I just installed the same kit. I did the rear in about 3 hours with the last hour being in the dark with a headlamp lol. Super easy kit to install! Very impressed with the quality in materials and packaging. Clayton is top notch

[@TerraOutdoors]

Did I? I could have sworn I followed the directions to the letter. Good looking out! I'll check it out the next chance I get. Yeah, it really wasn't too bad. Accomplished with a single jack and basic tools in the driveway. I did have to get a little creative on the rear springs, but I'm sure that was partly due to them being the heavier duty ones. Agreed! Very happy with my kit so far.

[@ryoc2138]

Good luck with that setup. I had the same kit and shocks on my Gladiator. There are no words to truly describe how bad it rode. I went back to factory suspension and the ride significantly improved.

[@TerraOutdoors]

Really? Interesting. I wonder why... I've actually had it on for about a month now (been very busy and haven't had much time to edit content) and have been very impressed with how it rides. The steering is much less "floaty" than before and the shocks soak up everything with minimal fuss. I have them set slightly firm for on-road. There is also zero wallowing now when loaded down at highway speed, which was a huge issue for me on the stock suspension before I upgraded my rear bump stops. I got slight sway after the bump stops, but I have zero now with the HD springs. Not even a hint of it. I'll keep my eye on things and will be sure to update when I eventually get an impressions video up. Thanks for the info!

[@ryoc2138]

@@TerraOutdoors idk, I keep hearing the exact same reviews on that kit. That's one reason why I bought it along with those shocks. I ran the shocks in every possible setting, but I felt every tiny imperfection in the road. It was like they were not absorbing anything. Correct me if I'm wrong, but you are or were in Ft Campbell? I'm not far from you in Gallatin. You know the roads here in mid TN are awful so that probably didn't help much with the kit I had.

[@TerraOutdoors]

That's wild. I initially ran them on full soft, and I had to dial them up because I didn't feel like I was getting *enough* feedback from the road. It still feels like a solid axle vehicle, to be sure, but for me it is objectively an improvement from my stock setup. Yeah, I am. I'm intimately familiar with how bad the roads can be out here. I-24 in particular. I'm eager to put it in a legitimately demanding off road setting to see how the setup performs.

[@Troothless]

My guess is you installed it wrong. I have the same lift, fox shocks. Drives amazing.

[@scotthayne]

You will definitely feel the bumps and potholes more with the Falcons. They aren't progressive and squishy up top like the stock Fox shocks - which was my biggest complaint about the stock suspension. While I would agree that the Falcon ride is a bit harsher, it overall drives much better with less body roll, better tracking, and highway manners. I run on 2.2 in the front and 2.0 in the rear. Also, Falcon does recommend running lower tire pressure to compensate for the lack of squish on top. I haven't done that, still run around 33-34 psi in my 37" K02s.

[@GoXplr]

Nice setup sir ...

[@TerraOutdoors]

Thanks! I'm very happy with it.

[@JR-ro5kv]

Enjoying your channel and admiring your well thought out mods. Thanks for taking the time to film and document your adventures. I’m curious, with the addition of the Clayton suspension can you get into your garage with the tent installed?

[@TerraOutdoors]

Appreciate it! Even before the lift (just 35s), I couldn't get into the garage with the tent on. There's no chance now, unfortunately.

[@JR-ro5kv]

Thanks for the quick reply and info. I’m considering a gladiator to replace my 2015 JKUR. Fitting into garage is a nice to have but not essential

[@TerraOutdoors]

@JR-ro5kv No problem! Yeah, it definitely is nice. Some day, I'll have a large enough garage/workshop!

[@josephellis6283]

I started installing the Clayton 2.5” Ride Right+ kit a couple days ago. Pretty beefy product. Those rear springs are a bear to get I though. I ended up removing the brake calipers in order to be able to drop axle enough. I need to cut the sway bar end links still and install them. The whole cutting of the end links I think is stupid. Kits should come with bolt in ready end links like most kits do. I did Fox shocks on mine

[@TerraOutdoors]

Man, that they were. I had a heck of a time squeezing those springs in, especially considering I got the HD upgraded ones. I agree. It was annoying...but it did result in me getting a new tool to accomplish the job so I wasn't too mad about it! I've heard Fox goes great with these kits. No regrets on the Falcons thus far. They've been great.

[@jimt2316]

Free usage of spring compressors are available from your local car parts shop. You could have had that job done before the rain came in.

[@TerraOutdoors]

I've used those before on other jobs (both successfully and unsuccessfully) and speaking from that experience, there is a 0% chance that those types of compressors would have been effective on these. Those struggle with light duty spring jobs: these springs were too tall, and far, far too stiff.

[@MTHuntN]

Just curious, does your smartcap whistle before you added your additional racks? Mine starts whistling around 60mph and continues to increase in sound as speed increases. if your did, did you do anything to mitigate it?

[@TerraOutdoors]

Not that I ever noticed. I don't think I had the SmartCap on for more than a week prior to adding the roof rack though. The rack arrived before the cap, if I recall correctly. Is it your pressure vent? You could check that out. If so, perhaps something like an adhesive moonroof wind deflector may help?

[@TerraFirmaX]

So here we are almost a year and a half later, Are you still liking it? My kit has been in the shop since december and I am finally getting around to install it next week

[@TerraOutdoors]

Dang, since December? That's quite some time. I still love it. The ride is better than factory. No wallowing or sway, regardless of the situation. It's exactly what I was looking for. Admittedly, the ride in the rear is a tiny bit firmer than I'd like when unloaded. I opted for the HD rear springs. On the other hand, it rides perfectly when loaded down, so that's a reasonable tradeoff for me. Overall, I'd make the same choice again without hesitation. Hope you enjoy it!

[@TerraFirmaX]

@@TerraOutdoors nice. I opted for the HD springs as well. I have a shell and all the gear. Plus I just got my OGT Expedition trailer which is what really prompted the urgency to get the lift on. I’ll be posting about it soon. Yeah, long time but I’m a trucker so to me that was like a couple weeks ago. Lol

[@TerraOutdoors]

@@TerraFirmaX Haha, nice. Yeah, I suppose that's true. I'm certainly not mad about going with the HD springs. I'd rather have a slightly harsher ride unloaded than be unsafe when loaded. I also run SumoSpring bump stop replacements in the rear, and they've been great.

[@jerrymcgeorge4117]

What type of control arm joint are they using? They used to supply Currie Johnny Joints, but those look like clevites or maybe dual durometer style.

[@TerraOutdoors]

The product page says they're GIIRO dual durometer, self-centering joints.

[@jerrymcgeorge4117]

@@TerraOutdoors Thanks!

[@TerraOutdoors]

@@jerrymcgeorge4117 No problem!

[@joegenshlea4605]

How are the shocks working out? Are you happy with the ride comfort? I have a pair that I pulled off my EcoDiesel and thought they were too stiff.

[@TerraOutdoors]

Dang, that sucks. I love mine so far. If anything, I thought they were a bit soft, but I do have a lot of extra weight on my Jeep. I think I run the rears at 8/10, and the fronts at 6/10. I love being able to dial it in, and the change is very noticeable. No regrets on my end.

[@joegenshlea4605]

@@TerraOutdoors I spoke with the Clayton support about their kit and the sitffness of the falcons. They told me that stiffness is often due to bad geometry and binding. I'm pretty sure that the shop that installed my lift (not clayton at the moment) probably tightened down the control arms while the Jeep was lifted which apparently is a no-no. I think a month from now I'll have the exact same setup as you. And like you I have extra weight on my Jeep (it weighs 5450 lbs from the dealer floor - bone stock - 4xe).

[@spencermorrow2899]

What is the recommended wheel width and backspacing for the lift kit

[@TerraOutdoors]

Any available wheel/tire information is posted on the kit pages at Clayton. I don't think this one specified a width, but it did say 4.75 backspacing recommended.

[@gregcontreras873]

Are you using the min length for track bar and arms ? Or max?

[@TerraOutdoors]

Edit: I checked the instructions, and I don't see a min/max range as you mentioned. Clayton gives a specific target value for each height of lift. That's what I used. For the 2.5" Lift Front lowers: 24.336" Front uppers: 20.272" Rear lowers: 23.962" Rear uppers: 16.577" Front track bar: 34.090" Rear track bar: 33.869" Obviously, those are pretty dang precise. Mine aren't exactly that, but I got them as close as I could and made sure all matching components were even in length.

[@Jacob-bf5zu]

How do you like the steering kit and falcon stabilizer?

[@TerraOutdoors]

It's far better than it was before. The steering doesn't feel like it's on rails or anything, and it's not comparable to a standard passenger sedan or SUV, but it's comfortable enough for me.

[@whtshark691]

What size were the shocks? The 2.5 to 4.5 in?

[@TerraOutdoors]

The shock kit included with this particular lift is Falcon part number FAL-14-02-33-400-150. According to their website, they are for 2" - 3" of lift.

[@noneckjoe948]

I know I’m late to the party cuz this video is a year old. How do you like the kit after this amount of time. I’m close to pulling the trigger on it… but I’m concerned about some of the bad reviews…. Considering going with fox shocks… any new thoughts?

[@TerraOutdoors]

I had heard there were some negative reviews here and there, but the suspicion on forums and whatnot was that it came from improper installation. From my experience, Clayton reviews have been mostly positive. I don't have anything bad to say about the kit, myself. Easy install, and it has performed flawlessly. I love the adjustable shocks. If I could change one thing, I *may* go with softer springs in the rear. I upgraded to the HD because of my setup. It rides perfect when loaded down for a trip, but it's a bit stiff daily driving. All in all, I'd say don't hesitate if you're in the market for a kit.

[@noneckjoe948]

@@TerraOutdoors I really appreciate the response. I went ahead and ordered it…. Minus the HD rear springs. Still deciding on shocks. Thanks!

[@TerraOutdoors]

@noneckjoe948 No problem at all. Nice! I don't think you'll be disappointed. I've heard great things about Fox as well, so I'm sure you can't go wrong with either. Enjoy!

[@lallen968]

do you need do alignment for this ?

[@TerraOutdoors]

I would definitely recommend it. I was due for one anyway so I just went ahead and did it. My steering wheel was way off of center as well after install, so be prepared to adjust your drag link.

[@TerraFirmaX]

lol, you need to trade in those channel locks on some wrenches

[@TerraOutdoors]

Tell me about it. 😂 I didn't look into the sizes beforehand, and that was all I had on hand to make it happen at the time. Rookie move.

[@TerraFirmaX]

@@TerraOutdoors Hey man, sometimes you gotta make do. You'd be surprised what I can rebuild in the middle of the desert with a rock and a pair of pliers Thanks for the great vid, just ordered the same kit

[@TerraOutdoors]

@@TerraFirmaX That's the truth. Desperate times call for desperate measures! As long as it gets the job (safely) done. For sure, thanks for checking it out. Hope the kit treats you well! I'm a big fan so far.

[@koloradokid8614]

owie those lug nuts.... Home depot sells 1/2 inch drive torque wrench for like $89

[@TerraOutdoors]

All good. My hands are calibrated plus or minus 1 ft-lb. But seriously: I've had one on my list for a while. Having said that, the Gladiator calls for 130 ft-lb. When putting on the wheels, I set my impact to a max torque of 75 ft-lb. After the first or second "ugga dugga," that's when I tighten by hand. Realistically, I'm probably not too far off. Maybe a bit under-torque, if anything, as I'm only getting another half-turn in at the most. It's not the "right" answer, but it works.

[@mikethompson7406]

You have a 10,000 pound winch?!?!?!?! Holy crap, how did you get it installed?? That sounds heavy! :D

[@TerraOutdoors]

Lol! You know, after I said that/was editing, I was wondering if I should clarify just to avoid any confusion...

[@Jose-hp3gd]

links to purchase kit >???????

[@TerraOutdoors]

Just look up Clayton's Gladiator Overland Plus kits. That should give you all the available options.

[@jobisrael8313]

For me this say this is your last video 9 months ago. 11-19-23

[@TerraOutdoors]

Yup, that's correct. Sorry for the irregular content schedule. Unfortunately, between a family, full-time job+, and two concurrent graduate degree programs, I haven't had nearly enough free time to make videos (or even get out and camp...) on a regular basis. I've been trying to carve out more time for a while now, as I really do enjoy putting these videos together for you guys. I'm hoping to put together a couple of snow camping/wheeling videos this winter and a build update in the near future. Fingers crossed, I can start working on those within the next month or two. Thanks for checking out the content!

[@johngeers4023]

@@TerraOutdoors Totally understandable. Enjoy life and get things done you you and yours!. However, if you ever get a chance to post a walk around or some pics showing how the lift looks it would be awesome. I am at the stage where I am making my decisions and your rig and such is very close to what I have and what I plan with my red Rubicon.. It would be a perfect example so would love to see the result a little better.

[@TerraOutdoors]

@johngeers4023 Appreciate it! I really do need to do that. I've had a great experience with the lift thus far. The ride and aesthetics are top tier, in my opinion. There are a couple of creaks and clunks here and there, but nothing abnormal (to my lnowledge). I've also since moved up to 37s (from the 35s in the video). I plan on putting together a brief impressions video of that change as well. Hope you have an excellent New Year!

[@acecalzadilla6878]

get a plastic mallet next time

[@TerraOutdoors]

Honest question: Have you ever tried to separate a joint with one? If you have, and if you were successful, the joint either wasn't stuck to begin with, or that's the best plastic mallet ever made and you need to let me know what brand you bought! In my experience, only a metal sledge can send enough energy to shake it loose. If I were using a plastic mallet, I'd still be out there in the driveway to this day.

[@acecalzadilla6878]

@@TerraOutdoors Its for placing the new control arms into position, I have several weighted plastic mallets for that. Now knocking the old ones that will probably never be used again who cares if those get dinged up

[@TerraOutdoors]

@@acecalzadilla6878 Ah haha, gotcha. Not to worry. That mallet that I was using on the control arms is a rubber one.

[@acecalzadilla6878]

@@TerraOutdoors 🤣 🤣