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| Back to Metalforms we went where I was led to a Jeep Wrangler YJ and Bret's father's CJ-7. What could possibly be new and Earth-shaking about these? I was about to find out, as one of Kevin's happy elves pulled the white YJ with "X2" decals all over it outside to the RTI ramp. Up it went...and up...and up...and up... Umm...that's certainly not a stock Wrangler! Indeed it was not. As I circled the ramped YJ, I peered underneath to see what was afoot. Providing about 9 inches of rear travel were good ol' leaf springs with three military wraps around the bushings. In addition, an anti-wrap bar ran from the rear axle to the custom belly pan. Up front, things looked a little more familiar. Since Superlift owns Black Diamond, the front end is based on the XCL kit - thus the X2 name (as in Generation 2).
The front end is a coil-over shock setup with long control arms - far from the standard leaf spring setup. The Black Diamond logos on some components do hint that this will be part of that lineup. One after the other, I was handed the keys to both the YJ and the CJ and took them out back for a whoopin'. Running along the backside of the building is a rather deep drainage ditch. I was able to play for a while going across it and through it at various angles in order to feel the suspension work.
It was immediately evident that the setup, though still in the design phase, was on the right track. Like a TJ, the Jeeps flexed out and followed the terrain wonderfully. But, since they utilize leaf springs in the rear, the Jeeps didn't have the tendency to flop over on side grades like TJ's sometimes do. The feeling was of complete control at all times. I even took the ditch lengthwise and had the Jeeps way over on the driver side without them ever going over. As I exited the ditch, the Jeeps came back to level ground safely without any surprises.
The kits still have a good ways to go. Street tuning still leaves a lot to be desired and the gang is looking for some near-new condition Jeeps to do further testing on as these poor things have been to Hell and back. We can probably expect to see these kits in 2006 and Rockcrawler.com is already lined up to do some testing once some kits become available. There is more to the Superlift story, though. Superlift not only produces some of the best suspensions on the market, but they also go far beyond what other manufacturers do when it comes to product support and information. Their website and catalogs have a wealth of information, both general and product-specific that you won't find anywhere else. They also have installation videos produced at their own off-site studio, which is also home to the Outdoor Channel's Superlift's Off-Road Adventures. Airing several times a week, the program features off-road trail rides and tech segments and showcases Superlift product installs.
So what did I come away with from my visit? I learned how a 15-year old boy who was washing trucks and changing tires at a four wheel drive shop turned several opportunities into a life-long trailride and become the owner of an aftermarket automotive powerhouse. Through his hard work, dedication and innovation, Bret Lovett has been one very busy man and is taking Superlift to the next level by not only following trends but being a trendsetter. Innovations like the F.I.T. Kits, his use of computer technology, and even redesigning older systems are what will keep Superlift at the top of their game. All this while staying completely slothful-casual.
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