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General Forums => The Mess Hall => Topic started by: joe-joe on June 27, 2005, 02:31:34 PM
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I am in the market for some 33's for my beloved 4 banger (99 TJ manual trans 4.10 gears). Why? that is a good question. Personally, I like the look of 33's but the power loss and fuel economy loss are haunting me in my sleep. I have a few questions for you guys with 33's.
1. Is the extra inch of ground clearance worth the jump to 33's on the trail over my current 31's
2. Is the loss of 5th gear and fuel economy worth the gain if any on the trail?
3. Will jeep with 31's (should be locked in the rear by november) be limited and or not make it on some the trails at the Cliffs and Badlands?
4. Will I always be looked at as a "little guy" if I stay with 31's?
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Hmmm... If it were me, I would not go to 33s if I were going to have to suffer a big loss of performance. Heck I lost some performance going to 31s. Hopefully, this exhaust swap will dig me out of that hole. So far, things seem to be OK.
Just my opinion.
Cheers,
David
PS. I wouldn't care whether anyone thought I was the little guy. From what I understand, it is mostly the driver not the equipment. I would say a 60/40 relationship.
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I don't know the answer for any of your question, but I have a suggestion! First I'm assuming you have a suspension lift that required you to use the t-case drop kit. In that cause, it would be a lot cheaper to just get a SYE and put the t-case back into it's original place or use one of those belly up skids (which would require a 1" body lift). You're just not going to gain any axle clearance.
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I like the 33's on mine. The extra clearance benefitted me on my trip to Coal Creek recently. My buddy had 31's and drug a couple places I didn't. But he has limited slips front and rear, where mine are open diff so it didn't slow him down any.
Buddies with 31's (http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b27/Catfish33/CoalCreek014.jpg)
Mine with 33's (http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b27/Catfish33/CoalCreek012.jpg)
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I am currently running with 3.5 inches of lift (RE BB and stiffer Rubicon springs)
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Well, have you found a situation where your 31's haven't been able to cut it? 33's will not only raise the Jeep up 1" they will also give you a bigger contact patch, especially when deflated. If you stick with stanrd size tires, then a 33" will be 12.5" wide. That's 2" wider then a standard 31" tire. The added traction will allow you go crawl up obsticals better.
Now if you find yourself dragging your rear a lot then that's probably a good sign you might need a bit more clearance.
As for fuel economy, you could see it get a bit better as long as you don't push the Jeep too hard. On road performance doesn't dip too badly. I drove with 32's and stock gears for 5 years and had no problems. A few eyars ago a friend drove from AZ to CA with 31x9.5R15 TSL (these are close to 33" for many radials.) He drove it across to Socal then up to the Rubicon. (2.5L XJ TBI) Another guy drove his TJ with 31's and followed him. There was another guy with a YJ and 33's and then I rode shotgun in a 2.5L TJ with 33 BFG MT's from the Bay Area to the Rubicon. Everyone made it unscathed. Although the TJ with 31's did ass drag a bit over the rocks.
With that said, I'd probably wait for the locker then see how it is. You might not need 33's.
With that
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I'd hold off on the 33"s in hopes of getting the rear locker sooner.
Then consider some power mods to compliment the 33"s down the road. My '95 2.5L pulls 33" Swampers surprisingly well with several power mods to the engine. Regearing is best, but the power mods were much more affordable.
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joe-joe, where you from in IL? I'm near St. Louis on the IL side. Ever been to www.rorp.com ? Awesome Offroad park.
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Bounty Hunter,
I usually got to The Cliffs Insane Terrain http://www.thecliffsinsaneterrain.com/
Or the badlands
http://www.badlandsoffroad.com/
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So.........you're in the Chicago area? I've been to the Badlands a few times, never to the Cliffs. You should check out Rockport if you get a chance, and www.redbirdsra.com if you want to venture further south in Indiana. Both parks are well worth the trip.
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I think its all driver preferance. I was on a trail when i was stock on 29" BFG AT's at jeep jamboree and running a fairly mild trail and there was a CJ ahead of me with a spring over and 33's and he struggled when I had no problems. As long as your good at picking your lines 31's can hang with any tire. almost :)
You could also consider running a 33/10.5 to lose some weight from a 33/12.5. I find my 33/12.5's that once they find a rut its hard to get them out of it, whereas with a 10.5 you'd have room to maneuver the tire to get outta the rut.
If your goign to go with a 33 and not regear Id suggest a narrower tire.
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hey guys I decided to go with a 33x12.50 kuhmo MT
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joe-joe,
i am in the same position. i want to go to the 33's.
i have a 4" lift with 31's and want to make the jump to 33's.
for several reasons, ground clearence, looks, etc, etc...
how did it go with the 33's?
i would love to know.
Ron
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i put 33s on my 90 YJ 2.5 TBI. my jeep also has stock gears. and honsetly it drives alot better with the 33s than it did with the 30s. on and offroad.
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Holy old thread revival Batman,
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Thats what I was thinkin'
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(http://www.msnpro.com/mummy/7.gif)
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I have a 1997 TJ and I am looking at adding 33 x 10.50 Tires on 15x8 Wheels right away and am planning on a RE 3.5 SF upgrade in the spring.
I have installed a JKS 1.25 Body Lift, M.O.R.E. Bombproof 1" Motor Mounts, replace the entire Exhaust system and replaced the stock fan with an Electric Fan Unit. I am wanting to add the 33 Engineering High Clearance Skid Plate before adding the tires and the Suspension lift.
I'm wondering will I have to add and SYE and CV Shaft after adding the Skid Plate? or can I wait until after doing the Suspension lift to add it? I've seen conflicting posts which state the driveshaft angles will be off from the 1.25 BL and the 1" MML.
Thanks in advance
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4. Will I always be looked at as a "little guy" if I stay with 31's?
Yes....
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4. Will I always be looked at as a "little guy" if I stay with 31's?
Yes....
Driver skill accounts for a lot. It's always fun to make it through an obstacle with 31's and open diff's after the guy on 35's couldn't do it. The little guy comments tend to stop after that, at least for a while.
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I'm running 29's and have just as much fun as the "big guys."
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Like it or not 33's make it easier to get over obstacles. I ran the stock 28's the 31's and now 33'd 31's work well but bigger tires make it definitely easier
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Like it or not 33's make it easier to get over obstacles. I ran the stock 28's the 31's and now 33'd 31's work well but bigger tires make it definitely easier
Especially when aired down. You lose height as you gain a larger footprint.
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I'd probably build your TJ for the trails you're reasonably going to do now and in the future. And you probably already recognize that doing bigger tires 'right' may cost you a fair amount of money and time.
People may disagree, but a TJ with 31s, the D44 or similar and lockers front/rear can probably do 90+% of the trails out there. That's a lot of trails depending on your location.
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I ran 33 on my 2000 Sport and they do help when it comes to larger obstacles. But, I've also learned a lot about driving since then and the 29's do very well by me. Granted, 33's would do me even better at this point but I have no complaints. I have fun no matter what and getting stuck is fun...sometimes. :weee:
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I´m running 30s on my stock YJ and the differential hardly ever get hit. What is getting hit a lot is the belly skid plate and the gas tank. Sometimes my approach angle is just not enough forcing me to take a bypass. You may want to try a budget boost and a gas tank skid plate, it will help a lot for less money than some new 33s.
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Just go for it, why buy something that you don't really want. Save yourself the money and buy 33's. I had 30*9.5 bfg at's, then 31*10.5 bfg mt's, then 32*11.5 gy mtrs' now im back to bfg at's in the 33*12.5. It runs fine with stock gears and some power mods. The 33 inch AT's ride better(more power) than the 32 inch MTR's. They also seem to better in the snow. Maybe is just that they are new. Im putting in new gears, (4.88's) and a locker and some 30 splines next week. But if your wondering if it can be done w stock gears the answer is yes, with no issues other than you lose 5th going up hills. But you will lose 5th with 31's. We drive 4 Bangers not highway cruisers.
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I run 31's on the road. I have 33 X 12.50 Truxs MT's I typically only use on the trail. I drive two hours up the highway to home from school occasionally and don't like chewing off good grip just to look a little cooler.
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I had 30's and went everywhere my buddy did with his Rubicon. (I was open at the time.) Power was fine and the only prob's was hitting the gas tank skid.
If I had to do it all over - I'd stay on 30's and kept the $$$. Guess it all depends on where you wheel.
Nothing like the look on people's faces when you get a near stocker thru some hairy stuff !
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got 33's on my 92... excellent offroad and bounty hunter knows from jeepz.com i've been asking alot about regearing..... on the road 5th is almost obsolete on even slow grades..... u do 33's better plan on changing gears. offroad they i love them :thumb: