Topic: What would it take

[Tr00b]

If you had a 4 cylinder TJ...

What would you have to do to it to make it tow and perform like a stock half ton truck (trailer only) on and offroad?

It came up over beers and we had no real good answers.

[sharpxmen]

v8 swap, auto, upgraded brakes, beefy rear axle + some sort of hd suspension for the rear end. Problem would still be the short wheelbase - can be fixed but it would get so expensive that i think starting with a JK would probably be a better option and cost the same in the end.

[Tr00b]

How far would you need to stretch the wheelbase?

I would imagine lockers would be needed to make up for the lack of weight, too.

[chardrc]

A jk8 would be a good start with the deisil, d60, and leafs in the rear.... but with the 4cyl tj you would have alot of work. I would be concerned with the wheelbase for pulling a trailer. Aslo getting a hitch that is beefy enough to pull that much wieght as the tj doesn't start with much of a crossmember at the back. Something like |j lenght with a stroked 4.0l or a v8 d60 rear d44 front could posibly do the job. Would also need to beef up the brakes which would be easier with the new bigger axles.   Put it on 33s with a near stock ride height (probably 2 inch lift toavoid rubbing but keep it low).

[sharpxmen]

How far would you need to stretch the wheelbase?

I would imagine lockers would be needed to make up for the lack of weight, too.

if you want to only pull on the street there's no need for lockers, even on the forestry roads you'll be fine without one, mud/snow lockers would help for sure.

as far as wheelbase the longer the better of course (for side loads on the hitch, won't make it feel like is going sideways as much which is the case once you start lifting the TJ/YJ even without towing anything, just a little wind or getting by big trucks makes you have to steer it back straight) - I'm going to guess like he ^ said that about what LJ has between axles to make it manageable

[Tr00b]

Sweet. Thanks for your input guys. By the sound of it we are talking a serious coin, magazine budget build here.

I got real tired of looking at trucks, none of which I liked or could afford and thought maybe a motor swap with an 8.8 and some brakes would cut it. The whole braking system is in need of replacement on my TJ and perhaps this would have been a good time to start that project.

[aw12345]

Want to built a Jeep like that? Other than the engine I did just that

[sharpxmen]

Want to built a Jeep like that? Other than the engine I did just that

i was thinking of your wheelbase actually when i posted. Is it longer than LJ between axles or about the same?

[Tr00b]

I cracked into the "old yeller" thread for the first time, and found this pic... Holy crap, that thread is huge I read for an hour and a half and hadn't read a quarter of it!  It looks wider than an LJ... AW, Super awesome by the way! What did that cost or is it all custom fab?

[stan98tj]

longer wheelbase and a diesel would take care of the needs you mentioned. Cut the TJ tub and stretch to LJ length. Swap out 2.5l for 2.8lCRD out of liberty or source one from foreign JK, cumins 4bt could also fit the billet, though it is an unrefined engine and has poor road manners, a toyota or worked Mercedes Benz diesel would do well and as HPA Motorsports has shown, the 1.9 TDi with nearly 3o0ft lbs torque could also do the trick.

[Tr00b]

I like the CRD but the transmission behind it does not make it  a viable option. At very least the transmission behind it in the Liberty. Torque converter doesn't hold up and with an aftermarket one they tend to burn out gears reguardless of maintenance. I did not buy one of these for that reason already.

The diesel idea is a good one, but the cost is usually around 5 to 10 grand...

[aw12345]

I bought the totaled Jeep for 500 bucks, sold anything that I didn't need, that made it free. Then spend 11 months and 13.500 bucks to make it what it is. since then I have changed a few little things and spend money on tires. The Jeep takes all the Hammers abuse in stride without complaint. Works very well for a 4 banger and is very reliable.
Climbs stuff like this like they are speedbumps at the mall 

[Jeffy]

What are you going to tow?  A camping trailer or something larger?  I think a buggy would suck to tow anything more then 50 miles onroad.  Definitely get a trailer with brakes. I'd sell the 2.5L and buy a Rubicon Unlimited.  Bigger engine and axles are just about 1/2T.  Get a hard top and you could tow stuff cross country if you wanted.

[Tr00b]

Ive been looking at trucks and not finding what I want. Plus a little scared... I get screwed if I breathe wrong ... Jeep has never let me down. It will be for farm use wood hauling etc what I already do but bigger better and safer. The ability to pull a car trailer and load would be nice or a dump trailer for wood hauling. I was seeing if there was a solution to make the jeep work.

I have a 1974 F250 highboy 4x4 but the cab fell apart and it will take 2000 to 4000 and months of work to get that on the road. That looking like a better option.

[Jeffy]

Ive been looking at trucks and not finding what I want. Plus a little scared... I get screwed if I breathe wrong ... Jeep has never let me down. It will be for farm use wood hauling etc what I already do but bigger better and safer. The ability to pull a car trailer and load would be nice or a dump trailer for wood hauling. I was seeing if there was a solution to make the jeep work.

I have a 1974 F250 highboy 4x4 but the cab fell apart and it will take 2000 to 4000 and months of work to get that on the road. That looking like a better option.

You can buy a '00-'08 F250 or F350 Fleet Truck for pretty cheap.  If not not working it hard then it would be a good buy.  Just do your homework on engines.