Topic: First time offroading in my Jeep (for fun)

[Tr00b]

This weekend I took my Jeep offroad for fun for the first time. A friend works for an off road shop and has a nice little course set up in a wooded ravine. He has a lifted TJ and a Geo Tracker buggy both locked and on 37s. It was dry but there were tons of logs and really steep inclines

My TJ with a 2" spring lift and 31" Cooper STTs went everywhere the heavy modded rigs did. And it handily outperformed a 6 cyl TJ with 33" MTR kevlars he kept spinning out on the loose dirt inclines. Also I could out maneuver everybody I guess big tires means you lose turning radius.

Now don't get me wrong I have been off road with a trailer cutting wood and hauling hay on the farm but I expected to be grossly outperformed in every way by these purpose built rigs... probably would have been a much different with some mud involved. But I was pretty happy.

[neale_rs]

On the one hand, lightly modded Jeeps are more capable than you would think at first.  But on the other hand, everything has its limits.  If you get into tougher and tougher obstacles, eventually the more built vehicles will have a significant advantage.    On many trails, the big vehicles are clearly overkill, and it can get to the point that the trail seems boring to the drivers of these.  On the other hand, their chances of a break are lower so it allows for more time wheeling and less time fixing the Jeep or getting it unstuck.

[Tr00b]

In a way that's kind of why I can never justify spending money on it... in order to go big you either swap  everything out or you stay mild and  not break... in the Midwest mud is kind of king so big power to clean the tires seems to get farther than gearing when its wet.

Offroad mine has plenty of  power in fact it was on par crawl wise with the Geo which had a 5.3 something reduction in 4 low. I know exactly what you are saying that though some of these guys with the insane rigs end up being bored. In a way though the absolutely terrible turning radius of the other jeeps seemed to be a big disadvantage.

Idk... for me this was a really new experience I'm not rich and most people who own land won't allow something like this. Hopefully I will go on the trails a few more times with the club he's in.

[jfrabat]

In a way that's kind of why I can never justify spending money on it... in order to go big you either swap  everything out or you stay mild and  not break... in the Midwest mud is kind of king so big power to clean the tires seems to get farther than gearing when its wet.

Don't think mud kills the 4 banger; we wheel in mud a lot around here, and if you keep your RPM's high, the little engine that could will respond.  Of course it will never be an 8-Cylinder, but with the smaller tire sizes (33 and less), it is quite capable... 

[Tr00b]

Jfrabat, is your build considered a light build?

[jfrabat]

Jfrabat, is your build considered a light build?

Mine is not a light build, but it is not a monster trail rig only type of thing either.  But even stock, the 2.5L does pretty well off-road...

[chardrc]

drive a flat fender for a few years and then go to the 2.5l. You will have all the power and more you need in the mud. its all about tire selection in mud as long as your not in the ruts of someone with 35s that just puts the pedal down and makes bottomless trenches.... in mud you usually always run out of traction and spin the tires at which point its basically over unless you have some real aggressive side tress to pull you along and even then when you get up to the frame your basically done. (in real thick mud at least).  The wildcard factor is having the power to get enough momentum to start with to get through in some situations but a stock 2.5l with 31s has enough for that in my experience....

[jfrabat]

drive a flat fender for a few years and then go to the 2.5l. You will have all the power and more you need in the mud. its all about tire selection in mud as long as your not in the ruts of someone with 35s that just puts the pedal down and makes bottomless trenches.... in mud you usually always run out of traction and spin the tires at which point its basically over unless you have some real aggressive side tress to pull you along and even then when you get up to the frame your basically done. (in real thick mud at least).  The wildcard factor is having the power to get enough momentum to start with to get through in some situations but a stock 2.5l with 31s has enough for that in my experience....

I agree 100%; and I would add that also, since the 2.5L tends to be quite a bit lighter, it does not sink as much and as fast as the I6 (or V8's), so it makes you need less power to get through (a good thing, since we already have less power!).  Of course, having a winch is always a good idea, just in case!

[Tr00b]

I guess after reading magazines and every article swapping a v8 and hearing about friends building these extreme rigs I assumed that stock was worthless... And all the power issues on road would translate into power issues off road.

[jfrabat]

I guess after reading magazines and every article swapping a v8 and hearing about friends building these extreme rigs I assumed that stock was worthless... And all the power issues on road would translate into power issues off road.

In my opinion, the 4 banger is a great off road engine.  It does lack power on the highway, and, unlike with a V8, you will not be able to solve most problems with the skinny pedal, but it also HIGHLY reliable, will not break if taken care off (and by that, just don't do anything stupid, and it will not break), will not require new parts (axles, tranny, TC, etc.) that you would need to change with more power, and still delivers reasonable performance. 

It also forces you to become a better driver, as now brute force is not an option to conquer obstacles.  And yes, you may need to use the winch more often than people with V8's, but that's what it is there for, right?  Besides, I rather have that than breaking parts!

And trust me, I have had to winch out many fellow Jeepers with larger engines from obstacles that I got through with my 4 angry squirrels!

[Tr00b]

You are right... I mean beyond some lockers I'm really pleased with the off road performance. Its cool to see the enthusiasm because I've been told to my face more than a few times that 4cyl jeeps are worthless. As soon as you tell them its a 4 cyl they glaze over with disinterest. :

A long time ago I made a thread about "making the leap" and buying into some offroad performance accessories such as lockers and a winch. Unfortunately I'm more poor than ever due to a total home renovation so at this rate it could be years before I do anything to it. But I'm happier than I was with it for sure.

[Jeffy]

The key to having fun is just drive it.  As long as you're out there doing stuff with your Jeep, it won't matter.

[grumpygy]

drive a flat fender for a few years and then go to the 2.5l. You will have all the power and more you need in the mud. its all about tire selection in mud as long as your not in the ruts of someone with 35s that just puts the pedal down and makes bottomless trenches.... in mud you usually always run out of traction and spin the tires at which point its basically over unless you have some real aggressive side tress to pull you along and even then when you get up to the frame your basically done. (in real thick mud at least).  The wildcard factor is having the power to get enough momentum to start with to get through in some situations but a stock 2.5l with 31s has enough for that in my experience....

Go from the Military M151 to the 2.5.  You almost have too much power.

[jfrabat]

You are right... I mean beyond some lockers I'm really pleased with the off road performance. Its cool to see the enthusiasm because I've been told to my face more than a few times that 4cyl jeeps are worthless. As soon as you tell them its a 4 cyl they glaze over with disinterest. :

A long time ago I made a thread about "making the leap" and buying into some offroad performance accessories such as lockers and a winch. Unfortunately I'm more poor than ever due to a total home renovation so at this rate it could be years before I do anything to it. But I'm happier than I was with it for sure.

For the lockers, you have many options.  The cheapest one is to use your e-brake as a "fake locker".  If a tire is spinning, lightly engage your e-brake to make the diff send some power to the other tire.  Next up is a lunchbox locker, which are not that expensive, and you can install yourself.  For under $300 you have a couple of options to get one for your rear (Aussie, Lock Right, Spartan, etc.).  They are not as good as ARB, but it's better than open diffs, and will not break the bank or have bad road manners.  Here's an install write-up of a lunchbox locker, in case you want to take a look at that option.  I would probably suggest locking up the front rather than the rear, as the D30 is stronger than the D35, but I doubt you would break the D35 on stock tires and a 2.5L with one of these...

As for the winch, just get a HiLift.  In case of emergency, you can use it with some tow straps as a come along and manually winch yourself out.  Not exactly the best or most comfortable solution, but it certainly beats leaving the Jeep stuck!  Besides, that way you have many tools in one (look online for the multiples uses of a HiLift on the trail; they include limping back out with a broken axle!).

Anyway, I agree with Jeffy; just go wheeling and ignore what everyone says.  You WILL have fun, guaranteed!

Felipe

[Jeffy]

As for the winch, just get a HiLift.  In case of emergency, you can use it with some tow straps as a come along and manually winch yourself out.  Not exactly the best or most comfortable solution, but it certainly beats leaving the Jeep stuck!  Besides, that way you have many tools in one (look online for the multiples uses of a HiLift on the trail; they include limping back out with a broken axle!).

Anyway, I agree with Jeffy; just go wheeling and ignore what everyone says.  You WILL have fun, guaranteed!

Felipe

Winches are so cheap these day's, there's really no excuse not to have one.  A hi-lift is a lot more dangerous if youn're not careful and even if you are.