Topic: Bigger Better?

[Liljeepz]

I'm just wondering what every ones thinking is on this.
Is Bigger Better?
I know it all depends on what your doing, but for and average trail rig is there a too big? I have been talking to guys in my club and other people, and it seems like most people think bigger is better.
I think if the rig is to big it will be to easy to do trails, if you can fit in the tight areas. At what point is to big?
My thoughts on this is the lowest lift and the most clearance possible with 33" tires will go a long ways!
My plan on my rig is about a 2.5-3" lift with 33's and a belly up skid/kilby gas skid with good mud tires will go throw almost every thing with a good driver, and a winch here and there.

[Mozman68]

Not always better...but it can help.

For me, my rig is my DD, so I'm limiting it to 35's for now....my lift will work with my future flat fenders to give me maximum flex while keeping the Jeep at probably no more than a 4.5" lift.

Same concept as what AEV has done with their high fender kit...minimal lift with bigger tire.  More stability, better handling....and it has to look good / in proportion.

[neale_rs]

It is a matter of what provides you with the most fun.  Some people like to build a machine that will allow them to travel over trails with ease, they get fun out of using what they have built.  Others like to see how far they can go with what they have, they get fun out of using skills to get over the trail.  Your approach sound good to me, enough to go where others go but still having fun challenging your skills.  At some point bigger is not better for the second type of driver. Also, bigger will eventually force you to stop using your jeep as a daily driver.

[jcsanders79]

The ability of a rig with 33's is not a given, lock it up and add a skilled driver then you got a decent rig but there are many variables that can change capability including size.  Most guys with Jeeps that are DD tend to take it a little easier than those that just need to get it home or too the trailer running or not.

[lanulos89]

ita ll depends on drivers skill, and what type of trails you want too do, as for too big, i definatly believe there is such a thing as too big, IMO anything that can stuff bigger than 40" tires is tooo big.  my friend has a rock crawlwer jeep, d60 front and rear, with 40's and can do anything.  as for too small well yea that exsits too but we wont go there :)

[YJmechanic]

all relys on the driver  my friend has always wheeled with 33's and never had a problem with it,,  goes anywhere pretty much.  he got a new unlimited rubicon  and lifted it and still only went to 33's and says it will never go higher than that.  so like i said it is all the driver.  i ran 33's for 90% of my jeeps life and didn't enconter too many problems.

[chardrc]

for me there is too big... and since most off my off roading is on old logging trails.. basically anything bigger than a early cj (cj2a or 3a) is too big.. like my yj or my dads tj wouldn't make it up there without lots of scratches and some body damage.. but that also depends on how much you care about scratching your jeep... but for more open trails and rocks id say 40 inch tires are too big.

[oldjeep]

Depends on how big the rocks are.  My old rig with 37's, tons of clearance and a lack of concern for body damage could go on most of the trails my club uses easily.  However there are a few trails at the Gilbert OHV area which were not passable with 37's and a Dana 44 front end.  Resulted in broken stubs or exploded hubs when I tried the huge rocks.  That being said, for most of our local trails  35's on a full bodied rig is entertaining and relatively challenging if you care about the sheet metal.

Here's a local example of when 35's are not enough   My old rig version 2004

[Tall Boy]

 Mud boggers need those big tires for the swamps like 40"s or as big as they can get. They used to do the Rubicon on small tires like 28's. So I guess depending on where you wheel determines your choice.     

[oldjeep]

Mud boggers need those big tires for the swamps like 40"s or as big as they can get. They used to do the Rubicon on small tires like 28's. So I guess depending on where you wheel determines your choice.     

The Rubicon isn't exactly an extreme trail.  Any stock "trail rated" jeep can find a line that they can make.  No self respecting mud bogger would run a tire as small as 40" 

[Tall Boy]

O.K

I've never been there myself, but I used to watch it on t.v alot when I was younger.

[Liljeepz]

I forgot to add lockers in my first post, but you all make good points. It all depends on where you live too, I'm sure you guys out west 35's are on the smaller size. My thinking is more Midwest. One thing I am learning the bigger the Jeep the more money it cost you, and it seems like more repairs.
I just like seeing guys running the trails where you see most people running 35's and getting stuck or breaking, and a lil guy with 31's and lockers drives right by, it cracks me up. I saw that last saturday and that's what got me thinking about this subject.

[Tall Boy]

That trail pic is not an average trail here. That is carazay. I've yet to do stuff like that with my dd. That CJ is not a dd either. I've done crazy stuff but nothing that big yet.

[Tall Boy]

well lil jeepz, 35" tires are $1200-1600 a set. 31's are $500-600. 4-6" lift is another $1600-2600 bill and then all of the other goodies to complement it like an atlas t-case. A 2" lift is $200.00.

So yeah , quadruple the cost for 35-40" tires. It looks cool though, and alot of "cool looking"  fully loaded Rubicons are getting stolen in Southern California by mexican gangbangers who take them across the border to mexico to bolster their civilian militias, and drug cartels.   

[Jeffy]

This is really subjective since not everyone does the exact trails everyone else does.  Many trails out there have more then one route so they could be mild all the way or increase in difficulty as you go along.

One thing to keep in mind is that when you take a heavily built Jeep over milder trails, it really tames the trail.  To the point of making it too easy.  I know several guy's who went form mild Jeeps to building competition buggies.  Now they're wanting something milder that they can take the family in.  Although, they're running 35's or 37's instead of 38's.  (competitions had limits to 38.5" tires.)

There are times I wish I had a milder Jeep.  Mine has lost some of its do everything'ness.