Limited number of YJ out her in the Expo world.

[bigredcherokee]

Limited number of YJ out here in the Expo world.

So I have been in the off-road community for a while now and need a change. Having run both an XJ and now currently a YJ decided that with my like of the out doors and camping, along with having a off-road rig would work great. I have two girls and want them to be more adapt to camping and the out doors so I decided to convert my YJ to a Expo rig.

At this time my wilting pocket book will not allow for JK so the YJ must suffice. Not seeing many suppliers of expedition equipment for a YJ I'm asking the Epedition community if you know any.

Thanks everyone in advance.:smiley_drive:

 

[lamontagne]

Not seeing many suppliers of expedition equipment for a YJ

Yea, and you wont either. At least nothing specific to the YJ platform.

Honestly it shouldn't matter though. Most of the mods to a Wrangler for Expo travle are universal, regardless of the model. Things to address are storage and sleeping. Both are gonna be real tough in any Wrangler without some kind of trailer. Any interior options are gonna be custom. No way around it.

Reading your sig, it looks like you have a nice Jeep right now. The only advice I would offer would be to perhaps lower it a bit. 6" lift with 35's will get top heavy quick with a roof rack full of gear or a RTT.

You could always go the same route I am too, I'm stretching the body and frame of my YJ to LJ proportions (ie, I added 15") to get the interior room needed for a family weekend. :smiley_drive:

 

[Scott Brady]

Nothing wrong with the YJ

Here is my old YJ on El Camino Del Diablo. If you need more space, add a trailer.

 

[bigredcherokee]

Yea, and you wont either. At least nothing specific to the YJ platform.

Honestly it shouldn't matter though. Most of the mods to a Wrangler for Expo travle are universal, regardless of the model. Things to address are storage and sleeping. Both are gonna be real tough in any Wrangler without some kind of trailer. Any interior options are gonna be custom. No way around it.

Reading your sig, it looks like you have a nice Jeep right now. The only advice I would offer would be to perhaps lower it a bit. 6" lift with 35's will get top heavy quick with a roof rack full of gear or a RTT.

You could always go the same route I am too, I'm stretching the body and frame of my YJ to LJ proportions (ie, I added 15") to get the interior room needed for a family weekend. :smiley_drive:

Yea I agree. Aside from Gravin I was really looking for any other supplyers. I have tried to lower it, but with a Spring over my only other option is going back spring under. At this point i have way to much invested to do that. I'm trying not to get much on top and focus on a trailer with a RTT.

I think at some point I may get a LJ or a JK just not anythime soon unless something presents it self and its just to good to turn down.

 

[Mr. Leary]

Forget RTT with big lift. Many YJ folks use trailers to haul gear, which in turn have the advantage of being detacheable for a day of wheelin'. Biggest thing you will have to fight with a YJ is space constraints. You will have to make every cubic ft count. You will quickly pare down what you need from what you want. Hitch mounted carry rack is another option, and you could stow gear in something like this!
You will probably need to make some changes to the way your rig is set up to accomodate extra equipment weight.

My focus of late with my rig has been comfort. Believe it or not, most of your time on "Expo" adventures will be pounding out highway miles, with hours, days, weeks, in your rig. If you are not comfortable, you will quickly become miserable.

Tip: For kiddos, invest in one of those portable DVD players... it will make the experience more enjoyable for everyone!

 

[bigredcherokee]

Nothing wrong with the YJ

Here is my old YJ on El Camino Del Diablo. If you need more space, add a trailer.

That looks good. I'm prepairing to build a trailer b/c with the way things are now a new Jeep isn't in the future. The YJ is getting painted and I got a Targa hard top for it. Its also hard to just jump into a LJ or JK b/c of the mods I have done over time with this rig.

 

[bigredcherokee]

Forget RTT with big lift. Many YJ folks use trailers to haul gear, which in turn have the advantage of being detacheable for a day of wheelin'. Biggest thing you will have to fight with a YJ is space constraints. You will have to make every cubic ft count. You will quickly pare down what you need from what you want. Hitch mounted carry rack is another option, and you could stow gear in something like this!
You will probably need to make some changes to the way your rig is set up to accomodate extra equipment weight.

My focus of late with my rig has been comfort. Believe it or not, most of your time on "Expo" adventures will be pounding out highway miles, with hours, days, weeks, in your rig. If you are not comfortable, you will quickly become miserable.

Tip: For kiddos, invest in one of those portable DVD players... it will make the experience more enjoyable for everyone!

Oddly enough the soa rides really good. I just need to get my seat reworked. A friend of mine has a Sua yj with a lift and test drove my YJ and that made his decision as to wether or not he was going SOA. Neadless to say hes going soa.

I've been eyeing Tuffy products for storage solutions. I aways gotten those Quadratec and 4wd mags in the mail and read them more that I read IT realated books:Wow1:

 

[Root Moose]

I'm a ways away from turning my attention to the YJ but...

Plan is coil front (either TNT or Gen-Right) and leaf rear. Haven't decided on SOA or not for the rear but I figured I'd french the hangers to get it to sit where I want. I was thinking something around 4"-5" of total lift, probably 285s

 

[bigredcherokee]

I'm a ways away from turning my attention to the YJ but...

Plan is coil front (either TNT or Gen-Right) and leaf rear. Haven't decided on SOA or not for the rear but I figured I'd french the hangers to get it to sit where I want. I was thinking something around 4"-5" of total lift, probably 285s

Yes I was going to french the hangers but didn't have time since it was a DD. Since I'm running a D300 I was able to acheive 4 more inches of drive shaft lenght.

I think if I don't go LJ or JK I will stretch it and go with a coil in the rear and leaf up front. I like the simplicity of leaf sprung steering and suspension. Since I'm runing High steer now it just makes sence.

 

[Root Moose]

Oddly enough the soa rides really good. I just need to get my seat reworked. A friend of mine has a Sua yj with a lift and test drove my YJ and that made his decision as to wether or not he was going SOA. Neadless to say hes going soa.

SOA can work great BUT it can also be hard on springs. It's not unusual to have the springs go flat in a SOA if they were not designed to be that way.

When I get that far my plan was to look at adpating XJ, Toyota mini-truck springs, some other donor, etc. Basically something that was a factory SOA arrangement. Most SOA setups are not symmetric around the longitudinal centre-line, the are typically shorter in front of the axle than behind. I think the idea is to reduce the affects of spring wrap - which is what kills SUA springs when used in a SOA configuration.

There's also using a anti-wrap bar to help the springs live.

Just some ideas...

 

[bigredcherokee]

SOA can work great BUT it can also be hard on springs. It's not unusual to have the springs go flat in a SOA if they were not designed to be that way.

When I get that far my plan was to look at adpating XJ, Toyota mini-truck springs, some other donor, etc. Basically something that was a factory SOA arrangement. Most SOA setups are not symmetric around the longitudinal centre-line, the are typically shorter in front of the axle than behind. I think the idea is to reduce the affects of spring wrap - which is what kills SUA springs when used in a SOA configuration.

There's also using a anti-wrap bar to help the springs live.

Just some ideas...

Yes that is a very true statement. When I first did mine my Stock YJ springs just couldn't handle it and started to have negitave arch. I built my own spring pacs which were about the same as RE 1.5 springs.

Very good Idea to work with XJ or Toy springs as that will give you soft ride and are designed for over the axle applications.

Spring wrap is a big issue with a SOA setup and when you combine lockers to that it multiplies that problem many times over. I'm in the process of building a anti wrap or latter bar if you will for my setup.

usally the front drive shaft will shorten some but not fully collaps it. However with the Dana 300 I haft to cut about 1.25" out of my front shaft b/c its fully collapse.

 

[TJ Willy]

Reading your sig, it looks like you have a nice Jeep right now. The only advice I would offer would be to perhaps lower it a bit. 6" lift with 35's will get top heavy quick with a roof rack full of gear or a RTT.

Trust me, the first thing I said to him was to lower the YJ and he did... rest is in his posts.

Chris is a fantastic fabricator of things.

 

[phxtoad]

My wife has had her YJ since new in '95. In the past couple of years (since I've known her) she's 'allowed' me to drive it some and 'wheel it some. I'm toast if I scratch it though.

I love their simplicity, but I do get tired driving it long distances. I agree the trailer/RTT would be the way to go, too. Just not enough room without! My KJ seems spacious by comparison.

 

[bigredcherokee]

very clean YJ...

 

[smbisig]

Here is a couple of shots of mine. One with a roof top tent that I used all summer one year for bike racing. Very comfortable, and I was able to install myself.

this is what it looks like now

Current Vehicle Info:

- 1993 Jeep YJ 4.0
- 4.56 Gears with Metric 33" Bridgestone ATs on 16" Steels
- OME Suspension
- ARB Winch Bar
- IPF 8" XS HID lights
- IPF H4 Headlight Conversion lens with IPF 100/170W Bulbs
- Oddessy Dual Battery Kit
- MSD Ignition Box
- And my favorite, ARB Fridge Freezer

On the wish list:

- Aero 29 gallon fuel tank
- Rear Tire carrier
- Hard Top
- Removable cargo deck or drawer system

A few years back, my dad (at the time he also had a YJ) did a Cascade Mountain overland trip in both our YJs. Check out the article

http://www.pnwadventures.com/adventures/cascade-overland-adventure-august-2006/

Cheers!

Steven b~