Tippy JK with RTT and rack, need professional advice!

[jacobconroy]

Hi all,
I finally got my Slimline II rack and Baroud Espace RTT installed on my 2 door 07 JK. Gonna be great for "Quick and dirty camping". But, it's pretty darned top heavy and a bit spooky at 60 MPH. I have about 170 lbs. more planned for a Manta awning and Front Runner camp table on the rack.

I haven't taken very good care of the old girl. I'm due for shocks. Can't decide to do a 2.5 inch AEV lift or leave it at stock height with MetalCloak and 35s. Pretty sure that much of the steering front end needs to be replaced. What can I do to make this thing less top heavy (or "feel" less top heavy) and drive better?

Here are some dumb noob questions:
1. Will progressive rate springs help with the swaying?
2. Will putting more weight down in the Jeep help to lower the COG (drawers, fridge, steel fenders, 35s, bumpers, etc.)?
3. Will 12 inch 35s and 4 inch backspacing help with COG (wider stance)?
4. Will a heavy sway bar help (do these go in the front or the rear)?
5. Am I going to give in and buy a trailer for the RTT?

This is not my daily driver and will pretty much be just for tooling around in the hills and 1 to 2 night car camping trips. It doesn't need to drive like a Ferrari....but I don't want to tip over if a dear runs out in front of me.

Any constructive advice would be appreciated. Please speak up if I've overlooked any important options.

Thanks. Sorry for the screwy pictures, couldn't figure out how to remove the crooked ones.

 

[ventura911]

My Jeep is rather, umm, portly? with the Ursa Minor top and other mods and I'm happy with the Old Man Emu heavy-duty set-up. I'd also be comfortable going with AEV.

 

[jacobconroy]

Haha. I'm a bit portly too, so it makes sense. Will a heavy duty suspension help to deal with that weight up top?

 

[jeep-N-montero]

Haha. I'm a bit portly too, so it makes sense. Will a heavy duty suspension help to deal with that weight up top?

It will help to a point but you can't change physics when adding more weight above your center of gravity. A progressive spring as mentioned in the thread a bit below this one will explain a bit more about adding weight and compensating via springs and shocks.

 

[JCDriller]

look into a heavy duty rear sway bar. The are cheap, easy to install and from what I've read very effective.

 

[kojackJKU]

Hellwig will be able to help you out for sure. They have stiffer sway bars and things to combat that "floppy" feeling.

 

[rino]

I'm also a member of the portly JK club

I can say that a proper suspension system will have a major effect on stability on and off road when you have added weight on the roof. I added an AEV 3.5" system and Old Man Emu BP-51 bypass shocks to my JKUR. With the advanced geometry and progressive springs of the AEV suspension combined with improved adjustable compression and rebound of the Old Man Emu BP-51's you can really improve handling to near factory again.

The addition of a Hellwig rear sway bar is also a great idea if more technical off-roading is not on the bill.

Lastly, the addition of 170lbs of more gear is something I would suggest reconsidering. A 270* awning should only add >55lbs and the table if aluminum maybe >20lbs? I would try to aim for as light weight as possible for the combined rack/tent/awning setup within reason.

 

[MOguy]

Options:

1. put less crap on your roof
2. load heavier stuff lower and closer to the center of your jeep.
3. get really wide axles that stick way out to help stabilize you jeep.
4. a trailer

Even with heavier spring you will still be top heavy. It may help a little with the sway or leaning to an extent but in off camber or during panic maneuvers you are still at risk of all hell breaking loose.

I am not a pro overlander but have been off-roading for a while. Jeeps (shorter wheel base and tall) can flop even if you aren't loaded top heavy, been there done it a few times. Things can happen on the trail, why do things that greatly increase the risk of it happening.

 

[MOguy]

Hellwig will be able to help you out for sure. They have stiffer sway bars and things to combat that "floppy" feeling.

Even then the chances of flopping are still greatly increased with all that weight up top.

 

[TeraFlex]

A TeraFlex HD Swaybar can help you keep that bodyroll in check: https://teraflex.com/shop_items/528ffa7fead962f416e72e1e We also offer rear swaybars for JK's and TJ's.

 

[SSF556]

An additional 170 pounds :Wow1: Stuff adds up in a hurry. I personally would feel more comfortable in a JK with a trailer, either way a short wb vehicle is not always great at carrying heavy loads.

I believe the JK has a 1000# cargo capacity and that includes you, your SO, dog, fuel camping gear, RTT, awning, cooler, beer, spare tire etc....with an additional 170lbs, so an upgrade suspension should be on the top of the list.

At least with the trailer you get all the weight off the Jeep and into a more manageable load. Keep in mind that the tongue weight will take up cargo capacity so be sure to not max out the tongue weight with a trailer.

I have had good luck with my OME setup....it is very tough on Jeeps to stay within the GVWR.

Here is a great writeup from Toyota.

http://a230.g.akamai.net/7/230/2320/v001/toyota.download.akamai.com/2320/toyota/media/vehicles/2008/tundra/towing_guide.pdf

 

[jacobconroy]

I really appreciate all the input folks and should have mentioned that I intend to overland only...and at short distances from home. Basically, I just want to leave work on Friday, get to camp in an hour or two, cook on a campfire, drink a little hooch, and come home the next morning. Keeping everything "self contained" except food and water is the plan.

I ordered the Front Runner large Pro camp table to store under the rack. I think it's a bit less than 30 lbs. As for an awning, maybe something around 50 lbs would be a better idea. Might just need to go with a "manual" awning that will store in the cab.

I also bought a 13 foot Scamp to pull behind the Jeep (for the missus to have a heated potty) but will only take that when she comes along. This worries me for GVRW reasons. I have the 3.8 auto with 4.10s. Jeep says I can tow 2000. The Scamp is ~1800 loaded. I'm right up to the limits already and it was no little project to find a camper with heat, bath, stove, water, etc. under 2000. We had to special order the darned thing.

This rig is obviously less than ideal for my needs, but it's paid for. .

I will check out the sway bar setup and the rear bar as well. Do you folks think buying the sway bars before the 2.5 AEV lift is a bad idea?

I guess that I will focus on the lift and swaybar as soon as my broke-behind gets an ARB fridge paid for.

 

[jacobconroy]

Yeah Rino, those tents look awfully similar.

My eye has been on the Eezi-awn manta and thought they were about 150 lbs. Is that not correct? It's also 96 inches long when closed and will stick out past the rack by a foot and a half. But it looks so darned easy to setup and Front Runner has brackets for mounting it. I'm open to other awning ideas though.

 

[SSF556]

I really appreciate all the input folks and should have mentioned that I intend to overland only...and at short distances from home. Basically, I just want to leave work on Friday, get to camp in an hour or two, cook on a campfire, drink a little hooch, and come home the next morning. Keeping everything "self contained" except food and water is the plan.

I ordered the Front Runner large Pro camp table to store under the rack. I think it's a bit less than 30 lbs. As for an awning, maybe something around 50 lbs would be a better idea. Might just need to go with a "manual" awning that will store in the cab.

I also bought a 13 foot Scamp to pull behind the Jeep (for the missus to have a heated potty) but will only take that when she comes along. This worries me for GVRW reasons. I have the 3.8 auto with 4.10s. Jeep says I can tow 2000. The Scamp is ~1800 loaded. I'm right up to the limits already and it was no little project to find a camper with heat, bath, stove, water, etc. under 2000. We had to special order the darned thing.

This rig is obviously less than ideal for my needs, but it's paid for. .

I will check out the sway bar setup and the rear bar as well. Do you folks think buying the sway bars before the 2.5 AEV lift is a bad idea?

I guess that I will focus on the lift and swaybar as soon as my broke-behind gets an ARB fridge paid for.

Do not beat yourself up...the JK is a great rig and can be made even better with a small amount of work. Having a paid off rig makes life a lot easier. Get a good suspension, makes sure you got some good tires and get the preventative maintenance items up to date and you will have a great overland Jeep.

 

[MOguy]

I really appreciate all the input folks and should have mentioned that I intend to overland only...and at short distances from home. Basically, I just want to leave work on Friday, get to camp in an hour or two, cook on a campfire, drink a little hooch, and come home the next morning. Keeping everything "self contained" except food and water is the plan.

I ordered the Front Runner large Pro camp table to store under the rack. I think it's a bit less than 30 lbs. As for an awning, maybe something around 50 lbs would be a better idea. Might just need to go with a "manual" awning that will store in the cab.

I also bought a 13 foot Scamp to pull behind the Jeep (for the missus to have a heated potty) but will only take that when she comes along. This worries me for GVRW reasons. I have the 3.8 auto with 4.10s. Jeep says I can tow 2000. The Scamp is ~1800 loaded. I'm right up to the limits already and it was no little project to find a camper with heat, bath, stove, water, etc. under 2000. We had to special order the darned thing.

This rig is obviously less than ideal for my needs, but it's paid for. .

I will check out the sway bar setup and the rear bar as well. Do you folks think buying the sway bars before the 2.5 AEV lift is a bad idea?

I guess that I will focus on the lift and swaybar as soon as my broke-behind gets an ARB fridge paid for.

less than 5lbs:

Years ago I was light infantry so when I think about this type of adventure I think light. I now work for a technical rescue school, I do some of the purchasing have to research things time to time. Right now I am researching this and it makes me think of a jeep like what you are planning on building:

You jeep is a great vehicle for this, but like everything it has it limitations. I have a 4Runner and an older Wrangler. The Jeep is far more capable than your 4Runner, and lends itself much better to modifications but size is an issue.