Gotta start somewhere

[JK-Mg1212]

I have been a frequent lurker and infrequent contributor on the forum for quite some time. I have to say I am really impressed at the knowledge and friendliness here. So with that said, I am planning on starting to "improve" my 2008 JK Unlimited X (Expo White!) with 30K miles. My goal is to only do what is necessary to improve capability but nothing extreme. Easy trails and fire roads are really what I have in mind and it is a DD for my wife. I live in Michigan and I am not interested in mud as a source for entertainment and there are few rocks (other than Drummond Island). I am interested in using the rig to explore the northern part of our state (UP, etc) and use it as a backwoods camping platform for the family (wife, 2 kids and a Rhodesian Ridgeback). A trailer may be in our future at some point. I have had a TJ that I mildly modified that did everything I asked of it with 31's and a 2 inch lift with a Warn M8000 so that is more or less the direction I am heading. My question is where to start? I do have a Hi-Lift but the winch went with the TJ when I sold it. Winch? (gets me out of trouble), New Tires - BFG ATs most likely (gets me through trouble and improves capability). Mild lift - 2 inch? I have around $1000 to start with and I keep going in circles as to where to start so any comments or suggestions would be appreciated.
Mike

 

[haven]

The JK is plenty capable right off the showroom floor, so you probably won't need to change much to create a family weekend camping vehicle. Sounds like you've got plenty of experience with the terrain you plan to explore, and the mods you made to your previous Jeep should guide your vehicle upgrade plans.

So I think the changes you'll need will have mostly to do with camping, rather than driving. You'll need some sort of storage system (big plastic boxes will do for a start), and a barrier to keep the stuff in the back from coming forward and bothering the kids in the back seat.

A rooftop rack is necessary since you have four people and a dog inside. The rack on the JK Overland that Expeditions West is evaluating is ideal because the weight is not carried by the roof, but linked to internal supports. See http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=31401 for more ideas.

Chip Haven

 

[Piet]

I would agree, if you are doing backwoods camping with no trailer, 4 people and decent sized dog, you need a place to put stuff. I would look at a cargo rack and containers.

I would also buy a high lift jack, shovel, an axe and a tow strap. Make sure you have frame mounted recovery points.

Then I would buy some good tires. (What do you have on there right now?)
A good set of MTZ 32s would handle well. You can do a 2.5" lift and 35s. I would not really consider going above 35s for you. Then you would need to consider re-gearing etc...

Then as budget allows... winch and armor (Skid plates, bumpers, etc...)

 

[JK-Mg1212]

Good ideas all. Since I have a Hi-Lift (man I wish I would have kept my winch) and can use it in a pinch as a winch (slow but steady!) I have more or less moved away from a winch and bumper for the time being. I like the idea of a rack and since I sea kayak I can use it to haul the yaks around as well. My wife commented that she is worried about the noise from one on her commute (can't say I blame her there). We had an H3 for a while with a light bar and that was fairly noisy - I assume a roof rack would be worse. Anyone have a comment on the noise issue?

 

[The Swiss]

My wife commented that she is worried about the noise from one on her commute (can't say I blame her there). We had an H3 for a while with a light bar and that was fairly noisy - I assume a roof rack would be worse. Anyone have a comment on the noise issue?

Yes, there is some noise, but with a fairing, it is not too bad - as long as the roof is closed. With the roof open, yes it is noisy plus it disturbs the open air feeling. After 6 months with a rack, I'm really happy now without rack but a trailer. A rack is something you always carry with you on every each commute; the trailer you just drag along when you need it. So I vote trailer.

BTW, my Unlimited needs to house one wife, two teenage boys and 4 Yorkies, and myself of course :elkgrin:

Where in MI are you?

 

[MOAK]

I just finished modifying a 1 ton trailer I picked up at Tractor Supply. Cut stock fenders off, fabbed diamond plate ones, spring over lift, 2" wheel spacers, used Moab rims, stock Rubi sneakers, t-1-11 floor and sides, a custom fitted tarp, a 360 degree swiveling lunette ring, & a pintle hook.. Also made up 1/4" axle slider, and another for the tail.. A good relationship with a welder was a big help, but other than the pintle hook mod and new spring perches, I supplied all the labor.. It has been tested on some black trails at Rausch Creek, and is following us to Moab this May. This very capable trail trailer cost less than 1400 to put together.. I vote trailer...

 

[JK-Mg1212]

Yes, there is some noise, but with a fairing, it is not too bad - as long as the roof is closed. With the roof open, yes it is noisy plus it disturbs the open air feeling. After 6 months with a rack, I'm really happy now without rack but a trailer. A rack is something you always carry with you on every each commute; the trailer you just drag along when you need it. So I vote trailer.

BTW, my Unlimited needs to house one wife, two teenage boys and 4 Yorkies, and myself of course :elkgrin:

Where in MI are you?

I am starting to lean toward a trailer too. Seems like a good compromise. I live in Hamburg Twp. (North of Ann Arbor and south of Brighton)
Mike

 

[JK-Mg1212]

I just finished modifying a 1 ton trailer I picked up at Tractor Supply. Cut stock fenders off, fabbed diamond plate ones, spring over lift, 2" wheel spacers, used Moab rims, stock Rubi sneakers, t-1-11 floor and sides, a custom fitted tarp, a 360 degree swiveling lunette ring, & a pintle hook.. Also made up 1/4" axle slider, and another for the tail.. A good relationship with a welder was a big help, but other than the pintle hook mod and new spring perches, I supplied all the labor.. It has been tested on some black trails at Rausch Creek, and is following us to Moab this May. This very capable trail trailer cost less than 1400 to put together.. I vote trailer...

That's not a bad way to go at all. I am trying to talk one of the fabricators at my work to stay late a couple nights to weld up the trailer if I have everything cut and ready to go. He is an amazing welder - I'm not. I have been looking back in the older posts in the trailer section and I might appropriate a few ideas from there!

So if I go trailer then I'm back to the original question - what to do first with the JK? I'm thinking 33 " tires and small lift as I will need them soon anyway an the factory tires are a joke. I really want to keep it as modest as possible but I think a 2 or 2 1/2 might be a good idea. Sounds like my budget might need a little northward adjustment!

 

[link30204]

what size factory tires do you currently have?

It may not make a big difference on you rig, but,remember moving up to 33's will mean some loss of low end power/gearing. Not good with the future addition of a trailer.

So depending on the amount of tire increase you may need to put in lower gears to maintain power.

 

[JK-Mg1212]

what size factory tires do you currently have?

It may not make a big difference on you rig, but,remember moving up to 33's will mean some loss of low end power/gearing. Not good with the future addition of a trailer.

So depending on the amount of tire increase you may need to put in lower gears to maintain power.

The are 255/75-17 which I think is are 32". It's an auto with 3.73s. I took a look at the tires (GY Wrangler SR-A) and they are wearing way too good - tough just changing to change at this point (yes I am cheap). At 32K miles they still look OK but they are not great off road. I had BFG ATs on my TJ that were a much better all round tire.
Mike

 

[link30204]

yeah, with 32's you wont even notice the power loss of moving up to 33's that is a none issue.

 

[MOAK]

Before lifting my TJ, I checked with Chrysler with the very questions you are asking. I ended up with 33x10.5s with 2" spring lift, and a 1" body lift which does not void the factory warrenty on my drive train. Any higher than that ? Well, it gets quite expensive per inch, I'm plenty high, and with lockers fore and aft, can get through, over, or around just about anything the"big - rigs" can get through, over, or around . I have also kept my stock ride for good street manners so we can go on our long range journeys. In short, stick with a mild lift, then concentrate on traction.. Lateron

 

[njjeepthing]

You may just want to look for some Rubicon take off tires and wheels and do a BB or a level kit. A 2-3 inch lift kit will net you enough for 35's, than you will have to deal with regearing, etc.. Could also pick up a set of Rubi coils and shocks from a hardtop Unlimited, that will get you a bit more clearance.

I have a 2 door JK, and I have a leveling kit and 285 Goodyear Duratracs. So far so good, does what I want and still drives great on the highway. Definitly look at the Duratracs as a good BFG alternative, I love mine so far, and I'm by no means a Goodyear fan!

 

[Renrag]

My $.02 as a midwesterner, former TJ owner, current JKU auto Rubicon owner.

For your intended purpose I'd lean towards doing things in this order.

-Wear out your current tires, with the cash reserve to buy a set if you ruin one off road. You have a spare after all, and it is pretty hard to get very far from help in the midwest. I agree with BFG AT's. I've used them on all my farm pickups since '92. I'd stay at 32" or 33" max with the 3.73's. I just went from 4.10's to 5.13's with my 35's and the Jeep is worlds better. My Jeep wasn't full of joy with the trailer (1000lbs or so) and the 4.10's. Not to mention the spacers needed when running large tires on stock rims.
-Get the 2-2.5" lift. Spacer, or spring. I don't think either is bad. I actually have been running 1.75" spacers on mine with a 1" body and 35's. I just put the 3" springs back under it(longish story) and I'm thinking of going back to the spacers. The lift springs are pretty stiff.
-I actually like the idea of a cheap winch with a basic mount. (not full bumper till the funds allow) I only wheeled in MI twice, but I do remember there always being a tree within the winch cable distance. (Silver Lake being the exception) Can make a looooooooong day with the HiLift while the kids and the wife would rather being doing something else. And as fun as a story it makes later, it really isn't that much fun to actually pull a Jeep out of a mud hole with a HiLift. BTDT.
-Storage is a personal thing. I like to pack as much stuff as I can in soft sided bags. You can really get a lot into a small space that way.(I started all this Jeep craziness with a CJ5 I drove to the Rubicon full of food and camping gear for two) Build a simple shelf so you don't have to dig through the whole pile for every single thing. I built one for a WJ with a single piece of 3/4" plywood and some screws that worked quite well. My method is to make it so I can get the most used items out from under it and pile rest on top.
-trailers are nice when you need all the inside space for people.

mikE(send a PM for a full refund of your $.02 if unsatisfied)

 

[njjeepthing]

Oh yea, on other comment on the winch, bumper discussion.
I had another JK, I used the Mopar winch bumper, very nice bumper for the $$ and does the job well. This time around I found a deal on the WARN mounting system that mounts to the factory bumper, this thing is pretty stout, and I actually like how it looks. Can save you a few pennies if you go that route, the Warn M 8000 is also a great winch at a great price.