Ranger Steve
Adventurer
That tent sure does look nice.
Overland The Third. ARB WJ inside!
- Thread starter Lecoq
- Start date
Lecoq
Explorer
Finally got the Jeep back from the driveline shop. Got them to build me a custom double cardan rear shaft for the QuadraDrive transfer case (247). I still have to adjust the rear pinion angle upwards. Also had a chance to install the JKS front disconnects.
Took some time today to get the RTT mounted.
Really happy with how it turned out. Wish I had time to test it out. Hopefully in the next week or so. There's still lots of little things I want to add to it. LED interior lighting is on top of the list and I will raise the tent 1/4 inch from the Thule bars so I can tuck in the cover underneath.
Took some time today to get the RTT mounted.
Really happy with how it turned out. Wish I had time to test it out. Hopefully in the next week or so. There's still lots of little things I want to add to it. LED interior lighting is on top of the list and I will raise the tent 1/4 inch from the Thule bars so I can tuck in the cover underneath.
Ranger Steve
Adventurer
The tent looks awesome on the jeep.
OverlandZJ
Expedition Leader
Coming along very nice.. nice WJ!
Lecoq
Explorer
Took the Jeep and the family for a week trip to British Columbia. It was a good chance to visit some friends and family and to test the new setup. We went from Calgary to North Vancouver then on to the ferry across to Nanaimo. From there we drove all the way to Tofino for a few days and some surfing. We then made our way to Parksville for some more camping before heading to Victoria. From there we went back to the mainland for a day before returning home.
It was a great trip for the most part. Jeep performed well in very hot weather.
On with some pictures.
Found a spot for the propane cylinders
Some serious heat on the drive through BC- I believe this was in Kamloops
On board for it's maiden ferry voyage
On the ferry
First night camping
View from the campsite
On the beach
Kids enjoying the water
Even the dog got to sleep in the tent
Port of Tofino
Found a spot to have lunch on Kennedy Lake
Island road
It was a great trip for the most part. Jeep performed well in very hot weather.
On with some pictures.
Found a spot for the propane cylinders
Some serious heat on the drive through BC- I believe this was in Kamloops
On board for it's maiden ferry voyage
On the ferry
First night camping
View from the campsite
On the beach
Kids enjoying the water
Even the dog got to sleep in the tent
Port of Tofino
Found a spot to have lunch on Kennedy Lake
Island road
Lecoq
Explorer
Here are my thoughts on the current setup I have.
Happy with:
-Tent was large enough to have the 4 of us in it and the dog
-Tent was surprisingly warm even on colder nights. Condensation sheet on the ceiling worked great and dried up quick during the day with the windows open
-Rear IRO HD springs were comfortable, sagged a little with all the weight but handled great
-Rear Addco sway bar worked wonders on the twisty mountain roads-very stable
-Lighting was great with the LED strip under the tent
-Fridge did a great job of keeping all the food cool even when parked in the sun for hours with the windows closed
Not happy with:
-Tires...They look so good but the noise level on long highway drives was almost too much. I know it's to be expected with mud tires but the wife and I both thought it got to be too much over an hour on the road. I'm replacing them this week.
-Exhaust. Way to much drone noise coming from the Magnaflow muffler. It got pretty annoying on the highway as well. Getting change this week as well.
-Gearing ratio. It's something I need to change as soon as possible. The stock gearing just can't handle all the extra weight and the larger tire size makes it very slow on long hills (reminds me of my R50 Pathfinder).
-Suspension needs to be looked at again and back to the drawing table. Way too much bump steer in the front. The front is also really choppy over bumps. Long arms are in the near future as well.
-Tent mattress is a little too thin, I plan on adding another inch or two of foam over it.
Already looking forward to the next trip. Especially with the fixes getting done.
Now for gearing ratio, I'd like to hear some opinions. I know with the tire size I'm running I should be running a 4.10 but I'm wondering if 4.56 might be better with the extra weight. I'm looking for a good balance between power and drive-ability.
Happy with:
-Tent was large enough to have the 4 of us in it and the dog
-Tent was surprisingly warm even on colder nights. Condensation sheet on the ceiling worked great and dried up quick during the day with the windows open
-Rear IRO HD springs were comfortable, sagged a little with all the weight but handled great
-Rear Addco sway bar worked wonders on the twisty mountain roads-very stable
-Lighting was great with the LED strip under the tent
-Fridge did a great job of keeping all the food cool even when parked in the sun for hours with the windows closed
Not happy with:
-Tires...They look so good but the noise level on long highway drives was almost too much. I know it's to be expected with mud tires but the wife and I both thought it got to be too much over an hour on the road. I'm replacing them this week.
-Exhaust. Way to much drone noise coming from the Magnaflow muffler. It got pretty annoying on the highway as well. Getting change this week as well.
-Gearing ratio. It's something I need to change as soon as possible. The stock gearing just can't handle all the extra weight and the larger tire size makes it very slow on long hills (reminds me of my R50 Pathfinder).
-Suspension needs to be looked at again and back to the drawing table. Way too much bump steer in the front. The front is also really choppy over bumps. Long arms are in the near future as well.
-Tent mattress is a little too thin, I plan on adding another inch or two of foam over it.
Already looking forward to the next trip. Especially with the fixes getting done.
Now for gearing ratio, I'd like to hear some opinions. I know with the tire size I'm running I should be running a 4.10 but I'm wondering if 4.56 might be better with the extra weight. I'm looking for a good balance between power and drive-ability.
xwazmtb
Lost and Found at the same time.
A recommendation on a true that might interest you is the the Bfg All terrains kos (not sire on the ko2s) I have a set of 235/75r15s installed on my 1997 zj and I've driven from Boulder Colorado to Moab Utah about 475-500 miles and then wheeled moab all with 1000 pounds of camping gear in the back and fire wood and these tires were a little noise but really nothing bad. Maybe a little bit (20-30%) louder than the street tires I previously had on bfg long trails. And then once aired down to 17 front and 20 psi in the rear then gripped better than even my friends 35" mud terrains (which were insanely loud rolling down the highway at 65+). I have also wheeled them in mud and in snow as well on granite rocks out were in the Rockies. They are truly the best tire I have ever used and i highly highly recommended them for and overland vehicle or a trail vehicle.
jpat30
Adventurer
Lecog,
Your jeep looks great as usual. I can only hope 1 day mine looks as nice. As far as your front suspension; the reason you are catching heck is your means of lift (2 in spacer/OME HD coil). Any lift of 4 inches or more on a WJ really requires Long Arms and appropriate size coil springs. Additionally, some of your issues may be your front DS as well. Do you have a double Card up front? At 4 inches plus, this becomes a necessity on the WJ as well. These rigs just weren't engineered to run that size of lift very easily or cheaply. The rear end though does well on factory short arms with 4 inches. The front is the limiting factor on these rigs. The jeep looks great though once again. Good luck and happy exploring!
Your jeep looks great as usual. I can only hope 1 day mine looks as nice. As far as your front suspension; the reason you are catching heck is your means of lift (2 in spacer/OME HD coil). Any lift of 4 inches or more on a WJ really requires Long Arms and appropriate size coil springs. Additionally, some of your issues may be your front DS as well. Do you have a double Card up front? At 4 inches plus, this becomes a necessity on the WJ as well. These rigs just weren't engineered to run that size of lift very easily or cheaply. The rear end though does well on factory short arms with 4 inches. The front is the limiting factor on these rigs. The jeep looks great though once again. Good luck and happy exploring!
Lecoq
Explorer
Thanks guys.
I'm getting a set of BFG KO2 installed today. I went with the same 265-70-17 size but a load range C this time.
As far as the suspension goes, I'm looking at Clayton long arms and I will most likely get new springs for the front to get rid of the spacers. I have a factory double cardan driveshaft already (I think it was standard on the Overland models). I looked at other long arms kit on the market and I might as well get the best the first time around. Re-doing the suspension every few months is getting old and tiresome. I'm looking forward to having it all dialed in.
I'm getting a set of BFG KO2 installed today. I went with the same 265-70-17 size but a load range C this time.
As far as the suspension goes, I'm looking at Clayton long arms and I will most likely get new springs for the front to get rid of the spacers. I have a factory double cardan driveshaft already (I think it was standard on the Overland models). I looked at other long arms kit on the market and I might as well get the best the first time around. Re-doing the suspension every few months is getting old and tiresome. I'm looking forward to having it all dialed in.
jpat30
Adventurer
Good call on Claytons; definitely agree on doing things right the first time around. Any more thought to regearing? I too am at that crossroad. I have done my fair share of research; a thousand internet threads/ phone calls to gear shops/ talking to other enthusiasts. Everything i find is that 4.10s are just right for an auto trans and 32 inch tires.
Lecoq
Explorer
New BFGoodrich KO2 are on. First impression on the drive home was that I can definitely feel the weight difference when braking and accelerating. The main reason for getting them was to get rid of the excessive noise. They are very quiet even at highway speed. I'm very pleased with them so far. If they're anything like my previous sets of TA/KO I'm sure I'll be very happy .
The only thing I am disappointed with is the lack of rim protection the older All Terrains had. Not sure BFG went without them on the new design...
The only thing I am disappointed with is the lack of rim protection the older All Terrains had. Not sure BFG went without them on the new design...