JKOwners Forum banner
Cancel
Create thread New Garage Forums

Light Weight

Jump to Latest
38K views 75 replies 33 participants last post by  j3ff3ry_j33p  
7
#1 · (Edited)
I wanted to get a thread going with all the light weight parts that are out there. Anyone with additions or comments feel free to post.

If not specified, products listed are for an Unlimited.

PRODUCT - TOTAL WEIGHT - SAVINGS OVER STOCK OR TYPICAL REPLACEMENT - PRICE

Aluminum = Al
Carbon Fiber = CF
Aluminum/Steel Hybrid - Al/S

SUSPENSION:
EXTERIOR:

ARMOR:
BUMPERS:
INTERIOR:
  • Mastercraft Rubicon Seats - 20 lbs each - 35 lbs saved over each SAS-equipped stock seat - $367 each (Mastercraft Store)
  • Mastercraft Bench Seat - 32 lbs - 55 lbs saved over stock 60/40 bench - $528 (Mastercraft Store)
ENGINE, POWER, AND DRIVETRAIN:
RECOVERY:

  • Warn 9.0Rc Winch - 54 lbs - ~8-50 lbs saved compared from Warn VR8000s to Warn PPHD - $1316 (Rebel Offroad)
  • Synthetic Winch Line - 4 lbs - 25 lbs saved over steel - $105 - $350 (Custom Splice, JeepSWAG)
WHEELS AND TIRES:
  • 315/70/17 Goodyear Duratracs - 60 lbs each - 4 lbs saved over MTRs, >4 lbs over most other 35's - ~$273 each (Tire Rack)
  • 17" Method Street Wheels - 22 lbs each - Savings Vary - $162.25 (Poly Performance)
    • This wheel and tire combo is 82 lbs, which is about 15-20 lbs lighter than what most guys are running.
    • Aftermarket wheels eliminate need for wheel spacers.
GLASS:

LIGHTWEIGHT IDEAS:
  • Remove speaker bar and replace with aluminum speaker boxes
  • Lighter (Shorter) Exhaust
  • Remove trim panels, carpet, storage cover, padding, etc.
  • Remove rear seat and replace with custom mounted jump seats
  • Leave your wife at home
  • Remove tailgate or replace with Pro-Net style tailgate net
  • Aftermarket, lighter than stock wheels eliminate need for 4 lb. each spacers
LIGHTWEIGHT BUILDS:
http://www.topspeed.com/cars/jeep/20...-ar150658.html
Thanks Alasha for itemizing and linking.

Light weight modifications:
  • Delete all interior comfort systems
  • Remove rear seats
  • Replace front seats with SRT seats from a Viper
  • Doors removed
  • Carbon fiber hood
  • chrome moly cage
  • Aluminum control arms, floor pan and gas tank
  • Body panels
  • Custom axles
  • Chopped windshield
 
#4 ·
How about the new rugged ridge aluminum XHD bumper?

Weight Savings:
• Aluminum XHD Bumper (Standard Configuration*): 26.9 lbs.
• OE Plastic Bumper: 35.7 lbs.
• Average Steel Off Road Bumper: 110+ lbs.

*Standard Configuration: Bumper Base, Filler Plate & D-Rings. The optional Hoop Over-rider, Stubby Ends & Winch Plate make the maximum overall weight of the bumper 62.6 lbs.

-Dan
 
7
#7 ·
Added the Speedglass and Warn. Spyderlocks aren't that light so I'm not adding them. Duratracs and 17" Al alloy wheels seems to be the lightest 35" combo at about 85 lbs.

Charlie said:
Damn, this is good stuff. I'm surprised more weights are not given in threads! Do you mean that a GenRight aluminum rear bumper is actually as light or lighter than stock? Thanks for starting this list! :beer:
Click to expand...
Gen-Right's site says 20 lbs for their rear bumper, and I estimate the rear to be about 40 lbs.

geod919 said:
Jeepswag/4xfix front bumper is 27 pounds. Good luck finding one though.
Click to expand...
Not added, if it's not for sale it's not much use. I always liked that bumper though.

Daniel_M said:
How about the new rugged ridge aluminum XHD bumper?

Weight Savings:
• Aluminum XHD Bumper (Standard Configuration*): 26.9 lbs.
• OE Plastic Bumper: 35.7 lbs.
• Average Steel Off Road Bumper: 110+ lbs.

*Standard Configuration: Bumper Base, Filler Plate & D-Rings. The optional Hoop Over-rider, Stubby Ends & Winch Plate make the maximum overall weight of the bumper 62.6 lbs.

-Dan
Click to expand...
Added.

Toothprick said:
It don't get much lighter then this. lol
Image
Click to expand...
One too many seats and stock tires would lighten that beast up! As always, sweet build.
 
J
#55 ·
FuLcRuM said:
This is one of the reasons I've never installed a winch, even the lightest ones are pushing 100LBS unless you get a comp winch, plus you have to add a bumper or at least a winch plate.

I stubbied my stock front for free, added the Teraflex aluminum sliders to replace the stock Sahara crap and a Poly crossmember skid combo to replace my tacoed stock crossmember. My 4 dr being light helps me out a lot compared to the more heavily armored rigs in my club, I never ride alone, so let my buddies use their winch on me if I get hung up. :D

I also don't pack up to heavy when on the trail, usually just a cooler for drinks, and snacks. Keep all your spares back at camp with the doors, but i'm not out in the middle of no where either, just an ORV park where im not far from "base".
Click to expand...
Weight has been considered in all my upgrades. My Recon weighs just under 60lbs. Still extra weight but not close to 100lbs.
 
W
#10 · (Edited)
Depends on how much you want to spend...

Braille light weight battery : 12lbs
http://www.criticalsystems.braillebattery.com/index.php/batteries/im34x

Griffin Aluminum Radiator might save some weight

Light Weight Exhaust

Ripp headers might save some weight

The speaker bar looks pretty heavy. Some Aluminum speaker boxes and light weight speakers would help lower the weight. I'm guessing you could removed 15-25lbs.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
7
#11 ·
wranglerblackout08 said:
Depends on how much you want to spend...

Braille light weight battery : 12lbs
[url]http://www.criticalsystems.braillebattery.com/index.php/batteries/im34x[/URL]

Griffin Aluminum Radiator might save some weight

Light Weight Exhaust

Ripp headers might save some weight

The speaker bar looks pretty heavy. Some Aluminum speaker boxes and light weight speakers would help lower the weight. I'm guessing you could removed 15-25lbs.
Click to expand...
Added the battery. Damn, that's pretty intense.

I'll add anything that's marketed as lightweight, only because it'll be easy to find tech specs. I'll add links and a seperate section for lightweight ideas.
 
#13 ·
Nemesis makes awesome stuff man. Im suprised more people do not talk about them. I think their flat fenders are the coolest out there.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#17 · (Edited)
Aluminum diff covers vers steel or iron? I'm sure there's a few pounds of unsprung weight there to trim off?

After recently installing a new steel front bumper and winch and feeling how much of a difference it made I'm starting to think twice about pilling on the steel and looking at the aluminum alternatives. I went with the RK pro suspension kit for the weight savings. maybe aluminum skids and rear bumper next? hey if I do everything in aluminum I can call it "Munimula" :D
 
#18 ·
Anyone who's read me rant about the weight of these pigs and the importance of keeping our rigs as light as possible, knows this thread is like gold.

This thread must never die. :beer:
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#36 ·
Weight makes a huge difference. Personally I'm not sold on using aluminum for "protection", but simply deleting things doesnt cost anything, and the performance gains can be huge. my 1986 Mustang GT weighed about 3000lbs full weight, and after I got done completely stripping the car of anything not needed, and added a roll cage, the car weighed right at 2450 and some change. losing that 550 lbs gave me almost a full second off my ET, and went from being a 13 second car to a 12 second car for NO money out of pocket. Of course, this was for drag racing, and irrevelant to offroad/JK's, BUT, losing 400-500 lbs would make a huge difference in how the jeep handles/accelerates. you know what it feels like when you load the car down with 3-4 adults.. now imagine the opposite. Not to mention less weight=less stress on components.
 
#39 · (Edited)
This is a great thread. The 'tricky' part is balancing losing weight on the Jeep with a) convenience for a DD and b) with durability. Sure I could ditch my backseat and carpet but since my Jeep is a DD I'm not so quick to do that. I'd like to go aluminum on some parts but being out here in SoCal, it's hard for me to go anywhere where I'm not playing in rocks so I have to be careful with that too. I guess this then leads to my question, what can one do to save weight for a DD and maintain some durability ie.: for playing in the rocks? I know possibly synthetic winch line is a good option. Any others? (not trying to hijack, I'm thinking this is kind of inline with the OP, and maybe he can put a designation next to parts/ideas that would work well for a DD??)

Forgot about the leave the wifey at home mod. Weight savings: ~120lbs. Cost: a bottle of Jack Daniels and ear plugs when you get home. :thefinger: :thefinger:
 
7
#42 · (Edited)
I emailed Currie, TrailMods, and Bushwacker about their parts to get weight info.

Added some things to the ideas section.

Topgun863 said:
This is a great thread. The 'tricky' part is balancing losing weight on the Jeep with a) convenience for a DD and b) with durability. Sure I could ditch my backseat and carpet but since my Jeep is a DD I'm not so quick to do that. I'd like to go aluminum on some parts but being out here in SoCal, it's hard for me to go anywhere where I'm not playing in rocks so I have to be careful with that too. I guess this then leads to my question, what can one do to save weight for a DD and maintain some durability ie.: for playing in the rocks? I know possibly synthetic winch line is a good option. Any others? (not trying to hijack, I'm thinking this is kind of inline with the OP, and maybe he can put a designation next to parts/ideas that would work well for a DD??)

Forgot about the leave the wifey at home mod. Weight savings: ~120lbs. Cost: a bottle of Jack Daniels and ear plugs when you get home. :thefinger: :thefinger:
Click to expand...
If you're going to bounce your rig off the rocks the majority of the time, some of the light stuff may not be for you. You may want to stick with steel where you come into contact with rock most often. As for a DD, you could swap the rear bench for a Mastercraft bench, which must be lighter than the stock bench, but then you lose cargo capacity. There are lots of things. Just go outside and stare at it and think about what you really use and what you could shed. Hell, take all the stuff out and replace it as you need it.
 
JKOwners Forum
posts
2M
members
65K
Since
2007
A forum community dedicated to Jeep Wrangler JK owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, modifications, classifieds, reviews, engine swaps, troubleshooting, suspension, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Modified JK Tech Dept. JK General Discussions New Member Introductions Stock JK Tech Dept. Electrical & Lighting Tech Dept.