[BenFoo]

We all wheel differently on different terrain, so ultimately everything depends on the individual and use of the Jeep.

As far as the Hemi goes.... I am really going to have all of my ducks in a row when the time comes. At this point I really think I can do it right for around $10k. Of course, there are always hidden obstacles that I will budget for as well.

Best of luck with the HEMI swap. Hope to see some threads about it on JKO.

 

[2k2wranglerx]

i get sick and tired of reading regurgetated information from people who haven't done it themself and really have no clue what they're saying...

 

[RedX]

All well said an I learned some of this the hard way as I bought my rig from someone that had the 35" tires on it already. I never drove or owned a Wrangler before this one and my XJ, WJ, WK all were pretty much stock and very capable. Used to the V8 Engine I just figured the Wrangler was sluggish and little weak from the 3.8 motor. I never considered the gears. I was in for a surprise when I got up into the high mountains and terrain that begged for lower gears doing down steep and rocky slopes. Stock gears and 35's do not give me confidence in controlling my vehicle off road and not fun to drive up and down hills on the highway.

Would never again have wheels and tires to big for my gears. that! My 5.13s go in the week after next.

 

[knyland]

I first threw around 4k at my rig for a sport cage, bumpers, tire carrier, winch, rock rails, PSC fenders front and rear, and PSC quarter armor, and rocker armor. I just pulled the trigger on another 10k worth of shit for lift, gears, wheels, tires, axle tubes, c gussets. I dont need new drivelines right away so the money tree can grow a little. But i will need chromoly axles and some good skids. I could easily by the time i think i will be close to done throw another 10k at the jeep with out even putting 60's under it. Its not cheap you have to do your research and save your ass off. But you can gleen good information from here as long as you understand whats being said.

 

[Charlie]

Great thread and I tend to agree with the OP. Being new to Jeeps and an engineer, I have decided to read the hell out of this forum for a year before I touch my Rubi. I'm no big time mudder or crawler but it has literally walked wherever I have pointed her and I'm having a blast. I think it helps, also, to not have to depend on your JK as a DD.

The geometry under these vehicles is still quite interesting to me, as well as strength of components. I hardly ever read a post on here that does not have some merit, even if you have to think for a minute. That may be what gets some people in trouble, not thinking enough and instant gratification.

Don't get me wrong, I'm having fun in this first year, just with cool stuff like Safari Straps!

 

[MSUJeep]

Best of luck with the HEMI swap. Hope to see some threads about it on JKO.

Thanks, but that's several years down the road. You can bet that everything will be documented though.

 

[fourplyn]

My opinion:

If your going for looks and back country roads.. everything else doesn't really matter to you.

If your going offroad where your going to need lockers. Then you'd better do your research and know its going to get expensive. When you go big...you break BIG.

I've read a few people say..that they went with larger tires..knowing that they will have to do gears/lockers, etc... This is good advice.

If you over build it, there is less headache later on.

The way I see it. Money IS a major part of this sport. Your out on the trail and your wheeling along totally stock...and havin fun. Then you come across a guy that has more upgrades than a Mcdonalds combo...and he's walkin right over stuff you were struggling on.. This will make any person wanna go bigger..

People need to have more patience when it comes to this sport. plain and simple..:bounce:

Oh yeah, it took me almost two years with my jeep stock, I researched everything..and the first tire size I chose was 40". But I did all the suspension first then drove around with it lookin funny as hell..till I threw on my tires.

 

[08UnlimitedX]

I think everyone looking for suggestions newbie or not should take them as just that, suggestions.

My husband had 5.13's with 35's on his last JK and hated it but he went with those because that was what the majority of people recommended. That doesn't mean people shouldn't get them, I am simply saying everyone driving habits are different and although they worked great off road, he didn't like the on road manors considering that is where it was 6 out of 7 days a week.

I think one of the most overlooked or under advised upgrade is brakes. No matter where you start with your JK, you are automatically adding to the weight of it and therefore have already decreased the safety of the vehicle for yourself and others. I added a bumper and steps to my JK and had my husband upgrade the brakes for me already. The difference between the stock brakes and the new drilled/slotted rotors are night and day.

I have a lift for my JK sitting in my room collecting dust because I dont have a lot of money either but I am saving up and buying parts one at a time. Once I have everything to mod it properly, it will go together and I will be done with it. Rather than adding piece by piece as I drive it and sacrifice performance. It isn't easy looking at parts in boxes but in my mind it is the right way to do it.

Now this is just my opinion as well but like you guys said this is about advice.

Hemi Swap talk, they are getting much more affordable and for around $10k you can have it done professionally by a JKO sponsor:

http://www.jeepspeedshop.com/index....om_content&view=article&id=142:affordable-hemi-swap-for-jks&catid=1:latest-news

 

[SubCultureNM]

Its very good advise to properly build for bigger tires IMHO. With all the rigs running 37-40-42" tires and weighing close to 6K# on the trail nowadays, digging huge holes and moving around boulders, 35s are barely adequate now on trails a stock Jeep was able to do 5 years ago. As an example - look at the Rubicon trail. Some of my local trails were passable by stock 4x4 SUVs 5 years ago, now guys with 35s are getting pulled through the holes and exposed boulders. This doesn't apply to everyone and everywhere, but it does indicate that bigger is often better (but you have to build for it). Even look at this forum; when it started, 35s were huge and 40s were considered almost impossible to run and dangerous to drive, but now this forum seems to be going that route. People are doing things with full-body street legal rigs today that buggies wouldn't even run 10 years ago.

In my opinion, this is also a poor statement regarding the Jeep fad in general. Too many people who have too little experience 'wheeling are building big rigs on 40s and tearing the hell outta the trails. One of our local 'wheeling areas is a good example. Ten years ago there were the basic trails. Now everything has been driven over and a lot of real estate has been destroyed. My wife and I have our TJ on 35s for serious trails where body damage is a distinct possibility, and can still do just about everything we want in it. My JK Rubicon on 33s is a great daily driver that can also tackle some difficult trails.

I don't think 35" tires are too extreme for a mildly modded JK - its when you go bigger than 35s that performance takes a dive and shit starts falling apart.

I totally agree. I don't want to have to deal with replacing drive shafts, steering components, or any of the other stuff that will fail, sooner or later, due to the wear and tear from big tires. People should learn to drive their rigs before they start to build, and then know EXACTLY what they want when they do start. It's not about making trails as easy as possible - it's about learning to use your equipment and enjoying a challenge, but knowing your limits.

 

[desert dog]

In my opinion, this is also a poor statement regarding the Jeep fad in general. Too many people who have too little experience 'wheeling are building big rigs on 40s and tearing the hell outta the trails. One of our local 'wheeling areas is a good example. Ten years ago there were the basic trails. Now everything has been driven over and a lot of real estate has been destroyed

Grab a box of tissue and renew your Sierra Club membership. I guess we should all just turn in our 40s so we don't destroy your favorite dirt road

 

[jdemonto]

Here's reality we live this every day.....

We will not buy a new Jeep from a dealer or the factory with 3.21's. We build 3.73 with 35's all the time. Is it perfect no but its livable and the customer can drive one at our store. We rarely go 37's but will advise the consumer that 4.10's and 37's will bring the suck.

The Pentastar will bring out plenty of bad advice with the 3.8 owners.

Jason

 

[sneakbomber]

Grab a box of tissue and renew your Sierra Club membership. I guess we should all just turn in our 40s so we don't destroy your favorite dirt road

No, but we should limit the destruction. Not everybody does this, but I've seen multiple folks tear up an "easy" trail just to make it harder/more fun for them. Which makes it impossible for the newbie with a stocker to learn on. Which makes the newbie seek a new, likely unsanctioned trail. Which someone will think is a neat run but not difficult enough and tear up. And the cycle starts over. Wash, Rinse, Repeat.

Easy should be kept easy, intermediate intermediate and hard hard. Lately I've run across this more often...and if we tear up unsanctioned ground, at least out here, they have a way of closing off as much as they can in retaliation...

 

[.7834]

No, but we should limit the destruction. Not everybody does this, but I've seen multiple folks tear up an "easy" trail just to make it harder/more fun for them. Which makes it impossible for the newbie with a stocker to learn on. Which makes the newbie seek a new, likely unsanctioned trail. Which someone will think is a neat run but not difficult enough and tear up. And the cycle starts over. Wash, Rinse, Repeat.

Easy should be kept easy, intermediate intermediate and hard hard. Lately I've run across this more often...and if we tear up unsanctioned ground, at least out here, they have a way of closing off as much as they can in retaliation...

If you've seen people do this, I doubt it was an educated Jeeper that knows about proper trail usage. I'm guessing it was some jackass in a big Bronco that still thinks that the Confederates have a shot at this thing.

 

[nootherride]

i agree with most of what op is saying..in my case there is a pile of parts on my desk waiting to be installed before i move to 35's...but the tire carrier isnt on the list...ive found offroad the jeep feel better with a "heavy" wheel and tire in the back the cab...that weight is in the wrong place on a tire carrier..but thats just my opinion

 

[SubCultureNM]

Grab a box of tissue and renew your Sierra Club membership. I guess we should all just turn in our 40s so we don't destroy your favorite dirt road

Not my point at all; however, if you're relying on your 40s to get you through, rather than your driving ability, you too are part of the problem. Your mentality is also that which causes us to lose access to public lands.

 

[SubCultureNM]

If you've seen people do this, I doubt it was an educated Jeeper that knows about proper trail usage. I'm guessing it was some jackass in a big Bronco that still thinks that the Confederates have a shot at this thing.

Actually, around here it isn't. It's the kids and fad Jeepers who think they can point their vehicle at any obstacle and try to get over it. They aren't built for it, they don't have the driving skill for it, and they end-up destroying the trails and the surrounding land when they have to make a bypass around the obstacle. It's also sad to say that it's the ever-increasing size of the builds that causes the irresponsible owners to look for harder and harder obstacles, none of which are on existing trails.

I know I sound like one of those "back in my day" kinda guys, but seriously - it has to stop somewhere. The JK is a physically-larger Jeep that can accommodate larger tires with less effort than CJs, YJs, or TJs, but c'mon! It's like thong on a fat chick - just 'cause it fits, doesn't mean it belongs there!

 

[desert dog]

Not my point at all; however, if you're relying on your 40s to get you through, rather than your driving ability, you too are part of the problem. Your mentality is also that which causes us to lose access to public lands.

Stick to your fire roads and quit your whining francis

 

[outdoors]

If you've seen people do this, I doubt it was an educated Jeeper that knows about proper trail usage. I'm guessing it was some jackass in a big Bronco that still thinks that the Confederates have a shot at this thing.

LOL. Like my old Bronco..

Sorry I couldn't resist, but the small "elite, I own a jeep crowd" is the only thing I don't like about owning my Jeep's over the years. Trust me, I've run into more jeep jack ass owners.. No matter what you drive we just need to educate some people, One way or another..

 

[jtphoto JK]

Interesting post. Overall concensus however, is that not everyones bad advise is bad advice for everyone.
OK so I have run 35s and 3.73 for almost 3 years. There is 87,000klm on my Jeep now, 77,000 of which have been with the 35s, with No issues I might add. This is my daily driver and I also use it for business trips. I also pull a utility trailer full of hay every couple weeks. It was built this way for Canadian Winters, ground clearance for big snow and freak storms. For me on the highways here, 3.73 work just fine, not real hilly here but not flat either. I tried running with overdrive off (equivalent of roughly 5.13) and gas mileage really sucked bigtime, but performance was good I must admit. If I regear it anymore then stock compensation (approx 4.56 with 35s) it will be useless to me as a daily driver as I commute 70miles to the office every day. Yeah I had a little car for commuting and the wife does have a minivan, but thats no fun, I love my Jeep and want to drive it. It would be useless to me to sit in the drive everyday while I commute in a car.
I personally will not waste money on 33s, may as well just stay with stock size then, but thats me.
To each his own, and each have their own purpose. When I can afford to buy a new Wrangler and relegate this one to trail duty then it will get the good stuff, D60s and Poison Spyder gear. Untill then the real rough trails and rock I tackle will be with my locked and lifted quad and I dare say very few could follow where I go.
So for you fellas that think its bad advice to go with 35s without spending 5-10G on mods, think again.

I say telling someone that uses their Jeep as DD that they "Have to HAVE" 5.13 gears is bad advice and is bound to make some poor newb very dissapointed when he drops 1-1.5G on a gear change for his daily driver. Especially if he wants to go back to stock size in the winter.

 

[MSUJeep]

Here's an example of the type of advice I was referencing....

The op asked what lift he should get to install some 35's he has on a '07 he just bought....

to push 35's you don't really need a lift... leveling spacer in the front and wheel spacers maybe, or new rims with less BS.

Granted the op's question is pretty vague but the advice is even worse. Not trying to call anyone out, but to me it's a good example.