If you plan on splashing around in mud and water, I would go for the snorkel first. If you get the lift and tires first, you will only take more chances.

 

Tires and lift bro there are plenty of us out there un-snorkeled if your semi smart about how u wheel you don't really need a snorkel

 

Yes sir, The few times I off road I do it with a cold air intake lol now me killing my clutch in muddy water is a different story.lol

 

Pick up a set of Rubi take off springs, Rubi tires, add a Tera Level kit, that will give you a little lift cheap, and get you close to a 33" tire. With the left over money, raise your breather lines and get a snorkel if you plan to play in the water, skid plates if you plan to play on the rocks.

 

Well, interest rates suck, so maybe you should make an extra loan or credit card payment so you can hook your Jeep up sooner. Just a thought.

If you must mod now, you can go for Rubicon take offs and a budget boost for cheap, especially if they're used items and you install yourself. If you're thinking bigger than that right away, then go for the snorkel.

 

If you are going for a snorkel, then look at the AEV kit (I think it's the easiest kit and like the idea of cutting the hood and not the body). I would also look at the "smilin bob breather kit" to extend your axles and tranny breather lines to your air box so you get the most out of your snorkel.

Otherwise, I would go option two like everyone mentioned until you get some money built up.....there are plenty of Rubicon take-offs that you can get to give a little stiffer suspension and mild lift out of your Jeep. At one point members were selling cheap or giving away Rubi take-offs and selling their Rubi MT tires cheap.

Good luck on your decision.

 

I will have some Rubicon take off wheels and tires for sale soon. I will also donate my 2 door Rubicon springs and shocks for free if you want them. We can get get you hooked up for cheek. Let us know what you want to do. Don't pay anyone to install anything. We got that covered too. What kind of budget are you looking at?

 

Thank you for your advice. I have actually been pondering this decision for some time. I considered getting Rubi springs and tires, but knowing me I will be wishing that I had got the lift and tires that I had wanted, and end up getting a lift and tires in a year or two anyway. So I have decided to wait to get a lift until I can get the lift I want, and a set of good 33” tires and new 15” rims. I know this will cost me, probably around $2400.

As for the snorkel, I have pretty much decided on the AEV snorkel, have been back and forth about getting a pre-filter or not. But since I have decided to make sure I get the credit card monkey off my back first, I think the lift may have to wait until the fall, at least. But I believe I can get the snorkel come the spring.

 

The Pre-Filter is designed for dusty areas where as the ram air snorkel by AEV is meant for more "tree" type conditions.

For the lift, look at Egg's post. He can hook you up with Rubi take-offs (minus tires) for free. That will give you a little more suspension lift than the stock X or sahara.

 

RROR

I still like the fact that Kenny uses metal (Aluminum, I think) on those snorks. AEV is still plastic, no?

I'm sure it's high impact plastic and all, but metal is metal.

 

I can see you really want the snorkel so I guess that's what you need to get. Everyone makes their own priority mod list. I think most of us here though would say do low budget lift items from Rubi takeoffs to get more real trail usability. This is considering your budget issues. The snorkel looks great and is a real cold air intake.

I would caution that there are many problems that can arise from putting your Jeep in deep water. Especially if you don't know what can go wrong. (pulleys, horn, electric fan, diff breathers, clutch, electronics ) this is the short list

 

SNORKEL FIRST! Best insurance policy!!!!!!!!!! Take it form someone who know just why!

As for snorkel mfg, i like AEV's but..... i wheel and hunt both here and in Maine where temps drop below 0 alot! Pastic's durabilty properties decrease in extreme cold temps. With some of the areas i go into i would shatter the thing in a heart beat on some of the tight roads i run during hunting season etc!

I have River Raiders snorkel with Gator-hyde coating in black. I have not one sratch or chip in the costing or snorkel after 3 years! Also i have there hardline direct kit which is 100% air tight with the all the clamps in place! I personally dont 100% trust the attachment of AEV's or the fact of possable cracking if hit hard enough in cold weather. not trying to bash those who have it ither. everyone has there own wheeling style and needs

I live in Blackwood, if anytime you want to stop and see it let me know

 

Im currently on the fence between AEV and RR for a snorkel. I really like the RR but Im just not sure its worth the extra cost. We have tons of people running the AEV, and none have had issues yet.

 

You said you were planning on spending $2400 on wheels/33s. If you went with soft 8s and Duratracs you could get a set of 5 for around $1300. Then you could get a rk stock mod. 4wd.com has them for 400 with free shipping til the end of today.

 

Weed and beer (I only read the title of the thread).

 

I vote booze and strippers!

Oh... On your Jeep. I always tell people going into a built to armor up first. Skids, bumpers, rockers and diff protection will help to save your vulnerable parts and let you play while your figuring out the rest. Just my opinion though. Best of luck.

Oh yeah... Snorkle = :rainbow2:.... Once again, just my opinion.

 

BACK TO KANSAS HEATHEN!!! I mean I recommend a snorkel for where we live and wheel.

But the booze and strippers sounds like a good plan too! We have some deep puddles out here on the East Coast though. However... I may be a little biased as I may have accidentally driven through a puddle that was a little too deep at one point... Whatever you go with just drive within your (and your vehicle's) limits! Happy wheelin!

 

Speek of the devil and he shall appear.

 

You will be fine if don't drive straight into a lake.

 

Pay off your student loans. Don’t be in too big of hurry and everything will happen in due time. If you have patience and save your money you will only have to do everything one time and save a ton of money.

And best of luck.

 

The first thing I'd get, unless you already have them, are some good M/T tires. Don't make the mistake I see many make by trying to wheel on A/T or highway tires, you will just hold the group back on the trails as they drag you through every slippery spot. If money is tight, go with 33" on 17x9 x 4.5BS Soft-8 steel wheels. These are "manageable" with stock gears if you swap in Rubi springs/shocks and do some fender flare trimming, and will fit on your factory spare tire carrier. I'd also spring for a Superchips Flashpaq so you can set your own speedometer correction and tune the engine mappings and transmission shift points for better performance with larger tires. Also get some quick-disconnects for your front sway bar, a bracket to move your steering stabilizer up out of harm's way, and some transmission hose, fittings and clamps to extend your breathers. Buy used and sell your OEM tires/wheels to reduce the cost.

Then go out and wheel the thing to decide what kind of terrain you like and additional upgrades. Do Wharton and Forked River because they're close, but take a few trips out to Rausch Creek to play on rocks. Just be careful because your oil pan is going to be vulnerable until you decide which way you want to go on armor.

If you decide you want to be a u-boat commander (deep mud/water), then a snorkel makes sense. Otherwise, you might want to invest in armor next. And it goes from there.

 

Which ever snorkel you decide on, let me know we carry both at Lucas Jeep, right down the road from you.

 

I vote snorkel too, if you plan wheeling Wharton. Have an AEV myself and have no issues with anything. I like the safe feeling that no water will enter my airbox. Big plus is that the AEV top can be switched and turned around, RR cannot. Oh and it's cheaper.

 

Take care of your finances first. Don't pour cash into your Jeep and take the chance that you'll have to part with it later cause you can't afford it. Even stock, you'll love the Jeep ...plenty of time to mod.

 

i jsut ordered a aev ram air snorkle. if your in nj id suggest a snork too.

has any one bedlined the aev before?

 

Thanks for the insight. The amount of money that I was stating was an approximation if I ended up getting a set up 5 Mickey Thompson Claws. I haven't really done alot of other reasearch about other possible tires. I just don't want to end up with a nice tire tred that will wear out after 15000 miles. Does anyone know how the Soft 8s which were mentioned hold up with highway travel?

Also, how much is a Smilin Bob's breather kit really necessary? I looked into them when I raised my breathers but just decided to raise all my breathers without any kit myself. I have my transfer case, front diff, and transmition breather at the highest point right right next to the firewall, and my rear diff inside my passanger taillight assembly. I figured If I went in anything deeper than that I would already have big problems.

 

Opps sorry - Don't know why I wrote soft 8's above.

Ment to ask how the Duratract Tires Hold up.

 

The smilin bob kit is not needed. You already raised your breathers and that's all that kit is for. As for the Duratracks, I have done alot of research on tires lately and havnt read anything negative about them yet. Was going to get them for my wifes rig but fell into a good deal for some used tires. When those wear out, they will be replaced with the Duratracks.


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