Grassroots off-roading, take 2

SJ413 FTMFW!!!! Man I haven't heard tht refernce in a long time!

I vote for the 'Zuk!

93celicaGT2 wrote: I had one, and it was the most amazing vehicle i think i've ever owned. In a sick twisted sort of way, i enjoyed it more than any of my "sporty" cars.

I am on the record as saying that my $3500 YJ is my favorite vehicle that I've ever owned.

I have been looking more into this and I am starting plans on working on "my" F150. Hmmm, stock tire size is 235/75/15, 15"x8"(?)steelies. I just measured them and they look to be about 29" tall, so 31's or 33's should be no problem, just a matter of width at this point. i might just start having fun

edit looks like I can lose 6-12" in LOA with pulling the bed and bummper mounts and maybe an extra 6" If i where to cut the frame just behind the rear spring mounts.

As for grassroots 4 wheelin, just take what you have, and wheel the snot out of it! Check out the youtube video of what we do with stock/junkers on the weekends. Not one of those trucks were purchased for more than 300 bucks and you won't believe what stock vehicles driven well are capable of! It also doesn't hurt to be able to turn that little portion of your brain off that says "that won't work"!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q01q1XbW3xU

Don't even worry about tire size and fender clearence! A sawzall is your friend, and duct tape and zip ties will keep most everything else in place. Just get out there and have more fun than you can stand!

I found a cherroke in need of body work for $500, fingers crossed

check out http://forum.neow.net we may not be local to you, but we are friendly and guide you in the right direction. To do this cheaply, get a rig with leaf suspension front and rear. You can change it to spring over axle, and that gets you a very cheap lift. You still have to address steering and perhaps a ladder bar for the rear. You can't go wrong with an older jeep or international scout. Suzuki samarai's can do OK as well. I honestly won't suggest a cherokee because of the unibody design...the weaken over time. Those that like them buy a few and transfer the good parts to the next donor as the body weakens. Truth be told, you can wheel most of these rigs stock. Just invest in or make some sway bar disconnects, and invest in tires. That will get you all the suspension you need. Put the rest of the money into a hi-lift jack and recovery straps(and know how to use them).

sachilles wrote: check out http://forum.neow.net we may not be local to you, but we are friendly and guide you in the right direction. To do this cheaply, get a rig with leaf suspension front and rear. You can change it to spring over axle, and that gets you a very cheap lift. You still have to address steering and perhaps a ladder bar for the rear. You can't go wrong with an older jeep or international scout. Suzuki samarai's can do OK as well. I honestly won't suggest a cherokee because of the unibody design...the weaken over time. Those that like them buy a few and transfer the good parts to the next donor as the body weakens. Truth be told, you can wheel most of these rigs stock. Just invest in or make some sway bar disconnects, and invest in tires. That will get you all the suspension you need. Put the rest of the money into a hi-lift jack and recovery straps(and know how to use them).

$500 for a cage kit and you don't have to worry about the Cherokee unibody anymore....or build your own cage if you can.

My last trail rig was an 87 Cherokee, 4.0, auto, 3 inch lift, 31s, and just completely beat up and abused. It lasted until around 250k then developed some electrical gremlins. I'm trying to work through them for one last glory run, but have built another rig in the meantime. New rig was pretty much our DD for the last 70k and now will serve as part time DD and trail/camp rig. It's a 99 Cherokee (4.0 I6 automatic)with a 5.5 inch lift, winch bumper, 8k Ramsey winch, sway bar disconnects, safari rack, 31 inch tires. Future mods: full skids, cage , 33s, re-gear, lockers. The Cherokees are cheap, easy to work on, and the solid front and rear axles are a plus.

The other issue with cherokees is the amount of lift required to 33 inch tires. Seems like a lot compared to other jeeps. Don't get me wrong, they can be very competent wheelers, they just take a bit more effort compared to a cj or YJ. Truthfully, a cherokee is probably a good fit for the original poster. I don't buy that they are any cheaper than a cj or yj once you get them to a basic off-road ready status. Cherokee may have a lower buy in, but takes more work to get it to a basic state of prep. I stand by my previous comment that money is better spent on recovery gear, tires and the knowledge to use them. (locking diff follows shortly afterwards).

sachilles wrote: The other issue with cherokees is the amount of lift required to 33 inch tires. Seems like a lot compared to other jeeps. Don't get me wrong, they can be very competent wheelers, they just take a bit more effort compared to a cj or YJ. Truthfully, a cherokee is probably a good fit for the original poster. I don't buy that they are any cheaper than a cj or yj once you get them to a basic off-road ready status. Cherokee may have a lower buy in, but takes more work to get it to a basic state of prep. I stand by my previous comment that money is better spent on recovery gear, tires and the knowledge to use them. (locking diff follows shortly afterwards).

Agreed on the lift. you can do A LOT of trimming or run a larger lift. The reason I went to 5.5 inch lift was to clear 33s. I bought all my parts used, so got into a large lift much cheaper than most. I have a rubicon express control arm drop kit, pro comp lower arms with stock upper, lift springs and pucks up front, adjustible track bar, jks sway bar disconnects, and rancho shocks. The rear is just blocks and shackles. I got all of the parts except for the disconnects and adjustible track bar off a parts cherokee with a blown motor for 500. That might not sound like a great deal at first, but that included the safari rack, winch bumper, and ramsey winch. I also still have the rest of that Cherokee for spare parts. Had I bought all of those parts new I would have way too much money in it.....the used parts are the only reason I have the setup I do.
I also agree on the recovery gear etc comment. Gear and experience definitely count for a lot.

What about the Chevy S-10, first gen, cheap, abundent, can fit a V8

You ever worked on a 4X4 S-10?

Get yourself a FSJ..

Full-size Jeeps rock. 31's are stock size on wide-track models, 33's fit with no mods and 35's fit with minor trimming.

Check out www.ifsja.org

I love my 1967 Gladiator, it's the toughest 4x4 I've had since my 1979 IHC Scout.

Shawn

and ya'll get what? barely double digit MPG

I don't have a guzzler, but I'll say that at 1mph, the extra fuel cost is probably not that big a deal to folks who wheel and don't daily drive their toys.

CarKid1989 wrote: and ya'll get what? barely double digit MPG

Well, my 1967 Gladiator with a Buick 350 2bbl, Warner T-98 wide range 4-speed, 31x9.5's and 4:10 gears gets.... 15mpg

My 1996 Ford F-150 2wd with EFI 300I-6, 5-speed and 3:9 gears gets... 15mpg.

So much for progress eh?

Fuel mileage and offroad capability are usually mutually exclusive.

Who goes 4-wheeling and considers good gas mileage a necessity?

Considering the distanced travelled off-road (and I don't mean a gravel road either) you mileage is pretty abysmal anyway.

Shawn

My YJ - On road = 15-17 mpg. Off road, no idea.

You don't buy a Jeep for the mileage. It's got the aerodynamics of a brick.

...and using low range really doesn't help with mileage either.

A Cherokee is probably one of your best bets in our area, $ vs rust. If that doesn't work out, the F150 should be a good start. I kind of like the Ford TTB suspension for its caveman appeal. It may be less than ideal for the road, but has good articulation.

Dan

I'm actually looking to put together a new beater trail rig. My current top two choices are a Cherokee (however I've found my head hits the roof in many of them) and a Land Cruiser. Just gotta find one around here on the cheep.

I love the idea of a GRM Truck Challenge

The MPG question was just cause i wanted to know the paracticaliy of having a Jeep as a DD and trail rig. It gets the same mileage as the Vic so....

Ah...now I see where you were coming from. Sorry man, when I read it it looked like a dig on heavy bodies. 'sall good!

Clem

I kinda want a range rover, they look like fun. Land cruisers are cool too, but there are sure alot of them with blown up engines on craigslist considering how expensive they are.

Travis_K wrote: I kinda want a range rover, they look like fun. Land cruisers are cool too, but there are sure alot of them with blown up engines on craigslist considering how expensive they are.

Both are AWESOME.

Get one.

I support the Range Rover.

I loved my old range rover. They aren't perfection....but damn they will go anywhere off-road. It was usually a big hit when I'd bring it on the jeep club rides. I prefer the 1987-88 model years, despite having the least powerful engine.