Off-Roading Tips

[Cortexian]

Going camping/off-roading with our Jeep and some friends in July and I'm just wondering if there's anything in particular that you guys can offer in terms of tips. It's a "stock" 2008 Jeep JK Rubi Unlimited (4 door) with a Warn 9500ti (9500 pound capacity, Jeep is 5500) winch added... I've been trying to find some info on when/how to properly use the "Sway Bar Disconect" and "Axle Lock" leatures when we go but there's no real practical descriptions online... There's a lot of desciptions on what they actually do, but I'd rather have them put into situations so I can relate.

I know Snaf and Atty are Jeepers to a degree, though I think Snaf said he was an urban Jeeper faggot.

[Llama Juice]

Don't go around a tight gravel corner that has a ten foot cliff into a spring near it at full throttle.

It makes it difficult to get back out of the spring... Then again it was a 4 wheeler... so... yar. lol

[Cortexian]

Fine guys, make me go figure it out on my own...

Oh, the sway bar gives me more travel in the front suspension! I get it!
http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/6116/img00007200906251020.jpg

http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/6214/img00008200906251020.jpg

And then there was a decently steep hill on the roadside trail I was on...
http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/8779/img00009200906251024.jpg

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/5752/img00010200906251024.jpg

http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/5273/img00011200906251024.jpg

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/9340/img00012200906251025.jpg

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/9349/img00013200906251025.jpg

oh look! Block things + sway bar = awesome looking!
http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/5199/img00014200906251029.jpg

http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/7226/img00015200906251029.jpg

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/4221/img00016200906251030.jpg

[Joshflighter]

You freakin rich bastard. :(

[Cortexian]

Jeep as configured above:
$38,000~ CAD

Replacement bumper/grill/headlights/signal lights/plastic wheel well cover from last year (we fucked it all up like two weeks after we got it factory fresh with less that 14km on it):
$5,000~ CAD

Warn 9500ti:
$1,500~ CAD

So that's only like $44,500~ CAD into it so far... We're planning on getting a snorkel and a new heavy duty front/back bumper system, mirror relocation brackets (so they're attached to the windshield section and not the door, take the doors off and you're left with only one mirror which is illegal here), and some other buff-it-up goodies.

[Cojafoji]

You'd only ever use the sway bar disconnect if you're rock crawling.

As for off roading...
Take as many shovels as there are people in the car.
Two 4' 4x4's are a good idea.
Bucket of sand.
First aid kit.

[Horns]

That would look pretty kick ass with a 6" lift and some 42" tires.

[leorimolo]

You mother fucker. I have a nice car and im pretty jealous of yours.

[Chainsy]

Oh what a pussy, my cousin Brent in Colorado bought a standard jeep and configured it with all custom parts, with none of that useless jet fighter shit. Go to Colorado if you want to try some real trails.
That said, don't try to gun it over steep rocks, you'll screw yourself over, dirt is usually loosely packed, so if stuck, go slowly and try to get some traction. Travel with a group, in case one of the jeeps goes out, you have one or two others to help you get it out. When traveling after rain, go slow through water, or you'll flood the engine. It's mostly all common sense stuff. Start out on weak trails, then work your way up. Also get some good seat belts, don't spend a lot of money on the interior seats and stuff, or the exterior, it is going to get beat up if you want to have any fun. Bring a spare tire, cause if one goes flat, it is going to be hell turning around on a trail and driving back down on a flat. Know your cars capabilities also, if the rock is at an angle of 35 degrees or more, and you have a normal stock jeep...chances are you wont make it over. ect.

[Cortexian]

You do realize that JK's =/= older Jeeps right? They perform VERY differently than the older models, and they have A LOT more off-road capability "out of the box" than some of the older models. There's no need to put a lift kit on it because we don't do a lot of rock-crawling, this is mainly a hunting vehicle that's used for off-roading ever now and then during the non-hunting months. As for my "jet fighter shit", I'd rather have my Clinometer tell me exactly how far my Jeep is rolling instead of just finding out by tipping the Jeep over!

Also I think that pretty much EVERY Jeep Wrangler model has a full-size spare on it somewhere, so that's not a problem (ours is on the tailgate). We've got shovels and all that stuff down, plus we've got a winch that could technically pull the Jeep up a vertical cliff with passengers and all... I found that the Sway Bar was helpful going through ruts and the like today, though there were like a total of two deeper than a foot and a half on the side of the road. I wasn't on any kind of trail today for the above photos, just the side of the road in between the train tracks and the main road.

[Chainsy]

You do realize that JK's =/= older Jeeps right? They perform VERY differently than the older models, and they have A LOT more off-road capability "out of the box" than some of the older models. There's no need to put a lift kit on it because we don't do a lot of rock-crawling, this is mainly a hunting vehicle that's used for off-roading ever now and then during the non-hunting months. As for my "jet fighter shit", I'd rather have my Clinometer tell me exactly how far my Jeep is rolling instead of just finding out by tipping the Jeep over!

Also I think that pretty much EVERY Jeep Wrangler model has a full-size spare on it somewhere, so that's not a problem (ours is on the tailgate). We've got shovels and all that stuff down, plus we've got a winch that could technically pull the Jeep up a vertical cliff with passengers and all... I found that the Sway Bar was helpful going through ruts and the like today, though there were like a total of two deeper than a foot and a half on the side of the road. I wasn't on any kind of trail today for the above photos, just the side of the road in between the train tracks and the main road.

I didn't even read what it was, I just read you needed tips, that's my form of off roading, hitting huge rocky trails in the Rockies.

[Cortexian]

That's why you read threads!

[hobojoe]

Jeep as configured above:
$38,000~ CAD

Replacement bumper/grill/headlights/signal lights/plastic wheel well cover from last year (we fucked it all up like two weeks after we got it factory fresh with less that 14km on it):
$5,000~ CAD

Warn 9500ti:
$1,500~ CAD

So that's only like $44,500~ CAD into it so far... We're planning on getting a snorkel and a new heavy duty front/back bumper system, mirror relocation brackets (so they're attached to the windshield section and not the door, take the doors off and you're left with only one mirror which is illegal here), and some other buff-it-up goodies.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh245/hobojoe42/n1169445064_30347343_2349.jpg

I'm cheap.
$1,800

And as far as off roading goes. You just have to learn your limits.
Just know the more stuff you add to it. Doesn't really make it better.
Practicing and knowing what shes gonna do is the best advice
I can give you.
But hey have fun with your new jeep, their pretty cool.
I myself would never spend that much on a car and then take it on the trails.

Good luck.

[paladin]

^^ just took my buddys toyota 4x4 to Rieders pit, looks jsut like yours.

[Cojafoji]

I'm cheap.
$1,800

And as far as off roading goes. You just have to learn your limits.
Just know the more stuff you add to it. Doesn't really make it better.
Practicing and knowing what shes gonna do is the best advice
I can give you.
But hey have fun with your new jeep, their pretty cool.
I myself would never spend that much on a car and then take it on the trails.

Good luck.
I'm cheaper. My truck was $200. Just dumped new tires, and a tune up into it (and rebuilt its carb). 1982 f 150. took that thing through hell and high water. lasted me a year. sold it for $350.

[Cortexian]

And as far as off roading goes. You just have to learn your limits.
Just know the more stuff you add to it. Doesn't really make it better.
Practicing and knowing what shes gonna do is the best advice
I can give you.

Good luck.
Meh, all we've added to it is the Clinometer and Winch. The replacement parts were just that, replacements for shit we broke like two weeks after buying it. The heavy duty bumpers and mirror remounts are going on for legal and practical reasons, so the do make it better. No other stuff to be added in the future I don't think, we don't need to lift it at all but if we do it'll be a small lift to accommodate slightly bigger tires.


But hey have fun with your new jeep, their pretty cool.
I myself would never spend that much on a car and then take it on the trails.
I don't know why, it's what the Wrangler Rubi's are supposed to be used for.