FRI 11/16 – Wheelbase

The 100” myth and why did it take the Heep crowd so long to figure it out. Is 118” too much or better then a 100”

Originally posted by jdjanda
FRI 11/16 ? Wheelbase

The 100? myth and why did it take the Heep crowd so long to figure it out. Is 118? too much or better then a 100?

118" too much? Most of the time 119" isn't too much!

Quit being so Scout biased. :flipoff2:

:D

119" would be great if I ever get around to swapping in a SII 727 and married D20 for no-buck double-low..

When I first got my Scout, the EB's were the big Rage...Just a bit bigger than jeeps and wheelbase just long enough. I thought that my Scout might be too long...man was I wrong

I'm now at 102" and will probably strech it to 103-104" this winter. I think that will be about perfect.

I think it depends a lot on where you're wheeling. If you're wheeling in wide open spaces like Moab then 118" would probably be the way to go. I've wheeled 121" wheelbase down some not so tight AZ rock trails and it was too much. I was making a lot of 3-5 point turns and had to take some"interesting" lines due to the decreased turning radius. I supposed if you had selectable lockers, stout nerfs you could pivot on, and a relaxed attitude towards rock rash. You could take a LWB where ever you dared. My Scout will probably be around 104" and this is perfect for my needs. Then again there used to be an extra cab longbed Ford that ran on the rocks, I think he's shortened it drastically but if there's a will there's a way.
Travis

I prefer 118 over 100, but I would prefer 108-110 over 118.

Bent sheet metal doesn't really bother me, it seems that I only trash the passenger side anyway, so who cares:D

I like the stability and the ease of pulling the rear tires up over a ledge that the 118" wheelbase offers, but it does make it a little tougher to navigate tight trails where you must watch out for both rocks and trees, and unless you run really big tires (which I don't; yet) you will rub your belly on higher ledges a little more than you would with a shorter rig.

Some day when I tear this thing down again and swap the axles I will shorten it to around 110" wheelbase and bob the frame and bed.

My Terra is at 120" WB now and on some trails its to much but most of the time its just fine, i like the longer wheelbase scouts because they ride smoother down the road not so choppy(i don't trailer my truck even out of state to trails so i like the smoother ride), on some trails the longer wheelbase is nicer then the shorter, and one of the main points to be different then everyone else, i have owned both 100" and 118" scouts and perfere the longer.

I'll agree with Hayraker here. 110" is pretty good.

Joe

Originally posted by NotQuiteSane
I'll agree with Hayraker here. 110" is pretty good.

Joe

Maybe I should just put my scoutII body on my blazer frame?????

instant coil springs and 3/4 ton axles/350/350/205.....hmmmmm any thoughts on that???

Originally posted by jdjanda
FRI 11/16 ? Wheelbase

The 100? myth and why did it take the Heep crowd so long to figure it out. Is 118? too much or better then a 100?

Oh yeah.. Heep figured it out about 4 years after the demise of the Scout II.

The 1984 Cherokee XJ has.. 100.5"(?) WB..

Originally posted by tsm1mt


Oh yeah.. Heep figured it out about 4 years after the demise of the Scout II.

The 1984 Cherokee XJ has.. 100.5"(?) WB..

They figured it out before that: when they came out with the scrambler which is a few inches longer.

Nobody wanted em, now everybody does.

Actually they figured it out in the 60's when they introduced the CJ-6. 101" or 104" wheelbase, I forget. They also had the Commando around the same era. 101" and 104" in the later models.

OK, so that is when the manufacturer figured it out, but when will their customers?:flipoff2:

Originally posted by Ben W
Actually they figured it out in the 60's when they introduced the CJ-6. 101" or 104" wheelbase, I forget. They also had the Commando around the same era. 101" and 104" in the later models.

What came first the Scout or the CJ-6's. If I was to ever do a Heep it would be a CJ-6. Maybe I can use my extra frame and throw a CJ-6 fiberglass tub on it. Nah, my Scout would hate me then and I'd have bad karma :D

Joe

The CJ-6 was produced from 1958 - 1975
http://www.jeeptech.com/models/cj-6.htm

The commando was produced from 1962 - 1973
http://www.jeeptech.com/models/c101.htm

Aren't the CJ-6's the stretched 5's? That means that they have the $hitty door opening that none of you would fit into. Now get back to the subject and keep you damn Scout:flipoff2: ..and Cliff, Nothing wrong with swapping the body, if you don't like it, you can do all the mods to your Scout frame and then swap it back.