My buddy just bought a brand spankin new TJ. Being a Toyota guy, I was wondering what you JEEP guys would do to a virgin TJ.

It only has 101 miles on it.

Sell it, buy a YJ or CJ, build that, and have $$ left over. :flipoff2:


How much cash you looking to spend?

- 2" spacer lift ($200 from Rubicon Express)

- 31" MT's

That's it. Of course, that's in addition to the usual cb, strap, tow hooks, etc.

Tell him to wheel the snot out of that setup, learn it well, and then look at goin' bigger/badder.

cmk

Originally posted by cmk
- 2" spacer lift ($200 from Rubicon Express)

- 31" MT's

That's it. Of course, that's in addition to the usual cb, strap, tow hooks, etc.

Tell him to wheel the snot out of that setup, learn it well, and then look at goin' bigger/badder.

cmk

yeh, that sounds about right. He is Brand Spankin new to this. He has heard me talk the talk for years now. Now, he wants to go along on a few trails. He already expressed the wants for sliderz. I agree on going to at least 31" tires. But I would rather see him on 32's.

He is broke (as we all are after making the purchase) so his spending is minimal, and I want him to learn. This could be a great start to a new addiction for him. Don't want to scare him off with the big ticket items yet.

Does anyone make good custom sliderz? I have some for my truck, and may have a guy throw together a set for my buddy.

And you can find lots of good stuff for newbie Jeepers on JeepsUnlimited.com (http://www.jeepsunlimited.com)

Originally posted by cmk
- 2" spacer lift ($200 from Rubicon Express)

- 31" MT's

That's it. Of course, that's in addition to the usual cb, strap, tow hooks, etc.

Tell him to wheel the snot out of that setup, learn it well, and then look at goin' bigger/badder.

cmk
you can run 31's as it sits...when my TJ had 50 miles on it, i mounted 31" TSL's. A little rubbing on the fat stock control arm at full lock right, but no biggie. And as CMK said, wheel it! Learn it, don't just start building a checkbook crawler.;) If ya can drive, you can spank a lot of built rigs with a mild TJ (add a real locker and tell every one your open:D )

The best budget setup IMHO is a 2" body lift, 2" spacer lift and 33" tires. He will also want to make some front disconnects.

Phil

Originally posted by MudShack
I agree on going to at least 31" tires. But I would rather see him on 32's.

Does anyone make good custom sliderz?

32's will barely fit with a 2" spacer lift. A 1" body lift on top of the 2" spacer will yield plenty of room for 32's. If he's really broke, he can even do the "hockey puck" body lift. With 32's though, he's gonna' start hurting for torque at the wheels without a gear swap, hence my rationale for 31's. Tell him to keep an eye out for a used set of 31's. I managed to find myself a set of half worn 31" BFG MT's years back for $100.

As for rocker skids, find a metal supply shop that will bend some 1/4" into about a 4" x 2" angle setup. That much metal should only run you about $40 from a good shop. Spank in some hardware store fasteners and you're good to go for rocker skids.

Oh, as for discos, save the cash and/or fab time and tell him to carry the necessary tools to remove the OE links. The OE links will work fine up to a 2" lift. It really isn't that hard/time consuming to unbolt/bolt on the stock links after you've done it a few times. Even now with 4" of suspension lift, I still run the OE links. I just cut them in half and welded in an extension piece.

Tell him to completely remove the rear sway also.

cmk

As Cutter would do I would cut the back off my new TJ:flipoff2:

Originally posted by cmk
- 2" spacer lift ($200 from Rubicon Express)
- 31" MT's


Add to that Quick Disco's and a little body armor (3/16" or 1/4" thick 4" Angle Iron works well for rocker pannel protection), and for a TJ definitely add a gas tank skid plate.

- Mike

Mo beat me to it! :D
Scott

Just take it out and put some dints in it and get it over with, then the rest won't hert so bad. Its that first one that sucks..

I agree, get some 31's, armor, and go out and learn to wheel that thing! That's what I did for over a year, wheeled with guys with lifts & 33's, and learned how to keep up with them. Now that I've gone bigger I know how to actually use the mods. Now if I could only keep it on all fours... :rolleyes:
I have some stuff on my site to show what a stocker can do if he feels that he needs all the mods right away...

Originally posted by seRob
I agree, get some 31's, armor, and go out and learn to wheel that thing! That's what I did for over a year, wheeled with guys with lifts & 33's, and learned how to keep up with them. Now that I've gone bigger I know how to actually use the mods. Now if I could only keep it on all fours... :rolleyes:
I have some stuff on my site to show what a stocker can do if he feels that he needs all the mods right away...

Well, he is thinking about the TJ non-stop. I think he is hooked and I haven't gotten him to the dirt yet.

He wants to do the 2" spacer lift or the hockey puck lift...trade his p235/70/15 Goodyear GSA's in for something else in the 31" territory. That way he can stay with his stock 15x7 alloys.

I am thinking that he can get some MTR's...I would like to see him on PJ Dirt Grips, but no body carries them in house, they are still mail order.

Then I have a buddy that can fab up some rocker skidz for him, and he can wheel all he wants.

31" MT/R's are probably your best bet in terms of an excellent off road tire as well as one that works equally well on road ... for an MT. I know quite a few buddies with MT/R's on their daily drivers ranging from 31" to 35" and not a single complaint.

cmk

My $1.35 (inflation you know :D): 2.5" OME lift, 1" body lift (although I do not like them) 32" MTRs', JKS discos, and gas, dif, oil, rocker panel, steering box armor. Lose the air box and go K&N with some sort of new air tube. I use Rock-It. All this can be had for around $2000 and can be installed with limited tools and wrenching skills. The tirers, I would have done by a pro of course. This should allow your friend access to most trails without, him thinking he can run everything and getting himself into trouble.

ps: Do a SYE as soon as possible...

So it sounds like he didn't go with the D44/3.73 rear? Swap it back out if he still can (and is finacially feasable). This is the #1 regret most Jeepers have once they get into wheeling.

I'd do tires ($600), discos ($130), 2" spacers ($90), and shocks ($150-$250). 32x11.50's are a great choice for the 3.73 gearing and 8" rims. Not sure how well it works out with the backspacing on the stock 7" rims. Once he has this basic setup he will be able to flex like a dawg and be very capable.

After this he can easily dive into a 1" BL and motor mount lift followed by 3" springs as he gets deeper in. Gas tank and steering box skid. Then he'll get hooked and dump it all for a 6" system and be broke like the rest of us.

That's what I would do (did!). :smokin:

Mo's got the right idea. Trade it in on a 91 or later YJ, build a kick-ass trail machine, and still have plenty of money left over to replace the tranny after he breaks it.:D

So you have a 86 4Runner with SAS already....how did you pull that one off and what did you pay?

Tell your friend to go to www.jeepsunlimited.com as they will answer newbie questions or ask Joe since he has a TJ.

Coil Spacers seem to be the ticket though for the TJ's as it's cheap and effective.

Later Jesse

Originally posted by Military Jeeper
So you have a 86 4Runner with SAS already....how did you pull that one off and what did you pay?

Tell your friend to go to www.jeepsunlimited.com as they will answer newbie questions or ask Joe since he has a TJ.

Coil Spacers seem to be the ticket though for the TJ's as it's cheap and effective.

Later Jesse

Hey Sand Bunny!

Yep, I bought an 86 SR5 SAS 4runner with only 167,000 miles on it. It has a 94 engine/5spd tranny/tranfer case which only has about 50,000 miles on them. The truck was stock with an automatic, but CAZ put the 94 5spd tranny in it. So, it still has the stock automatic 4.30 gears. Which I might add are perfect for 33's and highway commuting.

It has cross-over steering with a Marlin Tie rod. Here (http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=605217&uid=149703&members=1) is a link to the pics. I just recently put the PJs on it and had all the brakes replaced. I am putting an ARB locker in the rear, and getting sliderz and a bumper with wrap around protection. Gonna hit the trails in April.

Oh, and I only paid $5000 for it. I am using the additional $3000 that I was offering you, to overhaul everything that "might" need it and to put the locker in. (and of course other things)

That is one clean 4runner. You don't see many of those in my neck of the woods. Ours are all covered in mud w/ massive dents and missing body panels:D . Nice truck:emb:

Originally posted by Mo
Sell it, buy a YJ or CJ, build that, and have $$ left over. :flipoff2:


How much cash you looking to spend?

Dammit Mo....you always steal my thunder :flipoff2:

Seriously, TJ's are just too expensive for my tastes, I love my YJ

Originally posted by big4294x4
That is one clean 4runner. You don't see many of those in my neck of the woods. Ours are all covered in mud w/ massive dents and missing body panels:D . Nice truck:emb:

Yep. It is clean. Around here in PA, they are all rust buckets! We salt the hell out of the roads in the winter.

I bought this truck from a fellow PA guy, CAZ. He did some great work on it. In fact, I think the truck came originally from Mexico. There is spanish instructions around the fill cap and the gauges are in Kilometers, not miles.

Nice rig........damn sweet deal too. Why can't I find deals like that. you did good jesse

Sell it and buy Massey's rig! Put some lockers in it and you're good to go.

Honestly, 32" MT/R's and some beefy rocker guards :beer:

Originally posted by Keith Strong
Seriously, TJ's are just too expensive for my tastes, I love my YJ

is this the same YJ you affectionately refer to as a "POS flapper-ass junk no drivin steering fawked ready to drive it off a cliff Jeep" ;)
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=33253

keep it stock and trade it in for the new RUBICON when they come out possibly this spring.

if not that, then 6" lift, 35's(providing he has the rear 44), arb's f&r with 4.88's :)

then wheel the $HIT out of it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Originally posted by sas87yj
keep it stock and trade it in for the new RUBICON when they come out possibly this spring.

if not that, then 6" lift, 35's(providing he has the rear 44), arb's f&r with 4.88's :)

then wheel the $HIT out of it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sure ... and then the world ends up with one more checkbook Jeep with a driver that doesn't know squat.

cmk

sell it and buy a stock YJ for $2000, then use the remainder of the $$$ to make it bad ass

Use it. :D
http://imagem.webphotos.iwon.com/1000010491/1000010491_102200151741PM0.2161524.jpg

Originally posted by sas87yj
keep it stock and trade it in for the new RUBICON when they come out possibly this spring.

if not that, then 6" lift, 35's(providing he has the rear 44), arb's f&r with 4.88's :)

then wheel the $HIT out of it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

you forgot all the tow straps that will be needed when that route is taken...

Originally posted by MudShack
My buddy just bought a brand spankin new TJ. Being a Toyota guy, I was wondering what you JEEP guys would do to a virgin TJ.

It only has 101 miles on it.

DRIVE IT!

If you are new to off-roading. LEARN with a stock one and work your way up.

Damn CC Card Jeeps....:barf:

Originally posted by jeepclub


DRIVE IT!

If you are new to off-roading. LEARN with a stock one and work your way up.

Damn CC Card Jeeps....:barf:

Ok, NEWBIE:flipoff2:

You have to do some preparation. It is a stock TJ sitting on 28" pizza cutters. Not a stock TACOMA with a locker and 31's. :flipoff2:

Originally posted by MudShack


Ok, NEWBIE:flipoff2:

You have to do some preparation. It is a stock TJ sitting on 28" pizza cutters. Not a stock TACOMA with a locker and 31's. :flipoff2:

hell, I wheeled my Jeep with the 205's :laughing: for a while...
gotta start somewhere. It wont do the con but it's at least something to learn with on the easier trails. I'll have to try & find a pic of some of the shiat I took mine through.
Then again, I wasn't exactly new to wheelin either...