Clawhammer in my TJ?

[tbeede]

So I'm signed up to do clawhammer on the 29th for the Fun in the Desert run. I'm new to SoCal and never been to johnson valley. My TJ is setup pretty well and I'm thinking about ordering some extra last minute body armor. Maybe some of you guys who know the trail can give me some advice to help with my first time out. Let me know what you think and how good my odds are of survival are!

- 2000 TJ w/I6 & NV3550
- ProRock HP60 Rear Axle w/4.88 and ARB
- HP44 Front Axle w/4.88, ARB, alloy shafts, cold forged 760s, warn premiums
- High steering drag link to pass side high steering arm with tie-rod flipped to top of stock mounting location - tie rod is 1-ton GM stuff
- Atlas 4-speed w/1310 drivelines (5.44 low range because I was going to use it with an automatic AW4 in a buggy but ended up putting it in the TJ for now - puts me at 109:1 low)
- Aftermarket front + rear bumpers and M8000 winch
- Currie rocker guards
- York on board air
- Ready Welder
- Bolt-in trail style roll cage (hardrock I think?)
- I've only got my set of street tires here in SoCal with me (35" ProComps on black steel wheels) I've got a set of 35 MTRs on DIY beadlock wheels but they are in NorCal right now and I'm not sure if I'll have time to bring them down before the run

Anyway, I'm thinking about getting some poison spyder crusher corners and maybe a set of bobby long 300M u-joints for the front axle... anybody have any other suggestions to help improve my odds of getting through without too much damage? I'm taking my Dad with me so I'm hoping to keep the body damage to a minimum so he doesn't get stressed out... we normally do the Rubicon which I've heard is a easy ride compared to JV.

[zcarczar]

Should be fine with good spotting and driving. We did claw hammer a couple years ago with a few full size blazer's on 37s with no body damage or breakage.

[jeepcrazie]

You should be just fine on clawhammer. As for some of the other hammers.....
just order that armor now!

[Beat95YJ]

You will be fine on claw. It is one of the easier JV trails. Sounds like your jeep is more setup than mine.

[tbeede]

what about sledge and jack? Time for some body armor? I can't figure out if I like the 3" flair on the poison spyder armor. I love the flat look all down the side but I think that I might end up getting pulled over down here too much without at least a little tire coverage... not that 3" covers my tire... it sticks out a good 4" from the stock flair... but I think it might be one of those things where cops will ignore it if there is at least a fender flair of some sort...

[Beat95YJ]

I did jack at the Jamboree. It wasn't too bad, but I did put the winchline on at the plaque as I took a very "interesting" line.

I haven't tried Jack in Years.

[tjmark]

Jhonson valley is nothing to fear. Just go to have fun. You will be fine just take your time and have fun. I have a couple friends that wheel on 35's out there and they have a blast. We will be out there this weekend stop buy are trailer and say high. My tj is red on 42's.

[Chris]

what about sledge and jack? Time for some body armor? I can't figure out if I like the 3" flair on the poison spyder armor. I love the flat look all down the side but I think that I might end up getting pulled over down here too much without at least a little tire coverage... not that 3" covers my tire... it sticks out a good 4" from the stock flair... but I think it might be one of those things where cops will ignore it if there is at least a fender flair of some sort...
I did Sledge two years ago with 44's on 33"s with lockers. It did fine with no damage.

[tbeede]

great, thanks for all the good info! I guess I'm looking at too many pictures in the photos thread! I'm really stoked to get out there and have a go at it. From the photos it looks like it will be a real blast. I just keep comparing the photos of JV to the Rubicon and the 'con looks like a walk in the park. Sure there are big rocks on the 'con but lots of it is just easy wheeling. From the JV photos I don't see any dirt :-) Just rocks, rocks, rocks and more rocks! I'm sure it will be a blast...

tjmark when are you going this weekend? I would love to see the your TJ in person are you going the following weekend to fun in the desert?

[RE:Todd]

I just keep comparing the photos of JV to the Rubicon and the 'con looks like a walk in the park. Sure there are big rocks on the 'con but lots of it is just easy wheeling. From the JV photos I don't see any dirt :-) Just rocks, rocks, rocks and more rocks! I'm sure it will be a blast...

The Little Sluice is 50 yards of the Hammers :D :D

[Dusty]

I just keep comparing the photos of JV to the Rubicon and the 'con looks like a walk in the park. Sure there are big rocks on the 'con but lots of it is just easy wheeling. From the JV photos I don't see any dirt :-) Just rocks, rocks, rocks and more rocks! I'm sure it will be a blast...

Well the Con is a much more scenic place, so people tend to take pictures of more than just the tough spots. In JV, its not like you've got pine trees and cool alpine lakes in the background so most of the photos you see are of people gettin' it on the obstacles. Clawhammer isn't as relentless as some of the other trails out there. It has a few pretty good obstacles but relatively easy driving in between them. There's one decent ledge where your short wheelbase may make you take a strap but otherwise I'd say you're set up pretty good for it. We did a night run on Claw last week and one of the guys from the shop came with us in an XJ with 33's and an LS in the back, open up front. He needed a yank here and there but he made it through with just some moderate body damage.

Dusty

[miguelitojeep]

claw hammer is tough but one of the easier trails out there. I am no hard core crawler, I actually did the trail in my tj on 33s with stock gearing and only a locker in the front. Used a lot of clutch and only had to winch once. I did break a TRE, but thats due to such high ratio gearing. Good luck!

[tjmark]

I'll be out there on friday for the FITD event. I belive we are donig sunbonnet or wrecking ball for saturday. But friday and friday night i want to wheel a little.

[tbeede]

cool, I really want to se the stroker blower in person. I'll be out for FITD too. I'm signed up for clawhammer. I built a 4.6 stroker at one point and it ripped! Personally, I like the power band of the stroker better than the SBC. I always dreamed about building one with .120 over pistons to make it a 5.0 and then blowing it! Can't wait to see your setup!