Not many people can afford to purchase an off-road-only Jeep, so we learn - usually through experience - to create a workable off-road machine using our daily drivers as test beds. The downside to this is that we also learn to compromise between what we really want off-road, and what we really need on-road.
It is possible, however, for the two sides of your Jeeps' life to see eye-to-eye - we've proven this with Stubby, our 1997 Jeep Wrangler Project. Our TJ has been adapted over the years to meet the rigors of every trail we've been on, yet still offers decent fuel economy and a comfortable ride, making it an excellent - and fun - daily driver for us.
Here are a few tips and tricks we've learned (sometimes the hard way) that helped us build a great "weekend warrior".
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1. Tires...Don't go wild unless you have the motor to back you up. This is probably one of the biggest killers of streetable Jeeps there is. Slapping 35-inch Swampers onto your Jeep is a great way ruin everything you're looking for in a daily driver: Fuel economy, noise, harsh ride, and early-wearing parts - all rolled up into one rubber donut. We've pushed the limit with 33's on our TJ; 31-inch tires are probably good enough for all but hard-core off-roaders, as long as you have the clearance to back them up.
Also, try to get something in the all-terrain category, like BFG A/T's. They ride great, run quiet, and offer a 3-ply sidewall that you'll be thankful for later. Best of all, your fuel-economy won't suffer from them as it would from oversized mud tires.
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2. Traction…Make the most of your new tires by installing traction devices such as lockers and limited-slip differentials. Depending on the trail, a Jeep with 31-inch all-terrains and lockers can usually get a lot further off-road that a Jeep with 38-inch muds that has open differentials. See Lockers: Part I and Lockers: Part II for more information.
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3. Power...Don't attempt to compensate for your new tires strictly by adding new stuff to your motor. All that will do is make your engine work too hard, and drag your MPG into the toilet. Do it right! Doing it right mean new gears to correct the new final-drive ratio your Jeep now has due to your new tires. This not only gives you back a LOT of your lost power, it also restores some of your fuel loss, gives you added traction off-road, and corrects your speedometer as well.
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4. Protection…Not the car-alarm kind, the skid-plate kind! Without the added clearance of a tall lift, make sure you protect the vital under-components of your Jeep with bolt-on steel plating. For more information, please go to Skid Plates & You
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5. Clearance…Getting your body and vulnerable undercarriage off the ground is important. All the traction in the world won't help you if you get high-centered, or puncture an oil-pan or fuel-tank. Even a 1" lift gets you that much farther from the ground.
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Some of Dirt Road Magazine's Weekend Warriors
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Stubby - Dirt Road Magazine's 1997 Jeep Wrangler.- 2.5L 4-Banger
- 33" MT Radial Claws
- Superwinch S9000
- 5-1/2 Total Inches Of Lift
- Click Here for more info!
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Nick Turcotte's 1993 YJ Wrangler- 35-inch Claws
- Turbo City Airtube
- Flowmaster Muffler
- 6" Lift
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Jonathan Campbell's 1992 XJ Cherokee- 4.0 H.O. Motor
- 4-3/4" Lift
- Rancho 5000 Shocks
- 32x11.50 Super Swamper SSR's
- K&N Induction
- 50-Series Flowmaster Muffler
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Rob Norse's 1984 CJ-7- 4.0L I-6 Motor
- 33" Mud Tires
- Shackle-Reversal
- Moser 1-Piece Axles
- 4-inches of Lift
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Stevie Ray's 2001 TJ- No Lift
- 32x9.5x15 Swampers
- Stock 4.0L
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Dirt Road Magazine is sponsored by Central 4WD & Turner 4WD Parts Co.
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