Midnight LJR Build

[Wildman]

Yeah I kind of like that the hub is the weak link. I feel like if you get yourself into that much of a bind something is going to give anyways and a spare hub is cheap and as easy to fix as removing a wheel.

The story behind that blown hub was me being LAZY.... Sort of.

The shafts were stock inners and the Warn stub shafts that came with the kit. Spicer u-joints so nothing special there either. I was still on crutches after being wounded and didn't want to get out of my Jeep to see what was going on. My left front tire was under a rock that had been undercut by other rigs going up this trail. I was running 35" Toyo M/T's and had a TeraLow 4:1 kit in the t-case. 4.88 gears in the axles and figured I would just try to POWER it up the trail.

BOOM the hub shot down into the woods and I don't think we ever found all of it. I 3 legged it the rest of the way off the trail. It wasn't too long after this that I tore the TJ down and did my first build on it. Ended up selling the front axle to a college kid I knew who would come help me work on my Jeep sometimes.

So yes I also liked having the small hub as the fusible link in drivetrain. I'd wheeled with other guys who also ran the small hub kit and had seen them break a hub on the trail. I also had the Warn full floater kit in the rear with small hubs so I could replace any of them with the spare I carried.

 

[motomick76]

Very impressive LJ you have. Just curious, why did you choose to go with the 315/70 and not the 35/12.5 A/T?

 

[Midnight LJR]

Very impressive LJ you have. Just curious, why did you choose to go with the 315/70 and not the 35/12.5 A/T?

When looking for tires I wanted a 35 in Load Range C in a All Terrain and wanted 17’s because there are too few choices in 16. Since the measurements are basically the same I just focused on the load rating not wether it was 315 or 35.

For all terrain choices the only options I could find where these.

https://m.tirerack.com/tires/tires....SR7KO2V2&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes
And these which were out of stock, but I preferred the BFG’s anyway.

https://www.discounttiredirect.com/buy-tires/toyo-tire-open-country-a-t-iii/p/88598
Since I am making this post anyway, it’s probably a good time to list possible mud terrains that might work for my Jeep. I may switch to them when these wear out but am still undecided. I suppose I could get another set of wheels for them. But that’s a long way off for now. My current tires are pretty much brand new and with the trailer I am on a 7 tire rotation so am sure they will last a long time. Also curious what the new 315 mud terrain Ford is devoloping for the New Bronco will be I expect that to be Load Range C as well.

These are the currently available options
https://m.tirerack.com/tires/tires....QR7WMTRK&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes
https://www.discounttiredirect.com/buy-tires/toyo-tire-open-country-m-t/p/39609
https://m.tirerack.com/tires/tires....GRX3RLV2&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes
Also this new 35x11.50 seems like a cool tire.
https://www.discounttiredirect.com/fitmentresult/tires/size/35-11.5-17

 

[motomick76]

I am also watching your trailer build, very nice! I have always been a BFG guy, run nothing else on all my vehicles. I have pulled the trigger on 17" rims, hub kit, just about to order tires when I cam across your build. 35/12.5/17 was going to go in, but I am going to switch over to the 315's. Makes no sense to have a E tire when 60-70% is on-road and 30-40% offroad.

 

[bobthetj03]

I was gonna suggest the Grabbers. If you look at their specs, looks like the 35's run closer to a true 35, and they have a tough skin.

 

[Midnight LJR]

I am also watching your trailer build, very nice! I have always been a BFG guy, run nothing else on all my vehicles. I have pulled the trigger on 17" rims, hub kit, just about to order tires when I cam across your build. 35/12.5/17 was going to go in, but I am going to switch over to the 315's. Makes no sense to have a E tire when 60-70% is on-road and 30-40% offroad.

Awesome, that’s what these build threads are for to help people out.

 

[Alex01]

Awesome, that’s what these build threads are for to help people out.

Really?? I thought they were here to make others jealous and feel the need to open their wallets to bring their own jeeps up to standards.

 

[Nickgsjeep]

Really?? I thought they were here to make others jealous and feel the need to open their wallets to bring their own jeeps up to standards.

X2

 

[Mike_H]

Really?? I thought they were here to make others jealous and feel the need to open their wallets to bring their own jeeps up to standards.

I definitely feel that way, most of the time...

 

[mrblaine]

My reasoning went about like this.

Blaine: “Mike order this part number.”

Me: “ok”

I just trust Blaine’s experience, my understanding is he has not seen a ton of problems with the smaller kit. I am not sure I even knew there was a small and big kit at the time. I did pick up a spare hub that I carry on the trail since he recommended I should when doing challenging trails.

There was also some considerations pondered over moving to the 5.5" bolt circle, new tires if the right diameter rim was an issue in that bolt circle, and back spacing needed for the rest of the problems.

There is also the issue of converting your brakes to work with the larger bolt circle.

I wouldn't arbitrarily pick one without considering the ramifications of everything involved.

 

[mrblaine]

Yeah I kind of like that the hub is the weak link. I feel like if you get yourself into that much of a bind something is going to give anyways and a spare hub is cheap and as easy to fix as removing a wheel.

I'd like them to be a bit stronger but not much. I developed a 4.5" drive flange kit. We put several in use and tested them. Bad bad idea. Now instead of breaking an easily replaced locking hub, we blew up the stub shaft, cracked and ruined the spindle, ruined the bearings in the bearing hub along with the spindle nuts. Went from a 75 dollar fix (at the time) to a 500+ dollar fix. Careful what you wish for, you might not like what you get.

 

[mrblaine]

I was gonna suggest the Grabbers. If you look at their specs, looks like the 35's run closer to a true 35, and they have a tough skin.

You need those to go with your true Dana 44.

 

[bobthetj03]

You need those to go with your true Dana 44.

I make it way too easy for you, don't I.

 

[mrblaine]

I make it way too easy for you, don't I.

A cowhand stopped in town to visit the saloon after many hot and dusty days rounding up the cattle and getting them to market. He noticed that there were many hand drawn targets on fences and posts with perfectly centered holes in the bullseye. He marveled at both the quantity and accuracy.

After the bartender handed him his beer, he asked about the excellent sharpshooter in town. Bartender tells him that's Jed and Jed could barely hit the side of the barn on a good day but he was really good at drawing bullseyes around the holes after he shot.

Low hanging fruit is there to be picked.

 

[bobthetj03]

Guess I'm ripe for the pick'n! Lol!

 

[Midnight LJR]

Took the Jeep out on Deer Valley Trail with a group from the forum this weekend, been wanting to try this trail for years and never got a round to it. It was a mild trail with just a few tricky sections. A lot of it was through a dense forest which made for nice shade. The obstacles where you lean your roof towards trees that have obviously been smashed by other jeeps roofs were a bit stressful.

We found an epic lunch location.

I also through together a quick video. I normally edit videos in Premiere Pro. I just did this on my phone. It was easy, but a bit limited. Think I’ll stick with Premiere in the future.



Sorry for this in advance @Alex01 but it was just too funny. The best quote from the trip paraphrased a bit.

Alex: Does your Jeep make a clunking sound?

Me: No, Blaine built it, it just works....

Alex: GOD DAMN IT MIKE!

It was a great trip I can’t wait for the next one!

 

[Midnight LJR]

Installed some Misch Armrests today to try out on the full doors going to try them out and see if I like them.

 

[gaabbee]

I like those. Does it have a handle you can grab while taking the door off?

 

[Midnight LJR]

I like those. Does it have a handle you can grab while taking the door off?

Since they just use the same 2 small screws as the factory strap handle, I personally would not lift the door by them.

 

[gaabbee]

Since they just use the same 2 small screws as the factory strap handle, I personally would not lift the door by them.

Agreed i usually roll the window down and have one hand on the window frame and the other on the bottom of the door but once the door is off it gets awkward to walk with and wish the strap/arm rest was stronger to hold. Oh well thanks.