Why is it important to keep weight down on a TJ?

UKTJ

UKTJ

TJ Addict
Joined
Dec 30, 2020
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Hampshire, UK
I have wondered why so many on here are so interested in the weight of parts on their TJs. From what I gather it seems that because of the terrain you often drive over (i.e. lots of rocks) you need to add a large amount of extra protection to your TJs in the form of skids, corner armour, etc. Those additions all add weight, so the incremental amount of weight in each part adds up. About right?

But what I have yet to really understand is why a heavier TJ is an issue. I could understand if you were maybe in a swamp and wanted to avoid sinking, but why is weight such an issue when tackling rocks? Is it as simple as the power to weight ratio?
 
Unnecessary weight robs power, it robs gas mileage, and it decreases performance all around. Everything from braking, acceleration, to how well your TJ climbs an obstacle can be attributed to weight in some way or another.

Put on a 200 lb steel tire carrier bumper and go for a drive. Take it off and then put on a 15 lb aluminum bumper. You’ll notice a profound difference in how the vehicle drives.
 
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Chris said:
Unnecessary weight robs power, it robs gas mileage, and it decreases performance all around.

Put on a 200 lb steel tire carrier bumper and go for a drive. Take it off and then put on a 15 lb aluminum bumper. You’ll notice a profound difference in how the vehicle drives.
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That makes perfect sense Chris.

I guess the key word to unpick there is "uneccessary". If somebody is going offroad and tackling a lot of rocks then bigger bumpers, additional skins, corner armour, rock sliders, etc. are no doubt important upgrades. However, in the UK as far as I know there simple are not those kinds of trails, though maybe in other parts of Europe they exist. Given that, I am guessing that much of that additional armour is not as important over here. There could be something nasty buried in the mud, so maybe some improved protection underneath would help.

I think the biggest chunks of extra weight I envisage for my TJ is the winch plate and winch (likely to be about 90lb), after that it is probably the heavier duty tire carrier (c.50lb) and then the bigger tires (tbd lb). I guess I will add some tools and recovery gear, but I also think at the moment I will take the back seats out, so that is probably a wash. I have no idea how that compares to the additional weight added to the typical rock crawler, is it similar a lot less or more even?
 
UKTJ said:
That makes perfect sense Chris.

I guess the key word to unpick there is "uneccessary". If somebody is going offroad and tackling a lot of rocks then bigger bumpers, additional skins, corner armour, rock sliders, etc. are no doubt important upgrades. However, in the UK as far as I know there simple are not those kinds of trails, though maybe in other parts of Europe they exist. Given that, I am guessing that much of that additional armour is not as important over here. There could be something nasty buried in the mud, so maybe some improved protection underneath would help.

I think the biggest chunks of extra weight I envisage for my TJ is the winch plate and winch (likely to be about 90lb), after that it is probably the heavier duty tire carrier (c.50lb) and then the bigger tires (tbd lb). I guess I will add some tools and recovery gear, but I also think at the moment I will take the back seats out, so that is probably a wash. I have no idea how that compares to the additional weight added to the typical rock crawler, is it similar a lot less or more even?
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Yes, I have never been to the UK but I can't imagine you guys have a lot of trails like we do out here in Arizona, where there are huge rocks everywhere. However, you'd still tremendously benefit from aluminum parts over steel. For one you would keep weight down and your TJ would have better on-road performance (possibly MPG too). Also, aluminum doesn't rust like steel does either.

I think what I am getting at is that even if you aren't rock crawling it or even if you're just driving it on-road, there is no reason not to go with aluminum over steel when you have the choice. I lighter TJ is a happier TJ (y)
 
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MutantNinjaTJ said:
I prefer a little more weight with my TJ, the suspension works better with some weight on it as compared to bouncing over the top of obstacle's.
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My brother's TJ worked the same way. I'm guessing it was the shock choice.
Willys).jpg
 
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MutantNinjaTJ said:
I prefer a little more weight with my TJ, the suspension works better with some weight on it as compared to bouncing over the top of obstacle's.
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That just means you don't have the suspension setup properly ;)

Namely you need shocks with the correct valving.

Tire pressure being too high can cause this too.
 
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Chris said:
Yes, I have never been to the UK but I can't imagine you guys have a lot of trails like we do out here in Arizona, where there are huge rocks everywhere. However, you'd still tremendously benefit from aluminum parts over steel. For one you would keep weight down and your TJ would have better on-road performance (possibly MPG too). Also, aluminum doesn't rust like steel does either.

I think what I am getting at is that even if you aren't rock crawling it or even if you're just driving it on-road, there is no reason not to go with aluminum over steel when you have the choice. I lighter TJ is a happier TJ (y)
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Mine is a better daily driver after having removed a bunch of weight. Less weight made the Jeep less wallowy and more controlled.
 
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jjvw said:
Mine is a better daily driver after having removed a bunch of weight. Less weight made the Jeep less wallowy and more controlled.
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I definitely believe that.

Even just removing my spare (which probably weighs a good 110 lbs.) made a profound difference in the way it drives. Imagine one of those 200 lb. steel bumper / tire carrier combos.
 
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Chris said:
I definitely believe that.

Even just removing my spare (which probably weighs a good 110 lbs.) made a profound difference in the way it drives. Imagine one of those 200 lb. steel bumper / tire carrier combos.
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How much weight in total do you think you have added to your TJ versus a stock one? Or is the affect of the use of aluminium so great it actually means a weight reduction?
 
Chris said:
I definitely believe that.

Even just removing my spare (which probably weighs a good 110 lbs.) made a profound difference in the way it drives. Imagine one of those 200 lb. steel bumper / tire carrier combos.
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These were my numbers when I put the LJ on a diet years ago. Granted, the hard top was a substantial weight loss, but the improved driving and wheeling results were noticeable. FWIW, since then I've added back 25 lbs, to the nose, but shaved some weight in other areas.


Sprung weight reduction totals:
-168 lbs (HiLift, extra tools, & over loaded trailbox)
-38.1 lbs (Front Bumper)
-31.5 lbs (Rear Bumper)
-199 lbs (Hard Top)
-2.4 lbs (Spare)
Total = 439 lbs
 
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UKTJ said:
How much weight in total do you think you have added to your TJ versus a stock one? Or is the affect of the use of aluminium so great it actually means a weight reduction?
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No way I've reduced weight. I would say that it probably weighs 500 lbs more than a factory TJ, even with the aluminum. But consider that I have 35" tires, beadlock wheels, a winch, aluminum armor, etc.

But lets say I had done everything with steel. I'd probably be looking at close to double that weight that I've added.

Irun said:
These were my numbers when I put the LJ on a diet years ago. Granted, the hard top was a substantial weight loss, but the improved driving and wheeling results were noticeable. FWIW, since then I've added back 25 lbs, to the nose, but shaved some weight in other areas.


Sprung weight reduction totals:
-168 lbs (HiLift, extra tools, & over loaded trailbox)
-38.1 lbs (Front Bumper)
-31.5 lbs (Rear Bumper)
-199 lbs (Hard Top)
-2.4 lbs (Spare)
Total = 439 lbs
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Yep, that's about right what I was thinking in terms of weight.

It adds up, that's for sure. 439 lbs. can definitely be felt in the seat of your pants.
 
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UKTJ said:
How much weight in total do you think you have added to your TJ versus a stock one? Or is the affect of the use of aluminium so great it actually means a weight reduction?
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The last time I drove mine over the truck scales it was about 4600lbs. Now find out what a stock TJ Rubicon weighs with a soft top and a back seat.
 
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