Good I’m glad it turned out. I did a super quick job of splicing out some of the stopping and talking to spotters and stuff like that. I just did it all on my phone with iMovie.
Arizona Rock Crawler
- Thread starter starkey480
- Start date
Killer job! Those little videos you make are really cool
Can't wait to be out in a few months, what a great trail! I saw a few spots where the midarm vs short arm (with geo's) seemed to make a difference. It wasn't enough to not pass the obstacle, but the difference in movement was noticeable in the rig.
There’s also two types of hopping. Most of the hopping we get out here is due to being stuck in an undercut rock which causes hopping no matter what your geo is. Even Chris had some slight hopping a couple times when stuck in an undercut. That was the case for me on that second climb in the vid, there was a giant undercut ledge there on my passenger rear tire on the way up. We navigated Chris away from that.
This one was 100% geometry related. Mild but still evident. I still need to pursue my science experiment of lowering the AS with new holes but I would like to just save up for a midarm eventually.
It was probably our last weekend of good weather. Only 88*!
Mudflat
TJ Enthusiast
Looks like a great ride! X2 on the 4.56 gears with 33” tires. I love mine! That’s the very best modification you can do.Edit: Check out my profile for full current build list
Check out my wheelin pics in my Arizona Wheelin thread
Hey guys I got my first Jeep 5 months ago and have fallen in love with wheeling and working on it myself. I wish I would have started a build thread right away but here’s a summary of what I’ve done so far...
I got a 99’ 4.0 Sport with only 67k miles for $10k and looked like this when I got it. Extremely clean.
View attachment 111927
The Jeep had two owners. The first had it lifted with 33s and the second lowered it back to stock. Luckily it had some leftover goodies! Major parts:
- Bilstein 5100 shocks 0-2 inch lift
- All adjustable control arms (rough country I think)
- 30.5” Durotraks
- Eaton True Trac in front Dana 30
- Open Dana 35 rear
- 4.56 gearing (major jackpot)
First I put Procomp 2 inch lift coils in since so I could get lifted without buying shocks and SYE and all that. All I needed was the coils for $200 and an OME rear track bar relocation bracket ($40). The bump stops were already extended an inch so I didn’t mess with those. This got me lifted and out in the rocks
View attachment 111931
After a while I started really getting the itch to put my 4.56 gears to use with some 33’s. So I got a 1.25” JKS body lift and 33” BFGs
View attachment 111932
This is how she sits now. Other upgrades I have put in
- Cb radio w/ 3’ firestik antenna (~$70)
- Detroit locker in rear and Super Dana 35 axle shafts (on Craigslist together for $400)
- Some AWESOME China LED headlights that are knockoff Speakers ($90 Amazon)
View attachment 111934
- Tinted windows/windshield ($100) (because Arizona)
- Currie Adjustable front track bar ($350). Old one made popping noise when I would turn wheels left.
View attachment 111935
- JKS quicker disconnects ($80 brand new on Craigslist)
- a used rear driveshaft ($95) to cure my cyclic vibrations I was having. The old one was so dented that it couldn’t be balanced. New driveshaft eliminated all my cyclical vibes.
Let me know if anyone wants links to parts.
...and now we are all caught up! Special thanks to all the active knowledgeable guys on here for teaching me literally everything I know about jeeps like @Chris , @Jerry Bransford , @JMT , and @mrblaine.
My plan is to build it slow and steady so as to enjoy the build process. I want this rig very off-road capable. I enjoy extreme activities. And also as smooth on the road as possible since it is my daily. I’m thinking of allowing myself to buy one thing a month.
Ultimate goals are:
- SYE / CV
- Currie 4 inch lift
- selectable front and rear lockers
- tummy tuck
- good armor (currently have none except oil pan guard)
- some badass bumpers and winch
-35’s when my 33s are worn and all necessary components for 35’s
- highline fenders after 35’s
Veteran guys how would you proceed next on this build?
Update on some things:
-The 03-06 seats are MUCH more comfortable than the 97-02 seats. I normally feel pretty beat up after a long ride and felt much better yesterday in the new seats.
- I didn’t have any swamp issues with the bartact seat covers. I really like them.
- I’m beginning to enjoy my Super 35 more and more. There’s been many trails now where I can just barely squeak my diff over a rock and Dana 44s will get hung up. I don’t think I’ll bail on the 35 till it bails on me!
- I’ve been flip flopping on my priority list for my next project between rear outboard, hydro-assist, and a big brake kit. Right now the way things are behaving, I’m really happy with my stability during articulation scenarios so longer travel isn’t a huge priority right now. The ranchos obviously aren’t giving a luxurious ride compared to a tuned shock but it’s tolerable. There’s a lot of situations I wish I could turn when I’m up on top of a ledge and I need to catch some traction to the side and physically can’t turn my wheel. Hydro assist is becoming more and more appealing. My stock brakes + Bmb pads stop on the road okay. I can lock up my wheels and I would say they are acceptable for daily driving but not fantastic. Where I’m hurting is on the trails coming down off of ledges. Especially since putting the auto in. I’m feeling like I can’t control coming off of ledges very well at all. The BBK is definitely at the top of the list now for me.
-The 03-06 seats are MUCH more comfortable than the 97-02 seats. I normally feel pretty beat up after a long ride and felt much better yesterday in the new seats.
- I didn’t have any swamp issues with the bartact seat covers. I really like them.
- I’m beginning to enjoy my Super 35 more and more. There’s been many trails now where I can just barely squeak my diff over a rock and Dana 44s will get hung up. I don’t think I’ll bail on the 35 till it bails on me!
- I’ve been flip flopping on my priority list for my next project between rear outboard, hydro-assist, and a big brake kit. Right now the way things are behaving, I’m really happy with my stability during articulation scenarios so longer travel isn’t a huge priority right now. The ranchos obviously aren’t giving a luxurious ride compared to a tuned shock but it’s tolerable. There’s a lot of situations I wish I could turn when I’m up on top of a ledge and I need to catch some traction to the side and physically can’t turn my wheel. Hydro assist is becoming more and more appealing. My stock brakes + Bmb pads stop on the road okay. I can lock up my wheels and I would say they are acceptable for daily driving but not fantastic. Where I’m hurting is on the trails coming down off of ledges. Especially since putting the auto in. I’m feeling like I can’t control coming off of ledges very well at all. The BBK is definitely at the top of the list now for me.
Aftermarket seats are way better than factory seats.
I’d get brakes next. Then hydro.
You just missed the sale! Mine is going in first thing when I’m home from a trip.
Yep. Brakes, then hydro, then outboard is my tentative plan.
Don’t minimize seats, watch for a sale. We wheeled all week in Moab and never once felt fatigued from because of my mastercrafts.
Just drove 20 hours Friday in an LJ with stock seats, absolutely horrible.
X2 on the brakes. Because if you are following close behind me me on the trail, I don’t really care if you can turn or not.....
I’ll watch for a sale but I’m really happy with just swapping in the newer seats for $100
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