Stupid neophyte questions

[Zorba]

I'm a complete noobie to the Jeep scene, and the options are overwhelming! '06 TJ "X", bone stock. I'm looking to improve it for "mild to moderate" offroading, not rock crawling or other "extreme" stuff that I'm not qualified to even think about at this time. Just an enhancement to the capability it has now. The Jeep has 3.73s, 4.0, manual. I don't want to regear, place undue stress on components, lose my gearing advantage with huge tires, etc, etc. Therefore, dumb questions in no particular order:

1) I'm thinking 2 inch lift with 32s.
2) I'm also thinking keep stock 15 inch wheels. Do I really need to go to larger wheels? What's the cost/benefit ratio as opposed to the larger sidewalls involved with the smaller wheels?
3) Even though I'm not planning on rock crawling, I'm thinking of rock sliders just in case I get myself into a situation. What concerns me is I see a lot of apparent metal-to-metal contact between the armor and the body where water can run right down inside and cause rust. I'm paranoid about rust, and that was before I bought a Jeep! We lost a perfectly good '63 GMC 1 ton truck to rust and all it did was sit there! Are there gaskets or sealant I can use? Or should I use a nerf bar setup or similar where there isn't a shield in contact with the lower body? Don't want to decrease ground clearance though.
4) I want a trailer hitch for light duty (obviously) use. I also don't want to compromise my departure angle with an under-bumper receiver. I've seen a couple of aftermarket bumpers where the receiver is at least partially embedded in the bumper itself, an outfit called "Tidal" seems to have a good one at a reasonable price, plus it gives me clevis mounts.
5) Winch. Do I need one?
6) I do want onboard air for airing back up, esp. with the beaches available to me. Thinking Viair 400 with a small tank.
7) This is beyond basic capabilities and not really essential, but what about the Savvy or Novak cable shifter for the transfer case? The stock shifter sure feels klunky to me. An "old skool" gearshift knob appeals as well. I'm thinking eventual center console delete and bed liner spray-in. Then I don't have to worry about water/rust, and it would have the bare "old skool" look.

Budget is important, but I don't want junk either. Finding used stuff is mighty hard - and the stuff you do find is usually almost the price of new! All advice appreciated and welcome.

 

[Chris]

1) Great plan, that's a build that will look good, be plenty capable, and won't break the bank.
2) Nope, 15" wheels are what I would stick with personally.
3) If you want to make sure rust doesn't happen, you can use a piece of rubber weather stripping where the top edge meets the body, which should keep water out. This is how the factory Rubicon rocker panel armor is done from the factory.
4) Yes, you could use a bumper with a receiver mounted hitch, or a separate receiver mounted hitch like you're talking about.
5) Do you need a winch? Are you planning on wheeling at all? They are great to have and an absolute must if you plan on doing any off-roading, but I know in Florida there isn't any real off-roading... is there?
6) Yes, the VIAIR 400p is an excellent choice. I personally use one.
7) The Savvy (it's better than the Novak) shifter cable is a must have IMHO, even for completely stock TJs. The difference it makes is night and day.

 

[Zorba]

5) Do you need a winch? Are you planning on wheeling at all? They are great to have and an absolute must if you plan on doing any off-roading, but I know in Florida there isn't any real off-roading... is there?

LOL! Toldja they were Stuuuuupid questions! That's about what I figured, but I thought I'd ask anyway. Yea, there's some "fairly serious" offroading here - there's just not much in the way of hills! Nice answers to my questions, 'preciate it!

 

[Chris]

LOL! Toldja they were Stuuuuupid questions! That's about what I figured, but I thought I'd ask anyway. Yea, there's some "fairly serious" offroading here - there's just not much in the way of hills! Nice answers to my questions, 'preciate it!

No problem at all! I didn't know there was any off-roading there at all to be honest. I would have thought you'd have to venture north to Georgia or something. Florida just seems so... flat

 

[Zorba]

Flat? Yea, the highest point in the state is something called "Mount Dora", at 282 thereabouts feet! I joke about nosebleeds every time I drive over a causeway!

 

[Chris]

Haha, too funny! Well, I guess you guys get the nice weather and gorgeous beaches to make up for it

 

[Zorba]

It wasn't my first choice of a retirement destination - I'd just as soon be above 2500 ft and at least 1,000 miles away from any beach! Hot as balls here, but at least it doesn't snow and the politics are tolerable, unlike Commiefornia which I fled 3 years ago like a Jew out of Nazi Germany ca 1933!

 

[Chris]

It wasn't my first choice of a retirement destination - I'd just as soon be above 2500 ft and at least 1,000 miles away from any beach! Hot as balls here, but at least it doesn't snow and the politics are tolerable, unlike Commiefornia which I fled 3 years ago like a Jew out of Nazi Germany ca 1933!

Yep, I hear you on California. That's one of the reasons we are leaving Oregon. It's a beautiful state, but all the Californians are moving here and brining their politics with them, and it shows. They're basically colonizing the entire west coast.

I hear Florida is hot as sin in the summer months, but the fall and winter makes up for it, right?

 

[L0jik]

5) Do you need a winch? Are you planning on wheeling at all? They are great to have and an absolute must if you plan on doing any off-roading, but I know in Florida there isn't any real off-roading... is there?

A ten minute drive from my house can get me in offroad spots where a winch is almost mandatory. (I've been getting by with just tow straps).
Florida has almost no serious public (BLM) trails that I know of, but the privately owned parks have decent rock gardens. But if you don't mind driving in the woods, you can find perfectly challenging 'trails'. I've found 5 foot mud holes behind city hall.

I live in a pretty nice town, but Florida is still a lawless wasteland for the most part.

 

[Wildman]

If you get a winch you also need to think about where you are going to hook it up if you get sunk in the sand. There aren't any trees nearby like there is in some places. Think about getting some type of anchor point like a PullPal .
They work fairly well and are a lot easier than trying to bury your spare tire as a anchor point.

 

[Zorba]

Yep, I hear you on California. That's one of the reasons we are leaving Oregon. It's a beautiful state, but all the Californians are moving here and bringing their politics with them, and it shows. They're basically colonizing the entire west coast.

I hear Florida is hot as sin in the summer months, but the fall and winter makes up for it, right?

Yea, its about 6 months on, 6 months off. Winters here are very similar to winters in the part of California we lived. As for politics, the problem here are New York Liberals.

 

[Zorba]

Florida has almost no serious public (BLM) trails that I know of, but the privately owned parks have decent rock gardens. But if you don't mind driving in the woods, you can find perfectly challenging 'trails'. I've found 5 foot mud holes behind city hall.

Yep, there's places like that within walking distance. A trail in the woods actually sounds like heaven to me - I don't do well in direct sunlight.

 

[Fonz54]

Yep, I hear you on California. That's one of the reasons we are leaving Oregon. It's a beautiful state, but all the Californians are moving here and brining their politics with them, and it shows. They're basically colonizing the entire west coast.

I hear Florida is hot as sin in the summer months, but the fall and winter makes up for it, right?

Where are you moving to Chris?

 

[bobthetj03]

My suggestion would be to stick with 31's with that gearing. Anything bigger and you'll be really bogging it down in the sand. A small 2" lift sounds viable. I had the most fun wheeling my TJ on a 2" lift and 31's.

 

[Chris]

Where are you moving to Chris?

Florence, Arizona.

 

[Zorba]

My suggestion would be to stick with 31's with that gearing. Anything bigger and you'll be really bogging it down in the sand. A small 2" lift sounds viable. I had the most fun wheeling my TJ on a 2" lift and 31's.

Thank you - I was sorta torn between 31s or 32s with that very concern. I see there's some kind of electronic "doo-dah" that you can plug into the speed sensor connector on the TC to correct the speedo.

 

[bobthetj03]

Thank you - I was sorta torn between 31s or 32s with that very concern. I see there's some kind of electronic "doo-dah" that you can plug into the speed sensor connector on the TC to correct the speedo.

Your speedo has a mechanical gear to calibrate the speed. You just need a different tooth gear. Rubi's have a different type of speedo that requires a "doo-dah" to calibrate it.

https://midwestjeepwillys.com/speedometer-gears.html

 

[bedhed]

I'm a complete noobie to the Jeep scene, and the options are overwhelming! '06 TJ "X", bone stock. I'm looking to improve it for "mild to moderate" offroading, not rock crawling or other "extreme" stuff that I'm not qualified to even think about at this time. Just an enhancement to the capability it has now. The Jeep has 3.73s, 4.0, manual. I don't want to regear, place undue stress on components, lose my gearing advantage with huge tires, etc, etc. Therefore, dumb questions in no particular order:

1) I'm thinking 2 inch lift with 32s.
2) I'm also thinking keep stock 15 inch wheels. Do I really need to go to larger wheels? What's the cost/benefit ratio as opposed to the larger sidewalls involved with the smaller wheels?
3) Even though I'm not planning on rock crawling, I'm thinking of rock sliders just in case I get myself into a situation. What concerns me is I see a lot of apparent metal-to-metal contact between the armor and the body where water can run right down inside and cause rust. I'm paranoid about rust, and that was before I bought a Jeep! We lost a perfectly good '63 GMC 1 ton truck to rust and all it did was sit there! Are there gaskets or sealant I can use? Or should I use a nerf bar setup or similar where there isn't a shield in contact with the lower body? Don't want to decrease ground clearance though.
4) I want a trailer hitch for light duty (obviously) use. I also don't want to compromise my departure angle with an under-bumper receiver. I've seen a couple of aftermarket bumpers where the receiver is at least partially embedded in the bumper itself, an outfit called "Tidal" seems to have a good one at a reasonable price, plus it gives me clevis mounts.
5) Winch. Do I need one?
6) I do want onboard air for airing back up, esp. with the beaches available to me. Thinking Viair 400 with a small tank.
7) This is beyond basic capabilities and not really essential, but what about the Savvy or Novak cable shifter for the transfer case? The stock shifter sure feels klunky to me. An "old skool" gearshift knob appeals as well. I'm thinking eventual center console delete and bed liner spray-in. Then I don't have to worry about water/rust, and it would have the bare "old skool" look.

Budget is important, but I don't want junk either. Finding used stuff is mighty hard - and the stuff you do find is usually almost the price of new! All advice appreciated and welcome.

I agree with the recommendation for 31s. I'm in North Florida, so it's pretty much the same here, I think, very flat. I've done some "wheeling" in the Apalachicola National Forest, but that's as deep as my wheeling has gone. From what I've heard and seen, I think the only good place here is the Ocala National Forest. Too far of a drive for me.

As for the Jeep additions, I think I'd just keep it simple. Unless you just want to add some things, I don't feel like there's any need for them here in Florida. In the 8 years of having mine, the most action my rock sliders have gotten is from me using them to bang the dirt or mud off my feet haha. For that, they work great! Kind of nice to be able to do that and not worry about scratching the paint, or kicking a dent in the rockers.

I've searched quite a bit in the past for a rubber rocker seal that's similar to the one from the factory. Never did come up with any good options. The oem seal runs from top to bottom. I've always thought if you use one that is narrow, it leaves a gap between the body and slider, so overtightening might bend the sheet metal outward. Just a thought.

The only other addition that I would vote for would be the bumper with receiver. I have a standard receiver, and that has caused problem with it dragging the ground. Still a mild problem, but a noticable one anyway.

 

[JMT]

I'm a complete noobie to the Jeep scene, and the options are overwhelming! '06 TJ "X", bone stock. I'm looking to improve it for "mild to moderate" offroading, not rock crawling or other "extreme" stuff that I'm not qualified to even think about at this time. Just an enhancement to the capability it has now. The Jeep has 3.73s, 4.0, manual. I don't want to regear, place undue stress on components, lose my gearing advantage with huge tires, etc, etc. Therefore, dumb questions in no particular order:

1) I'm thinking 2 inch lift with 32s.
2) I'm also thinking keep stock 15 inch wheels. Do I really need to go to larger wheels? What's the cost/benefit ratio as opposed to the larger sidewalls involved with the smaller wheels?
3) Even though I'm not planning on rock crawling, I'm thinking of rock sliders just in case I get myself into a situation. What concerns me is I see a lot of apparent metal-to-metal contact between the armor and the body where water can run right down inside and cause rust. I'm paranoid about rust, and that was before I bought a Jeep! We lost a perfectly good '63 GMC 1 ton truck to rust and all it did was sit there! Are there gaskets or sealant I can use? Or should I use a nerf bar setup or similar where there isn't a shield in contact with the lower body? Don't want to decrease ground clearance though.
4) I want a trailer hitch for light duty (obviously) use. I also don't want to compromise my departure angle with an under-bumper receiver. I've seen a couple of aftermarket bumpers where the receiver is at least partially embedded in the bumper itself, an outfit called "Tidal" seems to have a good one at a reasonable price, plus it gives me clevis mounts.
5) Winch. Do I need one?
6) I do want onboard air for airing back up, esp. with the beaches available to me. Thinking Viair 400 with a small tank.
7) This is beyond basic capabilities and not really essential, but what about the Savvy or Novak cable shifter for the transfer case? The stock shifter sure feels klunky to me. An "old skool" gearshift knob appeals as well. I'm thinking eventual center console delete and bed liner spray-in. Then I don't have to worry about water/rust, and it would have the bare "old skool" look.

Budget is important, but I don't want junk either. Finding used stuff is mighty hard - and the stuff you do find is usually almost the price of new! All advice appreciated and welcome.

A very good plan, well thought out for your purposes in FL.

- 15" wheels
- Rock sliders should be optional in your case, wheel a bit and see if you need them. I have a 1/8" rubber seal between mine and the tub. Definitely bolt to the tub if you get some. Nerf bars will take away clearance and just get beat up if you really need something there.
- Several bumpers have a recessed weld-through hitch built in. I have a Warn, but Motobilt and others make solid ones. Also get some frame tie-ins from Poison Spyder for $50 to strengthen everything for towing safety.
- Savvy cable shifter is better design that Novak, similar, but better.
- Winch. like rock sliders, go wheel a bit and see. If you go with others or people are helpful out there, you may just need a good tow strap to get out of most sand situations.

 

[Wildman]

Do you mean something like this that goes between the body and the slider?

https://www.extremeterrain.com/pois...52&gclid=CMmr4uyo6-gCFTgffgodLCoPGA&gclsrc=ds