TJ rally raid build
- Thread starter aldesso
- Start date
You don't ... I could meet her at the finish in Morocco. I helped get the car ready but the 3 of them (GF, her copilot and the car) are on their own ...
First thing I did ... and as a bonus, the airbag warning light matches the color scheme
The mount is velcro mounted so we may just remove it and restore the airbags until September.
Update on actual mods done so far:
31/10.5/15" BFG AT KO2 on 7"x15" ET+10 steelies
3.73 regearing on stock 30 and 35 axles
Speedo Healer (to compensate for the new tire size and regearing)
ARB front & rear lockers
ARB Heavy-duty onboard Air Compressor
ARB diff covers
1.5" Spring lift and koni shocks
JKS Quicker Disconnects
HD steering kit
Steering rod skidplate
Oilpan skid
Smittybilt SRC Bumper & TireCarrier
Smittybilt SRC Side Armor
Genright Enduro 24.5gal tank
Smittybilt X2O-10K Synthetic Rope Winch
Rough Country MLC-6 Multiple Light Controller
PIAA LED 6" fog lights
GraBars
full interior storage solution custom built for the task at hand
31/10.5/15" BFG AT KO2 on 7"x15" ET+10 steelies
3.73 regearing on stock 30 and 35 axles
Speedo Healer (to compensate for the new tire size and regearing)
ARB front & rear lockers
ARB Heavy-duty onboard Air Compressor
ARB diff covers
1.5" Spring lift and koni shocks
JKS Quicker Disconnects
HD steering kit
Steering rod skidplate
Oilpan skid
Smittybilt SRC Bumper & TireCarrier
Smittybilt SRC Side Armor
Genright Enduro 24.5gal tank
Smittybilt X2O-10K Synthetic Rope Winch
Rough Country MLC-6 Multiple Light Controller
PIAA LED 6" fog lights
GraBars
full interior storage solution custom built for the task at hand
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I was wondering how this all played out, shall wait for the fall for more updates on her adventure.
Wombat
TJ Enthusiast
If it were me I'd lose the winch & hardtop.
I know others have said it but I cant help thinking the hardtop and winch are going to be more of a hindrance than anything else on sand dunes, all that extra weight is going to cause the TJ to sink fast, not to mention being top heavy with the potential to rollover greater then with a soft top.
As for the winching when bogged in sand, have you ever tried bury a tire? It's a long and arduous task that often fails in dry sand unless you dig down over a meter. I would recommend an airbag jack to get you out of such situation as bogged down in the dunes, although it can be quite dangerous unless it's fairly flat.
Air bag jacks are really cheap, take up almost no space to store and work like a treat.
Most importantly I would install second air - or equivalent - as those beadlocks allow you run very low pressures that would be a significant advantage in the sand and somewhat mitigate the extra weight you are intending to carry , also they allow you to run on flat tires with minimal damage. I don't go wheeling without them and have been using them for over a decade.
I know others have said it but I cant help thinking the hardtop and winch are going to be more of a hindrance than anything else on sand dunes, all that extra weight is going to cause the TJ to sink fast, not to mention being top heavy with the potential to rollover greater then with a soft top.
As for the winching when bogged in sand, have you ever tried bury a tire? It's a long and arduous task that often fails in dry sand unless you dig down over a meter. I would recommend an airbag jack to get you out of such situation as bogged down in the dunes, although it can be quite dangerous unless it's fairly flat.
Air bag jacks are really cheap, take up almost no space to store and work like a treat.
Most importantly I would install second air - or equivalent - as those beadlocks allow you run very low pressures that would be a significant advantage in the sand and somewhat mitigate the extra weight you are intending to carry , also they allow you to run on flat tires with minimal damage. I don't go wheeling without them and have been using them for over a decade.
I didn't do much updates as she wanted to keep it under wraps before presenting it to the sponsors and local press.
Still agree with you on the hardtop and winch but that is her choice and I have to accept it.
She is taking a deadman anchor with her, if she gets really bogged down in the sand ... or elsewere, it is a very versatile piece of kit. We looked at air bag jacks but haven't gotten one. she still has another 6 months to think about it now.
I do like the second air solution, definitely something to think about.
Although disappointed with the postponing, it allows us to really test and fine tune the car's setup ... the shocks are set a tad harsh so I'll back them up a bit to soften everything up.
A slow radiator leak started showing his head these past few weeks. We'll have to tend to it. Probably will start with a bottle of stop leak and see if that takes care of it.
Wombat
TJ Enthusiast
With any motor sport you can't know what the best setup is until you've had a few attempts, that's just how it is, much like life, success is a neatly piled up set of failures.
As others have said the OME radiator is as good as it gets, not sure why you would change it. Here in Australia we have some of the hottest conditions imaginable and the stock setup works well, my air con/radiator guy has tried all manner of setups including aloy, thermo fans and says there nothing but trouble.
I forgot to mention TPMS, that's something else I would seriously consider. When your running in hot conditions with low air pressures it can save your arse, I really cant stress that enough, at the very least you could simply buy a cheap set but they can be difficult to configure and annoying. If you intend to fit up the the second air solution you will need to go with external units that screw onto the valve stems, you can also monitor internal and external if your OCD like me otherwise go with the internal solution
I have one of my TPMS setup to report to my infotainment system
...before someone chimes in saying that pressure is too high, I'd just got home from the tirefitters and they always overinflate for legal reasons, I run about 24-26 in my 33's
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+1
No intention of upgrading to anything else. If the stock rad can't be fixed with stop leak (or another method), we'll replace with OEM
Hello all,
Well, after a looong wait and being rescheduled 3 times, the rally is finally taking place. The car passed verification with flying colors. It is the only TJ in the race, all other Jeeps being 4 door JKs and one XJ, the rest of the field mostly made up of Toyota, Mitsubishi and the odd LWB Landrover Defenders.
It is also by far the smallest of the bunch along with a Dacia Duster, being about the same size, albeit taller, as the cars competing in the EV category. One huge benefit of it being so small is that everything has to have a reason to be on board and has a specific storage place.
Unlike most of the other humongous 4x4 that just have a bunch of things thrown in the back and strapped together as tight as possible, it guarantees absolutely no weight shift in challenging passages and everything is within easy reach.
A lot of people commented how low the car sat, however, we were the only car with side guards that were as low as the lowest point underneath and also have by far the shortest wheelbase. Considering the rules for the highest allowed ground clearance between the axles, and the short wheelbase, we probably have one of the best all terrain clearing capability.
Here is a shot of the field in Nice, France, before driving down to the Port of Sète to jump on the Ferry to Tangier. Then drive over the Atlas mountains to finally reach the start of the Rally proper.
If you'd like to find out more , you can check out the "Rally Aicha des Gazelles" website
Once the Rally starts on September 23rd, you will be able to follow LIVE the rally competitors or rather competitress?! ... while they will be stuck with using magnetic compasses and old fashioned B&W maps.
Absolutely no GPS allowed. I lent my GF my old Gopro3+ as her newer one had GPS capabilities ...
GO TEAM #208 !!!
And for those of you who like the details, here are interior shot of the various storage racks I created. The upper console is made from 2x shallow planters trimmed to size and some alu box beam for the structure. The center rack, only opens to the navigator side and is for storing maps, made up of thin alu perforated sheet, the bends give it the required structure.
Pictures also show the NAV equipment furnished by the organizing body. All wiring was preinstalled for them and all they needed to do was clip in and connect the units and test.
Obviously, passenger side airbag has been disconnected for safety reasons.
Well, after a looong wait and being rescheduled 3 times, the rally is finally taking place. The car passed verification with flying colors. It is the only TJ in the race, all other Jeeps being 4 door JKs and one XJ, the rest of the field mostly made up of Toyota, Mitsubishi and the odd LWB Landrover Defenders.
It is also by far the smallest of the bunch along with a Dacia Duster, being about the same size, albeit taller, as the cars competing in the EV category. One huge benefit of it being so small is that everything has to have a reason to be on board and has a specific storage place.
Unlike most of the other humongous 4x4 that just have a bunch of things thrown in the back and strapped together as tight as possible, it guarantees absolutely no weight shift in challenging passages and everything is within easy reach.
A lot of people commented how low the car sat, however, we were the only car with side guards that were as low as the lowest point underneath and also have by far the shortest wheelbase. Considering the rules for the highest allowed ground clearance between the axles, and the short wheelbase, we probably have one of the best all terrain clearing capability.
Here is a shot of the field in Nice, France, before driving down to the Port of Sète to jump on the Ferry to Tangier. Then drive over the Atlas mountains to finally reach the start of the Rally proper.
If you'd like to find out more , you can check out the "Rally Aicha des Gazelles" website
Once the Rally starts on September 23rd, you will be able to follow LIVE the rally competitors or rather competitress?! ... while they will be stuck with using magnetic compasses and old fashioned B&W maps.
Absolutely no GPS allowed. I lent my GF my old Gopro3+ as her newer one had GPS capabilities ...
GO TEAM #208 !!!
And for those of you who like the details, here are interior shot of the various storage racks I created. The upper console is made from 2x shallow planters trimmed to size and some alu box beam for the structure. The center rack, only opens to the navigator side and is for storing maps, made up of thin alu perforated sheet, the bends give it the required structure.
Pictures also show the NAV equipment furnished by the organizing body. All wiring was preinstalled for them and all they needed to do was clip in and connect the units and test.
Obviously, passenger side airbag has been disconnected for safety reasons.
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Some of the earlier rally participants and longer standing staff that were already part of the rally in the late 90ies, early 2000s came to the GF and her copilot ... "So you're the team with the TJ ... nice setup ... that's a pure 4x4, good choice ... and you have the 4.0L too ... strong motor ... very nice "
So cool that your GF and her copilot are doing this race in a TJ. I want to do something like this race in my TJ… such a cool event.
They did create the "gazelles and men" rally not too long ago so that men could also take part in the rally, teaming up with with their spouse, GF, friend. As long as you have a woman and a man and a capable 4x4 that meets the restrictions, you have a potential trio ...
Who knows, I may join her the next time around ...
