What’s your recipe for an all-around Jeep TJ?

[Irun]

Perfection is an elusive goal. Even with unlimited funds, every build is a compromise. Pick your priorities and build around those. What's most important is for you to enjoy sitting in the seat and turning the key. Anything beyond that is a distraction that will likely have you chasing your tail in pursuit of an unattainable end state.

 

[Woodrow]

…every build is a compromise...

yep

 

[DavidBT]

Perfection is an elusive goal. Even with unlimited funds, every build is a compromise. Pick your priorities and build around those. What's most important is for you to enjoy sitting in the seat and turning the key. Anything beyond that is a distraction that will likely have you chasing your tail in pursuit of an unattainable end state.

Setting in the jeep and having it start when I ask it to always puts a smile on my face. I mean, mines 19 years old and goes everywhere I ask it to and seems to enjoy the trails as much as I do.

 

[Mike_H]

Perfection is an elusive goal. Even with unlimited funds, every build is a compromise. Pick your priorities and build around those. What's most important is for you to enjoy sitting in the seat and turning the key. Anything beyond that is a distraction that will likely have you chasing your tail in pursuit of an unattainable end state.

I added the bold text. Its VERY tough to build these in stages or over time and end up with something that doesn't appear that it was built over time. Layer upon layer of wiring, Piles of extra parts because of changes to the build or completing one stage before another, and a never ending project (that becomes a maintenance nightmare). This is the boat I'm in. Part of it is because I didn't know what I didn't know. I have a lot more understanding of the platform and what I want to do now, so the picture of my "finished" jeep is a lot more clear. I wish I hadn't started upgrading until I knew what that finished picture was...but hindsight is always 20/20. I've enjoyed every bit of my build, but now its at a stage that it needs to be completely torn down (in my opinion, anyway) and cleaned-up, reset, and finished in one fell swoop. Get a new frame, auxiliary lighting, outboard shocks, mid arm, paint, half doors and full doors, armor, possible stretch, etc. Once its completely rebuilt and finished to what my brain says it should be...then I maintain it going forward and don't make major changes.

 

[Rickyd]

My idea of a LCoG build wouldn't have much affect on the costs involved.

Here's your nice lcog build

 

[jjvw]

Here's your nice lcog build
View attachment 567657

I had that once a long time ago!

 

[CMBD]

Your setup is pretty much what I'm planning for mine, although I'm planning to swap in some axles with 410s once I can find a Dana 30 with that ratio.

As much as I would like to re gear, I just cant. Because if I did I would gear for 35s and I dont want to ruin perfection

 

[sunnysideup_lj]

preferred wheeling area plays a big part of a build. I really enjoy Sand Hollow. Some of the steep climbs will have you cutting your Jeep in half quicker than you can get the skid marks out of your drawers.

I have really enjoyed my LJ at 111” on 37’s. Seems well balanced for the terrain I prefer being in. This being said my build is no where near perfect. One day I hope to upgrade axles. I’ll keep pushing limits until that day comes.

 

[Old Jeepin Cowboy]

Different steering gear is not a bad idea.
View attachment 567615

Did I ever send you what I did to my TJ steering? I don't think I did, but this is how I addressed it.

To start with I want my steering group to be parallel with the axle, that is the premise. I also want to knock DW in the head.

Rotate the steering box to align the drag link with the axle.

Cut off the TJ Track bar bracket. Fab, a new dropped bracket.

Drove straight and true, never again suffered DW...

 

[mrblaine]

Did I ever send you what I did to my TJ steering? I don't think I did, but this is how I addressed it.

To start with I want my steering group to be parallel with the axle, that is the premise. I also want to knock DW in the head.

Rotate the steering box to align the drag link with the axle.

Cut off the TJ Track bar bracket. Fab, a new dropped bracket.

Drove straight and true, never again suffered DW...



View attachment 567738



View attachment 567739

View attachment 567740

I never rotate the steering gear, the juice isn't worth the squeeze. Not only do I not do it, I won't, not even for money.
DW is caused by components that are too small or too worn to handle the propensity for out of balance or out of round tires to precess. As the components increase in size and strength, the easier it is for them to mitigate the precession.

The only part of your steering that is parallel to the axle is the tie rod. Straight and true driving is a function of a lot of things. I routinely build TJ's on 35's with Haltenberger that drive exceptionally straight and true with everything in the stock but beefed up configuration.

Most of your end result is a function of what is now a 10,000 dollar front axle. Us mere mortals have to find other ways to make it all work.

 

[Woodrow]

Its VERY tough to build these in stages or over time...but hindsight is always 20/20...

But, that's how most of us end up doing it the first time around. Its how we learn. I certainly had a completely different goal and a lot less knowledge when I decided to buy a TJ on a whim 5 years ago. Build, drive, wheel, repeat. If I build a second jeep, I anticipate a much more direct path to the finish.

 

[mrblaine]

preferred wheeling area plays a big part of a build. I really enjoy Sand Hollow. Some of the steep climbs will have you cutting your Jeep in half quicker than you can get the skid marks out of your drawers.

I have really enjoyed my LJ at 111” on 37’s. Seems well balanced for the terrain I prefer being in. This being said my build is no where near perfect. One day I hope to upgrade axles. I’ll keep pushing limits until that day comes.

Our amateur version of Sand Hollow is TDS which is mud hills with stupid steep climbs. I routinely get folks who want a build plan that works at TDS as well as a 4 door Cherokee and then can run JV with ease. I tell them to pick one because if they make it work at TDS, it is going to suck in JV. TDS would get handled with a 4 door XJ on 35's and lots of cutting with a moderate amount of work on belly clearance. Too low and too long for JV to not have to work at it way too much.

I don't know how to make a rig that is perfect everywhere.

 

[Woodrow]

Our amateur version of Sand Hollow is TDS which is mud hills with stupid steep climbs. I routinely get folks who want a build plan that works at TDS as well as a 4 door Cherokee and then can run JV with ease. I tell them to pick one because if they make it work at TDS, it is going to suck in JV. TDS would get handled with a 4 door XJ on 35's and lots of cutting with a moderate amount of work on belly clearance. Too low and too long for JV to not have to work at it way too much.

I don't know how to make a rig that is perfect everywhere.

We often read as gospel that the optimal wheelbase for a TJ on 35s with around a 20" belly height is 101"(coincidently the wheelbase of a stock XJ and 3" shorter than an LJ). But, @sunnysideup_lj 's point about where you wheel and @mrblaine 's statement above do seem intuitive to me at this point. I'm mulling over a stretch in combo with mid-arms and longer shocks (coil-overs?) because I think it would be helpful where I like to wheel (Pritchett Canyon and Fordyce are some favorites). Obviously, a stretch is a huge commitment and a ton of work so I'm hesitant to dive in without knowing I have the correct wheelbase target in mind. It would be a bummer to get all that done and then wish it was longer or shorter.

 

[mrblaine]

We often read as gospel that the optimal wheelbase for a TJ on 35s with around a 20" belly height is 101"(coincidently the wheelbase of a stock XJ and 3" shorter than an LJ). But, @sunnysideup_lj 's point about where you wheel and @mrblaine 's statement above do seem intuitive to me at this point. I'm mulling over a stretch in combo with mid-arms and longer shocks (coil-overs?) because I think it would be helpful where I like to wheel (Pritchett Canyon and Fordyce are some favorites). Obviously, a stretch is a huge commitment and a ton of work so I'm hesitant to dive in without knowing I have the correct wheelbase target in mind. It would be a bummer to get all that done and then wish it was longer or shorter.

All I know for sure is a TJ Unlimited on 35's with a raised belly and 4" of lift in JV should really be on 37's. They make it on 35's, but it sure is harder for them than the same build in a TJ.

 

[Woodrow]

All I know for sure is a TJ Unlimited on 35's with a raised belly and 4" of lift in JV should really be on 37's. They make it on 35's, but it sure is harder for them than the same build in a TJ.

how does a TJ on 35s with a 101" WB and raised belly do on those trails?

 

[02GreenTJ]

how does a TJ on 35s with a 101" WB and raised belly do on those trails?

I run JV trails usually twice a year. Mine's at 99" with a raised belly, not flat but decent. It does pretty good. The narrowness of the TJ on stock width axles is what I've seen as the great equalizer when compared to longer, wider rigs, with bigger tires.

 

[02GreenTJ]

I'll note the trails I've run in the past.

Sun Bonnet
Claw Hammer
Turkey Claw
Chocolate Thunder
Jack Hammer
Boulderdash
Blueberry
Upper/Lower Big Johnson


Maybe @mrblaine can chime in as I'm sure hes run these and then some with many different rigs. I've also ridden passenger in buggies out there on some trails I wouldn't dare bring any TJ haha

 

[NovakConversions]

We may be bias but, a full powertrain swap with an LS, 4L60, NP231 in a TJ is a great option.

 

[sierradmax]

An LJ with 03 Rubicon Manual running gear.

 

[AdventurePig]

We may be bias but, a full powertrain swap with an LS, 4L60, NP231 in a TJ is a great option.

Well, looky who we have here! Welcome to the site/conversation, Novak. Glad to have y’all aboard.