Got Some New Yokohama Geolander X-MT's

[bajabronco]

My BFG Krawlers are old, - good for shorter wheeling trips, but not great for long road trips to go wheeling, so I decided to get some new 37x12.5R17 Yokohama XMT's.
This is my first time owning a Yokohama, but I thought I would try them out after seeing Yokohama preview this new Geolander tire design at KOH this year and then reading about them while I was looking for a replacement for my Krawlers.
My initial impression is that they seems to have a Krawler like tread pattern, that I think should be good in the rocks.
The sidewall lugs are not as aggressive as the Krawlers and they seem to be not as wide as the Krawlers.
That might be an optical illusion because the side lugs are not as pronounced, but I will do some measuring to be sure.

They do seem a little smaller than the Krawlers

Here is a pic of the truck with the Krawlers on it

Now a pic with the new Yokohama X MT's

I'll update once I get some wheeling miles on them and see how they perform!

 

[Anak]

Do you have more pics of your cage? Especially of how the B, C & D pillar supports are mounted to the chassis and how they pass through/are mounted to the roof?

A hybrid cage is on my list of goals and yours looks like a nice fitment.

 

[bajabronco]

Anak, I used the xofab kit as the foundation, and then we did a lot of tweaking and modifying to get what we wanted. http://shop-xo-fab-com.3dcartstores.com/XJ-Hybrid-DIY-Cage-Kit-_p_1759.html

The A pillars come down from the halo, through the fenders and then are welded to my rock sliders, which are welded to my frame stiffeners and pinch seam. Presently the B and C pillars come down through the cab and connect to plates welded to the floor. I am planning on a second plate under them that then connects to the frame stiffeners , but I haven’t had the time to do it yet. I’ll post more pics tomorrow

 

[bajabronco]

Here are some pics -

 

[Anak]

Excellent.

Thank you.

 

[Black1990jeep]

That is an impressive rig you have, very nicely done.

Question... Would you please give some details on how you did the fender trim and flares? are those modified stock flares? It looks very good. Id like to do simular, and sure will appreciate advice on how yours was done.

 

[bajabronco]

Black1990 the flairs are Notch Customs flairs - https://notchcustoms.com/products/x-max-fender-flares?variant=4532938702881

They take awhile to install, having to do cutting and welding of the rear inner fender. I went with them because they gave me a ton of clearance have that stock look. I’ll post some pics of the install process later today for you.

 

[bajabronco]

Black1990 -Here are some pics of the Notch Customs flair install

Cutting and folding the front Fender

Fitting the front flair

Fitting the rear front fender - front flair part moves to the door

Cutting out the rear - you actually cut up that opens into the interior of the vehicle - then weld and seal it

After welding the seam back together, I bondo'd and sanded - so it was smooth and clean (not neccisary to do , but I wanted it as clean as possible)

This is what it looked like right after we finished - This is when I was on 35's with 1" more lift than I have now and no bumpers, spare tire, cage or winch

 

[MichXJdad]

One of the nicest XJs I've seen on here. I too was wondering about notch customs flairs, thanks for posting

 

[Anak]

Nice work.

You should post more often.

 

[denverd1]

to your point: tires look great. been wondering why we don't see more Yoko's, love the tread pattern.

cage: it's everything I want in a cage, without the obesity that most cages bring. I don't care about protecting the rear quarters, just don't want to cave it in.

Solid jeep dude, agree you should post more.

was trying to avoid asking, but here goes. stock axles?

 

[bajabronco]

denverd1 - Nope, upgraded axles. I am running a G2 Dana 44 in the front, with RCV shafts, 4:88's and an Eaton E locker. Rear is a trussed Ford 8.8, 1541H axles and an Eaton E-locker.


G2 front, WJ knuckle swap, RCV's and Ironman4x4 steering

Rear Ford 8.8 with Iron Rock truss

 

[bajabronco]

Thanks for all the compliments guys! As you can tell by my handle I have been a long time 20+year Early Bronco owner and wheeler, but have owned the XJ since 2012. I finally started building the XJ to do more hard core wheeling about three years ago, since I couldn't justify beating on my EB anymore since I had prettied it up. I also really like the wheel base and room the XJ offers (and the comfort of a more modern vehicle isn't bad either!). The only downside so far with the XJ is the massive lack of power compared to the built, fuel injected 351W in my Bronco. I followed CAL's stroker build closely and pinged Russ Pottinger, months ago, but he is super backed up, so it will prob be awhile before I get more power. I have a couple projects I am hoping to get done before my trip up to the Rubicon in July - inner fender mod in the front for more travel while keeping it low COG, and some rear suspension work. I'll try to take pics and post as those projects progress.

I know this is an XJ forum but here is a little Earl Bronco porn!

 

[denverd1]

denverd1 - Nope, upgraded axles. I am running a G2 Dana 44 in the front, with RCV shafts, 4:88's and an Eaton E locker. Rear is a trussed Ford 8.8, 1541H axles and an Eaton E-locker.





G2 front, WJ knuckle swap, RCV's and Ironman4x4 steering

Rear Ford 8.8 with Iron Rock truss

Sweet. Bolt pattern threw me off.

Just wheeling the piss out of a mint EB!! Like your style dude

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

 

[MichXJdad]

Ok, confession here. I'm a reformed ford guy, lol
So, you have a sweet XJ, and a real bill stroppe Baja bronco too?
What's next a fox body mustang with a turbo'd windsor?

 

[bajabronco]

MichXJdad, yup, it is a real Stroppe Baja Bronco. I got it when I was in college (back when no one cared what a Stroppe was) and it was my daily for about 15 years. LOL Nope, no fox body mustang plans, but I do own a 1998 5.9L Grand Cherokee, with a 3.5" lift, headers, CAI etc. I use it more as my daily, and it gets up and goes when it needs to! A supercharger on the 5.9 would be sweet, but it would never fly with the CARB restrictions we have here in CA. The XJ has been taking all of my time and $$ lately. After doing the inner fender mods and the new rear Deaver leafs, I am just going to save up for a Russ Pottenger 4.7L stroker in the XJ. Right now, even with the 4:88's it struggles to get up the big hills!

 

[MichXJdad]

Nice you've got another rare one too with the 5.9 GC. That bronco is kick ass man, I had a buddy in high school that had a 68, 302, 3 on the tree. I loved that thing.

 

[bajabronco]

I just wanted to follow up and give a review after 1000 mile road trip and wheeling the Rubicon with the Yokohama's. The tires were smooth on road - much quieter and smoother than my previous BFG Krawlers. We cruised up to Tahoe sometimes going 75mph and the tries did great. Much quieter than I expected. When I got off road on the Rubicon, that is where the tires really shined! They gripped and crawled up everything. They seemed to grip and grab in situations where some of my other friends running other tires would slip. The big lugs and voids would just find places to grip and pull me over. They were especially good on the ledges, where I could feel the lugs finding an edge and pushing me over. Bottom line. I would highly recommend the tire!

 

[denverd1]

great pics, thanks for the review!