Is a long bed MJ too long?

[BrettM]

However ... for most purposes I think the XJ is a more versatile wheelbase and configuration for wheeling. Also, the collector/restorer in me says that there are probably 10 to 20 times more XJs around than there are MJs, so I just hate to see any MJ that's basically intact get chopped up and beat to death as a trail rig.

I don't know about the XJ being more versitile and whatnot for wheelin, I had an XJ with a 4" lift and as soon as I saw this MJ, I bought it and sold the XJ. It's lighter, stiffer chassis, simple springover for 6 inch lift, longer rear leaves, no SYE at 8" (longer driveshaft), and I love having a pickup bed. The only thing it lacks is room for more people, but I will definitely be bolting a seat/seatbelts in the back next summer.

As for preserving the MJs, I don't feel so bad when I see dozens of them, many in better shape than mine was, at Pick N Pull getting stripped then off to the crusher. I would love to find a 92 shortbed eliminator to drag over every rock in California.

 

[Eagle]

If the wheelers would buy the ones out of the junkyards, even I would rather see them getting wheeled rather than crushed. But I don't like to see good ones bought off the street and beaten to death when there are so many beater XJs available for cheap.

No vehicle is "best" or even "better" for every type of terrain, but having wheeled both a stock XJ and a lifted shortbed MJ I firmly believe that, for the type of terrain I'm likely to see, the XJ is the better platform.

 

[REDXJ4FUN]

"I would love to find a 92 shortbed eliminator to drag over every rock in California." :bawl: uke:
The only reason my MJ is getting turned in to a rock buggy is that it is rusted and worn beyond reasonable condition and the fact its the metric ton witch has the higher GVW to help with some bs on lift laws. other than tha i couldn't imagine beating an mj thats clean, I think eagle and some of us need to start a save the mj club lol.

 

[SilverMJ]

You'll get along real nice with Eagle

As for me, wow, I'm sure I'd make you cry

MJ shortbed, hacked fenders and bed, bashed the passenger side rocker, front fender and cab, flat black rattlecan paintjob, rocker sliders welded to frame, front suspension chopped off and leafsprings welded up... muuhhahaaha, it's mine and I'll do what I want with it! I can garauntee that my MJ is having more fun than yours

Well, in your case, you're enhancing what you've got in a way that works for you. I think no matter what you had, you'd have to modify it into what you're looking for.

From what Jaggedsteel said, I think he's trying to take what he's got and make it into something that already exists. IMHO, there's no reason for that.

Even my MJ when I re-inherited it. had tube bumpers welded on front and rear. The existing bumper mounts are GONE. And I think that'd be something that I would do if I were to get another one today. I'm not saying I want all the MJ's in existence to be vacuum packed and put in a museum. :lecture:

Enjoy what ya got, but don't just hack it up because it's not what you want. Especially if there's something that DOES match what you want.

BTW MadMaXJ, I'd love to see some pics of this beast of yours. :greensmok

 

[BrettM]

BTW MadMaXJ, I'd love to see some pics of this beast of yours. :greensmok

when it's "done" I will post a ton of pictures, but until then (april or may) I'll just give a teaser:

Already have Waggy D44 front, Toyota 8" rear, SOA front and rear, about 8" lift without a single part from a lift manufacturer, on board air, on board welder

still to come, 35" MTRs are waiting to be mounted, hydro assist, rear traction bar, flat skid, locked front and rear

 

[Phil]

Hey Brett, what leaves are you running in back? I need to get my rear up a little bit more (just to level it out, I swear! ).

 

[BrettM]

phil, I really don't know anymore, I'm still running the MJ main leaf, but I've mix and matched with some Waggy leaves also. it's basically a guess and check thing. I'm assuming you want more height, but don't want a stiffer pack. in that case you need to not just add leaves, but replace with ones with more arch. go hit up Pick n Pull and grab a couple leaves from a Dakota or S-10, both should be SUA with lots of arch. pull your packs apart and put them back together with whatever leaves have the most arch.

 

[SilverMJ]

when it's "done" I will post a ton of pictures, but until then (april or may) I'll just give a teaser:

I'm loving that bumper/bullbar combo. Is that a catalog item somewhere, or a custom fabrication?

Yeah, I know I said I'd put tube bumpers on a new MJ, but I meant that I'd just want to replace that beer can sheet metal they put up there from the factory.
I'm not sure what I can do for a bumper anyway. The cutting and welding for these tubes my father put on there may have ended any hope of putting a "normal" bumper on there...

 

[BrettM]

I made the bumper, it was actually very easy, except I don't have a bender, so the one bend was done by a friend.

the main part is actually just 4x4x1/4 angle with just 2 chops, angle them overlapping, weld it up. then bend up a tube, weld it on. throw some more tube on. chop the angles with a cutting wheel. BOOM, you're done. It probably took me a total of 1 hour to make. it's also pretty dang strong, i've smacked it around pretty good with no damage except paint.

 

[BrettM]

oh yeah, there's just a couple more at members.cardomain.com/brettm

 

[wil4thril]

All this "talk" is making me miss my 86 LWB MJ. I just have to find a way to make sure mom does not sell it while I am gone!!!!!

 

[ren]

You mean that Jeep ACTUALLY made the MJ as a long bed? WHOA! All that I have seen around here are nothing but SHORT beds. I may have to look a little harder, and see if I can find one of those to add to the collection out back. Anybody know if they were offered with the 2.8 V/6? I still have room for that example.

 

[xjaddiction]

I have the long bed and I really like it. It takes some getting used to over the XJ.

Mine is bobbed about a foot, the lower rockers are cut off. I built it low, and made it wide with some 2" BS wheels.

Climbing, and hill descent is a breeze. Ledges that hung up the XJ, the MJ walks right over. I've high centered once on a rediculously steep short hill. An XJ got hung up on the same one too.

My wheel base is about 117"es (my XJ was about 102"es). Alot of buggies are running long wheel bases as well. I'm on 38" tires.

The long wheel base also alowed me to put a rear full spool in the 44 and drive it on the road. You don't notice it, unless your making a really tight turn, and it's not bad. Better with the spool than any auto locker I've had in the rear on the road. There is no shift when comming to a stop with the spool, like the auto lockers.

one more shot right after the initial build up. I recently tucked up the t-case skid. Ground clearance at the T-case cross-member is 22.5"es

A friend of mine just redid his bob with a MJ tail gate and original lights. I might be bobbing off another 4"es and doing the same thing when i find a good deal on a bed.

I like the bed much better than flat bedding them.

 

[cj7xjmj]

I wheeled my LWB MJ for 2 yrs as a full length rig, then I decided it was time to loose the bed. We shortened the frame about 10", and I am sitting at 112" before I was at 122" (long arms extended out). Since shortening the rig, wheeling it has become a totally different experience. I no longer klank and bang across everything. I think any one who cares about how rare, or unique a MJ is doesnt need to wheel it, cause body damage will happen.

http://community.webshots.com/user/cj7xjmj

http://independent4x.com/generic67.html

http://besrk.zippyvideos.com/gallery.z


I have yet to get video posted of Pong from the last trip, but you can see from the pics and video what it was like

 

[87manche]

I'll let you know what it's like to wheel a stock height LWB next week. Body damage is expected, rock rails and skid plates mandatory.