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Long bed MJ for a trail rig....thoughts?

xjtrailrider

NAXJA Forum User
NAXJA Member
Location
Roanoke VA
I really want a long bed MJ to replace my aging, twisted, tired 96 XJ, "Old Blue"

I know that I will loose some departure angle but I also plan on going higher with the MJ(6.5 on 35's) than I did with the XJ(5.5" on 35's) and I plan on cutting the rear quarters and making a rear bumper that is purely about departure angle much like my Logans front bumper is made for a high approach angle.

I also plan on using the complete OBD2 system and 96 engine/tranny/t-case as well as my powered doors from the XJ.

This will not be a dedicated trail rig or even a "rock crawler", it will be a multi purpose rig

Thoughts?
 
I would take an MJ whether it was SWB or LWB. I would go for it. cracker's MJ does pretty well in the rocks.
 
just be ready to drag your butt around and you will be fine.

That would take some getting use to over the XJ but I'm not wheeling hard anymore. Just some of the tougher trails around here no all out rock crawling. I would still need decent departure angle though. Another thing that concerns me is that it will be light in the rear vs the XJ. Its gonna bounce around a lot on our rock laden trails!

My XJ has been twisted so much that the "B" pillars are coming loose/cracking at the roof and a couple of other places like at the "C" pillars. Its not going to be long before its just scrap metal.
 
just be ready to drag your butt around and you will be fine.

and to drag the belly on every breakover there is.

other than that, it's good, and the LWB makes things that befuddle an XJ look easy.

sure, they don't have to make 10 point turns, but I climb ledges way easier.
 
just be ready to drag your butt around and you will be fine.

x eleventy billion.

When I got a flat when I was moving - the ass end scraped the pavement pretty good when it was being towed up onto the flatbed.

edit: Of course, I'm at stock height with original suspension.
 
part of me likes the fact that the butt drags ( i have a shortbed) because it acts sort of like a wheelie bar. i know anything is possible, but i think it would be near impossible to flip over backwards.
 
The driveshaft is kinda a rock magnet (especially on the longbeds) but I doubt that'll be a problem on a rig that isn't all about rocks.

I have to say, I love my SWB MJ on ledges compared to my XJ, but it sure does turtle easy, especially with an idiot driving it.
 
The driveshaft is kinda a rock magnet (especially on the longbeds) but I doubt that'll be a problem on a rig that isn't all about rocks.

I have to say, I love my SWB MJ on ledges compared to my XJ, but it sure does turtle easy, especially with an idiot driving it.

Well since I will be going spring over and using my XJ's 8.25 that has the traction bar bracket already on it, I can let the traction bar protect the drive shaft somewhat. I'm surprised the MJ rolls easy considering all of its weight is low, the cab top(bottom of pillars up) weighs less than 100 pounds. I have a cab top sitting in my driveway for my rolled MJ
 
sorry, by turtle I meant high center, not roll. I got myself perched on some rocks pretty well last weekend and had to use a high lift creatively to get myself back off.
 
sorry, by turtle I meant high center, not roll. I got myself perched on some rocks pretty well last weekend and had to use a high lift creatively to get myself back off.

Oh-okay, makes sense, the long wheelbase will be a issue traversing ledges and stuff.

I'm trying my best to not talk myself out of a LWB MJ but I can see there will be limitations that I'm not use to in the XJ.
 
Oh-okay, makes sense, the long wheelbase will be a issue traversing ledges and stuff.

I'm trying my best to not talk myself out of a LWB MJ but I can see there will be limitations that I'm not use to in the XJ.

yeah, but there are a lot of upsides.

Big gnarly ledges are good, you don't feel like you're going to endo it.

You can cary a ton of stuff on the trail. It makes a great trail work vehicle, cleanup vehicle, or camping vehicle. You will be blown away by how much stuff it will carry and be fine.

The breakover angle sucks. Rocker replacements or rock rails are mandatory, as is a proper T-case skid. The frame rails are beef though, I've only lightly dented mine, and I've dropped it on rocks HARD. LCA mounts are super beef compared to the XJ, the spring hangers in the rear are boss. I did tear a shackle mount from the frame, but that was what I got for playing in the big boy club with 34's. The driveshaft is vulnerable, but if you drive with some sense it's not a big deal. It's just a much heavier duty platform overall and it's handy as hell to have a truck on the trail.
 
yeah, but there are a lot of upsides.

Big gnarly ledges are good, you don't feel like you're going to endo it.

You can cary a ton of stuff on the trail. It makes a great trail work vehicle, cleanup vehicle, or camping vehicle. You will be blown away by how much stuff it will carry and be fine.

The breakover angle sucks. Rocker replacements or rock rails are mandatory, as is a proper T-case skid. The frame rails are beef though, I've only lightly dented mine, and I've dropped it on rocks HARD. LCA mounts are super beef compared to the XJ, the spring hangers in the rear are boss. I did tear a shackle mount from the frame, but that was what I got for playing in the big boy club with 34's. The driveshaft is vulnerable, but if you drive with some sense it's not a big deal. It's just a much heavier duty platform overall and it's handy as hell to have a truck on the trail.

I agree with all of that. I do like being able to sleep in the back of the XJ, saves pitching a tent but being able to carry stuff with room to spare would be nice. My XJ is stuffed even without the back seat in it. Is there any thing special about the metric ton trucks that would be better over a regular LWB MJ?
 
The ONLY difference between a metric ton and a regular MJ is the axle and the rear springs. The unibody is plenty strong enough to handle whatever load you put in it, all they needed to do for extra capacity was the springs and axle.

And I cant beleive this hasnt been mentioned, but a longbed is a great candidate for a bed bob. Ive seen several cases of it on www.comancheclub.com that will give you much better departure angle without loosing too much cargo carrying capacity. You keep the wheelbase you want and get the angle you need.
 
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