Need Advice

[LiquidOps]

OK.... n00b XJ here.

2dr, 2WD , 3" pro comp lift, 31x10.5x15's.

What's next?

I've got the bug. I want to do some trails. Where in so cal can I go? Who can I go with? I'm not goin alone, unless gauranteed i'm ok in my 2wd.

upgrades to come very soon = tow hooks and rock rails.


any input?

 

[GSequoia]

Armor my friend, armor.

Being a 2WD I'd get that front skid I was talking about. I might have one coming up soon (Not sure about that, so if you find another go for it). Get a gas tank skid while you're at it.

After the armor, take it out and flog it, the best way to decide what you need next is to go use it.

Sequoia

 

[Kejtar]

2wd to 4wd conversion

 

[KINGSIZE]

1. Sell the donor 2wd and buy a 4wd.
2. Make a nice Pre Runner out of it
3. Use the 2wd as a daily driver & find a 4wd trail rig.

Just my $0.02

Robert

 

[Xtreme XJ]

2WD Ideas...

Armor..... how about some type of extracation tools winch or at least a HD comealong & pullpal, Hi-Lift a compressor cause you'll want to air down. Out in Eastern Riv. Co. there are quite afew "2wd" type of trails. probably some up in the high desert....
If I do any 2 wheel'n I'll keep you in mind.....
Have fun...
Curt (aka Xtreme XJ)

 

[LiquidOps]

Awesome... thanks a lot


I plan on getting some gear in the near future.

Tow hooks of course, but also a safari rack... mount new full size spare on top. Hi Lift Jack. Compressor. Off road lights...

Skid plates...

Rock Rails....

I think Rock rails and tow hooks are my next two major mods. Not sure if i can afford a winch at this point, but I definately want one. Any recomendations?

 

[Cherokid]

I've read that a two wheel drive with a locker can go anywhere an open diff 4x can go. I've also heard that a winch can get you out of darn near any stuck. I've had a buddy who built a pre-runner toyota and said it was a blast, more fun that crawling. Personally I like to wheel but I've never been pre-running so...... I might do mods that could be swapped to a 4x just to keep options open.
Just my .02.

By the way, my current trail machine is a '94 Ford Aspire with monster 165/75/13's. I'm between cherokees and lusting after yours. Bottom line is have fun!

Aspirekid.
PS. My friends say my car aspire's to be a real car one day. ouch!

 

[xj_fan]

if you have a 2wd dont think about armor. sell it for a 4wd first. i have limited armor and do fine on the trails. get a 4 wd. go to at least 31's and get some lockers.

 

[ScottyDog]

Yeah, either sell it and get a 4WD, or turn into a JeepSpeed racer! Not to be mean but if try to run with only 2wd on the trails with a group, they might just leave the tow strap on permanently!

Sorry man, thats just my $0.02

Scott S.

 

[WHEEL'er-DLR]

how much are you in your '92 xj? the best place for a 2wd is behind a motorhome. SELL IT....you can replace it with a 4wd for similar cost. keep it stock though...don't spend any more on mods...you won't get your money back!

 

[LiquidOps]

i give up... thanks... i guess

 

[Renegade Jpr]

I say sell it. I dont think Rockrails would benifit a 2wd XJ anyways because you probably cant get into a hard enough trail to actully use them. If your going to make a PreRunner forget the rockrails, you will never use them and they add weight. get Diff skids(ful pumkin skid, not just the cover) front skid, hood vents to keep motor cool, rear locker, HD shocks.

 

[Ed A. Stevens]

If the 92 is in good shape keep it as a good looking daily driver, even if it's 2WD. Get a 4WD XJ, when you can, but have fun in the short term.

Add the recovery points, and console yourself to wheeling only 90% of the fire roads and trails (at speed if desired). I would add a rear locker and hitch (to tow the eventual 4WD XJ project) and purchase basic recovery straps and tools.

Where can you go in 2WD (lots of places, just take a buddy vehicle to help with the unstuck chores)?

Most of the forest fire roads are green circle easy rated 2WD roads. Keep to these roads and you will not have a problem (stay away from the most difficult black diamond roads).

In the desert, a good chunk of the Johnson Valley and Stoddard Valley OHV areas offer great speed roads and washes to run. Visit the Slash-X Cafe off of Highway 247 and run either direction until you find a dirt road heading west, and run till you find Hwy 15. Look for flags in the bushes and you can have fun on the off-road race course.

The same fun can be found in the Dove Springs OHV area north of Red Rock Canyon State Park, and the greater Jawbone OHV area. Burro Schmidts tunnel is 2WD fun, with a little history. There are many areas near the aqueduct in the Dove Springs area that make fun little MX style truck tracks. Stop by the Red Rock Canyon Visitor Center, off of Hwy 14, north of Mojave and pick up the Friends of Jawbone Map for legal roads and trails.

If you stay out of Doran and Odessa Canyons, around Calico, you will find most of the other mining roads in the area are 2WD capable. This leaves considerable terrain to explore.

2WD and 31's will also get you onto the beach outside San Felipe, but test your skills on the sandhill behind the El Cortez Hotel & Club La Pesca campground, before risking a deep beach stuck (the tide will bury your XJ if given a chance). The Baja race courses also offer great fun in 2WD, just realize some areas need extra throttle to plow through the siltbeds and washes.

Don't let these guy's discourage you, they all drive 4-door stationwagons .

 

[Bent]

That's right! Wagons Ho! Everyone here has built THIER XJ to do what THEY want to do with it. If you wand to crawl in the rocks, a locked 2wd will NOT go where an open/open 4wd will. Take Ed's advice, check some of these areas out. If you have not removed your rear sway bar, do so. This will help to keep your drive wheel(s) on the trail. Before my XJ, all my time off road was in one 2wd or another. Don't let someone else define what is fun. BTW, the nice thing you will find here is a arguement for BOTH sides of most any topic. :greensmok

 

[LiquidOps]

Thanks guys....

I'm not lookin to out do you guys in your 4wd or anything of the sort. I got a heck of a sweet deal on this XJ. Couldn't pass it up. My other hobby is my 70 stang. I love taking pictures... just got my new digi cam about a week ago, and I just want to take my XJ some places where I can take some cool rare pics. That's pretty much it. I want some climbing, but I know i can't do much. I do plan on getting a 4wd sometime in the future, but that all depends on how fast I climb up the corp ladder at Toyota (Network Administrator). So yeah.... that's it...

Thanks for the advice, both positive and negative.

I need sleep.