proracedriver616's "jeeplife" story

[DutchVDub]

Re: where have all the good cherokees fs gone

I'm going to miss watching that thing drive by on my way to get Colin from daycare after work. I'd love to see it up close.

 

[Joe94xj]

Re: where have all the good cherokees fs gone

Good lookin MJ. Someday I will eventually own one.

 

[proracedriver616]

Re: where have all the good cherokees fs gone

Sounds like an awesome rig. Maybe I can see it on the trail this summer :thumbup:

I havent done any kind of real wheeling in over a year now, so hopefully ill be out doing some trails very soon!!

I'm going to miss watching that thing drive by on my way to get Colin from daycare after work. I'd love to see it up close.

Let me know next time your down in the lakewood area and you can come check it out...Or maybe ill get my hands on some lockers and a 4to1 and then bring it up to you!

 

[skycrawler]

Re: where have all the good cherokees fs gone

def sweet mj. The previous owner is a killer fabricator taught me several interesting things when i had a part time contract with Earth Roamers

 

[DutchVDub]

Re: where have all the good cherokees fs gone

Let me know next time your down in the lakewood area and you can come check it out...Or maybe ill get my hands on some lockers and a 4to1 and then bring it up to you!

Come out with me on Sunday, it'll do you good to hit a trail for some snow fun.

 

[proracedriver616]

Re: where have all the good cherokees fs gone

Come out with me on Sunday, it'll do you good to hit a trail for some snow fun.

PM me your number, as long as i dont have to work, id really like to take the truck out! Ill know by the end of the week which day i get off. What trail?

 

[DutchVDub]

Re: where have all the good cherokees fs gone

PM me your number, as long as i dont have to work, id really like to take the truck out! Ill know by the end of the week which day i get off. What trail?

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1094746

Sunday, 10am at Lyons, heading up to Bunce to do either Plane Crash or Iron Clads

720-891-6603

 

[proracedriver616]

Re: where have all the good cherokees fs gone

I had fun wheeling this morning, but was super disappointed in how the truck did today. Between being open front and rear and not having any flex in the rear i need a lot of pushes/winching through spots. Pretty embarassing when the other open/open vehicle walked past most of the things my truck struggled with.

I had like 40 minutes before radio stations came into range to think in silence by myself. Theres a lot of things i would like to change and do to the truck now. I guess thats the point of taking it out for the first time, to see what it needs and doesnt need.

 

[in4aride]

Re: where have all the good cherokees fs gone

What happened in rear to cause no flex. it should be a flexy lil thing unless something is holding it back.

 

[DutchVDub]

Re: where have all the good cherokees fs gone

The other open/open guy didn't just walk through any of it, he had to get pushed by 3 of us where you used my rig as a winch point and he had more speed/momentum going on that turn. The XJ's also have more weight above and behind the rear axle which aids both traction and rear flex. I was actually contemplating your Jeep while I was cruising down in radio silence as well.

Slide that spre tire carrier forward just enough to mount 2 or 3 fuel cans across the back between it and the tailgate. You can keep fuel and water in them which is always good to have, plus it'll but weight behind your leaf springs and force them to work harder. You could also then use the empty space under the tire to keep some tools and recovery gear. Adds more weight and utilizes empty space.

I also think those rear springs are way to stiff, but before just ditching them you should try breaking them in a bit and getting some weight back there to work them more.

I would then just throw a spartan in that front D44 and a lockright in the 9" and fairly cheaply have all the traction you need.

You should also make sure your shackle and leaf spring bolts aren't too tight. That'll really limit travel in the rear.

 

[in4aride]

Re: where have all the good cherokees fs gone

Im confused on the extra weight thing. I get what you are saying, don't think it'll work like you're thinking tho dutch. :dunno:

 

[DutchVDub]

Re: where have all the good cherokees fs gone

Pick ups always have issue with a lack of weight above or behind the rear axle. By putting weight towards the rear of the bed it puts more leverage agains the springs and allows them to work more. Thats a lot of why high speed offroad trucks mount the spre tires so far to the rear despite having no need to save bed space (especially since the bed is pretty much non-existent). The XJ has its fuel tank behind the rear axle, that alone makes a big differance in weight bias on the suspension compared to an MJ's. We also obviously have a few hundred pounds worth of hatch, glass, and roof back there the MJ doesn't.

His springs are also super stiff, I was behind him on the way out and his rear tires were bouncing up in the air wih every rock. Almost zero rear suspension movement. I actually noticed it that morning when he ran down to the Diamond Shamrock for fuel, the way it took the bumps on pavement was like my old Rabbit on race spec coilovers.

At a minimum and just to experiment I'd go buy some sand bags and toss 2-300 lbs worth between the spare tire and the tail gate. See if that helps the on road ride at all. You also need to ditch those Rancho's and get yourself a good set of 5100's or 5150's. Rancho shocks are typically stupid stiff.

If all else fails I think going to a SOA w/ those stock MJ springs will work nicely.

 

[proracedriver616]

Re: where have all the good cherokees fs gone

What happened in rear to cause no flex. it should be a flexy lil thing unless something is holding it back.

Its lifted with brand new rustys 4.5" SUA leafs. They arent broken in and have lots of arch to them. I thought if i left my sway bar connected in the front today it would force the rear to flex a little more then it did. I was thinking about throwing the stock mj leafs i have in with some new perches and just going SOA, but i guess before i do all that i can load the bed up with some sand for a while and keep trying to break the leafs in a little. I might try to remove those stiff ass rancho shocks and drive around with weight in the bed also.

 

[proracedriver616]

Re: where have all the good cherokees fs gone

Pick ups always have issue with a lack of weight above or behind the rear axle. By putting weight towards the rear of the bed it puts more leverage agains the springs and allows them to work more. Thats a lot of why high speed offroad trucks mount the spre tires so far to the rear despite having no need to save bed space (especially since the bed is pretty much non-existent). The XJ has its fuel tank behind the rear axle, that alone makes a big differance in weight bias on the suspension compared to an MJ's. We also obviously have a few hundred pounds worth of hatch, glass, and roof back there the MJ doesn't.

His springs are also super stiff, I was behind him on the way out and his rear tires were bouncing up in the air wih every rock. Almost zero rear suspension movement. I actually noticed it that morning when he ran down to the Diamond Shamrock for fuel, the way it took the bumps on pavement was like my old Rabbit on race spec coilovers.

At a minimum and just to experiment I'd go buy some sand bags and toss 2-300 lbs worth between the spare tire and the tail gate. See if that helps the on road ride at all. You also need to ditch those Rancho's and get yourself a good set of 5100's or 5150's. Rancho shocks are typically stupid stiff.

If all else fails I think going to a SOA w/ those stock MJ springs will work nicely.

lol jinx

 

[in4aride]

Re: where have all the good cherokees fs gone

You are comparing apples to bacon here.
Yes superlight and trophy style rigs want the weight rear balanced with the front as light as possible. Its all about steering input and ability to keep the front as stable as possible.
On a crawling type rig you want the weight centered. Leaving weight off the ass end is just making the jeep work harder to drag the dead weight up and over the obstacle. Where as centered the weight is already transitioned over the obstacle and requires less work to get it the rest of the way over.
If XJ's do better because of the weight on the rear, why are chopped jeeps more capable? Case in point: wales tail chinamens. You take a full body rig up the left line and it is going to take a lot more work to get that weight up and over. The same exact rig with the hatch and roof gone will go up a lot easier and require a lot less throttle. With MORE weight in the back I don't think the same exact rig could do it.

The problem is the rear is not articulating and not allowing the rig to optimize traction. While adding weight does force the leaf packs to work more, it is not the best solution, as now you are forcing the jeep to use up more traction to haul the dead weight all the way in the back over the obstacle.

 

[DutchVDub]

where have all the good cherokees fs gone

I get what you're saying and agree. I'm suggesting he puts the weight towards the rear of the bed though, not behind it.

I think ultimately he'll need softer springs. I'm just wondering if he can add a bunch of weight temporarily to break those springs in. A couple cans of fuel and water back there won't be retarder heavy and would come in handy when camping.

Despite his issues I really liked that MJ. I wish I could convince you to trade me for the XJ, but even if you would I'd be screwed not having a back seat.

 

[in4aride]

Re: where have all the good cherokees fs gone

But weight isn't the fix is what im saying. Short term to break in the springs, sure. And I read "back of the bed" which is literally behind the rear axle. But it is the opposite of what you want to do with weight distribution ultimately. And that was my point.

 

[proracedriver616]

Re: where have all the good cherokees fs gone

whether its breaking in the springs, going SOA, or linking the rear end down the road, itll get figured out one way or another! Other then that, the truck worked well. Its nice being able to just put the truck in 2nd or even 1st gear in low range and just have it engine brake and go down steep parts of the trail without having to ride the brakes or have an aw4 upshift itself. Just called on a detroit for the 9" on cl but it was sold!

 

[in4aride]

Re: where have all the good cherokees fs gone

Ya i am anxious to see what you do with it. i vote soa.

 

[adrenalinepirate]

Re: where have all the good cherokees fs gone

Dude you just need to break them in. My trailer was super stiff when I got it. It was brand new and just sat in a garage for almost ten years. Love that thing. I have hauled a lot of wood compressing the springs down and just recently I load my trailer close to 20 times with rock bottoming it out(poor dana 35).Unless you can find a lot of weight to brake the springs I don't think it's going to flex the way you want. After hearing this I feel like I would from my experience from my toyota truck do a tool box then mount your spare tire standing up secured to the side of the bed so you still can carry your bikes. Then maybe get a xj tank and mount it same location as a xj. Get some better shocks then decide if doing soa is worth it. I hated my tank being in the belly on my yota. But this is a drunken sailor talking. Just glad you got to wheel. Don't over think it enjoy it for what it is.