solicit

We joined Midwest Jeep Thing last week, and immediately signed up for our first run, which was the Fall Colors event at Sayersbrook Bison Ranch. Weather and scenery was beautiful! We had a BLAST!!!!

GreenXJ98

Looks awesome man! I need to join and go on some trips.

Tony_SS

Awesome.. thanks for sharing those pics.

Tony_SS

What brand of tires are those?
Also another great upgrade is the V8 ZJ tie rods, linkage etc.. its a lot thicker than the factory XJ stuff

solicit

Tires are 32x11.5 MT Deegan 38. Performed good on the trail for us, and have been a reasonable street tire so far. Inside & outside road noise is tasteful, but not obnoxious.

Thanks for the good word on the ZJ parts. I'm thinking another trip to U-Pic-A-Part is in store this Saturday. Learning as I go with this stuff. Always known enough to be dangerous, but this is first project I'm diving into with both feet.

Too bad you're not closer. Hoping some STL area XJ guys will want to hang & wrench together. It sure does help when someone who knows what they're doing is giving some guidance. In the meantime, I'll keep thumbing through the forums & YouTube!

GreenXJ98

ZJ drive shafts are longer and thicker than XJ ones. They work great to get rid of driveline vibrations.

solicit

Sounds like I need to camp in the Jeep row in the yard this weekend! Ha!

First goal is to find ZJ skid plates. If I remember right, tie rods & TRE's were in abundance at the yard, so shouldn't be a problem snagging parts.

Tony_SS

So I'm guessing the 'required' items listed on MJT must be a "guide" because I don't see any tow points on the front of yours solicit.

I'm missing a full size spare and front tow points.. I don't want to go all the way out there and have them balk at my setup...

1. Proof of Insurance
2. Safety belts (one for each occupant)
3. Tow strap (looped ends only NO hooks)
4. Roll Bar or Steel Unitized Factory Roll Protection Structure
5. Spare tire, jack, and lug wrench - A full-size spare is always recommended, and is required if the vehicle is equipped with any type of locking or limited-slip axle
6. Front and Rear tow points (or suitable attaching point) - A strap around a bumper is NOT an adequate tow point
7. All vehicles must have a functioning exhaust system

solicit

You're correct. We don't have front recovery points or a hi-jack yet.

They're not sticklers, but they will warn you wheeling is at your own risk. Do you have a spare other than the factory one?

If not, what size tires are you running? If stockers or something close, I have a full set from our XJ in the basement running Firestone Destinations that still have a lot of life left in them. I can grab one of those.

Tony_SS

I'm running 32's as well. I need to get a full size spare.. just too cheap to pop for it. Lol! I appreciate the offer.. I may take you up on that.. going to get my registration in the mail today and see if I can make it that weekend.. its close.

kcdt58

I'm in eastern Iowa and haven't heard of the group. Is there a website where I can read up on some more information?

solicit

http://www.midwestjeepthing.com/

Miatch

I'm glad to see you came out and had a good time. I think I remember waving to you on the trail.
If it wasn't for MWJT, I wouldn't get out half as much as I do. This Saturday is the Club only run at Parisi's farm near Wright City (as I recall). Have a blast.

Here's my video from Sayersbrook, I came about as close as you can get to laying it over.

Tony_SS

The spotter looks flustered.. lol.. It doesn't look that hard of an area.. but I can't see a lot of things from that video.

GreenXJ98

Have you submitted any of these cool pics to the COTM thread? It's a perfect fit for the theme.