Lyanheart

The most lift I ever want is about 3 inches. I'm not a fan of how tall lifts look, or ride for the matter, and all the extras that come with going 4+. I could easily fit a 33" tire with my cut fenders and I'd really like the added flex from just a 3 inch kit. Until then, I am having fun with what I have and seeing what it can do. Plus I'd rather invest in a front locker, a winch, and more skid plates before adding height.

PurpleToxin505

Yeah Im sure I can run 35s where Im at now. But once you go over 4'' its best to go long arms and it rides like a dream. Are you already locked in the rear or just going front first.

Lyanheart

Yes, I've got a No-Slip in the rear and love it. I was amazed by the difference just the rear locker makes. This is just a toy for me, so I don't have to worry about driving it around all the time, even though the no-slip has pretty tame road manners. Will probably get a Spartan for the front.

PurpleToxin505

Yeah I wanna go lokkas front and back.

tacticalwill

I'm sorry this might seem stupid but by no-slip do you mean a lunch box locker. like the spartan u want to put in the front. If you have lockers front and rear, in sand anyways, and you're driving on the side of the hill the lockers will pull you down the hill. Just a thought.

PurpleToxin505

sand sucks, and by no slip im sure he mean a posi

Lyanheart

No-Slip is a lunchbox locker made by Powertrax, who also makes the Lock-Rite. The No-Slip is just a smoother operating version, and works very well. The Spartan is just another well-reguarded model that is apparently easier to install than other lockers. They all work more or less the same, though.

We don't have much sand here in Pennsylvania, mostly mountain/forest terrain and some rocks.

Lyanheart

Finally got to have some REAL fun with the warthog this past weekend. Previously I've only been running in mud and woods, but I went to Rausch Creek this past weekend (March 15, 2014) to see what this thing is actually capable of... and surprisingly, it was a LOT! I knew I had plenty of traction before from running in the mud and hills around home, but I was blown away by what this cheap, relatively stock vehicle could do in the rocks and wet/snow-covered near vertical hillclimbs.

Obviously I was driving so I couldn't take many photos, so the few I've got here are quick ones a friend sent me and a couple I snapped afterwards. He took a lot of video with his phone and a GoPro mounted on the truck behind us and will have that on youtube eventually to share. We were on the Northeast property that we have been on before, and love, and the first place we went was the series of blue trails in the NE part of the property and the "Tummy Tuck." Took about 5 seconds before bashing in the bottom of the rockers, but we clawed our way through.

Moving around on of the green roads, the jeep decided it was the Titanic...


Pushed through all the ice and then just stopped dead...
Me: "F#%k, dude, we're screwed. Not going anywhere. $hit."
Passenger: "Dude, you're in 2-wheel."
Me: "Huh? F#%K!" and we pulled right out.

I'm not sure what the next trail/hillclimb was, but I had no trouble going UP... it was hanging the front diff on the rock at the top that was the problem... A wrangler with a 2-3 inch lift also got hung up here, so at least I wasn't the only one.



Got over that and through the woods, tried the rest of the blues, and then hit Tip Top. Being that it was still snowy and slippery, a couple guys did have trouble. I don't know if it's the Trail Digger tires or what, but as long as there wasn't a stump or rock at the top for me to get hung up on, my XJ absolutely ripped on hillclimbs, shooting up through the snow like nothing. It was awesome. There's video of this and I'll definately post when I get the links. We did a few other slick snowy hillclimbs, BFG Hill maybe? The names we saw on the signs arn't all labeled on the trail guide.





Late in the afternoon, we hit the road for my cabin for the night and to make dinner, and followed the wheeling on Saturday with shooting off about 1000 rounds at our range the next day.





Yum.

PocketsEmpty

I'm not typically fond of the TJ flares, but they look good on your rig for some reason! lol, how's that Powertrax in the snow?

Lyanheart

I did get a lot of compliments on the TJ flares, surprisingly...
The No-Slip locker works great. Very tame on the streets and I had so much traction in the snow up there it was amazing. I'm sort of backing off wanting a front locker now, because there really wasn't a time I needed one. I tried to stay in 2x as much as I could, only going in to 4x4 if stuck, or 4-low when crawling rocks.

The Trail Digger tires are aptly named... they DIG! Right down through the snow and claw on whatever is there, slinging mud and dirt, it was pretty sweet. Was running them with 20 pounds of air.

Lyanheart

Assessed some damage last night. The exaust pipe was rattling loose; it is now welded in place instead of just hanging with the clamp. Also, I don't think tie rods are supposed to look like this:


Pressed it out straight and re-alligned the wheels. Drives straighter than ever now!

98REDXJ2

kool build man. you really should upgrade that tierod bar cause it will get bent again and more likely to the point you cant safely drive home! try aftermarket or v8 zj. im running the v8 zj bar

bubbarules1958

I like this Jeep

Lyanheart

Going to get my hands on a ZJ tierod before the next trip. If I start bashing it all over the place, I guess then I'll invest in something even more solid.

Lyanheart

Couldn't find a ZJ handy to steal the tie rod from, so I ordered one from Rusty's. About the same price as a new ZJ rod from the store. Also got a front diff skid plate coming, and the BEST MOST AWESOME UPGRADE EVERRRR... vent visors!