Can I Compete / Keep up?

[trailbound]

My friend recently bought a new Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon. We've taken it wheeling around the area and he's been up North in Minnesota and out to the black hills of South Dakota with it and from what I've seen from the passenger seat its pretty unstopable.

We're looking at going out to Moab sometime in the future and my question is. Will my stock 05 Liberty Rocky Mountain Renegade be able to keep up on the trails out there and, if not, what modificaations should I consider before a trip out there?

Tires, lift, spacers, wheels, etc?

 

[tommudd]

Tires
lift
lockers
knowledge of how to drive offroad
also depends on where you are going and type of trails, on some his maybe overkill and you'll do fine , others well he can pull you through

trying to keep up with a out of the box fairly good wheeler will take some doing but can be done
Pick quality parts , don't go cheap

 

[ridenby]

All you need is a CV.
Crown Vic on Hell's Revenge- Moab, Utah - YouTube

 

[trailbound]

Thanks for the reply. I want to keep it as a daily driver and don't have a ton of money to spend. I'm planning on spending $1000.00 on mods plus a new set of tires and do the work myself.

 

[wheeee32]

Thanks for the reply. I want to keep it as a daily driver and don't have a ton of money to spend. I'm planning on spending $1000.00 on mods plus a new set of tires and do the work myself.

Well for that you can definitely get the tires and lift.

 

[tommudd]

99% of the KJ owners on here , Jeep Forum and LOSTJEEPs are DDs
1000 plus tires will get you a good lift and thats about it
no lockers, etc

How much experience do you have 4 wheeling, I've seen folks with the best equipment available not go half as far as someone that knows how to drive and handle his vehicle

 

[adamkrz]

Don't forget the skid plates.

 

[trailbound]

So if I spend $1000 on the tires what can I spend the other $1000 on? Which tires on stock rims with a lift work best and can a guy space out stock rims for more width? Thanks for all the replys, just getting started here.

 

[yellocoyote]

I would seriously suggest armor/skid plates before lift if your intention is Moab. And capable tires. And driver ability.

I've driven some of the trails out there on a number of different occasions - underbody protection is crucial. We traveled with a stock-height KJ out in the Maze District (Maze - Canyonlands National Park (U.S. National Park Service)) trails a few years back, and with some good spotting and full skids/rails, it did just fine.

If your intention is really to keep up with the Wrangler, then you should consider a lift in addition to armor. But I always suggest armor first out there - it gets pretty spendy if you have to replace an oil pan or a transmission or something else that lives in the KJ's underbelly just because it was unprotected and you hit it with a rock. And regardless of vehicle height, there is ALWAYS potential to hit something.

 

[trailbound]

Thanks, will the stock skid plates from the Rocky Mountain package work or do I need to update?

 

[trailbound]

I can't purchase driver ability so I'll have to listen to the guys with me. Thanks

 

[yellocoyote]

Thanks, will the stock skid plates from the Rocky Mountain package work or do I need to update?

I would consider upgrading the transmission skid to something heavier - that one bends pretty easily (ask me how I know). The others should be okay if you don't take too hard of a hit.

 

[tommudd]

How to spend 2000 bucks
estimated cost not right down to the nickle
JeepinByAl transmission skid plate 250
Ironman lift ( includes new springs and shocks) 700
other items, i.e. bumpstops / top plates etc 100
(5) 245-75-16 Treadwrights ( not my choice but they are cheap) 675 shipped
alignment 100
misc 150
total 1975

This is assuming you already have all the skid plates, tow points, tow straps etc

 

[trailbound]

tommudd and yellocoyote and everyone else, thanks for all the help and suggestions. I can't wait to get started with my project this winter. Now I just need to buy my wife her new Cherokee so I can drill some holes in the Liberty. I havn't been able to take it off road since I bent the front tow hook trying to pull it out of the snow a few years ago.

 

[JLRockies]

No MOPAR armor.... don't even get me started.


Kooler than Mudd.

 

[JLRockies]

Rulez for MOAB:

Gangster > Modz
Acrophobic? Stay home
Pink shovels can only be awarded by The Pastafari Committee
Pasta Jays yes, Eddie McStiffs no
Without possibility of death there can be no adventure



Kooler than Mudd.