Off Roading

[snickersbaby5]

Hello everyone!
A new off road park opened about 40 minutes away from me where as the closest one was 3 hours. Of course I want to go! I have a 2005 Jeep Liberty Renegade that I would love to take. Problem is I am stock right now. I still have factory height of 19 inches front and 19.75 back. I am running 235/70/16s Hankook DynaPros ATMs. Is there anything I can do/should do to have it ready to go? I would never wheel alone, someone would be with me.

 

[CzarKJ]

skid plates. Then lift. Then bigger tires.

 

[HoosierJeeper]

Skid plates and tow hooks. I wheeled mine stock.
Where in IL?

 

[tommudd]

What Hoosier stated
GOOD skid plates and tow points front and rear
A torn open transmission pan is not a good thing to see.
Plus tow points, not sure how many times I have found people where they shouldn't have been wanting pulled out and no where to hook to.

 

[Dave]

I wheeled mine stock with skids and hooks. Skids and hooks first. You need protection and tow points.Then lift and tires.


Dave

 

[jeepguy4276]

Tow points are the most important. You shouldn't go anywhere if you can't be pulled out. You can protect the underside and try easy stuff totally stock but without tow points you're risking it. A friend can't help you without tow points.

 

[Boomhawr]

On top of the skid plates and tow hooks, I'd add in some tools like shovel, highl lift jack etc. My Liberty is stock as far as higher and all too, and I haven't had it long, but I was running a Cherokee since 200, and trucks before that. I got it stuck in deep snow on the edge of a trail up a mountain in Utah recently. I used my big scoop shovel and high lift jack, and that's all I needed to get out of that mess. A come along can help out in place of a winch at times too. Just make sure it's a good one that's rated enough for whatever you're winching out with it. I already had a 1 ton and a 4 ton I used around the farm, so I just take those with me. But like stated before, won't do any good without somewhere on the jeep to hook it too.

 

[snickersbaby5]

Skid plates and tow hooks. I wheeled mine stock.
Where in IL?

River Road Rally Park in McHenry IL

 

[HoosierJeeper]

Cool, that's not a far drive from WI, take some pics when you go, looks cool online!

 

[JasonJ]

River Road Rally Park in McHenry IL

I have family in McHenry.... I never wanted a reason to drive through or near Chicago again, but now... if the wife ever insists we go visit, I know where I'm going!!!

I'd say as far as going off-road with a stock KJ, especially a Renegade, it'll be more capable than you'd think (and more capable than most drivers to be honest). But what to do to prepare, for me, depends on the type or severity of the trails.

If you can stick to two-tracks, some mild mud or sand type trails, I'd not worry too much about being lifted or having better/larger tires. Skids would be fantastic, but tow points are more important at this point.

If the trails are rocky, or could be, deeper mud, anything that might come into contact with the underside of the truck, then absolutely, skid plates.

Start there, see where ya get (or don't get). Having recovery straps (NOT TOW STRAPS!), a good tool kit, yet goes without saying.

 

[CactusJacked]

Hmmm... good to know, that's not too far from me.