Trail riding upgrade suggestions!

[John O]

Hey Folks,

I’m considering some upgrades to El Jefe. It’s a 95 Rio, 4 pin, manual with a stock drive train (30 & 35 w/4.10). It’s lifted about 3" and runs 31" ATs. I’ve pulled everything nonessential out of it to lighten it up and the majority of it’s time is spent trail riding in the Pine Barrens. The terrain is sand that ranges from hard pack to near quick sand. I don’t mud bog or rock climb and really don’t intend to. I’d be looking for some suggestions on up grades to make it more, I dunno...reliable, independent, bad ***, lol. Let’s say you had a Grand, what would your moves be?

Johnny O

[93jeepyj]

Sounds like your already set with lift and tires for the terrian you run with it. Is there anything that your not satisfied with or want it to do better at ? I could tell you all kinds of stuff to put on it and if its not going to make it better for your needs it would just be dead weight. Recovery equipment is always good to have no matter what you run with it as well as points to attach your recovery equipment to (tow hooks, bumpers with d rings, ect) If you want a better ride you could upgrade your shocks or maybe some better seats ? Lighting is always nice if you run trails at night and if you get something street legal a little aux lighting is nice on the road at night too. Maybe you want a little more power ? you do a couple bolt on motor mods although much more then a free flowing intake/exhaust on a 4 cyl jeep isnt really worth it. Its all up to you I guess, theres all kinds of ways to go with it.

[YeepieJeepie]

If I had a grand to spend all at once on a fairly stock Jeep or any 4x4, it would be an Ox-Locker or ARB. Rear would be preferable, but since you still have the D35, you want to put it in the front.

With a little more money thrown at it, an 8.8 axle with an ARB or Ox in the rear would be best.

A locker helps in any terrain. Selectables are nice since you can turn them on or off, especially in the front and with the axle disconnect.

[John O]

I have lights and recovery stuff like hooks and straps...I was wondering about the locker issue while I still ran the 35 (which seems to work fine for the trucks present use). So a locker up front would be viable. I'm weighing that against buying a winch. So I guess it's install a locker so you don't get stuck OR buy a winch so you can get unstuck lol...?

What's a selectable?

[kingcandy]

Selectable lockers are air actuated (ARB) Cable (OX) or Electric ( Elected) Non selectable would be like a Detroit or and Aussie (always engaged, just lets loose for turns.) Winches are great if you have a tree or rock to hook to. Living in Nevada trees are kinda scarce, but there are an abundance of rocks. I carry and old axle shaft to drive into the ground (Nevada Tree Ha Ha).
Happy Wheelin'

[John O]

Anyone run a "lunchbox" locker? I was just reading on them and they seem to be a decent alternative ($) and something a shadetree mechanic could pull off?

[jbeebe]

i've been out to the pine barrons a few times but mainly go to rausch creek. to tell you the truth with your lift and 31" tires...i have never ran into anything in the barrons that was challenging, what else do you want to accomplish? if you don't go rock crawling or mudding, dont' spend 800 bucks on a selectable locker. your profile says you have shackles and add-a-leafs. with a grand, and keeping in mind what you want to do, i would:

rough country 4" suspension: 450
currie shackles: 160
smittybuilt xrc8 winch: 300
winch mounting plate: 90

well there you have it. a thousand bones. with that set up, you'll have a very solid set-up, good suspension, and good recovery in mud and sand in the barrons.

[jbeebe]

Originally Posted by John O

Anyone run a "lunchbox" locker? I was just reading on them and they seem to be a decent alternative ($) and something a shadetree mechanic could pull off?

lunchbox lockers are automatic lockers, like aussie or lock-rite. aussie's are great in the front dana30, i run one, but refer to my last post...

[littleredjeep]

Originally Posted by jbeebe

i've been out to the pine barrons a few times but mainly go to rausch creek. to tell you the truth with your lift and 31" tires...i have never ran into anything in the barrons that was challenging, what else do you want to accomplish? if you don't go rock crawling or mudding, dont' spend 800 bucks on a selectable locker. your profile says you have shackles and add-a-leafs. with a grand, and keeping in mind what you want to do, i would:

rough country 4" suspension: 450
currie shackles: 160
smittybuilt xrc8 winch: 300
winch mounting plate: 90

well there you have it. a thousand bones. with that set up, you'll have a very solid set-up, good suspension, and good recovery in mud and sand in the barrons.

I agree with jbeebe. Add-a-leafs are a quick cheap fix. Then if you go with a RC 4" lift you can go to 33's later if you want to go bigger tires. That is what I am doing. I already have a RC 4" lift and 31's. Then I will be going with 33's.

[John O]

I don't really intend or need to go any higher or beyond a 31" tires..the adda leafs and shackles have proven to be appropriate to my needs. My main objective is to add components that will make the truck a better trail rider.

[Castr8r]

Put a lunchbox locker in the 35; you eliminate the weakest part and gain traction. Since the Barrens are mostly sand, you shouldn't have to worry about axle breakage unless you really get rambunctious with the stupid pedal. My lunchbox locker has survived 8-10 years of 33" tires and some pretty tough wheelin'; the D35 is 20 y.o. and still has the original shafts.

I'd also install a winch- I like Ramsey and Warn, because they are quality winches that are Made in the USA. Shoot for twice your Jeeps weight in capacity; you won't regret it. I have gone for a year without using my Ramsey, then use it two to ten times on the next three outings. A winch is an essential part of any off road vehicle in my opinion.

It sounds like you have a good setup for what you do and enjoy it- that's great! Many offroaders try to slap together a hodge-podge of parts, lifts, tires, and junk,and never really have a rig they can enjoy because of breakage or somebody has something they don't. Now, Go Wheelin'!

[John O]

Charles did you install your lunchbox? I've been doing some reading and it seems to be a simpler install than say a trutrac or a selectable. I have also read they are appropriate for the 35 as they are a bit more forgiving than a 100% lockup. If the lunchbox install only involves the part and then my time then a winch might fall within the grand cap.

[dukegnarley]

Since you reuse the original carrier for a lunchbox locker, you won't need to re-setup the gears. It's a pretty straight forward install as long as you're mechanically inclined. I haven't gotten around to using it yet since my build isn't done, but I put an aussie locker in my front d44.

[jbeebe]

take my advice and if you are going to lock an axle, lock the dana 30 up front. ask any moderator/expert on JF and i bet he'll say the same. and you don't really need a locker in the pine barrons. secondly, the add-a-leafs and shackles may do the trick now just to be able to fit 31's, but even if you keep 31's, 4 inches of solid leaf spring and a set of solid currie shackles are MUCH better. you say you just want something to make it a "better trail rider", well getting a solid suspension set up and a winch is the first step and most important. look at my last post where i itemized the cost of everything and it comes to a grand.

[John O]

jb I appreciate your input and I'll continue my research on the locker.