[Fargo]

Originally Posted by Unlimited04

damn right it does. thats exactly my plan too - heres what I would build if I was to start with an LJ Rubicon like yours:

Armor -
Up-Armor Package #3 - http://www.rokmen.com/products/skid_plates/up_armor_skids/up_armor_skids.html
Riddler Diff Covers -
http://www.rokmen.com/products/differential_protection/riddler_diff_covers/riddler_diff_covers.html

Suspension -
2.5" LJ/ZJ OME kit + Rokmen control arms -
http://www.rokmen.com/products/suspension_systems/rokmen_control_arms/tj_lj_control_arm_packages/rear_upper_control_arms.html

Tires -
33x10.5 General Grabber AT2 or BFG ATs

Other -
Roll cage additions to stock - see thread in my sig (perfect setup for a family)
9500lb Warn winch
Windshield hinge 'mickey mouse' lights.
full radiator hoop welded to winch mount

Thats pretty much all you could ever need for typical trail riding and getting to cool spots.

yeah that would pretty much be the setup I would like. Except at this point I'm really liking the idea of running 265s with a 1" body lift/tummy tuck and then just using 1" spring spacers. I figure this gives me 2" of clearance for the 32s and I have barely change factory suspension geometry. So I should still have the best suspension system I can have. Either that or just going the cheap/easy route and putting a 2" spring lift under it along with an oil pan skid and calling it good.

[daveshan]

When are you planning to make your trip? Spend some time looking at Traildamage.com It's a gold mine of information on trails in CO and UT, just figure out what counties you'll be visiting and check out the trails.

[Jacon]

Originally Posted by Fargo

And I sure don't want to spend my week vacation in Colorado sitting in some 4x4 shop watching some mechanic write a symphony on the cash register ringing up my bill for broken parts.

Great sig line.

[Fargo]

Originally Posted by daveshan

When are you planning to make your trip? Spend some time looking at Traildamage.com It's a gold mine of information on trails in CO and UT, just figure out what counties you'll be visiting and check out the trails.

No trip in the immediate plans. My wife and I have a 2 year old and a 10month old. So this next summer we are going to the Black Hills for some backpacking and hiking while grandma and grandpa watch the kids. They live in the Hills so it makes it nice and easy. I'm hoping that I can get back out to CO in the Fall of 2010.

I have spent countless hours at traildamage.com dreaming of which trails to run. I also picked up Charles Wells guide to CO book. So from looking at those resource I thought I should be ok with 32s. But when I read the forum I always feel like 32s are completely inadequate for anything.

[Axkick]

I just went to 35's...But you have to remember that even though they say 33 doesn't mean thats what they measure out at. I know my 33's where more like 31.5 so it depends on the tire..

[Fargo]

Originally Posted by Axkick

I just went to 35's...But you have to remember that even though they say 33 doesn't mean thats what they measure out at. I know my 33's where more like 31.5 so it depends on the tire..

yeah, I keep looking for a tall 265.

[Varnish]

I'd just stick with 31s. I was able to go most everywhere I wanted with 31s/front locker. 32s doesn't seem like a big enough upgrade to make the money worth it. I'd run it as is.

[spyder6]

you'll actually find that the size of your tire actually shrinks massively about 2 months after you put it on your jeep. i have "35" inch tires but i can walk out side and swear to god they're 31's. i believe a step to 37s are in order to cure this awful plague. i hear once you get to 37's your tires stop shrinking mysteriously.

with that said, the HUGE jump you feel you're about to take will only seem massive till you're used to it and then you'll be once again questioning if the next size tire is all its cracked up to be. just be prepared to buy other things than tires when you make your jump to 35's

[Onion22]

I got 3" lift and 33x12.5 on my LJ, its my DD and rides great, and I think it personally looks perfect on the LJ, i wanna take it offroading but I deff gonna change the brake lines and get sum armor be for i go over some rocks.

[Fargo]

Originally Posted by spyder6

with that said, the HUGE jump you feel you're about to take will only seem massive till you're used to it and then you'll be once again questioning if the next size tire is all its cracked up to be. just be prepared to buy other things than tires when you make your jump to 35's

Yeah, I kind of figured that too. But if I just go to 32s I get to look forward to 33s for the next upgrade. Otherwise I'm done. I know I will never go 35s.

[tufrthnails]

Never Say Never!!! Sorry to butt in just joined the forum. I have been running 35's for about a year and a half. Trust me you will need to upgrade a hell of a lot to be able to wheel them with out breaking every other time you go out. Of course I am not easy on my rig by any means. Good luck with your 32's I wish I hadn't jumped so big right off the bat. I would have saved a lot of money on crappy upgrades that didn't work.

[Greg_Volkman]

i tore through most of the trails in CO on 33's with detroits....and the only skid i had was the RE belly pan and the PSC rockers. You will be fine. I have seen Rubi's on 32-33 hang with the 35" crowd in CO. the most important part of driving a jeep offroad is knowing how to drive. large tires do not make you a better driver. I have owned jeeps from the time I was 16. I have had three jeeps...all three ran 33" tires until I spent 5 years in CO and decided to upgrade to 35" tires. I have seen, time and again, people driving vehicles that were more capable than their skills get into gobs of trouble offroad because of it.

[TellicoTJ]

IMO 32's and 33's are just about right for the average jeep joe. Plenty of tire for a somewhat technical trail yet not give up so much power that you have to dump tons of money in for gears and new axles that will hold up to the larger tires. I have run all but the extreme trails (with the exception of the section of trail 11 where it connects to 4) at tellico with my TJ before I lifted or put tires on it. Sure it drug bottom alot but it went everywhere I pointed it and it had 31x10 GY RT/S street queen tires but the thing was, those tires required 4wd all the time because the tread pattern was so tight. I now have 31x10 ProComp MT's and can do most of trail 4, and half of 6 in 2wd with the right air pressure in the tires and having decent offroad driving skills.

Now in saying that, I aint saying 35's aint better cause bigger is always better lol Im going to 33's as soon as funds allow it and the reason Im choosing 33s instead of 35s is I wont have to re-gear, it wont kill my power completely, it will still have plenty of power for the highway since its onroad most of the time anyway, I'll gain more offroad capabilities and have less of a chance of breaking stuff that I cant afford to fix right away and it will still look good.

[TheBoogieman]

It won't cost much more (BL) to run 33's and they won't hurt the mileage by any noticable amount(14 city/18 highway with my 33's).I had 35's on my old Jeep and now 33's on my new one.After running 35's for awhile,33's look so tiny.I can't wait to wear them out.Ask your wife or girlfriend and if they're honest,they will tell you BIGGER is always BETTER.

[spyder6]

Originally Posted by Fargo

Yeah, I kind of figured that too. But if I just go to 32s I get to look forward to 33s for the next upgrade. Otherwise I'm done. I know I will never go 35s.

i said i would never go past 35's and when i was picking everything out i was seriously considering getting 33's. but my next set of tires will be 37's, god help me.