1st Off Road trip... Gorman

[RyanSBCA]

Gorman was pretty fun, went on powerline, just to make sure trails weren't under-rated... realized that was passable by a honda...

Turned down Pronghorn (Rated expert, but the only thing difficult was the tight sharp switchbacks) since I wasn't 100% comfortble with the dropoffs and the angles of the banks, but did ok till I got to the steep rock hill... decided to turn around instead of attempting it, since we were the only non-atv/motorcycle on the trail... maybe next time if I saw someone take a line, I'd feel more comfortable.

Finally found the off road training area, that was a lot of fun... Jeep did awesome, but I do need to put my lift in (tires rubbed on fenders)... I just got a 1 3/4" spring spacer lift to hold me over until I pull the trigger on a full suspension LA Lift.

Definitely looking to roll with the rest of you guys and be shown the ropes of real off roading!

Lots of fun for a first run in the jeep... next time I'll be airing down and disconnecting the sways...

Here's a pic just chilling in the Off Road Training Area...
[img]http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d26/rkpalmer/jeepgorman-2.jpg[/img]
more pics will were taken, but haven't had time to upload them. Maybe next trip I can get some better shots.

[jcook]

thats awesome, we just recently had a run up to gorman..... just missed it, but there is always next years. I think there ended up being about 33 rigs in that training area that day, good place to practice and check out your set up. Look forward to seeing you and your jeep on the trail.

[Desert Dog]

Yea, all the trails are passable in 2WD by Jeeps. The obstacle area is lots of fun though and has become a place where you can stay most of the day.

The park had plans to make some harder trails for the jeepers and to further develop the obstacle area, but Jerry Brown's money grab on state parks spoiled those plans.

[K-Rich]

Damn, I wish I could have joined you, I haven't been since I've gotten my truck all built up

[abendx]

Sweet.... always disconnect and air down (to ~15#).... you'll be amazed what your Jeep can do with just that.

You mentioned a long arm kit? How high you planning on going or do you plan on 14+ inch coilovers? Me thinks that a JK doesn't need long arms until 5+ inches of lift -or- 14+ inch coilovers (and I am not yet convinced 14 is the magic number).

[RyanSBCA]

[quote="K-Rich"]Damn, I wish I could have joined you, I haven't been since I've gotten my truck all built up[/quote]

Andy wants to go next time... maybe we can make a day trip in a couple of weeks...
btw, went in his Corvette for the first time... thing is INSANE!

[RyanSBCA]

[quote="abendx"]Sweet.... always disconnect and air down (to ~15#).... you'll be amazed what your Jeep can do with just that.

You mentioned a long arm kit? How high you planning on going or do you plan on 14+ inch coilovers? Me thinks that a JK doesn't need long arms until 5+ inches of lift -or- 14+ inch coilovers (and I am not yet convinced 14 is the magic number).[/quote]

Not too sure yet, was thinking of ~4" but I'm not 100% sure what I'll need/want. I'm a newbie to the 4x4 world, so I'm just looking forward to my skids arriving at the end of this month... and installing the 1 3/4" lift I have in the meantime... then see how the jeep does... one thing at a time for the moment...

[K-Rich]

Andy wants to go next time... maybe we can make a day trip in a couple of weeks...
btw, went in his Corvette for the first time... thing is INSANE![/quote]

He does know rock crawling/trails are slow right? All he wants to do is go fast hahaha

[Desert Dog]

[quote="RyanSBCA"] I just got a 1 3/4" spring spacer lift to hold me over until I pull the trigger on a full suspension LA Lift. [/quote]
Like Abendx said, there is a 90% chance that a long arm kit would be a big waste of money for your JK. Don't listen to the TJ and YJ guys when it comes to JK lifts - with a 3" lift and fenders, you can run 38s if you had the axle strength to do it. The JKs come from the factory with pretty long arms and lots of room under those plastic fenders.

As someone who has ran my rig with long arms and short arms I can tell you the difference: with a 4" short arm lift and 37" tires, my Jeep worked perfect. Performed great off-road and rode like a dream on the highway. Then I went to 39.5" tires and added 1" pucks for a little more up-travel. After that, my jeep rode a little worse and felt a little less stable. I was preparing to run coilovers and knew I was going to get a little more axle droop than before, so decided to change to a long arm kit.

The control arms need to sit as parallel to the ground as possible to get a good, stable ride on the street. For the JK, I found that the 5"-5.5" mark is where the angle of the arms get extreme enough to feel the difference. Moving the arms further back on the frame (increasing the length) brings the angles closer to the stock geometry. This allows the axle to articulate in less of an arc. But contrary to popular belief, long JK arms don't give any more flex than a good short arm kit and the difference is not noticed until over 5" on a 2-door.

If you are running lift to run 37" tires or less, the long arms have more negatives than positives; you lose ground clearance, cost is double and installation complex and expensive, and your jeep can never be returned to stock.

[abendx]

Wow... DD said it so much more eloquently than I said it.

Me: to the point AND boring.

DD: spoken like a wet dream.



[i]DD, give me your number and let's have phone sex... or if everyone else feels like he gives it better than the tech support girl in India, maybe we can setup a party line and DD can give us all a good talking.[/i]

[Desert Dog]

Brad, the last time I enamored you with tales of anal delights, you had to wear a maxi-pad across your butt crack for 3 days. I fail to see any positive benefits of leaving the rectums of you and others moist and wanting for extended periods.

[VICTORG93307]

[quote="desert dog"]Brad, the last time I enamored you with tales of anal delights, you had to wear a maxi-pad across your butt crack for 3 days. I fail to see any positive benefits of leaving the rectums of you and others moist and wanting for extended periods.[/quote]




Lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol hold on lol lol lol lol lol lol lol

[RyanSBCA]

Thanks for all the advice guys! I know I don't want to go crazy with the JK... just make it able to do some decent rock crawling, but it still has to be street worthy (my daily driver). That being said, I know I'll have a lot more questions in the future...

[abendx]

[quote="RyanSBCA"]Thanks for all the advice guys! I know I don't want to go crazy with the JK... just make it able to do some decent rock crawling, but it still has to be street worthy (my daily driver). That being said, I know I'll have a lot more questions in the future...[/quote]

I think DD drives his to work on occasion.

I say go crazy.... 14" coilovers, 42" tires, full exo cage, and some pink camo paint (just like DD).

[casaintsfan]

if you're on a budget like me the teraflex 2 1/2'' coil kit with shocks works great, with flat fenders you could run 40's with the right bump stops. i'm running 35's and i get a ton of flex. great starter kit and you can add to it later. mine is still in the starter stage
[img]http://inlinethumb37.webshots.com/46052/2960139290053184410S600x600Q85.jpg[/img]

[jcook]

3 " full traction economy lift, running 35's. Most kits are upgradable later. [img]http://184.72.239.143/mu/4b0ff448-c174-a4a6.jpg[/img]

[chuckanut105]

[quote="jcook"]3 " full traction economy lift, running 35's. Most kits are upgradable later. [/quote]


That was my plan too then Rubicon Express went under LOL. Now Im saving for coilovers.

[abendx]

I enjoyed the TF BB kit before I upgraded.... now I am considering upgrading again. Do it right the first time. 14" coilovers!

[Desert Dog]

[quote="abendx"]I enjoyed the TF BB kit before I upgraded.... now I am considering upgrading again. Do it right the first time. 14" coilovers![/quote]
Stay away from the 14" coilovers on the JK IMO. Unless you plan on running towers through the sheet metal - the 14"s will give you over 6" of lift. Its useless lift too, as you won't even have the up-travel to stuff half the fender space with 40s. The 14s will bottom out over bumps unless you adjust them for 7+" of lift or run with your bump stops touching the lower pad. I got bad advise when I bought the 14s for the front (I should have listened to Richard, who advised against the 14s with the space constraints). I quickly sold the 14s I bought for the front and went with 12s. Don't make the same expensive mistake I did. I know that you wheel like me and want good performance with low center of gravity, and the 14s won't give that to you unless you do some creative upper mounting.

Basically, this is what I found out by calling Mel at EVO, Tony at Genright, Bond, and learned from my own f-up;
for the JK:

If you want less than 6" of lift = 12" coil-overs
If you want more than 6" of lift = 14" coil-overs

[abendx]

Good info.... so 12s and short arms. NICE!

Ryan... you want to buy some 4" Currie progressive springs? ~12mos of mild use.

[VICTORG93307]

[quote="abendx"]Good info.... so 12s and short arms. NICE!

Ryan... you want to buy some 4" Currie progressive springs? ~12mos of mild use. [/quote]



Mild?