Overlanding with "stock" 4X4

[Billiebob]

Throwing in more opinion :) Tires, tires, and tires. My group likes BFG ATs or MTs (siped) and we pay more for more plies (sharp rock defenders). I drive a stock Rubicon and it takes me places that my courage has to catch up to. As some have pointed out there is a world of different capabilities that you can get right off of the showroom floor and this is why I bought what I bought... Suspension and 35s someday? Yep. when I am tired of the Jeep's "road manners".

That said... DM me if you know (Jeep JK) suspensions and would like to help me find a high quality 2-3 inch lift (for 35s) that will not affect road travel.

Hope all is well!

Shop AEV, I swear they have the best engineering.

Altho I've done 33s and had 35s for a few months, I'm back to a stock TJR on skinny 31s and loving it.

 

[Ubiety]

Shop AEV, I swear they have the best engineering.

Altho I've done 33s and had 35s for a few months, I'm back to a stock TJR on skinny 31s and loving it.

Thanks @Billiebob! Second reccomendation for AEV and I like what I have seen on their web site. The 3.5 SC lift looks interesting to me and I wonder if there will be any deals to be found later this spring/summer.

 

[Lanlubber In Remembrance]

Prestige buddy. Lot's of people think they need to have the biggest, newest, or best.

Regardless of everything it's up to you to consider the source on info and decide for yourself, sit back and thank the person for adding their input. No one is trying to twist anyone's arm on this thread. I haven't experienced what @Boostpowered is complaining about on any of the many threads in the OB forum.

 

[dlstock]

I don’t know about the 3.5/4.5 lifts but I have AEV dual sport 2.5 and 33 inch Patagonia MTs and I love the ride and the look. The best thing I’ve found is the road manners. They are at least as good as stock and I actually think they might be better. I did add the drop brackets to level out the front lower arms which were not included with the 2.5 kit but think it was well worth the $100.

 

[Prstone50]

How about some discussion, or a YouTube, about overlanding in a stock 4X4? Seems most info is about mod rigs as if to say one can't go overlanding to adventure in a stock vehicle. It seems that the manufacturers of 4X4's wouldn't agree given that they have invested no small amount of effort in R&D and they outfit with suspensions, drives, AT tires (etc) and market specifically claiming that capability. What are the realities of overlanding in a stock 4X4? What are the capabilities and restrictions associated with "stock"? Why do you say that larger tires and lifts are "required"? Does adventure require investments into a modified rig? I'm an old sailor and we had the expression that "paradise looks the same regardless of the size of the cockpit".

I’m with you man! We just called it camping. Or better , car camping. But the ‘overland’ rigs all decked out look cool! Pricy but cool !

 

[Billiebob]

These Jeeps are 70 plus years old, I'll bet they all have non stock components but some look pretty stock and if you talk to the owners most of those only have non stock components did it out of neccessity.

Some pretty stock 70 year old CJ2s on the Rubicon prove most mods done today are for ego.


On the other extreme, some guys need the mods because they want to haul soo much stuff. But they could get there stock with a stock bed truck or F650 or.... they choose to do it with a JKU or F250 or....

40 years later, I prefer the simpler life, packing like a back packer, taking nothing I'm not going to use every day, and picking the route of least resistance. I have never used my winch on a trail, but it gets used often for work. Lockers on the other hand get used almost daily.

 

[Ubiety]

I’m with you man! We just called it camping. Or better , car camping. But the ‘overland’ rigs all decked out look cool! Pricy but cool !

Car camping - that's what we used to call it before overlanding was cool :)

 

[Lanlubber In Remembrance]

These Jeeps are 70 plus years old, I'll bet they all have non stock components but some look pretty stock and if you talk to the owners most of those only have non stock components did it out of neccessity.

Some pretty stock 70 year old CJ2s on the Rubicon prove most mods done today are for ego.


On the other extreme, some guys need the mods because they want to haul soo much stuff. But they could get there stock with a stock bed truck or F650 or.... they choose to do it with a JKU or F250 or....

40 years later, I prefer the simpler life, packing like a back packer, taking nothing I'm not going to use every day, and picking the route of least resistance. I have never used my winch on a trail, but it gets used often for work. Lockers on the other hand get used almost daily.

There is nothing in this video that would interest me as a participant. I Like it as a spectator sport and that's it. I feel the same way about Mud Bogging. I spent way too much money in the day building and racing Roundy Round race cars just to see them become a pile of junk after 26 weeks of racing. I cant see putting all your money into something that you will tear up at some point. It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when you will wipe it out. Riding the trails and camping out or just getting as far away as I can with my rig, is all that I need to make me a happy camper. Stock or modded, I will go as far as I can with what I have and will enjoy what I can get out of it.

 

[Downs]

BAM BAM the Jeep has been all over the country and it's roll cage has changed quite a bit. Seems pretty low in this video the driver's looks like he has to hunch over to keep his head from stick out of the top.

 

[Jeep'n It Simple]

that'll be me :-)
2WD and it gets me out and about.
it's all about the tyres.

View attachment 123908

When I was 16 (about 50 years ago) I had a VW Camper Van with larger tires in the back. Loved that van, my friend Randy also had one. We "drove them to Hell and back again 3x over" and never had a problem. Best times were down in Solano Beach, Ca (before it became a millionaires paradise) we would drive down onto the sand, surf all day and camp out right there. Still miss that van to this day.

 

[Kirk T]

How about some discussion, or a YouTube, about overlanding in a stock 4X4? Seems most info is about mod rigs as if to say one can't go overlanding to adventure in a stock vehicle. It seems that the manufacturers of 4X4's wouldn't agree given that they have invested no small amount of effort in R&D and they outfit with suspensions, drives, AT tires (etc) and market specifically claiming that capability. What are the realities of overlanding in a stock 4X4? What are the capabilities and restrictions associated with "stock"? Why do you say that larger tires and lifts are "required"? Does adventure require investments into a modified rig? I'm an old sailor and we had the expression that "paradise looks the same regardless of the size of the cockpit".

Good evening Recon Marine,

While I do not consider myelf an overlander yet, I have went on some great adventures with my wife to include some sketchy snow with some steep drop offs This was all done with my stock Rubicon. I must say I had every feature on and my heart was pumping real good. Ha ha.

Thanks,
Kirk

 

[CCHeath]

Shortly after buying our JK we took an offroading class. He kept stressing how "capable" our vehicle was as-is and then proceeded to prove it to us through the experiences of the class. Bottom line, without changing a thing we were able to do a whole lot...more than I ever would have guessed.

Think most people underestimate what their stock vehicle can do and overestimate what they actually intend to do with it. Most of the mods I have done have been for either safety or to just learn more about my vehicle by turning a few wrenches. It is an enjoyable experience making it unique and our own.

Sounds like it was beneficial to take a class and learn the capabilities of your vehicle than spend the money on bling.

 

[CCHeath]

Dodge Power Wagon is a cool pickup truck but it is no where near the capability of a Rubicon.... even with all the Rubicon like options. At some point it will not be able to follow the Rubicon.

The Rubi weighs about 4200#. The Power wagon 7000#. It just takes a sandy beach to strand the Power Wagon. It might even be hard to call the Power Wagon a pickup since all that capability compromizes its payload capacity. Its Curb Weight is 7044# Its GVWR is 8510# Payload capacity 1466#..... 22 gallons of gas is 176#.... a driver and passenger maybe 350#.... leaving 940# for gear...

Please inform me what the payload capacity of a Jeep? If we are talking payload capacity a Power Wagon is over a Jeep if we are talking ability to go down hard trails then a Jeep is better.

 

[Downs]

Please inform me what the payload capacity of a Jeep? If we are talking payload capacity a Power Wagon is over a Jeep if we are talking ability to go down hard trails then a Jeep is better.

Not that high. Haha. Put a few people in it and a little gear and you're bumping the GVWR already. Nearly every whiz bang overlanding Jeep out there with everything and the kitchen sink onboard is probably well over GVWR. Then they wonder why they're breaking suspension components on something like the Mojave Road.

 

[Rich_the4x4podcast]

Dodge Power Wagon is a cool pickup truck but it is no where near the capability of a Rubicon.... even with all the Rubicon like options. At some point it will not be able to follow the Rubicon.

The Rubi weighs about 4200#. The Power wagon 7000#. It just takes a sandy beach to strand the Power Wagon. It might even be hard to call the Power Wagon a pickup since all that capability compromizes its payload capacity. Its Curb Weight is 7044# Its GVWR is 8510# Payload capacity 1466#..... 22 gallons of gas is 176#.... a driver and passenger maybe 350#.... leaving 940# for gear...

I'll save ya a little weight. Curb weight includes all fluids, even fuel.

 

[Rich_the4x4podcast]

Anymore I prefer a stock vehicle. Modifying as little as possible, keeping it reliable and easier to maintain. After decades of making modifications, only to have to modify something else to accommodate the previous mod. Sinking a ton of money into vehicles when I could have spent that money traveling and using the vehicle. Instead, I modify where I go. I had fun doing it, but I'm having fun now too.


edit: I should clarify what I mean by "I modify where I go." What I'm saying is that I don't take my Rebel the same places I would have taken my old built JK. Not that I modify the trails to suit my needs.

 

[CCHeath]

Anymore I prefer a stock vehicle. Modifying as little as possible, keeping it reliable and easier to maintain. After decades of making modifications, only to have to modify something else to accommodate the previous mod. Sinking a ton of money into vehicles when I could have spent that money traveling and using the vehicle. Instead, I modify where I go. I had fun doing it, but I'm having fun now too.


edit: I should clarify what I mean by "I modify where I go." What I'm saying is that I don't take my Rebel the same places I would have taken my old built JK. Not that I modify the trails to suit my needs.

So you don't take a Bobcat to the trails to clear yourself a path?

 

[Speric]

I've always been more impressed when stock vehicles go through areas where others say heavy mods are needed. To me, heavy mods are a handicap for poor driving. Also stock varies quite a bit. I'm sure my stock Gladiator can go more places then my stock 1st gen Tacoma. That said, my Tacoma took me to some cool places and fun adventures.

 

[Downs]

BAM BAM the Jeep looks mostly stock but has a lot of stuff "under the hood" including a modern FI Chevy V6, tougher axles, e lockers, stuff like that.

Good article over it from about 4 years ago. Still an awesome Jeep. I would love to find a CJ2 or MB Jeep for a project Jeep and go with a something like a Wrangler 2.5L engine in it.

Mighty 1943 WWII Military Jeep

<strong>“When the war was at its hottest and the going got too steep, one thing that you could count on was the mighty little Jeep.” –Private Jesse Wolf, WWII B

www.fourwheeler.com

 

[Downs]

i can't imagine a situation where being at stock height is an advantage on mountain roads, rock crawling, trails, mud, snow, water, other than driving down paved roads.

Lower center of gravity, less stress on the drive-train and suspension, lighter weight. If I do get stuck I'm easier to recover.

Everything has trade offs. I'm not out wheeling hardcore OHV parks and rock crawling and whatnot. Anymore the hardest stuff I do is washed out unmaintained forest service roads and the occasional water crossing.

The "Modification cascade" can get out of control quickly. A local friend of mine with a JKU absolutely had to have 37s on her non Rubicon Wrangler. Now she has to look at, upgrading her Dana 30, re-gearing, lifting, ect.