Wheel base

[Roy & Kristin Zirpoli]

Let’s talk wheel base. What is too short? What is too long? Are 2 door Jeeps too short. What about a Tacoma crew cab with long bed? Too long? What are your opinions? 128”, 140”, 80”?

 

[Graeman]

That is not specific enough question. Each wheelbase has it's own advantage and disadvantage. Location also plays a big part in it. So we need to get a better idea of what you want - me for example(married, no pets, just a couple of 160 lbs adults). I have 4runner - like who doesn't... It is great for the city driving, tight turning radius, comfortable for 2 people to go camping in, comfortable for 2 people under 6ft to sleep in, can pull an average length trailer and still be of descent proportions, so-so rock crawler, great hill climber, comfortable on highways and the list goes on and on. Ok now let's change this up a little. Family of 4 with a dog a short wheelbase TJ is not what you want. A single person who loves rock crawling a long wheelbase pickup is not what you want. See what I mean? What size family, what type of off roading, what type of camping do you do all matter.

 

[Graeman]

I do want to also purchase a TJ for when it is just me 4 wheeling and camping when the wife wants to stay home. The shorter wheelbase is great for maneuvering in close quarters and for the rocks. Not the best for Moab as the steep climbs are done more comfortably in a longer wheelbase vehicle so when I go there I will take the 4runner. Colorado wheeling I did last year by myself for a week and it was a perfect size vehicle for everything that I carried and for the trails. It never felt tippy or unsafe even when loaded down.

 

[ohiowrangler]

Greaman is right on point. I have followed 4runners built similar to my YJ wrangler and it performed better than my jeep in certain areas. I personally like my Yj due to short wheel base, but I also use a trailer for camping. Ron

 

[Graeman]

Ohiowrangler, I'll bet that YJ is fun when off road. Small block, 5,13's and 35's oh boy let's climb some stuff. Are you still on springs or have you swapped to coils?

 

[ohiowrangler]

I did a shackle reversal from WFO concepts, and stayed spring under the axles with 3.5" leaf springs. The axles are stock width. It's a lot of fun, I drove it to Colorado springs last year and picked up a new frame for it. I can run 70 mph on the road, when you drop the tire pressure to 12 psi and it gets really fun.

Roy, what type of camping/exploring are you wanting to do? Ron

 

[Lunch Box]

My rig is 156.2 in wheelbase. On 33s, I can hang it up on stiff breeze if I try. But then it's a compromise. 90% of the time, it's doing other things. My favorite off-road rig of all time was my goofy little Suzuki Samurai on stock size 26" BFGs. At 2,000 lbs, it was a real mountain goat on the dirt-cheap. But then it wouldn't really carry anything more substantial than two people and a couple rucks. Compromises......

 

[ohiowrangler]

A Sami will yield a lot of offroad performance for a small amount of money. There's 4 or 5 in the offroad club I belong to, Ron

 

[Lunch Box]

A Sami will yield a lot of offroad performance for a small amount of money. There's 4 or 5 in the offroad club I belong to, Ron

I'm currently kicking around the idea of grey marketing a LR Defender 90, but for the money, I could have a really tricked-out Sami and enough cash left over to go on a trans-continental expedition...
Southern California still seems to have no shortage of good condition Samurais to choose from. Decisions, decisions...

 

[Overland California]

I find the 105" of my full size Bronco just about perfect. Long enough for stability climbing boulders, but short enough to make hairpin turns maneuvering through trees easy. I'd comfortably go up to 118" like a 4 door JK/JL for the trails I like to run.

 

[Roy & Kristin Zirpoli]

This is great everyone. Was hoping this would spark some good conversations and points. I love the many different views.

 

[ohiowrangler]

The guys I run with do 6.5:1 gears in the transfer case, spring over axle, disc brake conversion on the rear axle, lunch box lockers, 31-33" tires and then they climb anything in sight.

Along with wheel base don't overlook width, 2" more width can help a lot with stability in off camber situations.

Ron