Wheeling Q's

Nitz240d · **Posted:** Tue May 25, 2010 2:56 pm

Hey all,

So I'm obviously new to the forum -- and off-roading in general -- and I've got some basic questions for you guys, as I'd like start getting off the pavement!

I did see a post about getting ready for the beach, which is where I would most likely wind up as I'm on the Island. I'd like to get in on the next LI beach/trail run but I need to get prepped, so...

My questions are:

1) Besides tow hooks, some tools (shovel, chains, etc.) and maybe some skid plates, is there anything else I should get if I wanna start wheeling? I'm obviously not going to be doing anything too extreme, but I'd like to hit the beach and maybe some mild trails. Also - any suggestions on where to get tow hooks for a '10 KK?

2) My KK currently has 310 miles on it. I'm assuming I should wait until it is fully broken-in before going offroad, but what is the protocol here? How long do I wait? 1,000 miles? More? (I plan on doing a break-in oil change at 500 miles FYI.)

3) This one may be a bit stupid, but I have to ask -- what about damage to the vehicle. Specifically I mean to the underpinnings, i.e. the sand and water from the beach; is it a problem or do you just go cautiously and hose her down when you get home??

Thanks in advance and sorry for the newbie questions.

-Erik

Vranes17 · **Posted:** Tue May 25, 2010 5:12 pm

Welcome, I dont know much about the beach but im sure one of the beach guys will jump in shortly.

VMKJCRD · **Posted:** Tue May 25, 2010 9:48 pm

Well Tow hooks for the front and a trailer hitch for the back. I would also go with the engine and trany skid.

You cant get the beach permit anymore the cut off date for the permit was April, now it will only be on sale after labor day.

Best way to break in a Jeep is to take it to some trails :twisted:

When we went on our last trail ride i heard my skid crapping really bad and thought that it caused a dent, got home and took a look and all i saw was a scratch. These mopar skids are holding up well for now. After i come from the beach i ALWAYS hose the KJ, top to bottom and specially the undercarriage.

What area from LI are you?

Nitz240d · **Posted:** Tue May 25, 2010 10:23 pm

Ah crap - I didn't realize the permits were time-sensitive. Am I right in assuming there aren't any beaches that don't require a permit to wheel?

I can't get away with tow hooks in the back or is it that they aren't available? I meant to ask about that because I only see a front hook listed for the KK.

Definitely gonna do the skids as they aren't too expensive and it looks like I can even do the install myself.

I'm in Huntington.

-Erik

infernicus · **Posted:** Tue May 25, 2010 11:04 pm

Welcome!!

VMKJCRD will know best about the beaches, even LI_KJ knows a lot about the beaches, especially out east.

In order of most importance:
1+2

3 - Lift

apparently the front KJ hooks work (or are the same as the KK)
viewtopic.php?t=46929

They make a rear tow hook for the KK, but for a couple extra bucks (if buying new), you might as well get a hitch. Also a D-ring hitch receiver is better than a hook.

MOPAR skids are perfectly fine for us on the island. Install is super easy.
I banged on my skids pretty hard where VMKJCRD was talking about, a lot harder than him in fact, lol.

http://www.jparts.com is a good site to get everything, usually the cheapest, even with shipping. I had ordered all four skids at once when there was a special with free shipping.

In regards to breaking in the engine, everyone has a different opinion.
Some people say do exactly as the manual says, 1500-3000 miles take it easy, don't stay at a constant speed for too long.
Some people say drive the car exactly how you're going to drive it forever, ie: if you like to push your vehicles, heavy on the gas/brakes, or easy all around, do it from the beginning.

Personally, I'm right in between, not too hard, not too easy, I mean, it is your car, if you have to be on the highway for 40+ miles at a time, you gotta do what you gotta do.

Hope to see you out with us, would be good to have another KK out with us.

Nitz240d · **Posted:** Wed May 26, 2010 1:10 am

Thanks for the help guys.

Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to option the truck out as I wanted and so now have to retrofit all the off-road stuff.

The hitch isn't actually as expensive as I thought it would be. Being on a tight budget I will probably get the front hook and skids first then go for the hitch.

As far as break-in goes, my concern is if I'm off-roading with say only 500 or 1,000 miles on the truck, will it be too much stress too soon -- not so much on the engine, but the drivetrain (trans, diffs, gears, etc.)?

I am looking forward to getting out on the beach and trails and meeting you guys.

-Erik

LI_KJ · **Posted:** Wed May 26, 2010 11:00 am

Welcome to the fray my friend!
We seem to get the gang together twice a month most recently, so definitely keep your eyes open for a run. As VMKJCRD said the state beach permits are only sold for a limited time. If you are a Suffolk County resident, which Huntington is (if I remember correctly), you can go to Smith Point County Park in Shirley and still get a beach permit for Suffolk beaches only. It costs $90 I think, and it's good for one calendar year (so it ends at the end of December). You must have a Green Key Card, valid NYS License, and current NYS registration to get the permit I might add. The Green Key is $20 and good for three years. You can buy the Green Key at Smith Point as well. The Green Key will get you reduced parking fees for all Suffolk County parks also. So, after you have those permits, you can ride the 6 mile stretch at Smith Point, down to the Moriches Inlet on the oceanside when it is open, or Burma road though the dunes. Other parks you can use it at are in Westhampton, Cedar Point, Montauk, and Easthampton. But again, it is only valid at Suffolk parks. As far as I know all beach access on LI is permited. There is also an Easthampton permit, which allows access along some town owned beaches. The last time I looked into them, they cost upwards of $200 for non-residents.
All beaches usually require you to carry a fire extinguisher, tow rope/snatch strap, have recovery points, air pressure gauge, air compressor, shovel, jack, and jack board, flashlight. And it's good to know how to use those tools in case you need to! And air down those tires. 18PSI on the sand, and you are good to go.
If you take the KK out on the sand you will hear some scraping, but like the others said at least engine and tranny skids would be good for beach driving. There is all sorts of rocks, sticks, and other nonsense in the sand, and who knows if they could put a nice crack in your oil or tranny pan. At least the skids give you piece of mind when you hear scraping underneath the Jeep.
Hope to meet ya soon, and get out on the trails and beach with us soon. :JEEPIN:

BennyMigs · **Posted:** Wed May 26, 2010 3:28 pm

Well all has been said. Welcome to the group. Hope to see you on the next run.

Nitz240d · **Posted:** Thu May 27, 2010 2:36 pm

Hey thanks again guys - and special thanks to LI_KJ for the detailed breakdown!

So I know what I have to do to get ready, now all I got to do is save some $$ and get the stuff!!

Looking forward to meeting everyone!

-Erik

BennyMigs · **Posted:** Fri May 28, 2010 12:04 pm

Keep your eye peeled in the for sale area. It does not hurt to get used.

Nitz240d · **Posted:** Sat May 29, 2010 11:35 am

Quote:

Keep your eye peeled in the for sale area. It does not hurt to get used.

Haha - it's funny you say that; right after I posted my last comment I thought to myself - hmm, I should look to see if there is a parts for sale area! I didn't find anything yet but I did see a cheap set of Dodge Nitro wheels which might be good for some off-road or winter tires.

Thanks again guys.

-Erik

BennyMigs · **Posted:** Sun May 30, 2010 12:02 pm

90% of my mods came from the for sale area. Just check everyday.

DoubleK · **Posted:** Sat Jun 19, 2010 3:06 am

hey, im new to the off-roading life. i have a KK stock with Wrangler Silent Armor tires. i ordered a tow hitch and its on its way. ive driven on Jones Beach before and got stuck. and i had no revival points so they used my back sway bar to get me out. i know, BAD IDEA! but i had no other way of getting out. i live in huntington too. im planning on getting a suspension lift for my KK and a new bumper. do u guys have any suggestions?

VMKJCRD · **Posted:** Sat Jun 19, 2010 6:38 pm

Me and a few from here also drive on the beach and the best thing to do so you wont get stuck is to air down. Dropping your PSI to 20 or 18 PSI will help ALOT because you want your tire to float on the sand not plow or dig into it. Im on stock suspension and my KJ is lower then the KKs and i never had any issues because i always aired down.

Air down and take your time. :JEEPIN:

DoubleK · **Posted:** Sun Jun 20, 2010 2:07 am

actually i did air down my tires A LOT and my brother jacked my air pump out of my car earlier that day so i couldnt blow them back up so i drove the whole way home, from robert moses to huntington going like 45-50 the whole way home. i felt bad for my libby, she was really getting a beating :[ but as soon as i got home i blew my tires back up. oh an fyi i got pulled out of the sand by an explorer. there were wranglers there and fords. the guy driving the wrangler didnt even have a tow strap/rope. the woman with the explorer had all the doo doo i needed. crazyyyy.

VMKJCRD · **Posted:** Sun Jun 20, 2010 10:32 pm

Thats cool, whats even "cooler" is the woman helping you out and her having all the equipment. Have to love women and their accessories. :ROTFL:

I have the 4x4 fishing beach permit that also gives me access to Robert Moses field 2 (democrat point) and the Sore Thumb.

Where did you get stuck in RM? I heard that Demo was like sugar when it first opened and a few people got stuck out there. Haven't gone there this year.

DoubleK · **Posted:** Mon Jun 21, 2010 1:14 am

i was stuck i think in field 2 all the way at the left end entrance from the parking lot. a guy b4 me was stuck too he was shoveled out by beach cops. i was there without a permit tho

but i figured why not have some fun :BANANA:

BennyMigs · **Posted:** Mon Jun 21, 2010 8:28 am

Its ok my girl pulled my out a few weeks ago in at Suffolk Meadows with her TJ. Ill never hear the end of it. :-)r

DoubleK · **Posted:** Tue Jun 22, 2010 12:02 am

as long as it was a Jeep, you're cool :lol:

my ex was stuck with his TJ in a 4ft puddle at Rausch Creek, PA and got pulled out by a 4Runner... so trust me, thats wayyyyy more mortifying then getttin pulled out by your gf lol whats even more mortifying than that was that my ex ended up blowing his radiator and effing up his tranny. to temporarily hold the radiator from blowing any more than it already was, some guy was like "put JB WELD on it" and hey, it was worth a shot, what did we have to lose. it didnt end up holding out till we got out of the trails so we were towed back through the trails by the same 4Runner that pulled him out of the 4ft puddle. we placed his radiator at the closest Auto Zone which was like 30 miles away. that was the most fun i ever had in a Jeep :/ lol. replacing the radiator was easier than i thought. His truck was his DD so since the tranny was effed up we had to take it home we had no other choice, so we drove it home going 50 for 5 hours in 4th gear. and we checked every 50 miles on the new radator to see how it was doing. omfg what an adventure. :JEEPIN:

VMKJCRD · **Posted:** Tue Jun 22, 2010 5:11 pm

BennyMigs wrote:

Its ok my girl pulled my out a few weeks ago in at Suffolk Meadows with her TJ. Ill never hear the end of it. :-)r

Dude...
She has one up on you now Benny!
If that ever happened to me right after i would have to go and drink a case of beer, burp, fart, scratch the gonads continuously for 15 minutes and get into a fight with a truck driver just to get my testosterone level back up.

:mrgreen:

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