Thinking about getting a KJ

tommyp · **Joined:** Wed Mar 10, 2010 12:20 am **Posts:** 5

A little backstory: Wife and I are teachers we like to travel a bit during our summers. Three years ago we went out west yellowstone etc. Stopped at moab took a ride with Dan Mick. It was awesome. We drove our awd element which needless to say pretty much stayed on the road. It was a good vehicle for the trip. It rides nice gets decent fuel economy (26 or so highway), is roomy and can handle a dirt road if need be.

What I would like to have is something that gets decent mileage and is capable of mild to moderate wheeling. Something robust enough that I could play around in the slickrock or other trails and still be able to drive back to vermont.

What I am thinking is CRD would fit the bill. What I am worried about is that the front end isn't robust enough and SFA's are pricey on top of a still relatively expensive vehicle and on a CRD the lift for a sfa is higher than I want to go. Also I am worried a slight bit about size as we have a young son and would also take mountain bikes on our trip if possible. (i guess these could be broken down and tied down to the roof flat or traileed.

My other direction is an older SFA suburban or crew cab pickup (get it on the cheap and do a 4bt or other conversion to boost mpg). The problem I have there is that it is an older vehicle. It friggen huge so might not fit everywhere. I is pretty ugly unless some chopping and sheet metal work go on. But they are cheap parts are plentiful and it would be a project but it would require a lot of work to get it reliable etc.

What I need to know if will a CRD will do what I want it to do? What mods are a must have for my situation. (besides a reflash) Realizing my summer trips will be 5-7k miles round trip or so. So having a gas liberty or gas anything is pretty much out maybe a jk but they are too much for my wallet right now.

If there are other alternative vehicles that you can think of post them up. I have been looking on expedition portal and a lot of the trucks there I wouldn't want to travel all that far in on road.

thanks

kskj · **Posted:** Wed Mar 10, 2010 11:26 pm

Welcome to forum. I think the liberty would be perfect for your needs. Mine is a gasser but this year will be my fourth trip to Moab. I have used a bike rack on the back, and filled up the back and roof rack with camping gear. Did a lot of great trails and the Kj is the best way for me to enjoy the outdoors. :JEEPIN:

CRD Joe · **Posted:** Wed Mar 10, 2010 11:33 pm

Im a CRDer. I while I have plans of a SFA in the future I think you'd be surprised how well a Fanky II CRD Premium lift with some 30+" tires a rear locker some rocker skids and a full set of under skids will take you. I have Moab, Rubicon, Fordyce Creek, the Hammers and Washington State wheeling experience. Ive guilt five rigs over the years. Mostly I use ARB lockers but there are other directions you can go of course. What Ive said isnt going to be cheap.

Lift: 1100.00
Gears and a rear ARB: 1400.00 (labor not included)
Under skids: 400.00
Rocker skids: 350.00
Tires: 600.00

That's an example of a well set up truck ultimately limited by the IFS front end, but still very capable with the right driver.

Tom

tommyp · **Joined:** Wed Mar 10, 2010 12:20 am **Posts:** 5

CRD Joe wrote:

Im a CRDer. I while I have plans of a SFA in the future I think you'd be surprised how well a Fanky II CRD Premium lift with some 30+" tires a rear locker some rocker skids and a full set of under skids will take you. I have Moab, Rubicon, Fordyce Creek, the Hammers and Washington State wheeling experience. Ive guilt five rigs over the years. Mostly I use ARB lockers but there are other directions you can go of course. What Ive said isnt going to be cheap.

Lift: 1100.00
Gears and a rear ARB: 1400.00 (labor not included)
Under skids: 400.00
Rocker skids: 350.00
Tires: 600.00

That's an example of a well set up truck ultimately limited by the IFS front end, but still very capable with the right driver.

Tom

4k isn't horrible. This is something I want to pursue and build over time. Do some trips that are stock or mildly lifted rig first then step up the difficulty as I get more experienced behind the wheel.

I just have to figure out how to swing buying the CRD. My wife drives the element as her DD. I am not sure she would sell it since it is paid off and relatively low miles and runs like a swiss watch. I have an Audi which is paid off as well and I love it. Having a third car is kinda a waste. I had a pickup but it just sat most of the time. Maybe I will have to sell the Audi but I wouldn't get nearly enough for what it is worth to me. Their resale isn't all that great.

I guess I will start a Liberty fund and wait a bit. Having a car note is something I don't like especially if doing mods. If I can get through the rubicon and hells revenge that is pretty much what I want to do with a rig.

Thanks

kskj · **Posted:** Thu Mar 11, 2010 12:00 am

Thats how I did mine the first trip to moab was with a stock KJ with skids. And built it up a little more every year.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Thu Mar 11, 2010 10:50 am

The CRD is for serious enthusiasts only.

liquidxit2 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 11, 2010 12:43 pm

All that would be needed to maximize a CRD for what you want is a decent set of tires and a hitch mounted bike carrier. Granted a safari/roof rack would help with storing gear and luggage but isnt 100% necessary. I also would get a green flash for better power and MPG, but thats just an option and not necessary as it just makes the CRD more efficient. Basically what I spent to be able to do all that is this:

~$120 for a Uhaul hitch
~$150 (now $180) for an allen hitch mounted 4 bike rack
~$60 for a 12in hitch extension to install the rack
~$800 BFG All terrains (give or take $200 depending on what tires you get)

Now add in the safari rack and your looking at another $300. My jeep is not built as a trail queen yet it can haul 5 people tons of gear, skis, 4 bikes and more; yet I only have the 3.7l V6. I wouldn't worry about a lift or the front end if all your trying to do is light/mild off road as Jeep did more then enough to the liberty from the factory for that purpose.

CRD Joe · **Posted:** Thu Mar 11, 2010 5:00 pm

I think the one common denominator everyone who plans even the slightest off roading should consider are skid plates. There simply is to much to damage under there not to think about them. I plan on some ASFIR aluminum units as they are cheaper now that they are being introduced into the US market. Certainly Skidrow are good units as well.

http://www.asfir.com/catalogueEN.asp
http://www.skidplates.com/

At the very least the stock Mopars should be considered.
http://www.justforjeeps.com/fueltank.html

HoosierJeeper · **Joined:** Sun Feb 15, 2009 8:23 am **Posts:** 1218

I've used a bike rack on my KJ, whole set up under $100, works great...

tommyp · **Joined:** Wed Mar 10, 2010 12:20 am **Posts:** 5

The skidplates will be a must. I am sure the element could do some basic trails if it l
wasn't for the gas tank haning way low. Dumb. So I never risked it.

I am not too worried about bikes we have a nice hitch mounted carrier but for taking them with while wheeling they would prob have to go on top. The element is pretty cavernous so my thoughts were on fitting stuff inside rather than out for security.

If people have off road trailers do they leave them at the trailhead of more serious trails? Or is that asking for them to get stolen?

as for "the CRD for serious enthusiasts" is there a test I have to pass or a secret handshake? Or can I just wheel it around the mall.

CRD Joe · **Posted:** Thu Mar 11, 2010 6:43 pm

Im getting those aluminum plates. As for getting a CRD, the more the better. Mall wheeling is good too. :goink:

mikey1273 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 11, 2010 11:19 pm

Ok I have a CRD and I love it. I traded my Outback limited sedan for it last August. I had several reasons for choosing the CRD and changing vehicles. I wanted something that could tow more was thinking of getting a small used camper. I wanted something more ruggeed that I might off road more than with outback. the outback was comming up for some major work and I had the choice spend the cash on it or trade it if i could wrangle a good deal and dump the money into something else. I chose the CRD because of fuel mileage, had tow capacity, was a size vehicle I wanted to deal with. there are a few mods to do some say will help longevity, but you can just get one and enjoy it as is untill you are ready to mod it.

I would suggest skid plates. mine came with the mopar plates under the engine trans and differential. I wheeled it at Rauch Creek on the Green trails and a few blue trails (easy to very moderate) I can tell you with no lift you need a those plates. to protect things from the grind I exposed them to. other than that mine was great on that trip. I was with lifted and unlifted wranglers and they were all suprized how well the liberty did. These things can handle off road better then they are credited too.

If the CRD is what you want go look at one if you end up like me you will be hookked

zoomie · **Joined:** Tue Jun 15, 2010 2:12 pm **Posts:** 47

I just went through your exact exercise except my 2 boys are already 6' so the little honda types were out of the question. I didn't want to go to a full size truck either so the Liberty fit the bill

Thinking about getting a KJ

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