Questions from the new guy

CTjeeper16 · **Posted:** Wed May 17, 2006 12:42 pm

Hi All-

brand new to the forum, just bought an 03 Sport. I've got a couple questions, that hopefully you all can answer for me.
First is regarding a come-along. My buddy has used one before to get unstuck (he's got a 97 XJ), but I've read mixed reviews of them online. I will not buy an ARB and winch, I simply dont go out enough to justify that purchase. I also dont have tow hooks yet, so what options would/do i have to hook up anything to get unstuck? So is a Come-along worth it or not?
Second, I'm very intrigued by reading about alternatives to the Mopar front tow hooks. Anyone in NE have any experience with this?
Finally, I've already put on skids, but what else is a vital add on to the KJ? I'm trying get an idea of what I still need to do.

Thanks everyone, and enjoy today....the sun's back!

Jeep Dawg · **Posted:** Wed May 17, 2006 1:35 pm

CTjeeper16,

First off, If you are going to do any kind of wheeling, you need something to get you un stuck if you become stuck. Specially if you are by your self.
I personally do nit have a winch, but I do use a come along with me when I go out. Just incase something happends.
Also I use the mopar front tow hooks and do not have any problems with them. I only used them a hand full of times but it was for pulling other people out of stupid judgments.

Skids are pretty much a good idea to have. ( I still do not have mine yet ) But if you go out with out any skids, you HAVE to allways know where your wheels are and what they are over at all times. Look under your jeep and pin point the low hang spots and you want to pretty much make sure that you can move around something, to carefully clear thoes low spots.
That is pretty much basic wheeling. I am sure that other members will add to this post.

raceinfan · **Posted:** Wed May 17, 2006 3:50 pm

First off Welcome again I see you read my post on signing up with us awesome

skids are very very important gotta protect everything you can which include front diff,engine,tranny,transfer case,& gas tank wouldn't hurt to get a ring for the rear diff either,I have the mopar hooks also haven't had to use them yet luckily,but an alternative is a front hitch which will require removal of the front facia for install,another good recovery point would be in the rear either a hitch or mopar tow hook I have a hitch & purchased a d-ring shackle by Warn that fits my hitch so incase you can't get moving forward you can get pulled in reverse,good tires are also a plus but the stock goodyears are ok depending on what they are & you should always bring a friend just incase,& a tow strap would be a benefit also but not with the metal hooks a little dangerous
hope this helps

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Wed May 17, 2006 4:08 pm

CTjeeper16 wrote:

First is regarding a come-along. My buddy has used one before to get unstuck (he's got a 97 XJ), but I've read mixed reviews of them online. I will not buy an ARB and winch, I simply dont go out enough to justify that purchase.

I agree with you on the winch purchase. I would stretch to say that winches are mostly just for looks, and there's nothing that a winch can do that a lot of careful shovelling, prying, and the use of another vehicle with a tow strap or a manual winch (comealong) can't do. I would say that if you intend to go offroad anytime without another vehicle, definitely get a comealong.

Quote:

I also dont have tow hooks yet, so what options would/do i have to hook up anything to get unstuck? So is a Come-along worth it or not?

Realistically, I would not bother getting a comealong before getting tow hooks. A comealong needs to hook onto something, and if that something isn't the frame, it's asking for trouble.

That being said, it is still, of course, possible to recover a vehicle without tow hooks. Sometimes it involves looping around an A-Arm or around an axle. A dangerous and scary idea, in my opinion. I'd much rather have a tow hook rip off than my axle.

As I see it, the recovery point options for the front:
- Mopar front hooks
- fab up some hooks or shackles
- Hitch in the front

Options for the rear:
- hitch
- mopar hook

Quote:

Second, I'm very intrigued by reading about alternatives to the Mopar front tow hooks. Anyone in NE have any experience with this?

My KJ came with the front towhooks, but I would make a guess that installing a non-mopar towhook WILL require taking off the bumper, drilling some holes, and bolting something to the frame. It may also require fabrication of a bracket to hold it. If you are willing to put the time into it to take off the bumper and fab it up, I say go for it! I think my favorite thus far is the dual shackle mount in the front that I saw somebody with. I like the look of that much better than the towhooks, and they are probably more versatile as well. It will require some ingenuity, though.

Quote:

Finally, I've already put on skids, but what else is a vital add on to the KJ? I'm trying get an idea of what I still need to do.

Just skids and hooks will be a good start. Job 1 is preventing vehicle damage, so that's the skids and rock rails. Tow hooks prevent vehicle damage as well, because you WILL get stuck at one point or another. The easier it is to get you un-stuck the less chance there is for something to break in the recovery process.

I suggest the next purchase after that be a CB radio. If you go on any group rides, you'll be doing a lot of radioing between rigs, and it's all part of the experience.

Once you go on a few trails you'll get an idea of what you really need. You'll bottom out on a few rocks and hear the skid plates ring and decide you want a lift. Or you'll lose traction climbing and decide you want some better tires. Or maybe you'll browse the forums and decide you want a roof basket and some more lights :-P

In any case, with just the hooks and skids, you can definitely have a good time.

CTjeeper16 · **Posted:** Wed May 17, 2006 4:41 pm

thanks for all the advice so far. I bought it w/ new tires (Cooper Discoverer AT's..the 235/70 i think...any good?). But yeah, any other advice/"tricks of the trade" you all have picked up along the way and are willing to share, I'm more than eager to listen! Thanks again!

raceinfan · **Posted:** Wed May 17, 2006 6:12 pm

always check your obstacles in front of you first before attempting like water,mud & rocks could save ya before you get stuck again

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Thu May 18, 2006 12:40 am

raceinfan wrote:

always check your obstacles in front of you first before attempting like water,mud & rocks could save ya before you get stuck again

And stumps. Don't forget stumps :oops:

blitzwing · **Joined:** Sat Oct 22, 2005 5:59 pm **Posts:** 24

get the factory tow hooks and hitch its the easy way out. no fab work. no bs, only minor cursing when u install them. you can get both from http://www.jeeppartsmall.com for under 250 shipped. they are OEM JEEP PARTS, not crappy aftermarket junk. if u are in a pinch for cash just get a receiver pin and hook the strap to it, till u can buy the screw pin anchor mount.

Albert · **Posted:** Sat May 20, 2006 10:32 pm

I think that you need protection first.... I've been out without it (very very carefully) but it will give you a little piece of mind and you'll have more fun. You still need to be careful.

So with that in mind consider the following in this order unless you have a lot of $$$ falling out of your pockets. I'm working on these myself one at a time.

1) skids - - even the cheepest mopar ones will give you protection especially for the aluminum t-case. If you wack that it will cost more than the skids and you will probably be stuck too.

2) tow hooks up front and either a class 3 hitch ( with a shackle or a tow strap with a loop in it - not hooks) or a tow hook in the rear. The mopar hooks are not cheap but the easiest to install. They also come with the brackets and hardware to fit.

3) a good rock guard for the rear diff which is just hanging out there.

4) If you have factory trac-loc that's good - a locker is better.

With these things you should be ok and cost is not too bad. - - - but probably now you will want more clearance and better tires. So shake your money tree.

From there you could consider tires, rims, and a lift. I think you need to decide how high and type of lift you want before you decide on wheels and tire size (and type). So shake that money tree harder.

Then there's a winch, front locker and on and on. You could do without these cause the money tree croaked. (besides - you gotta save something for later). Someone elce should be with you (another jeep) and between you you have tow straps etc.

jeep = just empty every pocket.

DaveKJ02 · **Posted:** Sat May 20, 2006 11:46 pm

[quote="Se7enLC"]I would stretch to say that winches are mostly just for looks, and there's nothing that a winch can do that a lot of careful shovelling, prying, and the use of another vehicle with a tow strap or a manual winch (comealong) can't do. [quote]

You should have been out with us today. It was a great time. Our group used one...twice.

The Headless Horseman rocks!

Jeep Dawg · **Posted:** Sun May 21, 2006 9:43 am

hey daveKJ,

where do you guys go wheeling?

DaveKJ02 · **Posted:** Sun May 21, 2006 10:11 am

That would be Paragon. I left you the site on the other thread, but here it is again. www.paragonap.com If you are so close, you should come out with us. Those pics would be from a Blue 3 rated trail, but they have all levels. There's a link to some pics from yesterday in the MA forum. You'll even see pics of people wheeling their 4WD VW buses! It was so cool seeing them on the trails. They got more looks than the KJs!

Jeep Dawg · **Posted:** Mon May 22, 2006 2:44 pm

Yea man, I looked it up and it is about 150 miles from me. I would love to go some time.
I still have a stock suspention on my KJ.
I saw they have all levels of trails there.

Maybe in the summer I will get a chance to go. I am too busy rite now with school and work.

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Mon May 22, 2006 3:33 pm

DaveKJ02 wrote:

You should have been out with us today. It was a great time. Our group used one...twice.

The Headless Horseman rocks!

Oh man, that looks awesome! We need one of those further north!

But I still say that just about anything a winch can do a manual winch or recovery strap can do. Obviously if you have a winch, use it, but there's just no reason to spend that much on one when there are other more important purchases to come first.

One case I think a winch is > recovery strap is when you are either in really tight quarters or on very slippery surface. A winch just requires that the recovering vehicle be stationary, wheras a recovery strap requires that the recovering vehicle be able to get traction and move. That being said, though, I don't think that very often a vehicle gets stuck so bad that a winch alone would have made the difference. Either it can be recovered with a strap or two, or you need a tractor or something.

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