Modifications Suggestions Needed

Fulltimer · **Posted:** Fri Feb 23, 2007 7:44 am

Here is what I have:

2005 Libby 4X4 with all the factory rock guards. In other words STOCK. I live in Florida, drive mostly on the roads (85 - 90%) and this is the one and only family car. I want to make it a little better for trail rides. I know I want to add wheel spacers for a little better stability. I don't care much for the front being lower than the back end. I would like to lift it a little, not much. It also is ready for new tires so I would like suggestions on a somewhat quiet set of good tires for road/off road.

thanks...Terry

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 23, 2007 8:36 am

OK, here is a list of mods I wanted for my Liberty: (This list was compiled with the help of some friends)

Maditory Items:
1. Skids
2. Rock Rails
3. Tow Hooks
4. Civilian Band radio
5. Trail Kit
6. Tires (Firestone Destination A/T's or Revo's were at the top of my list but use www.tirerack.com to do your research)
7. LSD or Locker
8. Lift (spring lift is the way to go: OME or Rusty's)
9. ARB Bumper

Of course this list really only applies to my tastes, wants and needs for how I use the Liberty. As such, some of it will or won't apply to you. Also everyone else will have different suggestions on how to do it because they have different needs and such - but this is generally how I rank the priority. Good luck

Science_Guy · **Posted:** Fri Feb 23, 2007 9:08 am

sleeve84028 wrote:

OK, here is a list of mods I wanted for my Liberty: (This list was compiled with the help of some friends)

Maditory Items:
1. Skids
2. Rock Rails
3. Tow Hooks
4. Civilian Band radio
5. Trail Kit
6. Tires (Firestone Destination A/T's or Revo's were at the top of my list but use www.tirerack.com to do your research)
7. LSD or Locker
8. Lift (spring lift is the way to go: OME or Rusty's)
9. ARB Bumper

I would agree with most of that.

On the renegade, you should have most skids and rock rails. These are fine for most people and work great for me. I will get new ones only after beating mine to you know where. CB and tow hooks are a must IMO. Usually you can get away with a "trail kit" if you wheel with others who have tow straps and other stuff but you will want to get them when funds are available. I would also put a lift before tires and a locker. By getting the lift first, you will be able to buy larger tires which is often desired offroading. A locker and ARB bummer are nice but not as important as a lift and tires.

So, my list would be:
1. Skids (usually stock on Renegade except the tranny skid)
2. Rock Rails (usually stock on Renegade)
3. Tow Hooks (usually stock on Renegade)
4. Civilian Band radio
5. Lift (cheapest = clevis, midrange = daystar, top = Rusty spring lift or Franklift)
6. Tires (31s)
Cream items...
Locker
ARB Bumper

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Fri Feb 23, 2007 11:03 am

Adjust the front end by using the clevis lift which is Free and then put a set of 245/70-16's on there along w/ some factory skids and bars and you should be good for a lot of Fl. wheeling. (at least from what I have seen of pics taken there anyway) Add in a locker or posi and you will have a very capable Jeep.
Of course you should go prepared with all the normal trail and safety equipment.

riptricket · **Posted:** Fri Feb 23, 2007 11:25 am

what exactly is a clevis lift?

spoonplugger1 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 23, 2007 11:35 am

Fulltimer,
Scroll down the page to the tech articles, it's all in there.

Jeep_R_Roo14 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 23, 2007 11:43 am

Check out this thread posted by skrracing, it gives you the instructions.

http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=168

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Fri Feb 23, 2007 11:57 am

Heres some more info w/ pics.
http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/vie ... ght=clevis

http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/vie ... ght=clevis

Science_Guy · **Posted:** Fri Feb 23, 2007 1:13 pm

riptricket wrote:

what exactly is a clevis lift?

This is where you add lift by not placing the front strut completly down in the clevis. Some (like myself) add conduit lock nuts but these are not required.

You can also add a few extra rear isolators to get more cheap lift in the rear.

Stock Rear

Rear Springs Installed and 2 extra Upper Rear Spring Isolators

These are available Jeep dealership $12 per isolator. I added two extra on each side to get an extra .5 inch out of my Rusty lift.

dog_party · **Posted:** Fri Feb 23, 2007 4:24 pm

I like the lists you've gotten so far Fulltimer. Here's my priority list for Florida (or beach) wheeling:

1. Skids - Cover the bottom if it's not already covered (engine, transfer case, tranny, fuel tank) and get Rock Rails if you don't already have them (sounds like you do, but you didn't give a specific list of the protection items you had)

2. Recovery gear - Make sure you can get back by having at least the basics, tow hooks on your jeep, front and rear (or a hitch reciever), tow strap, a shovel, a CB, sand ladders are nice if you have room and you're going to be on the beach, a Hi-Lift or Farm Jack are really nice to have too.

3. Lift - If you're in a CRD, get the 2" Daystar puck lift (cheap), or the CRD Frankenlift (more expensive, but more thorough) If you're in a gasser, I like Science-Guy's description: cheapest = clevis, midrange = daystar, top = Rusty spring lift or Franklift

4. Tires - I would suggest getting tires after the lift for a couple reasons. One reason was already mentioned: because you can buy larger tires after a lift. The other reason is that, after your lift you want to drive around a little bit to let it settle before getting an alignment. You don't want to scrub your nice new tires.

5. Everything else.

Fulltimer · **Posted:** Fri Feb 23, 2007 5:47 pm

You guys are really helping me a lot. I appreciate it. I should have said that I have the "Limited" with the 3.7L. Or is it 3.6L? At any rate, somewhere around here I have the build sheet. On a LOT of motorhomes people have a clear plastic on the front end. One brand is called Diamond Shield. They do a fantastic job of preventing stone chips etc. Has anyone tried that on the sides of 4W4's? Seems like it would work with scratches also.

EDIT: Skid Plates..everything mentioned plus the rocker panels.

Terry

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Fri Feb 23, 2007 8:55 pm

As for hardware specific to off-roading:

1. Tow Hooks front and rear or hitches front/rear or combo of hooks and hitches. Stuck is stuck. No recovery point? Hate to see that axle possibly get ripped off

2. Tow strap - no use being stuck and nobody has a tow strap

3. CB Radio setup - Make a foolish mistake and off-road by yourself and get stuck? Cell is out of range? What next?

3. Skids - that one rock or piece of wood that bounces up hard will cost thousands.

4. Rails Bars Sliders - step over that big log or rock and then come down. Might hit the body panel. Might not be able to open the door after that

5. Lift

6. Tires - bigger and/or just more aggressive for the trails. If you plan to be almost always on-road then Revo's or BFG KO's or the copycats of these two.

For anything else:

#1 A good first aid kit (not a ziplock of Band-Aids)

jason thompson · **Posted:** Fri Feb 23, 2007 9:31 pm

Fulltimer wrote:

Here is what I have:

2005 Libby 4X4 with all the factory rock guards. In other words STOCK. I live in Florida, drive mostly on the roads (85 - 90%) and this is the one and only family car. I want to make it a little better for trail rides. I know I want to add wheel spacers for a little better stability. I don't care much for the front being lower than the back end. I would like to lift it a little, not much. It also is ready for new tires so I would like suggestions on a somewhat quiet set of good tires for road/off road.

thanks...Terry

Terry
Most of the guys here seem to be helpful but I will tell you what we did to my wifes ,wich is here daily driver, and why
I would also think that if you need new tires you may have the same milage as we did when we did the work on our '03 limited
first I made the trany skid that was not an option in '03 then we needed new struts/shocks so I looked and for ~$200 more dollars I could also get new springs so we did
we have a CB and tow hooks front hich rear along with the lift and the 225/75 all terains the KJ goes where she wants
and rides better to boot
get a good strap and that is about the min. you will need
remember that if you need new struts/shocks then new springs are a realy cheep lift @~$200 even compaired to a spacer kit cause even with the spacers you will still need new struts/shocks anyway

hope this helps
Jason

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Sat Feb 24, 2007 12:05 am

Yeah! What he said.......SEEMS helpful.

Dje Ryu · **Posted:** Sat Feb 24, 2007 2:11 am

Speaking only from my own experience here: Do NOT go with just spacers for a lift. The struts will not hold up under the added stress and as a result of strut failure, ball joint failure will follow. Thankfully, I got longer shocks for the rear so that's held up so far but, I still have Rusty's coils/struts, Moog LBJs and OEM UCAs (since it's impossible to find anything else, right now) on the way; Daystar sway bar bushings sitting here... hoping for somewhat warm weather when it all arrives.

Fulltimer · **Posted:** Sat Feb 24, 2007 8:05 am

Just what is the Trail Kit?

Terry (new at this :roll:

)

Science_Guy · **Posted:** Sat Feb 24, 2007 9:30 am

Fulltimer wrote:

Just what is the Trail Kit?

Terry (new at this :roll:

)

Basically what you take with you when you go out on the trail. I never go out alone so I don't worry about not having all the stuff others take with them. There is a thread about this topic HERE...

Fulltimer · **Posted:** Sat Feb 24, 2007 9:42 am

Thanks...that is kind of what I thought it might be.

Terry

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