WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT....?

supermanwv · **Posted:** Fri Feb 15, 2008 9:50 am

I just bought all new MOPAR skids from front to back for my Liberty Sport 4x4 (2007). It is not lifted yet...and has brand new 235x70x16 Firestone Destination A/T's on it. I don't do a lot of offroad trailing but I would like to/and plan to start doing a little more with the local Jeep club. I want to someday soon lift my KJ with the Rusty's Offroad 2.5" Suspension Lift (Not Spacers), but for now I have to keep the 235x70's since they are new, and I don't know if that will look crazy or not (and when they are older I'll replace with something bigger). I also want to buy some rock sliders/boulder bars for my KJ. And one day I would also like to add a front hitch so I can have a detachable hitch mounted winch (So I don't have to leave it attached at all times...to save on stressing the front shocks.

Based on this information....what would anyone suggest that I should do first (what would be most important for offroading?) You can list from most important to least important if you want...and if anything else comes to you...you can add it to the list. I'm new at this offroading thing. So any advise is great. So if there is anything I haven't mentioned that you all think is very important to have...by all means let me know.

Thanks

Clark (SupermanWV)

jerbacher · **Posted:** Fri Feb 15, 2008 10:13 am

1) armor
-you already have the skids, get some rock rails next
2) lift
3) tires

those are the basics, everything else after that is up to you. i wouldnt worry tooo much about a winch anytime soon though. for the amount of times you'll use it, its probably not worth it until you are going off road ALOT and possibly alone. A rear locker would probably be the first logical thing after those first 3.

supermanwv · **Posted:** Fri Feb 15, 2008 10:25 am

I would also like some spacers on the tires to make it a little wider stance....and reccomendations on spacer width, and will the spacers cause too much stress on bearings and such? Are the spacers a bad idea for jeeps that see lots of onroad use too? Cause I'm constantly driving...so I don't want to hurt my Jeep by putting additional stress on it. But would it hurt to leave the spacers on all the time, or would it be the same to have a wheel with different backspacing on it?

Give me some pointers on the spacers...and any info you can. And where should those fall on my list of TO DO'S?

Thanks again,

Clark

Fulltimer · **Posted:** Fri Feb 15, 2008 10:52 am

Spacers: get ONLY SpiderTrax. I have the 1.5" and don't recommend you go that wide. The most I would recommend is 1.25". As far as causing any damage using them all the time. In my opinion, no. Others will say yes.

Here is something else you can add. There is a large open space between the front skid plate and the bumper. This allows the skid plate to scoop up dirt/mud/sand onto the top of the skid plate. One guy on here got ahold of a stop sign and used it to fill in the space. HIS NAME SHALL REMAIN HIDDEN! I asked and got a piece of aluminum and cut it to attach to the skid plate and the front, under the bumper. Hint: get a large flat piece of cardboard, use it to make a template. This is just to deflect mud so it doesn't need to be made of steel. I can post a picture later if you want.

Terry

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Feb 15, 2008 10:57 am

do you have any front and rear hooks for recovery, very important next step if not
rock rails of some sort

recovery gear/ shackles/ tow strap ( without metal hooks)

wheel spacers and not lifted will cause you a few problems, if you want them I would wait until lifted, but you will get rubbing with them stock. scarletbegonias installed them on hers unlifted
spacers are OK to run all the time IF you get good ones like Spidertrax, nothing else. these are the best

front hitch will have to be a used one so keep your eyes open , they dont make them anymore.

your lift choice... SIMON SAYS :wink:

OME springs are much better but I will not preach the gospel of ARB/OME today. just know that Rustys springs are only rated at 300 lb, OMEs are rated 300 stock/ 375 mediums and 400 heavy duty, plus Rustys rear shocks are junk, do not fit the Liberty well at all, have to use a bunch of spacers and tighten like crazy, if going with Rustys throw the shocks away and replace with Rancho RSX 17004 Oh you can put together an OME/Rancho lift for about the same price as a Rustys
Tom

and the road sign works great by the way :wink:

jerbacher · **Posted:** Fri Feb 15, 2008 11:05 am

tommudd wrote:

do you have any front and rear hooks for recovery, very important next step if not
rock rails of some sort

recovery gear/ shackles/ tow strap ( without metal hooks)

wheel spacers and not lifted will cause you a few problems, if you want them I would wait until lifted, but you will get rubbing with them stock. scarletbegonias installed them on hers unlifted
spacers are OK to run all the time IF you get good ones like Spidertrax, nothing else. these are the best

ahhhhh i forgot recovery! silly me. Recovery is #1! so, to revise the list

1) recovery (tow points front and rear, this can be hooks or hitch receivers with shackles, and a strap)
2) armor
3) lift
4) tires (do the spacers or backspaced wheels here)
5) locker?

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Feb 15, 2008 11:09 am

wake up Jon!!

Fulltimer · **Posted:** Fri Feb 15, 2008 11:54 am

Now Tom, I didn't want to give you away. :lol:

Terry

phxtoad · **Posted:** Fri Feb 15, 2008 12:04 pm

YES on the locker. I'd even move it up in front of lift.

The lift and larger tires just allows you to clear rocks etc. without touching as much. It's really not going to make your rig that much more capable.

Traction, momentum, a good spotter, and some experience will still get you there. You'll just rub on stuff more.

That said, get a lift so you can run bigger tires so it looks better, and feels better as you bounce down the trails

TL

jeepkj02 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 15, 2008 12:46 pm

supermanwv wrote:

I want to someday soon lift my KJ with the Rusty's Offroad 2.5" Suspension Lift (Not Spacers), but for now I have to keep the 235x70's since they are new, and I don't know if that will look crazy or not (and when they are older I'll replace with something bigger).

It got OME Med springs with front clevis and one extra rear iso pad. Plan on adding rusty's strut spacer and taking out/reducing the clevis to even it out. Tires are the same as you have.

I agree:
1) Recovery
2) Protection
3) Lift
4) Tires

supermanwv · **Posted:** Fri Feb 15, 2008 2:03 pm

Its been said numerous times in many posts that you can find an OME Lift for the same price as the Rusty's lift if you shop around....Well, the Rusty's lift is $465.00 and I've never seen the OME Lifts for less than $600's. So if anyone can tell me where I can get an OME Lift for $465, I would gladly go that route...especially since they say I can get the HD springs at that price by shopping around.

Fill me in on where I can purchase this stuff that cheap and I'll go that route.

Clark (SupermanWV)

KJ04 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 15, 2008 3:45 pm

supermanwv wrote:

Its been said numerous times in many posts that you can find an OME Lift for the same price as the Rusty's lift if you shop around....Well, the Rusty's lift is $465.00 and I've never seen the OME Lifts for less than $600's. So if anyone can tell me where I can get an OME Lift for $465, I would gladly go that route...especially since they say I can get the HD springs at that price by shopping around.

Fill me in on where I can purchase this stuff that cheap and I'll go that route.

Clark (SupermanWV)

The wording is generally frasied as about the same price. In reality it's a little more. To start with the Rusty's is $465 + shipping, so $465 has become $500 +.
"YOU" need to shop around for your best prices, look for sales ect. For example RRO has OME's at $69.00 ea. $276.00 for four + shipping. I just read that someone bought Rancho's front and rear from Amazon.com for $239.00 with free shipping. That's $516 + shipping on the springs. Parts stores will generally price match anything you would find on line, save on shipping and just pay a little sales tax, plus they have sales at times.
Then we have a parts for sale section down at the bottom of the page where you can get deals.

LostEddie · **Posted:** Fri Feb 15, 2008 4:57 pm

Depends on where you will be offroading!

Here in Northern California, you need boulder bars even if you are not lifted. You can be pulled off a rock by a buddy but he can’t fix your sheet metal. Local LOST (here) will not let you go on many (boulder) trails, without the Bars – talk to your local folks.

So if you plan to be on trails that risk you rockers:

1. Recovery hooks (or receiver) front and back
2. Skids
3. Rock sliders/boulder bars
4. Lift
5. Tires
6. lockers, etc.

supermanwv · **Posted:** Fri Feb 15, 2008 5:36 pm

I have a small "off topic" question about the gas tank skid (MOPAR) I just bought. I noticed that on the gas tank (plastic) on the side where the muffler is, there is a heat shield held on with a nut threaded on a bolt (plastic molded to the tank I think), does that piece remain on there when I install the skid...and will the nut and bold piece affect how the skid fits?

Just a quick question as I want to try and install these over the weekend.

Thanks

Clark

LostEddie · **Posted:** Fri Feb 15, 2008 7:38 pm

The shield on my 06 stayed in place and went inside the skid.

moose · **Posted:** Sun Feb 17, 2008 4:26 pm

I don't know if I should get excited and talk about why he doesn't need lockers until he determinesthe ESP isn't enough, or be disapointed that this thread is a duplicate of at least one other from 18 months ago... I would agree with everyone with the exception of the CB. Nothing is worse than everyone not having everyone on the trail with at least a cheap CB. Except for that sheet metal damage from not having sliders, or no recovery points :wink:

On a side note, having installed both OME/AllJ's and Rusty's, I like the OME much better. That being said, if you aren't planning on a new front bumper for the next few years, the Rusty's is functional.

tommudd · **Posted:** Sun Feb 17, 2008 4:34 pm

Good point Moose on the CB, its something that is always in my Jeep or any vehicle I have had for years and never think of it!

WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT....?

Who is online