Have you looked at the pics in the links I posted? Some of those high spots are 5-6 feet off the ground,33" tires aren't going to get you very far on those trails.Just saying.

I’m kinda a jack of all trades but master of none. Listed below are my experiences with backcountry photography and all have their individual uniqueness’s.

1. Backpacking - Sometimes the best photography is from off the unbeaten path and offers the most solitude you will find. Heck, you never know, you might even see Big Foot!
2. ATV - A great way to get down many hard trails without much worry.
3. KJ - A modified Liberty can do things that is hard to believe. I’ve seen the crew at LOST ROCKIES take their rigs through some places that I didn’t think was possible for a KJ.
4. Wrangler - A more modified approach to wheeling, better articulation, and better off-road capabilities.
5. Rving - A great way to travel, see the Nation, and cover some serious distance while giving you a nice base camp to explore the backcountry.

Personally, I enjoy doing all 5.

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2015 Ram Ecodiesel/Big Horn/4x4/Quad Cab
2016 Arctic Fox 22G/Onboard 2500 LP Cummins Onan Generator/160 Watt Solar Panel

I took the road less traveled. Now I'm LOST.

I have never seen trails like that. Got any action pics of them?

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06 White KJ Sport 4x4
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2432458/1

You want to take photographs right? Well if you are doing trails that require 35's, then you will not be taking many photographs. Your camera will be on the seat next to you just sitting there...

You will be watching your spotter, or looking at the ground, or fixing your Jeep, or getting unstuck for hours on end. You'll have fun, though...

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95 YJ 2.5" RE lift and 32's, Posi-Lock, 4.10's with a Tru-Trac up front, M8000 winch, CB, gear and what have you...
RIP: 02 KJ LE

Ever thought of buying a TJ or something?

For the cost of modding your KJ to fit 35" tires you can buy probably 2 of those over on your side of the pond....

Ever tried a mountain bike? No mods needed, if you can't make it you just step of and walk a bit...

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Cherokee 2,5 CRD: sold - Wrangler TJ 2.5: gone - Touareg V10 TDI: new toy

Solo Liberty en Español: Jeepliberty.es

Yes... this seems the idea I am looking/thinking of, most trails When I said no body damage, I did not mean no dents and such, just not destroying. I just did not know what the clearance the 35" gave. I get the idea now.

I like the idea of using the KJ for most trails, and tow an atv, the KJ can pull that for the most part I have a class 3 hitch.

So maybe what I am really looking at; a Frankenlift, a clevis lift. A BFG AT KO at LT265/R75 16D is 31.7". The LT285/R75 16D IS 32.8". Right now I have the BFG AT KO LT235/70R 16C which is 29.1. I have 7" clearance from the lowest point under the front diff skid plate and 8" cleance at the back dif. So, I guess if I put the 265 on, I should net 2.6" and bring the 7" to 9" clearnace. The 285 would net 3.7 and take me to 10" clearance.

I did not know I could put a R75 on, I thought I had to stay R70. There is a LT235/R85 16E that is 31.7", can this also be put on? Just asking the question. It seems every agrees some what that the best is geting to a 32" tire mark. The LT285/R75 16E is a 33" tire and it seems a larger lift is needed for that, so the 265 seems to be the target.

If I am going to lift it, I want to lift it machanicly sound. I have see all the post of the lifts were some were mixed, or not done 100% and that cause machanical issues and not from doing any trails. That is what I trully want to avoid, not doing it soundly. That is why I mentioned the disk breaks needed to be change or the diff's (grearing). Can that back tire rack hold a 265 tire, I need to look that up.

Thanks for all the answers. I did learn something from this.

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THX DJ
My first Jeep, an 06 KJ 4x4 Sport, inferno red, Command Trac, Stock+;
All Mopar skids, Front hooks, Fog Lights, Window tints, Front & Window air deflectors, BFG A/T KO 235/70R16
Rear Class III Hitch and ever Changing.

Yes, that is what started this. One of my friends said sell the liberty and get a jeep that can be done, or nearly already done. I own nothing on the KJ, and found out it is only worth 9k. So, I have to figure that option cost compared to lifting it correctly. I have a back issue, fussion that did not fully take correctly. So, I can not do the work myself, I will have to have it done for me.

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THX DJ
My first Jeep, an 06 KJ 4x4 Sport, inferno red, Command Trac, Stock+;
All Mopar skids, Front hooks, Fog Lights, Window tints, Front & Window air deflectors, BFG A/T KO 235/70R16
Rear Class III Hitch and ever Changing.

with a Frankenlift you do not need to do a clevis as well, its about the top of where you want to be as far as lift and long term reliability

you will not be able to run the 285-75s way too big, 265-75 or some have done the 235 -85s with taking out some or most of the wheel well liner

Regearing would help a lot with mileage and power wise if you went to a 31/32 inch tire or so, so yes to doing gears and might as well do lockers then as well

Tom

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MUDD'S MOTORSPORT'S We do IFS lift installs ,
03 OVERLAND EDITION /Kilby-Skidrow-Mopar-4XGuard skids/ 2.5 inch TOTAL CONTROL JBA coilovers -JBA Arms/MOABS-31 FALKEN WILDPEAK AT3W / 4.10's etc, 04 Kilimanjaro Edition loaded, plus 05 KJ limited

If you want to run the gnarliest trails, get a TJ, YJ or JK. The KJ is a capable rig if built right but It takes way more work to get on par with a built TJ or other one that I mentioned.

If I wanna run the gnarliest trails around where I am at I definitely don't take my KJ. Even if I had front and rear lockers I'd pass on the trails mentioned above. Not worth the inevitable breakage. To run the heavy duty stuff I just hitch a ride with my buddy that has a TJ with Dana 60 and Ford 9 axles with front and rear lockers and 39" Iroks.

You can pick up a really well built jeep for less than what it costs some to do a SFA KJ. A few months ago I saw a CJ7 with 37" tires and dana 60 axles with lockers, a rebuilt V8 for just over $7000. Guy had to sell it cause he needed the cash.

Either way, if you start with a stock rig and want a really built jeep, it will cost you, but a TJ will get you farther down the heavy duty stuff over a KJ.

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My Jeep Build ----> Big Black

above is true but do you want to drive a CJ or TJ every day of the week with 37s or 40s , most do not anymore!!!

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MUDD'S MOTORSPORT'S We do IFS lift installs ,
03 OVERLAND EDITION /Kilby-Skidrow-Mopar-4XGuard skids/ 2.5 inch TOTAL CONTROL JBA coilovers -JBA Arms/MOABS-31 FALKEN WILDPEAK AT3W / 4.10's etc, 04 Kilimanjaro Edition loaded, plus 05 KJ limited

I agree 100%. No way I'd drive my buddies built up TJ everyday. (he actually has 2 jeeps-one with 32s is his dd)

That is why I sold my TJ and got my KJ. I knew if I kept the TJ I'd build it into a trail only rig and I didn't want that. Plus with starting a family, TJs aren't exactly small child/baby friendly.

So all those factors plus some others together led me to buy my KJ and build it so that I can do some good off roading, but still keep it as a dd.

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My Jeep Build ----> Big Black

Main reason my TJ is still sitting on 33's after owning it for 3 years is I like to drive it to the trails. Most people I know have built their Jeeps so big they have to put them on a trailer to go anywhere. To me part of the fun of Jeeping is getting to the trails. I will always be the little guy on the trail whether its in the Libby or the Rubi. Guess it suits me just fine.

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Jeep, its a way of life.

06 KJ Limited
10 JK Unlimited Rubicon
14 JK Unlimited Rubicon
14 KL Cherokee Trail Hawk

Good point. I have very little desire to own an extreme trail rig. I prefer to drive a vehicle that can get me to the trail and pull a small travel trailer if needed. I like the Franlenlift because it’s enough height to make a difference on the trail without sacrificing everyday drivability, road trips, and other day to day uses. I’m building a JK to be a little more trail worthy, but I will keep it to 33” tires and a quality 3” - 4” lift. As I start a family, the 4 door KJ and 4 door JK will meet our needs, allow us to have fun, and still achieve sensible fuel economy. I love Jeeps, always have, and always will. One of the reasons why I like Jeeps is because of their individual potential to become customized to fit the owner. Whether you like to run stock, build them slightly modified, or customize a rock crawling machine, it yours and that’s all that matters. Adventure seeking would be boring if every trail rig was built the same and this forum wouldn’t be ¼ its size if we all had the same ideas.

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2015 Ram Ecodiesel/Big Horn/4x4/Quad Cab
2016 Arctic Fox 22G/Onboard 2500 LP Cummins Onan Generator/160 Watt Solar Panel

I took the road less traveled. Now I'm LOST.

I just read the "Suspected CV joint problem" topic. It seems the Frankenlift is contributing to the CV joint problem? Is there something that can be done to fix that? I would not want to keep changing the CV joint all the time due to the lift. I keeping what I have stated thus far, I would probably not go over 32" tires based on this thread. But, someone indicated that tire had nothing to do with the issue in that thread.

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THX DJ
My first Jeep, an 06 KJ 4x4 Sport, inferno red, Command Trac, Stock+;
All Mopar skids, Front hooks, Fog Lights, Window tints, Front & Window air deflectors, BFG A/T KO 235/70R16
Rear Class III Hitch and ever Changing.

Frankenlifts may or may not contribute to CV problems IMO , lots of people are running them with no problems at all, with my set up I am about the same heighth and no problems in over 75,000 miles so you can use that to determine what you want to do.

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MUDD'S MOTORSPORT'S We do IFS lift installs ,
03 OVERLAND EDITION /Kilby-Skidrow-Mopar-4XGuard skids/ 2.5 inch TOTAL CONTROL JBA coilovers -JBA Arms/MOABS-31 FALKEN WILDPEAK AT3W / 4.10's etc, 04 Kilimanjaro Edition loaded, plus 05 KJ limited

hey Tom I know you have posted it before and several times but what height are you sitting at?

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1980 Jeep CJ7 Buggy
SOA, D44/ FF14B, SBC 350, SM465, NP205, 108" WB, 37" MTs

http://www.dpgoffroad.com/
http://www.ucora.org/
http://www.christianoffroad.com/
http://jeepinbyal.com/

jsc7002

Just went and remeasured and am now sitting about 22 1/8 and a little, measured center of hub to bottom of flare, its settled some after I did the last revision and Als arms though
so about 7/8 less than 03KJSPORT with the 4 inch

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MUDD'S MOTORSPORT'S We do IFS lift installs ,
03 OVERLAND EDITION /Kilby-Skidrow-Mopar-4XGuard skids/ 2.5 inch TOTAL CONTROL JBA coilovers -JBA Arms/MOABS-31 FALKEN WILDPEAK AT3W / 4.10's etc, 04 Kilimanjaro Edition loaded, plus 05 KJ limited

This is an interesting thread because i am in a similar situation. I originally bought my KJ because i wanted something with 4x4 that i could take out into the back country to do some nature photography. It seems though that the more you go out the more difficult places you want to get to. I reached the limitations of my KJ and decided i wasn't going to put more money in but was going to sell it and buy a rubicon. Now, i am not so sure. I'm starting to think maybe i should keep the kj and use it to tow a quad. The quad would be able to take me places the rubicon couldn't. Can't make up my mind yet. I like my KJ but there are better choices depending on what you want. The wrangler is probably a better factory 'bush' vehicle but then you can't beat the versatility of the KJ.

Simple answer: Keep your KJ because it's not worth crap to trade or sell, and buy yourself a Wrangler when you can afford it.

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2015 Ram Ecodiesel/Big Horn/4x4/Quad Cab
2016 Arctic Fox 22G/Onboard 2500 LP Cummins Onan Generator/160 Watt Solar Panel

I took the road less traveled. Now I'm LOST.

that's what i'm afraid of