Make my '06 Liberty a beach buggy? How? So many questions..

Bandersnoot · **Joined:** Mon May 31, 2010 10:54 am **Posts:** 2

Greets,

First: I never do any work on my own cars. I read the FAQ but got lost in the details. Not sure where to start. I love my stock 4WD Liberty and want to improve it for my purposes. I just don't believe I have the time, money (special tools), or patience to do this myself.

What I hope to get out of this is a better vehicle for the beach. I live in central NC and the beaches here are fantastic. Went to Ft Fisher yesterday and loved it. But the beach sand is soft and deep, and I felt like we were getting too bogged-down. The full size trucks and other vehicles with big tires were moving along with no problem. My vehicle is 100% stock at this point.

I don't believe I will ever do the big-time off-road thing, I'm sure it's fun and all, but I just want to focus on beach use. I won't be climbing over giant rocks or stuff like that.

Maybe the place to start is tires. I guess it would go better in the sand with bigger tires. My stock tires are in need of replacement so this is a good time to upgrade. But I don't want the tires to rub in the wheel wells.

Should I get a lift kit? I looked through the picture topic and I have to admit that I like the looks of the moderate (2"-3") lifts. If I must do this to get the tires I need then so be it.

I've looked at JBA, Rough Country, Rocky Road, but the specs mean nothing to me. I have no idea what I really need and what's just unnecessary. I just want good quality that will last without creating more problems down the road. The FAQ listed Jeeps By Al as first so I assume that's good quality. Are there others I should consider?

Then there's the problem of finding someone to do the work. There is a local guy that we like to do our car repairs, he is honest and trustworthy. Is this the kind of thing where I could buy the kit and ask him to install it?

So here's my basic questions:

1) Should I get a lift kit for beach use and what size, which brand?

2) What size tires should I get?

3) Can a regular garage-type service place do the installation?

Any other suggestions are GREATLY appreciated, as long as we stay focused on beach use as the goal (just want to avoid rat holes).

Thanks,

- Tim

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Mon May 31, 2010 4:24 pm

Add a hitch and tow an ATV to the beach?

durangotang · **Posted:** Mon May 31, 2010 4:40 pm

Lift? No necessarily if all you want to do is be able to cruise better on the beach. Buy some 245/70R16 all terrain tires and a small 12V air compressor. No lift needed to fit those tires.

Go to the beach, take some of the air out of your tires in the parking lot, cruise around all you like, air back up in the parking lot, good to go.

I'd go look for one of these bad boys online... they are about the best budget compressor you can get.

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&q=masterflow+1050&cid=14631334012226555505&ei=cR4ETIq0I6ayiQSWvuzyCA&sa=title&ved=0CAcQ8wIwADgA#p

Should get you going :rockon:

jimymc · **Joined:** Thu Dec 17, 2009 7:51 pm **Posts:** 248

Yes, you do need bigger tires. The tread isn't quite as important for beach use as for rocky and muddy trails. A good all terrain tire with a LT rating would do great. You need to lift as well. This will get your undercarriage up off the sand and allow you to have bigger tires without them rubbing. It seems the most used size is 245 70 16. I have 255 70 16 tires and even with a 2.5" lift they still rub some. For beach use airing down the tires will also help. This increases the surface area of the tires to help "float" the Jeep. Having a way to air the tires back up when you leave the beach is also important. A 12 volt air pump will do, but a CO2 tank with a regulator is MUCH faster.

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Mon May 31, 2010 5:19 pm

tire width is important - as is airing down
you might be able to fit 255/70/16 on stock

an OME lift - will be a reasonable, good quality lift and you should be able to go up to 265/70/16
although expect to trim the front bumper and bend a pinch weld.

I like All-J's - they support the site - but OME's are available a lot of places.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Mon May 31, 2010 5:23 pm

I'd like to point out that my suggestion requires minimal changes to the Jeep and maximizes streetability without need of the Ronald McDonald compressor you get with purchase of a Happy Meal.

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Mon May 31, 2010 5:25 pm

I'm in central NC too, Hillsborough to be exact, atleast for right now.. if ya need any help let me know

I'd go with an OME or BDS coil lift, it'll net 2-3" depending on what you pair with it, and rides like a dream. It's a total replacement for the stock suspension ~ 750 bucks

255-70 A/P's or A/T's or 245-75's have great flotation in the sand and do very well on the street

I'd get a engine, and transmission skid right off the bat, theres all sorts of hidden stuff in the sand that can appear abruptly when dodging through ruts

also, make sure to air your tires down for the beach, it helps more than you'd think! especially with our baby powder sand

I ran 255-70s stock, and they rubbed the pinch weld quite a bit, and rubbed the front skirt a hair after the lift but nothing that was cause for concern

SurfGuitar141 · **Posted:** Mon May 31, 2010 6:01 pm

Bandersnoot....

I'm an avid beach rider, been running the beaches of South Jersey since 1985, and I've also been to OBX.

The sand on OBX is a little different than what I deal with in Jersey, it tends to go a little softer, and due to the increased traffic, rut a lot deeper.

There's a lot of varying opinions on this site as to lift kits, some have already suggested the OME...(Old Man Emu)...lift package that will get you up approx 3", and allow 245/75/16's, or the slightly wider tracking 255/70/16's. On the beach the wider the tire, the better they will float your vehicle on the sand, and not dig in. As mentioned, tread design is less important on soft sand. I run General Grabber HTS, the HTS stands for Highway/Trail/Snow.....it's a much tamer tread design than you'll see on most other Liberty's here at LOST, but like you, I mainly run the beach, I also hit a few mild back woods trails, but we don't have rocks to climb at the Jersey shore, or in the Pine Barrens, so I have no real need of an aggressive tread.

There are less expensive alternatives to spending $750.00 to over $1,000.00 for new springs, struts, and shocks. Next weekend I'm installing a Daystar spacer lift on my '05 Renegade, this kit uses the stock suspension components, but adds spacers to increase ride height by 2.5", again this will allow you to run either 245/75's, or 255/70's, and I would go with the 70's for the added tread width.
Also as mentioned by others, a 12vdc air pump is very handy, some beaches have compressed air at the entry/exit ways, but the beaches I drive do not. Lowering your tire's air pressure to approx 20 Lbs. each will usually soften them up enough to give you better float, and I've actually lowered mine down to 15 Lbs. when I know the sand is extra soft.
The skid plates are always a good idea, even if you just drive the highway they protect your underside vital organs from road debris, but on the beach there's always all kinds of nasty things hiding just below the surface waiting for your tires to kick it up into your oil pan, tranny, transfer case, or differentials. My Liberty is the first vehicle I've had on the beach that didn't come with a full set of skid plates, and I'm very cautious when I do hit the sand, I'am in the process of fabricating my own skids, but until I get that project completed, I approach all off roading with a higher level of care.

A lot of the guys here have offered what they believe is good advice, and for the off roading they do, I have no doubt that it's all of great value, but many of them have never run the beach, they climbed rocks and hit trails I'll never see let alone drive, but the beach is a totally different animal, and many here do not fully understand the particulars of driving on this unique surface....

Good luck with whatever you decide to do, and enjoy the beach....it's not everybody that has the ability to pull up to the water's edge at dawn, and watch the sun rise over the Atlantic Ocean......

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Mon May 31, 2010 6:16 pm

good luck not breaking your teeth on rutted up carolina beach with sagged stock springs and coil spacers

yes there's cheaper alternatives.. there's also a good dentist down the street

jimymc · **Joined:** Thu Dec 17, 2009 7:51 pm **Posts:** 248

I have lived in Florida all my life and have spent quit a bit of time driving on Florida's beaches. I have driven out a lot of 2WD vehicles that were stuck on the beach that others thought were hopelessly stuck. A lot of sand driving is in the technique. Don't use your brakes. The drag of the sand is enough to stop you without digging a hole or building a little lump for you to get over when you start again. When you start make sure that your steering wheels are straight. That way you aren't plowing sand in front of them adding to the energy required to get going. Don't make sharp turns if you can help it for the same reason. Try to keep from spinning your wheels. It only digs you deeper into the sand. Spinning your wheels in mud may clean the tires, but it is a no-no in the sand. Keep up your speed when you see difficult situations ahead. The momentum helps to get you through. If you do start spinning down... STOP. Get out and evaluate your situation. Always carry a shovel for this possibility. Dig a ramp out in front of ALL your tires. Air your tires down if you already haven't and you will probably be able to drive out. If conditions are too bad in front of you, ramp to the rear and go in that direction. If you feel yourself bogging down turn toward the water. The little bit of slope will do a lot to help you keep going. With your 4WD don't wait until things start to get bad. Shift the transfer case to part-time 4WD as soon as you go into the sand. All of these things will go a long way to keep you from getting stuck or getting you out. Of course, the other recommendations here will add a lot to your ability to drive through the sand as well.

JeepMorrison · **Joined:** Thu Jul 16, 2009 11:34 am **Posts:** 1236

i have 235/75/16 unis on mine with a clevis lift and one rear spacer and a front and rear hitch, spent alot of time at the beach this week end and pulled a truck out and walked right by people getting stuck left and right, keep it in 4wd high and dont punch it.

some times it helps if you lower your air down to like 20 psi

DirtyKK · **Posted:** Mon May 31, 2010 11:26 pm

245/70/16 tires on stock suspension
air down to 16-20 psi
keep your foot light on the throttle but keep speed and momentum
when parking make it so your vehicle is pointed downward if there is any kind of incline
when taking off go gentle on the throttle at first
if you start to get good and stuck dont bury you tires and have the belly of the Jeep resting on the ground cause it makes it alot harder to get out
carry a few planks of wood to wedge under your tires, maybe a small shovel and of course a tow rope

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Tue Jun 01, 2010 12:09 pm

Chicks really dig ATV's too.

tommudd · **Posted:** Tue Jun 01, 2010 12:32 pm

JeepinJarhead03 wrote:

good luck not breaking your teeth on rutted up carolina beach with sagged stock springs and coil spacers

yes there's cheaper alternatives.. there's also a good dentist down the street

Times 2
with any KJ over 30-35000 miles you're basically wasting your time installing a spacer lift, you may gain some height, but will not gain 2.5 inches ( maybe over what it is now but not when it was new) remember it only cost a hundred or so more to do a full spring. ( after buying 4 new shocks etc. )
As far as driving in sand, whats been said is all so true, egg on the gas pedal, air down and aggressive tread design will get you in trouble! :wink:

jimymc · **Joined:** Thu Dec 17, 2009 7:51 pm **Posts:** 248

As far as driving in sand, whats been said is all so true, egg on the gas pedal, air down and aggressive tread design will get you in trouble! :wink:

[/quote]

tommudd · **Posted:** Tue Jun 01, 2010 1:43 pm

jimymc wrote:

As far as driving in sand, whats been said is all so true, egg on the gas pedal, air down and aggressive tread design will get you in trouble! :wink:

[/quote]

What ???
drive with an egg on the gas pedal
air down a must
and aggressive tread will dig right down in and then you're stuck
whats so :?:

about that :shock:

Fulltimer · **Posted:** Tue Jun 01, 2010 4:30 pm

Aggressive tread WILL dig down and get you stuck if your not careful. Tom is right! All I have to do is push a tiny bit too hard on the skinny pedal and I can feel it digging down. I don't air down but then I have learned a thing or 2 over the years. Even though, one of these days I probably will get stuck on the beach.

Terry

jimymc · **Joined:** Thu Dec 17, 2009 7:51 pm **Posts:** 248

tommudd wrote:

jimymc wrote:

As far as driving in sand, whats been said is all so true, egg on the gas pedal, air down and aggressive tread design will get you in trouble! :wink:

What ???
drive with an egg on the gas pedal
air down a must
and aggressive tread will dig right down in and then you're stuck
whats so :?:

about that :shock:

[/quote]

Ok... I get it. I thought you meant that egg on the pedal and airing down would get you in trouble as well as aggressive tread. Just misunderstood. Sorry Tom.

Bandersnoot · **Joined:** Mon May 31, 2010 10:54 am **Posts:** 2

All,

Thanks for all the great advice. I will invest in a compressor and deflate the tires next time. Great tips on beach driving.

I am looking at the Frankenlift. I've asked my local mechanic if he would install, and he is giving me an estimate. He didn't think it would be a problem.

Your advice has confirmed my leaning to 255/70 R16. Do I need to worry about the rim width? Should any SUV tire fit okay?

I'll look for something that's not too aggressive in the treads.

Thanks again for your advice.

ONE MORE QUESTION

[edited out reference to Yokohama tires, terrible reviews] If I find a brand that has in the size I want, but it's marked as "P255/70R16," should I care that it's got the P for Passenger? Does the "P" matter?

ramlebliberty · **Posted:** Wed Jun 02, 2010 2:10 am

I live in Wilmington and traverse the beaches here every weekend.

#1 recovery gear & recovery points! hooks, hitch ball, a good strap, sand shovel, and some wood planks. You don't want to get stuck but be prepared to dig urself out. sure beats a $180 tow.

#2 Air down, and try to keep your momentum.

#3 if you notice your getting stuck, don't try rocking it back n forth, ur only going to make it harder to recover. break out the shovel and planks!

#4 get a aux. tranny cooler, the beach will toast your engine and tranny if ur not careful. Ft. fisher claimed my head gasket.

#5 LOW RANGE 4X4! they are IMO the best 4x4 shop in the carolinas, the owner Kelly has lifted libbys before ( including solid axle swaps ) and has been featured in Petersens 4WOR too many times to count, if ur in the area check him out www.lowrange4x4.com, he can probally beat the labor charge of ur mechanic since he has lifted a few KJ's and knows what the deal is with them. He also can get tires and wheels for "cheaper"

The P on the tire size stands for passenger rated, go for it. For what you'll be using the jeep for you wont need a thick sidewall. I have load range E and they weigh every bit of 65 pounds without the rims! I get about 14mph cuz of it. So you want to stick with the lightest tire you can find, better mileage and less wear on your stuff!

Make my '06 Liberty a beach buggy? How? So many questions..

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