approach and departure angles

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K

kmcoop7

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Jun 3, 2009
Threads
46
Messages
264
Location
CO MTNS
I am seriously considering selling my built 80 for a 100 series. The 100 would not be a daily driver for me, but a wheeling/camping/hunting truck. I have used my 80 some some difficult trails (holy cross, blanca peak, golden spike, several in Moab) and intend to use a 100 this way If I purchase.

I had planned to spend 8-10k building the 100 (lift, armor, lockers, gears, 315's).

I have read all the posts on how great a wheeler the 100 is but.....Those anlges, they look terribe. Worse than our non-lifted titan even when you lift it and put bumpers on. All the bumpers for 100's seem to make the angles worse.

The question: Is it possible to get decent approach/departure angles on a 100. I can fabricate bumpers myself (did them on my 80) and am not afraid to cut the frame. I look through all the photos of your built 100's and it they look like pinnochio with a sir mix-a-lot rear end. Does anyone have a 100 with custom bumpers that are well tucked? Is the frame really that far out there on both ends that it is difficult to tuck these things in?

I felt like my 80 wasn't too far off JK wrangler approach/departure angles, can this be done with a 100?

Thanks
 
This is about the best that I could have done with the goals of having better angles and not looking like every other 100 series. On the rear I went with the 4x4 labs DIY kit. Not sure you are going to get to 80 series angles with this truck unless you plan on massaging the body, especially in the rear.
bumper%203.webp
 
The 100's just not gonna wheel as hard as your 80 no matter what. Sure you might get the angles better but you're going to be limited by IFS and sheet metal.

From the sounds of what you want to do why not just keep the 80?
 
wife

I don't really want to get rid of the 80, but I do want a V8. The main reason for the swap is that the wife won't ride in the 80, she thinks it smells and sounds like a lawn mower. Which it does.

I think with enough armor you can wheel the 100 close to the 80. Maybe not Blanca Peak. That was pretty tough in the 80.
 
The 4x4 labs and bump it off road bumpers will greatly increase your departure angles. I think the slee blueberry bumper has the best approach angle. A custom tube bumper like blucruiser would be best tho.
 
kmcoop7 said:
I don't really want to get rid of the 80, but I do want a V8. The main reason for the swap is that the wife won't ride in the 80, she thinks it smells and sounds like a lawn mower. Which it does.

I think with enough armor you can wheel the 100 close to the 80. Maybe not Blanca Peak. That was pretty tough in the 80.
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Fair enough. I guess I just don't think of the 100 series as a hardcore wheeler. The fact that they are still really expensive up here doesn't help. I wouldn't even consider chopping up a 100 for what they are worth in these parts.

Good luck. Looking forward to seeing what you do with it if you decide to get one.
 
kmcoop7 said:
I don't really want to get rid of the 80, but I do want a V8. The main reason for the swap is that the wife won't ride in the 80, she thinks it smells and sounds like a lawn mower. Which it does.
I think with enough armor you can wheel the 100 close to the 80. Maybe not Blanca Peak. That was pretty tough in the 80.
Click to expand...
Why not clean out the 80, change the carpets (smell), and put in some soundproofing/deadening. Probably both faster, easier and cheaper; and a better wheeler.
 
I've been impressed with the departure of my Irbis rear bumper. About 3" removed from the frame. As for the 100 not being "hardcore" wheeler. If you don't consider Moab Rim and Golden Spike hardcore then I guess you're right.

Yes, that is a gatorade bottle.
rear bumper.webp
 
hardcore

Moab rim and golden spike arent too tough. there are plenty of vehicles rolling off the showroom floor that can complete them. Xterra, FJ Cruiser, JK Rubicon, Power Wagon. Penrose is hardcore.

But, it looks like your rear and podvins front bumpers, exactly why I asked the question, it looks like it can be done, 4 or 5" off the front and 3" off the rear.

thanks for the input guys

It isn't the carpet that stinks, I think it is the "fuel vapor" issue? Inside is spotless, but the motor smells and sounds like a lawn mower. I prefer motors to sound somewhat violent, don't care about the smell!
 
kmcoop7 said:
Moab rim and golden spike arent too tough. there are plenty of vehicles rolling off the showroom floor that can complete them. Xterra, FJ Cruiser, JK Rubicon, Power Wagon. Penrose is hardcore.

But, it looks like your rear and podvins front bumpers, exactly why I asked the question, it looks like it can be done, 4 or 5" off the front and 3" off the rear.

thanks for the input guys

It isn't the carpet that stinks, I think it is the "fuel vapor" issue? Inside is spotless, but the motor smells and sounds like a lawn mower. I prefer motors to sound somewhat violent, don't care about the smell!
Click to expand...

I'd love to see the stock Xterra after it did Golden Spike. Must be different version of that truck than I have ever seen.
 
My goal has also been to build my 100 up with the best approach and departure angles possible and also not look like everyone elses 100. There are more bumper options on the market than ever right now for 100's. I came very close to doing a tube front bumper but couldn't get it quite the way I wanted so I opted for the front BumpItOffroad winch bumper. This bumper has about the best clearance in the front I think you can achieve that will still hold a winch suited for the weight of a 100. I also ordered the BumpItOffroad rear high clearance bumper which should be here this week. This bumper again is about as good as I think you will find for clearance in the rear. It does require cutting out the rear cross member. There are a few others on here running this same bumper so pics are in other threads. I will post a few pictures of my install later this week.

Other bumpers with good clearance have already been posted. Aside from the bumpers I purchased the front Slee blueberry is probably about as good as it gets for front approach angles as well. The rear 4x4labs bumper is another high clearance design which requires cutting out the rear cross member. I really like this bumper too and came very close to ordering the labs bumper. The Irbis bumper Farinvail has looks nice and tight to the body as well.

I've always liked most of what Alan Podvin did to the 100 pictured above. He is running 37's in the picture with a combination of suspension and a big body lift IIRC. I'm surprised no one else has tried a similar setup. When I first bought my 100 I thought I would like to run 37's one day. I would still like to do this but unless some new suspension becomes available it looks like SAS is the best way to run a 37" tire ($$$$$). I may begin collecting all the things I need for a SAS in the future. As much as I'd love to just drop my 100 off at Slee and get the SAS it's just too expensive for me all at once. When I saw the Slee Blueberry for the first time I've dreamed of having mine setup similar... Maybe one day after I run out of other things to upgrade the SAS will become a reality...
 
I designed one of these that tucks flat up against the grill and takes a winch, I nneded the best entry and exit for dunes, I have the design specks and measurements for the build if you want them.

OUTBACK%20XROX%20LC100.jpg


Its a game changer when you put max lift and 315's on. BUT you are going to have very little flex if you do 315's becauase you will need extended bump stops to stop the tyres taking off the fenders on trails.
 
^^agree! Are they custom?
 
Here are the ones I built. It can be done. The reason most of the after market ones are so big is because or the rear crossmember/ bumper. Remove that and you can tuck it up pretty tight
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1411830214.990162.webp
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1411830252.529656.webp
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1411830289.276369.webp
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1411830331.411642.webp
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1411830393.537569.webp
 
kmcoop7 said:
I am seriously considering selling my built 80 for a 100 series. The 100 would not be a daily driver for me, but a wheeling/camping/hunting truck. I have used my 80 some some difficult trails (holy cross, blanca peak, golden spike, several in Moab) and intend to use a 100 this way If I purchase.

I had planned to spend 8-10k building the 100 (lift, armor, lockers, gears, 315's).

I have read all the posts on how great a wheeler the 100 is but.....Those anlges, they look terribe. Worse than our non-lifted titan even when you lift it and put bumpers on. All the bumpers for 100's seem to make the angles worse.

The question: Is it possible to get decent approach/departure angles on a 100. I can fabricate bumpers myself (did them on my 80) and am not afraid to cut the frame. I look through all the photos of your built 100's and it they look like pinnochio with a sir mix-a-lot rear end. Does anyone have a 100 with custom bumpers that are well tucked? Is the frame really that far out there on both ends that it is difficult to tuck these things in?

I felt like my 80 wasn't too far off JK wrangler approach/departure angles, can this be done with a 100?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Its perception, lift it with some 35's and you will be all good.
 
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