How to build for Moab Hill/Illinois Gulch? (1 Viewer)

[Horribilis]

I ran Moab Hill and Illinois gulch this weekend with a buddy of mine in his hopped-up and mod'd 4-door Jeep JK Rubicon. For those of you that have run Moab Hill, how are you 60/62's and 80's built?

I am without an LC for the time being, but will be looking soon (well okay I'm looking now, but just can't execute right away).

I also hope to take-on Spring Creek frequently, and maybe Holy Cross once a year.

 

[PPFJ60]

I snapped a stock FJ60 rear axle shaft on Little Moab. I now have a 14 bolt.

The first time I pulled up to those steps I was on 31's and the only thing I could do was to work on the outer edges of the hill to see if I could make that.

Then I went to 36's, 37's and now 39's it's not much of a challenge now.

 

[black95]

For little Moab and Holy Cross, you need a minimum of 33's and a rear locker, 35's would be much better. How you get there depends on your wallet size and how committed you are to this hobby. Typically with rockcrawling, motor size isn't that much of an issue, but it sure helps to have your rig re-geared to accommodate the new tires.

I would say with FJ60: 4 inch lift and 35's, or spring over and 35's or 37's -- the debate between spring over and a normal lift will rage on into eternity, you can google that and determine which side of the fence you're on.

With FJ80: Old Man Emu 2 1/2 lift with heavy springs to make it 3 1/2 ~ 4" of lift, and 35's

Both will have to be regeared, which is a significant investment.

 

[Horribilis]

I was leaning towards a 4" kit on 35's, but after running Moab Hill in the 4 door Jeep JK Rubicon on a 6" lift and 37's I'm reconsidering.

I've read about the 4" and 37's combo, as well as 6" and 37's combo on the 80. Sounds like a 4" and 37's combo might work on the 60/62 as well? Albeit a different set up obviously.

 

[PPFJ60]

In the words of Ian Johnson from Xtreme 4x4 "You have to be honest with yourself". Going bigger than 35" tires requires lots of more expensive parts. The cost of the tires alone goes up considerably. The road worthyness of a rig with tires larger than 35" drops so if you want something you can drive on the road most of the time and do some good wheeling in 33" - 35" tires are good. If you want an off road rig that is still road legal then going bigger than 35" is good.

One problem with wheeling the FJ60 is the big butt. Looking at my FJ60 sitting in the driveway on 39" you wouldn't think I be dragging the rear end over stuff all the time but I do. Don't get me wrong I love wheeling the FJ60 but it is really to big and heavy to be going on buggy trails not that little moab is a buggy trail.

Honestly to build your FJ60 to keep up with 4 door jeep JK Rubicon on 37’s is going to be expensive. You can get close with a 4” lift and 35’s for a lot less $$$.

 

[Horribilis]

Coming from a Jeep XJ (Cherokee) going above 33's was the threshold on them. If moving up to 35's more money and axle work is necessary.

I think I am leaning towards the 80. In addition to lift and tires, I intend to add gears and at least a rear locker if I start out with an un-locked version. Various armor pieces (front bumper, rock sliders, under carriage skids) as well.

But the 4" and 37's combo should work?

 

[Uncle Ben]

I have done any trail I have wanted to in my 80 on 35's including the Rubicon and am dent free! A real skid plate and sliders are a must!

 

[black95]

X2 on staying with 35's on an 80.

 

[mountainmanryan]

Shoot, some of you guys have seen the stuff I've done in my stock 80! True, the running boards and flares faced an early death. I'm still planning on OldManEmu heavy's and 285's like Leon and Eric (mostly to keep the wife happy). But unless you have the jeeper mentality of having to always show up everyone in the group till you break something, an 80 with stock lockers will always find a way.

Ohh and look for a later series 80. The FZJ80 i've been told has a much better drivetrain than the FJ80.

 

[black95]

I have the make it or break it, and never let anyone show you up attitude, and I drive a toyota sir... I think if I had an 80 series, 33's just wouldn't cut it. That's just way too much weight and length for that size tire. 35's minimum. Go big or go home. =)

 

[CO_Hunter]

Guess I'll go home and never have any fun

 

[black95]

Lol. Well, you have a reserved outlook on 4 wheeling Leon. My low bar is iron chest mine. If I can't get though there, then its not good enough. And holy cross ... not to be missed, and I don't know that an 80 on 33's would have much fun on holy cross.

 

[karas]

I am pretty new and don't pretend to know it all about wheelin but through my reading and and knowledge I have gotten from other people I would say go with 37s on the 80 for what you want to do. If you go with 35's you will always be thinking of putting 37's on after going through the trails your talking about. I remember the advice Luke told me (you can do 95 percent of the trails in Colorado on 33's) why not make the last 5 percent easier by bumping the tire size up a couple notches. Have fun on your build