Tires or Sliders, which first?

[7P's]

Light wheeling = two wheel drive scenic stuff that makes you feel like a man when you drop it into low range anyway

Moderate wheeling = capable stocker, some small technical stuff, driver likely to put one tire on small rock off to the side of the trail and post picture to 4x4 forum

Difficult wheeling = moderate lift, more experienced driver, larger tires, gearing is starting to seem a bit high, propensity to spend tons of money on too much lift and unnecessary accessories that mostly make the moderate trails you actually run more suitable anyway. Likely to post pictures of rigs lined up at trail meeting spot

Harcore wheeling = locker(s), focus on clearance, suspension travel, gearing, strengthening vulnerable parts, tolerance for some body damage, a slow recognition over time that daily driving a hardcore 4x4 sucks and wishing you'd left it at OME and taken the $15K you would have saved for a few all inclusive trips to the Carribean

Extreme wheeling = size matters

Nay

What he said.

 

[blupaddler]

SLIDERS

 

[Jason Andrews]

Im from Lawrence and Ive been to tuttle creek orv. I would say go with the lift before tires and sliders. If you know how to drive, some common sense, you'll be able to safely navigate over most things. I can tell if I might hit my rockers by looking and I wont try it....rarely ever happens

 

[taccruiser97]

I've been to Tuttle Creek several times, that picture of the Jeep just represents one of maybe two or three areas there that would qualify for sliders. The majority of Tuttle Creek is trails, mudholes, and steep hill climbs. I have never come close to hitting the rocker guards on my Jeep (I admit it, I own a TJ) at Tuttle Creek. Tuttle Creek has always struck me as Colorado Light when it comes to driving the trails and 4wheeling. I see a lot of similarities.

Based on my experience and the area where you live, I would say tires, then lift, and then maybe sliders.

My 80 sits higher than my OME lifted TJ, with OME HD suspension and BFG285 ATs, and I am pretty sure it will go over most anything I am willing to do at Tuttle Creek or in Colorado.

I also found my 80 handled much better after changing the tires from the LTXs, which I thought were crap tires, to the BFGs and changed out my suspension.

Tires first, then suspension, with sliders on the horizon is my suggestion.

 

[DuManchu]

Tires first, then suspension, with sliders on the horizon is my suggestion.

That was my original plan of action. However, after seeing several threads on the value of sliders over a lift it put the sliders ahead of the lift on my list.

Plus, I'm not sure I want to lift it yet, I'd still like it to get in my garage, and it barely fits right now.

-Andrew

 

[Hayes]

Harry (who realizes that there is no wheeling in Hawaii but just moved here from Reno)

Ultimate rock-crawling = lava flow!

Light wheeling = two wheel drive scenic stuff that makes you feel like a man when you drop it into low range anyway

Moderate wheeling = capable stocker, some small technical stuff, driver likely to put one tire on small rock off to the side of the trail and post picture to 4x4 forum

Difficult wheeling = moderate lift that keeps growing, more experienced driver, larger tires, gearing is starting to seem a bit high, propensity to spend tons of money on too much lift and unnecessary accessories that mostly make the moderate trails you actually run more suitable anyway. Likely to post pictures of rigs lined up at trail meeting spot

Harcore wheeling = locker(s), focus on clearance, suspension travel, gearing, strengthening vulnerable parts, tolerance for some body damage, a slow recognition over time that daily driving a hardcore 4x4 sucks and wishing you'd left it at OME and taken the $15K you would have saved for a few all inclusive trips to the Carribean

Extreme wheeling = size matters

The Difficult and greater descriptions mostly talk about equipment. If I get lockers, a 6" lift and some dents, can I call myself Hardcore?

Hayes

 

[Hayes]

That was my original plan of action. However, after seeing several threads on the value of sliders over a lift it put the sliders ahead of the lift on my list.

Plus, I'm not sure I want to lift it yet, I'd still like it to get in my garage, and it barely fits right now.

-Andrew

I bet you've got 3" of clearance...

 

[7P's]

Ultimate rock-crawling = lava flow!



The Difficult and greater descriptions mostly talk about equipment. If I get lockers, a 6" lift and some dents, can I call myself Hardcore?

Hayes

Only when you come to the realization that daily driving a hard-core rig starts to suck and that usually comes to fruition with a few gray hairs.

 

[NorCalDoug]

Light wheeling = two wheel drive scenic stuff that makes you feel like a man when you drop it into low range anyway

Moderate wheeling = capable stocker, some small technical stuff, driver likely to put one tire on small rock off to the side of the trail and post picture to 4x4 forum

Difficult wheeling = moderate lift that keeps growing, more experienced driver, larger tires, gearing is starting to seem a bit high, propensity to spend tons of money on too much lift and unnecessary accessories that mostly make the moderate trails you actually run more suitable anyway. Likely to post pictures of rigs lined up at trail meeting spot

Harcore wheeling = locker(s), focus on clearance, suspension travel, gearing, strengthening vulnerable parts, tolerance for some body damage, a slow recognition over time that daily driving a hardcore 4x4 sucks and wishing you'd left it at OME and taken the $15K you would have saved for a few all inclusive trips to the Carribean

Extreme wheeling = size matters

Nay

These are good, but based on these definitions you and I are off by 1 level.
Your lightwheeling equals the drive out to where I go to wheel -- I couldn't call that wheeling .
Your moderate wheeling is my light, your diffult wheeling is my moderate, and your hardcore is what I'd consider difficult.

Hardcore to me would be like what Christo's Short Bus can do...and extreme just doesn't interest me too much...in my mind that's where all the tubed rock buggies live. Sure, it's cool...but I don't have the time/money to play there right now.

 

[Hayes]

Harry (who realizes that there is no wheeling in Hawaii but just moved here from Reno)

This is screaming your name:

Hayes

 

[DuManchu]

I bet you've got 3" of clearance...

Actually about .25", I have to have the garage door maxed out and even then I still hit the door sometimes (with the rear bar on the roof rack).

When I remove the roof rack I'll have 3" clearance, but total lift height with bigger tires is going to equal about 4.5", which it just a smidge too much.

-Andrew

 

[G-Cat]

Tire size? - 285/75/16 - AT's since it will be driven long distances on vacations (Colorado, Denver area mostly) from KC

-Andrew

With that avitar, you will not be allowed to cross the Kansas/Colorado line.

 

[e9999]

you aren't going to get much for used LTXs.
Interestingly, it costs very little to buy used wheels, esp. steelies that you could put more serious tires on.
Then you have a choice.

 

[CreeperSleeper]

The route that I went was tires, lift, sliders (soon... right Mark?). However, I have now got to the point that my new sliders are just going to hide my rocker panal damage. The problem with the lockers and good tires is you rig will go just about anywhere you point it. Even if you have to drag the body, axles, cross members, exhaust, etc to get there... If I was doing it again, I would have done sliders first.

However, now I don't really worry about dents, so wheeling is a little more fun!

 

[DuManchu]

With that avitar, you will not be allowed to cross the Kansas/Colorado line.

Interestingly enough I used to have a Chiefs license plate bracket on my Mazda. When I went to Denver to visit my friends one of them told me to take it off before we went over to one of his friends houses. They said it was going to come off one way or another and if I wanted it to stay in one piece I should take it off and hide it.

you aren't going to get much for used LTXs.
Interestingly, it costs very little to buy used wheels, esp. steelies that you could put more serious tires on.
Then you have a choice.

I actually want the steel wheels anyway, I think they look sick. I just figured they were a Non-US only option and had to be imported.

Didn't figure I'd get much for the LTX's but some is better than none.

-Andrew

 

[taccruiser97]

That was my original plan of action. However, after seeing several threads on the value of sliders over a lift it put the sliders ahead of the lift on my list.

Plus, I'm not sure I want to lift it yet, I'd still like it to get in my garage, and it barely fits right now.

-Andrew

Well, the 285s will fit fine without a lift, which was an attractive option for me. Since installing the lift, my Cruiser clears the top of the garage door by probably a little less than an inch though. 35s would move it up thus moving it outside, and let my wifes camry back in the garage, thats not gonna happen, the Cruiser goes in the garage, the Camry sits in the drive. It is just the natural order of things.

Upsizing to 285s first would let you know whether installing the lift is going to require buying a new house with a taller garage door opening, (the expense of owning a cruiser just goes on and on, huh?) If that is the case, then you can take out a larger mortagage to cover the cost of all the mods you want to do. I'm a lot of help, aren't I?

I would say that the type of wheeling we have here in Kansas, which is pretty slim, and one or two trips to Colorado a year, placed sliders further down on the list than a lift and tires for me.

 

[apcoleman]

you aren't going to get much for used LTXs.

I got $300 on eBay and only had 75% left.

 

[DuManchu]

Well it looks like there might be some more extra funds thrown into the mix here. I think I ought to be able to do both in one fell swoop. Thanks for all the input eveyone.

I know all the PM I'm doing is going to pay off, but damn is it boring, it'll be fun to actually add some mods (other than a CDL switch).

Now lets hope everything comes through as planned, I'm psyched.

-Andrew

 

[CodyRx7]

Use the old tires as sliders!