What size lift for our area?

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HAHAHA. Yea I know that area. Over here by my house there are some good rutted mud holes going down some power lines.
 
only down side with the taller lifts is you start to get tipsy on the off camber stuff and it can be disconcerting especially in a short wheelbase vehicle that is narrow with a higher center of gravity. Wider tires help but if you are trying to keep it looking mostly stock.....I would say you would be fine with the 2.5" lift with 33-34 inch tires. They will allow you to do most anything out there except the extreme rock crawling but those are also where you are most likely to pick up damage.....well except if you hit that tree on Daniel (right Bill and ProInv :D )....

Bottom line is to go with what you like the most....as long as it is safe and reliable....and if a fewyears later you decide you do want to go 4 inches and 37" Super Swampers.....it was your decision and nobody to blame but yourself. Then again if you went big now...and ended up driving it to the office every day and all over town on weekends....you are likely also going to need to replace your birfields, steering, etc....and might hate the ride.

You ought to rent ScottJohnsons rig to drive around town one day...and see how you feel about the huge tires and 4 inch lift. You might fall in love with it.... like the hot girl from the wrong side of town. You know you shouldnt....but it is SOOOO MUCH FUN!!!! :D
 
I like my women just a little on the trashy side. Likewise my ride. So take my advice with some grain.

But hear this: 2X on the roll bars. You don't want that heavy sumbeetch grinding you into the earth. Helmets have saved my old head many times with cycles and the RB will do the same for your 40.

And as for power steering. I heard a story once of one of our veteran wheelers flipping for lack of PS. On Trail ONE at Tellico. Yeah, I heard it for true.

And as for you Ron; your time is coming, you'll get your share. :bounce::flipoff2::bounce2:
 
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Who do y'all recommend for rock sliders that are not so noticeable?
 
These are fairly "stock" looking.

Photos of Bumper, Armor, and Roll Cages

Metal Tech was working on a set like these earlier this year too.

Jeremy
sliders.webp
 
That was fun to read.....should I stay away from all of the trails with a stock suspension? I guess I could go and photograph everyone else.....:)....Seriously though, is there any fun to be had with a stock setup? I gotta find something more fun than that trip to Starbucks with the kiddies......:crybaby:
 
That was fun to read.....should I stay away from all of the trails with a stock suspension? I guess I could go and photograph everyone else.....:)....Seriously though, is there any fun to be had with a stock setup? I gotta find something more fun than that trip to Starbucks with the kiddies......:crybaby:

There are plenty of trails at Gulches and Cullowhee you can drive stock as well as trails 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 at Tellico.
 
BBQ....my offer still stands if you want a ride in mine with the HellCreek lift and LTB swampers. Definately get at a minimum a rollbar but preferably a rollcage if you wheel. Even if you plan on keeping the hardtop on it will crush in a rollover easily.
 
Who do y'all recommend for rock sliders that are not so noticeable?

I got mine from Solid Rock Off Road... he's a regular and sponsor on Mud... very nice and stout and stockish looking. Good price too.
 
There are tons of places to go on stock suspension...tires is what makes the vehicle go forward....my 60 is stock and I run 33x10.5 and have no problem anywhere I go, my tires tuck up under the fenders so no crunching...or you can get 31's with an aggressive tread and do fine also....we had a bone stock FJ..bought the week before he went to Tellico with street tires and he made it thru tellico....granted he did slide here and there but he made it, so have fun with what ya got!
 
If I am going to ride with yall at places like Gulches(sp) and Tellico will a 2.5" OME with 33" tires be sufficient or do I need to go with a 4" with 33's? I am putting in an Aussie locker too.
Oh! I have a FJ40.



Yes. I did it for many years on all terrain 33's. Had only one time where I wished I had more.

One good thing about UC. Most runs have something for everyone. You could come out in a stock 40 and have a blast. We have had stock 40's, 50's, 60's, 80's, 100's and a bunch of stock FJ's out on the trail. We are talking with road tires on them. And they all made it through.

Most places we go you have a choice. If it's mostly going to be a daily around the town vehicle. I'd go with a 2.5 and 33's. Especially if you want to retain the stock look. You will be able to do about 90% of the events UC does. Just stick with a skinny tire radial tire. Maybe a 9.5. Anything wider and it will not be fun to drive it around town.

As far as protection I would reccomend a set of sliders if you plan to go to Tellico. All of the trails in Tellico are not hard. 4, 5, and 6 any stock 40 could make it through. We have had a few stock 60's make it with no problems. But There is a chance on most places we go that you will find these will come in handy. As far as a roll cage. There is nothing wrong with stock. As long as you don't go on trails where if you were to roll you might roll more than once. In the 4 years I've been with UC no one has rolled going on the easier trails. There are plenty of 55's and 60's that do the trails that have far less protection when it comes to rolling. If you start getting into bumpers, winches and want to do harder trails then I'd say you would need one.

If I had a stock 40 that I wanted to do some trails and not worry about major damage. I'd do a 2.5 and some 32's or 33's and have some sliders. Just make sure what ever sliders you get don't require you to cut the body or fenders like the Proffits one above. You just need something simple.
 
That was fun to read.....should I stay away from all of the trails with a stock suspension? I guess I could go and photograph everyone else.....:)....Seriously though, is there any fun to be had with a stock setup? I gotta find something more fun than that trip to Starbucks with the kiddies......:crybaby:

Yes. As Steve has stated. 90% of what we run you would be able to do in a stock 40. Only thing anyone would get on a majority of the trails is a possible ding and a few SC pinstripes. If you didn't want pinstripes well that would cut it down to about 50% of the trails we do.
 
Thanks....I'm a virgin trail rider and have no idea what to expect......:) Sounds like I can go and have fun though.....Getting there (or anywhere for that matter) from Florence is the worse part for me.....I'm finding I can ride the interstate ok though....
 
You don't have to cut the body with the Proffitts, he just decided too. I know the MT ones are actually designed to replace your running boards, but still look like they are there.

Jeremy
 
Thanks....I'm a virgin trail rider and have no idea what to expect...:)...

Seems just like yesterday I was in the same boat (stock unlifted 40, no driving experience or skills)... now I'm a "ho" with experience and still no driving skills :grinpimp:
 
hell, if guy and his wife in a silver pure stock FJ Cruiser (land cruiser wannabe;p) can make it around Cullowhee then surely the might FJ40 can :D :D :D :D Oh yeah, they had on Nitto Terra Grapplers but other than that was bone stock off the showroom.
 
I know it's not a 40, but my 60 has a 3" OME and 33's and I was able to all I wanted to at Tellico. At this point, my biggest limitation will be traction, as it's not locked. I've ridden in a stock Wrangler all over Beasley's Knob, and a stock Rubicon around Gulches. I doubt a lift will be what holds you back.

I echo the comments on sliders too. They help protect if your lift isn't quite tall enough, as does other armor.
 
That was fun to read.....should I stay away from all of the trails with a stock suspension? I guess I could go and photograph everyone else.....:)....Seriously though, is there any fun to be had with a stock setup? I gotta find something more fun than that trip to Starbucks with the kiddies......:crybaby:

Wow many many places and trails are open and fun with the stock Cruisers any of em (Well maybe not the 200's) Just work slow and easy go with a groupe that has experence with the trails and if necessary take the scenic (longer and safer) by pass trail. The basic rigs are very potent. My first cruiser in the 70's was a FJ-55 and it went places that seemed impossible yes it did end up on it's side a few times but that was the loose screw behind the sterring wheel. So wheel it ; but learn what it's capable of and stay in that line. Doc:popcorn:

P.S. Roll bars on a 40 look stock to me and most everyone else. so BBQ plan on that first then lift. Lets keep you around to play another day.,
 

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