Hello. How to modify my jeep

Jody92

New Member
Joined
May 6, 2018
Location
Raleigh
Hello. I am a new member.

I bought my jeep a few months ago, and after going to uwharrie national forest in it and going to the flat in Marion with a friend I want to do the same things in my jeep.

It is a wrangler with a 4 cycle engine and stick shift. My friend said I have a 35 front axle housing and a dana 30 axle housing in the back of the jeep.

According to my friend I need 35' inch tires to drive the hard trails at uwharrie national forest and the intermediate roads at the flat.

He said I need locker differentials to do this, but after seeing that a dana front 35 will break with that tire i am unsure what to do.

Should I buy a different jeep or pay to have my axle changed so I can drive at the flat and uwharrie on 35" tires with locker differentials?
 
Just my $.02, but I’d run your first rig on the cheap. I’d pick up the following items in this order;

1. Winch
2. Sway bar disconnects
3. Spartan locker for rear
4. 33” tires will do everything at URE with a little skill, patience, and item #1
5. Spartan locker for front

If you still love it and wanna get into the harder stuff, start another thread and ask for another round of advice.

Notice, and this is very important, nowhere on my list is a light bar or whip antenna.
 
First of all, are you SURE that your friend said you have a 35 front and 30 rear? If you are 100% sure that's what he said, don't listen to anything he says. You most likely have a 35 rear and a 30 front.
One thing you didn't mention is what kinda money you want, or have to spend on this Jeep. Is it your daily driver? IF it is, know that everytime you do, or have something done to it, there will be down time. So keep that in mind.
I agree with BigSouth. Get a winch first, but will go further and say also get some recovery gear. Tow strap, tree saver, clevis's, and heavy gloves(if the winch has steel cable)
If you wheel the tougher places, then it's a matter of if but rather when you will break an axle in the rear 35. There's a couple good upgrades, a Ford 8.8, or a Chrysler 8.25. Being as your Jeep is a 4 cylinder, you most likely have a 4.10 gear in the axles, so the upgrade will most likely need to be re-geared. Doing this will be the right time to go with a locker.
 
2” budget boost
33x10.50
Winch and accessories
Lockers

In this order
 
If this is your daily driver then I recommend getting a "wheeling rig" instead of your DD. Something cheap to try out and see if you like riding. If not sell it, and if you break something you won't be stranded with no transportation.
 
Hey welcome to the jeep club!
you have a D30 front, D35 rear.
Your front axle should have the "disconnect" axle ..pass side is two piece so on the "cheap" you could weld the carrier and have a free locker since most agree (including myself) those axles aren't worth putting much money into. the vacuum disco keeps it unlocked on street to act the same in 2wd. so there's a cheap option for front. I've done that mod on those axles for all my jeep life and works flawlessly!!
what Bigsouth said, lockers front and rear with 33s will take you places you would never expect along with some good maneuvering. a winch is even better as a First investment so then you can attempt trails and winch out and keep going.
Havoc Off Road sells 10K Winch for $247 shipped to your door on Amazon, I have one and it's pretty sweet, very strong.

the final advise I have...DRIVE YOUR RIG period!!! Learning to drive off road takes time and skill and more time and practice. People all the time hop into some big tire big lift rig and make themselves look stupid when they can't drive for crap (I"ve seen it so many times it's kinda sad) so wheel time is the first place to start. You can learn a lot from watching people and the different lines they take and how suspension operates then go yourself and keep practicing. And HAVE FUN!! PERIOD!! It's Your Rig, Your Build so enjoy it. Don't get caught up with thousand different forums and advise, pick a few like-minded advise and go with it otherwise you will go crazy trying to keep up with so many opinions. Good Luck and Safe Happy Wheeling!!
 
marty79 said:
Your front axle should have the "disconnect" axle ..pass side is two piece so on the "cheap" you could weld the carrier and have a free locker since most agree (including myself) those axles aren't worth putting much money into. the vacuum disco keeps it unlocked on street to act the same in 2wd. s
Click to expand...

This is not correct.
 
marty79 said:
Hey welcome to the jeep club!
you have a D30 front, D35 rear.
Your front axle should have the "disconnect" axle ..pass side is two piece so on the "cheap" you could weld the carrier and have a free locker since most agree (including myself) those axles aren't worth putting much money into. the vacuum disco keeps it unlocked on street to act the same in 2wd. so there's a cheap option for front. I've done that mod on those axles for all my jeep life and works flawlessly!!
what Bigsouth said, lockers front and rear with 33s will take you places you would never expect along with some good maneuvering. a winch is even better as a First investment so then you can attempt trails and winch out and keep going.
Havoc Off Road sells 10K Winch for $247 shipped to your door on Amazon, I have one and it's pretty sweet, very strong.

the final advise I have...DRIVE YOUR RIG period!!! Learning to drive off road takes time and skill and more time and practice. People all the time hop into some big tire big lift rig and make themselves look stupid when they can't drive for crap (I"ve seen it so many times it's kinda sad) so wheel time is the first place to start. You can learn a lot from watching people and the different lines they take and how suspension operates then go yourself and keep practicing. And HAVE FUN!! PERIOD!! It's Your Rig, Your Build so enjoy it. Don't get caught up with thousand different forums and advise, pick a few like-minded advise and go with it otherwise you will go crazy trying to keep up with so many opinions. Good Luck and Safe Happy Wheeling!!
Click to expand...

Don't listen to this guy.


shawn said:
This is not correct.
Click to expand...


Do listen to this guy.


best thing you can do to your jeep is, start beating it with your purse now..
 
59f38f835c66218ebdb5b6f7d6b148b1.jpg


This was my old jeep. Dana 30 front locked with chromoly axles and a 8.8 rear end. On 35s it wheeled all over harlen windrock the flats the shop and ure.
You can wheel the flats on 33s with driving skill.


If I was to start from scratch with a stock rig.

Bumper with winch
Small short arm lift
33s
Locker in the rear
Locker in the front

Then If you really like wheeling and want to push your rig farther
Long arm lift
8.8 rear ended locked
Regear
Chromolys in the front
35s


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Jody92 said:
According to my friend I need 35' inch tires to drive the hard trails at uwharrie national forest
Click to expand...

I don't know your friend, but I'd stop listening to him.

Come down to the CTB/True patriot ride May 19 across from the outpost on 109.

We'll pair you with a guide that will shock you with what you can do with your rig.
In fact, find the black TJ with H8MUD license tag. I'll personally take you out to big creek and we'll hang with the "mild" group and I'll stick with you. If you don't have a CB I have a hand held.
By then end of the day you'll have the fever and better driving skills.
Learning to drive a stock rig to its limits is one of the most fulfilling aspects of wheeling. Then you go all bonkers and mod to do harder stuff. Take your time and enjoy "this part" because it gets expensive from here. However, don't listen to ANYONE that says you HAVE to have 35s for URE
 
You'll be pushing the limits, on 33s, with that 4 banger. Only go 35s when you can afford to regear & upgrade the axles, brakes, & steering! Like Castor said, come on out & see what other are running! There's Also Training classes for any 4 wheel drive, which are worth every penny. Classes are affordable!
 
Thank you all for the advice. I was mistaken , as I do have a a dana 3p front but not rear.
I spoke with my friend and he has agreed that all the advice here is right
I contacted my local 4wheeling store and scheduled for tomorrow to have my jeep worked on.
I have decided to have a 4' inch lift put on, and a the also 35' inch tirea. I also have a locker differentials being added to the back axle and will have the front axle welded (Not sure how they do this). I ask the mechanic how this will be on offroad roads and he said good.
Thanks to all you the good way to make my jeep go offroaf.
 
Chris_Keziah said:
I may be wrong here but something's off, only time will tell.
Click to expand...

Well that makes shawn's meme a little more clear. Even my sarcastic asshole side didn't understand it when he first posted it...kinda makes sense now
 
Jody92 said:
Thank you all for the advice. I was mistaken , as I do have a a dana 3p front but not rear.
I spoke with my friend and he has agreed that all the advice here is right
I contacted my local 4wheeling store and scheduled for tomorrow to have my jeep worked on.
I have decided to have a 4' inch lift put on, and a the also 35' inch tirea. I also have a locker differentials being added to the back axle and will have the front axle welded (Not sure how they do this). I ask the mechanic how this will be on offroad roads and he said good.
Thanks to all you the good way to make my jeep go offroaf.
Click to expand...
DO NOT WELD THE FRONT!!!!!!!!!!! add a spartan locker. if you cant afford the locker then wait


DO NOT TAKE ANY ADVISE FROM MARTY79 you might just die
 
You will be in a world of hurt with 35s and stock gears with the 4 banger! And they are right about a locked Dana 35 on 35" tires, you will break the rear axle and be left stranded. Also right on welding the front axle. That's terrible advice. You wont hardly be able to drive it on the trail much less the road. Even in 4 low you wont have the power needed. You need to listen to all of these guys, especially @CasterTroy. Good driving will go a long ways.

I was going to say more, but I'll wait as I have a feeling this is Fuller up to shenanigans or some other troll.
 
Back
Top