Need Help! I'm new to Jeeps and 4x4's

Kevin Carlisle said:
@rockcity thank you for the link. I'm all about supporting locally owned businesses. Has some really nice looking stuff. I will definitely be in touch with him.
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Hey feel free to give me a call or shoot me a message. Would be happy to lend advice and help with your build.
 
What is everyone's opinion about the Warn VR10-s winch? I've noticed a great price point and it's a Warn but I haven't seen a lot of information or reviews about them. I'm actually looking at this winch.
 
Since I was tagged in this. I have nothing good to say about a Warn VR winch. I bought one and it went down hill fast making grinding noise from the get go. I myself would go with a Smitty built before another VR winch, which, is what I did. Had some issues with my Smitty Built too, but, they stood behind it and replaced it.
 
@ol'Jeeps and I were were just talking about this yesterday, (pretty sure @upnover and myself have had this talk as well. )

With the growing popularity of our sport it has become more common place to have a new arrival wheeler, which is a great thing. (I'm of the 20+ year wheeling crowd). One of the biggest mistakes I see newer wheelers make, (not throwing stones, we've all been guilty of it some how), you get on the trail a few times, and then they go buck wild, drink the kool-aid, seeing all the buggies and latest/greatest stuff; all of a sudden- your building a bulletproof buggy or of the likes...and that's great too.


But! ...most of them have never learned how to drive the stock rig or modify it along the way. Never figured how to pick the line that gets your basic rig through the trail, in one piece, with little body damage (cuz you still drive it to work daily), with or w/o a winch. Never learned how to finesse your way through and the value of throttle control and application, or tire placement and under carriage awareness. Never learned how to scan the trail ahead, sometimes the line you pick here depends on what's 30 yards up trail. Never learned how to make trail repairs under less than desirable circumstances. Vehicle recovery, etc etc. There is so much valuable learning to be discovered through the natural growth of starting with a stock rig. That's where all the great stories start!

So often, those folks get that bulletproof rig, think they can do any obstacle, go in balls to the wall, break there junk..."damn it's a no good pos"- "it couldn't handle my driving style"...or worse- can't drive the rig, never learned those valuable lessons....but then can't figure out why the veteran makes it look so easy. Obviously the point-and-shoot rigs will do most of the stuff with little driver experience, but we've all witnessed the guy with the new to him buggy who just started wheeling last year...following the veteran, flogging it to holy hell but making no headway, while the vet is tiptoeing his way to the top.

Don't take this the wrong way, I welcome any and all to our sport. But I truly admire those in their near stock rig, that don't feel out of place riding with the veterans and learning something. (I spent many trail miles doing just this). Even if it means taking a bypass or needing a tug from time to time. Get in line with my group, volumes of good stories and lessons. (We've even got a few of those drivers mentioned above who will show you what not to do...)[emoji481] we've never been bashful about giving our buddies who can't drive hell - in good spirits, but they know who they are...[emoji6]


Sorry for the rant. But in reference to the op's original questions:

Wheel that turd, break it, fix it, dent it, max out your credit yard to upgrade it 4 different times in 10 years, buy 5 sets of tires to figure out which one works, trade it for point-and-shoot or build new, make stories!




Matt


...and include the family if you can!
 
The disc brake rotor and caliper from your ZJ will bolt right on to an 8.8. I know because I just put an 8.8 under my 98 ZJ from ECGS.
 
Looking at a couple sets of tires for the zj.... I'm torn between the Nitto Trail Grappler MT and the Super Swamper TSL and NOT the TSL Radial. Ive read awesome reviews about both and I'll tell ya im considering the Nitto because I will be driving the zj to and from the trails and from what I read, the swampers will wear out faster. What's your opinions?
 
mcutler said:
@ol'Jeeps and I were were just talking about this yesterday, (pretty sure @upnover and myself have had this talk as well. )

With the growing popularity of our sport it has become more common place to have a new arrival wheeler, which is a great thing. (I'm of the 20+ year wheeling crowd). One of the biggest mistakes I see newer wheelers make, (not throwing stones, we've all been guilty of it some how), you get on the trail a few times, and then they go buck wild, drink the kool-aid, seeing all the buggies and latest/greatest stuff; all of a sudden- your building a bulletproof buggy or of the likes...and that's great too.


But! ...most of them have never learned how to drive the stock rig or modify it along the way. Never figured how to pick the line that gets your basic rig through the trail, in one piece, with little body damage (cuz you still drive it to work daily), with or w/o a winch. Never learned how to finesse your way through and the value of throttle control and application, or tire placement and under carriage awareness. Never learned how to scan the trail ahead, sometimes the line you pick here depends on what's 30 yards up trail. Never learned how to make trail repairs under less than desirable circumstances. Vehicle recovery, etc etc. There is so much valuable learning to be discovered through the natural growth of starting with a stock rig. That's where all the great stories start!

So often, those folks get that bulletproof rig, think they can do any obstacle, go in balls to the wall, break there junk..."damn it's a no good pos"- "it couldn't handle my driving style"...or worse- can't drive the rig, never learned those valuable lessons....but then can't figure out why the veteran makes it look so easy. Obviously the point-and-shoot rigs will do most of the stuff with little driver experience, but we've all witnessed the guy with the new to him buggy who just started wheeling last year...following the veteran, flogging it to holy hell but making no headway, while the vet is tiptoeing his way to the top.

Don't take this the wrong way, I welcome any and all to our sport. But I truly admire those in their near stock rig, that don't feel out of place riding with the veterans and learning something. (I spent many trail miles doing just this). Even if it means taking a bypass or needing a tug from time to time. Get in line with my group, volumes of good stories and lessons. (We've even got a few of those drivers mentioned above who will show you what not to do...)[emoji481] we've never been bashful about giving our buddies who can't drive hell - in good spirits, but they know who they are...[emoji6]


Sorry for the rant. But in reference to the op's original questions:

Wheel that turd, break it, fix it, dent it, max out your credit yard to upgrade it 4 different times in 10 years, buy 5 sets of tires to figure out which one works, trade it for point-and-shoot or build new, make stories!




Matt


...and include the family if you can!
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you know,if you had ran for pres. in november and gave this speech,I'd vote for ya fo sho...
I first built Nellie all most 25 years ago and have been trail riding with her for all most 13 now. A 67 year old vehicle will keep you focused and grounded. I do get in a bind once in a while still so guess I am still learnin. Point and shoot is ok for some but I had rather work my mind as well as my body as I trail along. Most times,I'm lookin way up the trail for what the next rock,stump,root,mud hole,rain berm,low limb,etc is coming up so I can prepare a plan of execution. Learn to wheel what ya have first friend. You might find the "low" life is the way you wanna go.

Again...be one with the d35. Yoda said it.
 
Kevin Carlisle said:
@mcutler do you have an opinion about Cooper Discover STT Pro, Swamper TSL or Nitto Trail Grappler tires? Or have any friends here that would share their opinions.
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Kevin I currently run the STT PRO'S and I love them. But as many have said on here your going at it the right way by asking. And I'd even say get some time in as a passenger to get some first hand experience and maybe get over your first pucker factor out of the way.
 
Kevin Carlisle said:
@mcutler do you have an opinion about Cooper Discover STT Pro, Swamper TSL or Nitto Trail Grappler tires? Or have any friends here that would share their opinions.
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I've only ran the tsl of those choices. The cooper has great reviews and a good looking tread design. Nitto is the champ right now.

Tsl rock every thing but the street. Just depends on your overall plans Kevin.

But I will say that I will be buying nitto tg or pro comp mt2 here soon for the manche in DOT 37" flavor.

Matt
 
Uwharrrie opens with a Spring Jamboree on April 1st. I'll be there as will a lot of other people. It's a great place to meets people and get in some seat time on some easy to moderate trails. Consider this an invitation.
 
So I haven't made as much progress on the ZJ as I had hoped. Can anyone tell me how I can identify if my front Dana30 is a high pinion or not? Everything I have found on the interweb only gives me options to buy and doesn't explain how to identify mine. I have read that the Dana30 is ok to stay with if it is the high pinion axle and I am sourcing a Ford 8.8 as we speak to replace the rear.
 
Kevin Carlisle said:
So I haven't made as much progress on the ZJ as I had hoped. Can anyone tell me how I can identify if my front Dana30 is a high pinion or not? Everything I have found on the interweb only gives me options to buy and doesn't explain how to identify mine. I have read that the Dana30 is ok to stay with if it is the high pinion axle and I am sourcing a Ford 8.8 as we speak to replace the rear.
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The pinion is either above or below the center line of the axle. Stock axle on a ZJ is low pinion.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
 
Literally everything you have asked has been covered thousands of times on every single off-road forum and Jeep specific forum in the entire world.

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk
 
Cutler has given you the key advice to keeping this hobby fun. Go easy, stay smart, be prepared, don't be discouraged when you don't make an obstacle or break, make friends and build trust in those who deserve it, and most importantly share the fun with your family. I'm one of those somewhere between the daily driver offroad rig and a trailer queen. Just be patient and your rig will evolve into what suits you best. Just ask when you can't find an answer and don't argue when it isn't what you want to hear.
 
Kevin Carlisle said:
So I haven't made as much progress on the ZJ as I had hoped. Can anyone tell me how I can identify if my front Dana30 is a high pinion or not? Everything I have found on the interweb only gives me options to buy and doesn't explain how to identify mine. I have read that the Dana30 is ok to stay with if it is the high pinion axle and I am sourcing a Ford 8.8 as we speak to replace the rear.
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Welcome to the jeep club! Huge Jeep freak myself! Follow what @mcutler said..there is more truth in that than u know or can imagine. I've wheeled and worked on Cherokee for 15yrs or so, stock to 38s DD jeeps playing on power lines and "Richland" lol, but I learned every square inch of a Cherokee and how it handles so 2yrs ago when I finally was fortunate enough to build an actual toy to crawl and beat on, experience got me further than my rig. Learn how your jeep handles every aspect of terrain for a while..on 34s you can actually have some fun.
Open diffs will be your biggest limiting factor...front D30locker would be money well spent ...rear d35 no.
Deflate down to 12-15psi too and buy a little compressor to air back up...funny watching guys wheel with full 35psi in their tires lol.
Sway bars too, let them free so ur not carrying a lot of tire looking even more traction.
And my last advise, HAVE FUN! This is a awesome sport, mostly all great people and tons of advise (sometimes too much lol) on how to.
You will LOVE the Flats and The Shop..forget Richland ever existed(others can tell u), Uwharrie I haven't been but great place as said for beginner/intermediate level rigs. Lucky you, you live close to 2of them and one is open May 18-20 for open ride! I'm john fuller btw, you will hear/see my name thrown around the forum as on ur first page lol so now u know!! Happy Jeeping brother!
 
jumping in late. sorry if anything was already answered.

AW4 or 42re trans? ive heard the 42re is terminal when dedicated to trail.
If you have a d35, i wouldnt spend a cent on it.
ive leanred: stages are your friend, even if there is overlapping (money loss); budget or not.
What is your destined tire size? 35s? Just go find a d44a and direct swap in if youre not planning too big. otherwise i would build a 8.8 for the rear.

Thats about as far as my 2 cents goes
 
I found a ford 8.8 rear end at a local scrapyard for $150 off of a old Ford Ranger. Will that have disc brakes or will it be drum brakes and if it is drum brakes can it be converted to disc brakes?
 
Kevin Carlisle said:
I found a ford 8.8 rear end at a local scrapyard for $150 off of a old Ford Ranger. Will that have disc brakes or will it be drum brakes and if it is drum brakes can it be converted to disc brakes?
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Someone can chime but pre 95/96 are drums and while can be converted, get a later model explorer 8.8 which will be disc and coil setup already
 
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