by "Noah - Now with more boost." (antriebverliebt)
Published 05/02/2017 at 13:05
by "Noah - Now with more boost." (antriebverliebt)
Published 05/02/2017 at 13:05
No Tags
STARS: 5
After spending all Winter wrenching on this thing, we finally had a chance to test the new upgrades this weekend via 10 miles of unmaintained “roads.” They hadn’t been used by anyone else since last year. The Rubicon fared well, but the XJ’s limits were tested, starting with a nasty diff cover vs rock incident:
Fortunately, the brand new diff cover survived. Just a couple flesh wounds and no leaks. This “THUMP” was loud and sudden enough to have everyone hopping out immediately to check for incapacitating damage. XJ Cherokees are extremely light (3100 LBS) but smashing your diff is always a heart stopping moment, no matter how slow you’re going. Here’s what the rock looked like after that one:
It was a very sneaky rock. What looked like a mound of dirt surrounded by small rocks turned out to be solid and a little higher than anticipated. “Don’t smash the diff” is pretty much the #1 concern when you’re wheeling with a lightly modded rig. A skid plate would be nice...
Since we were the first people to pass through this area, a little trail maintenance was necessary here and there. Both of these winches are brand new, and the owners were excited to test them out. We could have moved this log ourselves but for entertainment’s sake we ripped it in half with a winch (it was partially rotten) and dragged it out of the way.
There was only one water crossing, but it was large by our standards. The Rubicon is completely stock other than the winch, and the XJ has a mild lift on 31" tires. It was almost 2 feet deep in the middle and full of slippery rocks.
All flexed out! Solid axles FTW. This picture demonstrates the reason why they work so well off road. With the sway bar disconnected, you get more articulation for lumbering over rocky sections of the trail. It’s amazing - thanks to shorter gears and a boatload of torque from legendary 4.0 I6, the XJ stays below 2K RPM most of the time.
The last sketchy bit. It’s hard to capture extreme angles with a camera but I did my best to hug the wall here for that purpose. It’s around 3 feet tall. The section of trail behind me in this shot must have been washed out years ago. Someone made a shortcut that was fine up until this point, where you’re forced to negotiate a steep drop back onto the original path.
Beyond the ludicrously dense swarms of mayflies (they had us jogging up and down the trail just to escape for a couple minutes), it was a perfect day. We made good time and nobody broke anything. Two years ago, I had absolutely no interest in trucks or off roading. Now? I’ve been converted into a certified Jeep nut. I can’t recommend XJ Cherokees enough and I don’t even own one. My friends own 2 and working on them is so much more fun than the tightly packaged German and Japanese stuff I’m used to.
Definitely check out your local trails if you’re ever curious about this kind of thing. All you need is a 4x4 and some common sense. Mods take things to the next level capability wise, but you can have lots of fun without them. We’ve been on plenty of runs with stock Tacomas and the like - they did fine! Just don’t push your limits. Knowing when to turn around is important.
Off roading is unique in that unlike HPDE, drag racing, or even Auto X, it can be dirt cheap and you don’t need to wait for an officially sanctioned event to do it. IMO it’s the most accessible form of enthusiast motoring. If you drive a 4x4 that’s never been off road, just do it! What are you waiting for?
"MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s" (mastermario)
05/02/2017 at 13:17, STARS: 2
I’m all aboard the offroad train, I just don’t have anything near me to actually offroad on. It’s a 4-5 hour drive for me to the nearest forest service roads I know of and I think 3 hours to the nearest off road park. It kinda sucks. Looks like a blast though, I’m jealous :)
"Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer" (smallbear94)
05/02/2017 at 13:18, STARS: 1
"Noah - Now with more boost." (antriebverliebt)
05/02/2017 at 13:22, STARS: 0
Those look like fun trails! Super manageable too, there’s something to be said for a stress free dirt road adventure. Canada is on our list of potential trips since we’re in the northeast.
"Noah - Now with more boost." (antriebverliebt)
05/02/2017 at 13:25, STARS: 0
Oh man 5 hours!? That’s harsh. We’re pretty lucky out here. MA doesn’t have much but NH is full of undeveloped land and old roads. It’s a legal issue in our state I think.
"MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s" (mastermario)
05/02/2017 at 13:30, STARS: 1
Yea, southeast Wisconsin has very little public land, and the land that is public has no forest service roads that are open to the public. I have to drive to the Nicolet national forest in northern Wisconsin or Michigan’s upper peninsula to find any real trails.
"Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer" (smallbear94)
05/02/2017 at 13:33, STARS: 1
They were. Definite redo.
"Eberle-Hills-Cop" (Eberle-Hills-Cop)
05/02/2017 at 13:34, STARS: 1
I think I know where that water crossing is! I actually got out this past Saturday for my first tracks of the year in western NH on my way north to Team O’Neil.
"TheD0k_2many toys 2little time" (thed0ck)
05/02/2017 at 13:38, STARS: 1
i go to the two track hunting roads through state land by me in my f350. does pretty good
"DipodomysDeserti" (dipodomysdeserti)
05/02/2017 at 13:41, STARS: 2
That picture of the guy standing in the kill zone of that winch line with no dampener gives me the chills.
"WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
05/02/2017 at 13:56, STARS: 1
The Cliffs Off Road park in northern Illinois would probably be the closest, but you’re right. Other than that, you have to head north to the federal forest to off road. Luckily for me, my FIL has a cabin there, so we can go up anytime.
"ThePlasticOne - no diggities expressed nor implied." (theplasticone)
05/02/2017 at 14:00, STARS: 1
Sup local offroad Oppo.
"MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s" (mastermario)
05/02/2017 at 14:23, STARS: 0
Yea, it really sucks. And when I had trails in my backyard when I lived in AZ I didn’t have a vehicle capable of traversing them. :(
"Noah - Now with more boost." (antriebverliebt)
05/02/2017 at 14:52, STARS: 0
Nice! Yeah it was a cool spot. I haven’t made it up to team Oneil yet, really should
"Noah - Now with more boost." (antriebverliebt)
05/02/2017 at 14:53, STARS: 1
Yeah that’s a no no. FWIW that doesnt EVER happen with actual trucks on the end of the line
"Eberle-Hills-Cop" (Eberle-Hills-Cop)
05/02/2017 at 15:16, STARS: 1
There’s another Rallysprint on June 25th, they’re usually open for spectating & also always need extra volunteers!
"Noah - Now with more boost." (antriebverliebt)
05/02/2017 at 17:05, STARS: 0
that sounds like a possibility! but also 130 miles of rt. 95 apparently, IDK about that haha.
"Noah - Now with more boost." (antriebverliebt)
05/02/2017 at 17:06, STARS: 1
nice, those a big trucks! I’d also like a full size (square body suburban) but it would have been stuck constantly last weekend
"Noah - Now with more boost." (antriebverliebt)
05/02/2017 at 17:07, STARS: 0
Hi! Serious approach angle on that and a nice bumper... V8 too?
"ThePlasticOne - no diggities expressed nor implied." (theplasticone)
05/02/2017 at 17:56, STARS: 1
No V8, but they say the Nissan V8 slips right in and bolts up to the transmission, so maybe one day...
"TheD0k_2many toys 2little time" (thed0ck)
05/03/2017 at 04:29, STARS: 1
Yea my only two downsides are weight and tires that are not super aggressive