New to off road and Jeeps.

Subject: New to off road and Jeeps. Mon May 07, 2007 6:24 am

Hi all,
I'm Jessie. I just got my first Jeep last week. I am totally hooked already. Ok so it's a Grand Cherokee, not a wrangler. It's a mommy car- I'm a mommy. I love it anyway. I want to do some basic modifications at first. Anybody have suggestions on where to start? Don't laugh at me when you see my GC pull up. Can't wait to get to know you guys.
Jessie
jeepchic

Subject: Re: New to off road and Jeeps. Mon May 07, 2007 8:23 am

welcome - I just hooked up with them last month witha total stock wrangler (look at pics of last outing - im the one being towed out). Good group. Look in the tech section of the forum for a post marked "2 questions" they answered a couple of mine real well, may help

Subject: Re: New to off road and Jeeps. Mon May 07, 2007 8:28 am

Welcome Jessica. You will find we are a warm friendly group of people and have quite a few "mommies and daddies" in the club already. I have 2 kids and they really enjoy getting out and camping, wheeling etc. There is wheeling for all levels including beginners in a stock GC so don't get scared off from the pictures. People usually only take pictures when something exciting happens. What are you looking to do with the GC? What type of wheeling, are you planning on using it off road?

Subject: Thanks for the welcome Mon May 07, 2007 9:02 am

I am looking to do "light" off-roading.
I want to go outo n the Dunes at assateague, which I believe I can do as is.
I would love to ride through the woods, hit some mud and bounce around a bit.
I doubt I will be crawling rocks just yet.
Someone suggested to me a 3" lift and AT tires might be a good start.
I just don't know enough about it yet.
I like to research and really get into something by trying it.
Any and all input and advice is really appreciated.
ok here's my first stupid question...what constitutes 'trail rated' on a jeep?
Many more silly questions to come.
Thanks,
Jessie

Subject: Re: New to off road and Jeeps. Mon May 07, 2007 12:10 pm

Hey Jessie, Welcome to the Rock Raiders. If you looking for light wheeling and a simple lift to get you started I would have to tell you what I have told everyone. Go with a Budget Boost. Its simple cheap and a great way to get yourself started. I have one on my grand cherokee and I love it. Normally you can get a set of 31's on with the 2" BB. It takes a couple of hours to do the kit. Other than that you will need some sway bar disconnects. If you shop for deals you can make it happen for less than a 1000 bucks. Even cheaper if you find a deal on Tires. If you have a ZJ they ride on 15 inch rims and tim has a set of tires he is selling. If its a WJ they ride on 16 inch wheels and there are deal all the time.
_________________
2008 ADA run - Trail Master (all questions welcome)

94YJ locker/spool, lifted 37" MTR's lots of cool stuff (Trail rig)
00WJ open/open, lifted 31" MTR's (curbcrawler)
84 Toyota Pickup open/welded, 33's solid front axle and rusted frame
07 FORD E350 SD (TOW VAN)

KARNAGE MOTORSPORTS INC.[b]

Subject: Re: New to off road and Jeeps. Mon May 07, 2007 1:34 pm

Hey Nester whats a BB? Oh never mind "budget boost". Trail rated is jeeps way of advertising that the jeeps have been upgraded to be a more capable off road vehicle. They are trying to get people to make the connection between trail riding and jeeps so it will help with their sales. there really isn't a "trail rated" jeep. Or rather no numbers to grade the vehicles off road capability. It is quite simply just advertising. Just like some of the pick up trucks have stickers with "off Road" on the label of the truck. You should check into jeeps on the beach trip coming up this August. We have also talked about a kid friendly trail ride where we wheel half a day on light stuff and then gather and let the kids play, camp, etc.

Subject: Re: New to off road and Jeeps. Mon May 07, 2007 2:02 pm

A kid friendly trail ride would be awesome. My whole family wants to get in on it. Thanks for the "trail-rated" info. I had a feeling it was a gimmick.
Ok silly question no.#2 how do I know if I have a ZJ or a WJ? Can you tell I don't have a clue? I currently have 16" rims. if that means anything. I am definitely inerested in the BB 2" lift. Can it be upgraded at aome later point if I go 4x crazy (whih is guaranteed to happen) or would i have to get a whole new system? Thanks everybody for your help. Wink

Subject: Re: New to off road and Jeeps. Mon May 07, 2007 7:30 pm

Welcome Jessie...

One thing you will find with us... no question is a "silly" question. We have a lot of patience and knowledge to share.

What year is your Grand? I could post the years of different models (CJ, YJ, TJ, XJ, WJ, JK, etc... but that would just clutter and add more confusion to your simple question).

Don't worry about taking the Grand out to play... Joe wheels his frequently... though if you don't want body damage I would not recommend following him just yet cheers

.

I wouldn't mind leading you out on some light trails sometime... hopefully I can get my rig put back together soon (see my post on why you need control arm skids... but I was not on easy trails... so don't worry).
_________________
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PROJECT: BLACK AND BLUE

Vitals: 6cyl. 5 spd. D30/D44 3.73 R&P Open/Open. 2" RE Budget Boost/1.25" JKS Body Lift. Kilby Tank Skid JKS Sway Disconnects 33x10.5x15 BFG All Terrains

Subject: Welcome again Jessie Mon May 07, 2007 9:46 pm

By now youhave read several of our more involved members. We are sensitive to our new members, particularly since you are excite to learn. In the incomming months you will have the opportunity to enjoy your ride on the trails. People like Bill, Nester, Rich, Bobbi and Kat as well as others have gotten to know the Rausch Creek park well enough to know where to travel with people.

Enjoy your membership to it's fullest. We are all here to help, one way or another.

Tico

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Cell 443-865-0504
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Subject: Re: New to off road and Jeeps. Tue May 08, 2007 6:58 am

I can't wait to meet everyone. You guys are truly very nice.
I have an '04 GC laredo stock.
So I am thinking a BB 2" lift but smaller tires maybe 30s.
This is also my daily driver with babies and pets etc.
Does anybody go to Adams Jeep in Aberdeen?
Or know of good Jeep shops around?
I am also interested in getting some "pretty' stuff - hitch cover, door sills, pet barrier, etc. any recommendation on where to find that stuff?
Thanks again guys. You are the best.

Subject: Re: New to off road and Jeeps. Tue May 08, 2007 7:14 am

The grands switched from zj to wj after 98. Nester is right A BB and some quick disconects are the way to go for some green trail riding. Also I would look into some rocker panel protection. By the way welcome to the to club and if you have any questions on the grands feel free to drop me a line. Also stay away from adams jeep they do some bad work, just ask bobbi about what they did to her jeep.
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"A yahoo made dangerous with power tools"

accepting reservations now for the "palace of love"

90% filled, reservations for cute girls only now under the age of 26.

Subject: Re: New to off road and Jeeps. Tue May 08, 2007 8:55 am

Welcome to the Club!
I had a GC Laredo as a rental when I was in Idaho. Did they really think they could give me a Jeep in this terrain and expect me NOT to test it out? I thought it did great. I think you'll really like it. I didnt do go over any big rocks but it handled all the hills and dirt roads just fine.

_________________
'01 TJ 4.5" RE, 35" MTs, Aussie up front
'91 YJ - has to be towed everywhere rig

Subject: Re: New to off road and Jeeps. Tue May 08, 2007 9:15 am

Hey Jessie I have the same Grand Cherokee as you do. Only mine is a 2000, My setup is a 2" BDS BB (budget boost) and I run 31 inch goodyear mtr's. I love the setup for this rig cause my main use for it is taking me around town, going snowboarding in the winter crusing the beach in the summer, riding around my sisters farm, camping and soon some light trail riding while I'm building the axles for my YJ. Mine drives great on the highway and performs nice on the steet. Your GC (grand cherokee) is a WJ they were made from 1999 to 2004. They changed the body in 2005.

Questions for you. Did you get the 4.0 lnline 6 or the V8? I wish I had the V8 Sad

but the 4.0 is trust worthy and strong

Do you have Tow hooks? if you have the stock ones its two in the front next to the fog lights and on in the rear opposite to the tail pipe. Are you ready to spend some money to get started?

List of what you need to get started

-Tow Hooks (if you don't have them let me know I'm hunting for some for mine at the moment)
-First Aid Kit
-20' Tow Strap w/ loops (no metal hooks) they sell them at TSC and Harbor Freight
-Spare Tire

Those are the basic things you need to come out and play. Try it once and if you like it then we can help you get started with the lifting. The BB lift that I'm talking about comes as a kit the only thing that it doesn't have that you will need is sway bar Disconnects. Those and the lift you can get all day long for under 500 bucks. The tires are another story of how much are you willing to spend. I would say for light trail riding and what your looking to do you should go with a All terrain or light mud terrain tire.
_________________
2008 ADA run - Trail Master (all questions welcome)

94YJ locker/spool, lifted 37" MTR's lots of cool stuff (Trail rig)
00WJ open/open, lifted 31" MTR's (curbcrawler)
84 Toyota Pickup open/welded, 33's solid front axle and rusted frame
07 FORD E350 SD (TOW VAN)

KARNAGE MOTORSPORTS INC.[b]

Subject: I am so excited to get started Tue May 08, 2007 11:30 am

awesome stuff.
I have the 4.0 inline 6.
No tow hooks yet. It would be great if you find any if you let me know.
Does anybody go on ebay for their stuff?
I am ready to spend money as soon as I have it.
$500 sounds very reasonable for the lift.
I kinda had a feeling that the tires would cost me.
What does the sway bar disconnect run?
Any suggestions on where to go to get these items?
Thanks again guys...you are the best!

Subject: Re: New to off road and Jeeps. Tue May 08, 2007 11:53 am

I've used here for small stuff - located west chester pa so shipping is quick may give an idea on prices
http://www.quadratec.com/