Lifting

[Wrangl3r93]

Well i'm 99.9% positive i'm ordering the RE 4.5 extreme duty lift with my next check(12 days!). I'm gonna install it myself and i've read alot into it but pointers would be very welcome. I've already started the pb blasting and i've completely cleaned the undercarraige to make it a tad bit easier. Sparky you say you've removed your rear trackbar? I'd like to look into doing that, at least until i can get an adjustable one. Would you say it's safe to drive around town without it(i am in no way a speed demon)? I'm also starting to get serious looking for tires too. Gonna go up to 33's and give my 31's to my gf. I'll take any suggestions the only brand i rule out are bfg mud's. I want something that will get me through 9 out of 10 mudholes(that 10th being a pretty good one) but still get decent treadlife. I'm about to head off to college and don't need to be replacing them if i can help it. Anybody heard how the mastercraft muds handle? Thanks guys and i can't wait...

 

[TwistedCU]

You don't need an adjustable trackbar for the rear, and I doubt there is one made anywhere.

The rear axle tracks via the springs and it is behind solid mounts (unlike the front axle which tracks behind the shackle end).

Just yank it. The only difference it'll make is allowing better wheel travel.

You should have a relocation bracket to correct the front trackbar.

Take your time, use common sense. Air tools would be helpful, but I did my first YJ with just hand tools (including a reaaly big breaker bar )

 

[LVRockCrawler]

not sure about the front on a RE lift but i tossed front trakbar on the Hellcreek 4" lift about a year ago and no problems - sway bar is also history - NOT a recommendation just a commentary - you can always experiment with the track bar by by disc. sway bar and the trakbar (at the axle side), tie it up and see how it performs - thats what i did with each of my "deletions" - one at a time - and try to SAFELY simulate your "worst case scenario" to see how it handles - you might be suprised - and ditto the breaker bar per twisted - my old 91 took about an 8' bar and two of us to bust loose the rear spring front mounts but my 89 came apart w/my new air impact no problem - just take your time, follow the instructions, ask questions and save the beer till youre done for the day and you'll do fine! just my $.02

 

[redrooster]

Why Mastercraft tires and No BFG muds? I'd take the BFG's over generics any day. For a DD I would probably go with some of those fancy Toyos if they weren't made of gold.

 

[Sparky-Watts]

Triple ditto on the rear trackbar. I can't tell a bit of difference in handling without it, and I've tried to feel it by taking some pretty sharp turns and such. It did improve the rear wheel travel, allowing for some excellent flexing.

As for the BFG muds, I could go either way on those. I ran a few sets of them on my old Toy 4x4, and they did seem to wear pretty quick. Then I started running Kumho muds (which I understand are a very close knock-off of the BFG's), and they wore much slower, about 20,000 miles more out of them. Problem now is that I can't find a place that sells them around here for much less than the BFG's. I like my Mud Kings ($119 apiece after haggling the price down from $137), but they also seem to be wearing pretty fast. I've got right around 20,000 miles on them, and I've got between a quarter and half tread left, closer to the quarter. They've pulled me through some really heavy mud with no problems at all. In fact, a lot of the time I use 2wd in mud that would have given 4wd troubles with some of the other brands I've experimented with.

 

[LVRockCrawler]

okay... make me chime in to defend the bfg m/t's - had AT's on the old jeep for almost 5yrs - the 33/12.5 MT's i have on my 89 now are 2 yrs old and show VERY little wear running an average 25psi on street... (less than 1/4 tread gone or so...) so i cant complain about my treadlife at all... couldnt run the old AT's down enuff to justify replacing them either...

 

[TwistedCU]

For tires on a daily driver look into the Interco Trxxus MT.

Great all-around tire and decent pricing.

 

[Wrangl3r93]

Yeah thanks for the info on the rear trackbar. Looks like i'll most likely scrap it. I have bfg a/t's on now with almost 15k miles on em and they still have the little rubber things sticking out in the tread. No doubt they wear very well but i want a more aggressive mudder since i've been stuck more than once. Seems like every person and their granny has the bfg mt's though. PLus i don't really like their look. I love the look of the mt/r's but i've heard very mixed reviews about em. Guess i'll keep looking. Thanks guys

 

[yjdave]

You'll love the re 4.5" lift. Trac bars are not needed but recomended on front for the street(although i don't have any on my d44's). I would get tsl radials over any bfg.

 

[jpfvr]

Have never run BFG's so I can't say but as far as the track bar in the rear, toss it out you don't need it anyway. When I installed my lift I used the bracket that came with the lift kit for the rear track bar and all it did was make noise so I took it completely out and am very happy with the flex. As far as tires I run a cheap mud tire on my jeep and have been very happy with them. They are called Mud Tracs I think they are made by national tire they are about $100 around here. and they have pretty good tread on them

 

[rivired67]

As for the BFG muds, I could go either way on those. I ran a few sets of them on my old Toy 4x4, and they did seem to wear pretty quick. Then I started running Kumho muds (which I understand are a very close knock-off of the BFG's), and they wore much slower, about 20,000 miles more out of them. Problem now is that I can't find a place that sells them around here for much less than the BFG's. I like my Mud Kings ($119 apiece after haggling the price down from $137), but they also seem to be wearing pretty fast. I've got right around 20,000 miles on them, and I've got between a quarter and half tread left, closer to the quarter. They've pulled me through some really heavy mud with no problems at all. In fact, a lot of the time I use 2wd in mud that would have given 4wd troubles with some of the other brands I've experimented with.

I ALSO HAD mUD kINGS..30x9.5..and these tires wore excellent on the rear and were destoyed on my front due to ball joint probs.but anyways..they were air-d down close to 100 times probly..ran at only 3-4 psi in the snow countless times and just tottaly beat up on rocks..theres no tread left on the 2 now and the sidewalls have big bubbles in them due to breakdown...but they sure did serve there time in my opinion..great value.

 

[LVRockCrawler]

I have bfg a/t's on now with almost 15k miles on em and they still have the little rubber things sticking out in the tread. No doubt they wear very well but i want a more aggressive mudder since i've been stuck more than once. Seems like every person and their granny has the bfg mt's though. PLus i don't really like their look.

DO NOT judge the M/T's by the A/T's - when i moved out here to the desert i learned the difference b/w Florida (sand) mud and Nevada (mostly clay) mud - the A/T's i had scared the heck out of me with sliding and almost getting stuck - havent had that prob with the M/T's - there might be a reason "everyone and their granny" are runnin them ... funny how many other brands "look" like the M/T's pattern... hmmm... you want aggressive? go with Super Swamper TSL - no tread life but they are bad! like the boggers and thornbirds too....

 

[Sparky-Watts]

DO NOT judge the M/T's by the A/T's - when i moved out here to the desert i learned the difference b/w Florida (sand) mud and Nevada (mostly clay) mud - the A/T's i had scared the heck out of me with sliding and almost getting stuck - havent had that prob with the M/T's - there might be a reason "everyone and their granny" are runnin them ... funny how many other brands "look" like the M/T's pattern... hmmm... you want aggressive? go with Super Swamper TSL - no tread life but they are bad! like the boggers and thornbirds too....

Back when I had my Toy PU, and thought I was settling down a bit, I bought a set of BFG A/T's for it. One day I got a wild hair to go wheeling in the mud. Talk about a pucker factor of +10!! Absolutely no traction, no control, no nothing!! I was so used to my mudders pulling me around with no effort, then I got in the mix with those A/T's and thought I'd never make it back to pavement!

When I bought my YJ, it had the BFG A/T's on it, and I went down a few muddy roads with it, not really intending to go mudding. I had to keep the engine wrapped out pretty high all the time just to maintain forward momentum, and steering or maneuvering was pretty much out of the question. After getting the Mud King's, I can go through worse mud than that in 2wd with very little problem, and don't have to keep the RPM's up like I did with the A/T's.

 

[TwistedCU]

Okay, a word about BFG all terrains:

They are no doubt the best all-terrain out there. You can easily squeeze 50K miles + out of them and they ride great on the street in all conditions. As for trails, they absolutely excell in sand, dirt and rock (not so much jagged stuff). As for mud they will do better than any non mud terrain I can think of. I ran 32's on a YJ and they were absolutley one of the best tires I have ever ran. They are also the first tires I ever got stuck in mud with. Remember comparing mudders and A/t's isn't sensible.

I'd stay away from Thornturds.

 

[Wrangl3r93]

Yeah i've had some pretty hairy experiences involving sliding in the woods. Big trees and sliding don't really mix and i'm not tryin that again till i get some decent mud tires. Regarding tires i'd love to have a set of tsl radials. I know they aren't really practical for my drive style though. I asked about the mastercraft tires because one guy told me he got a little over 40k out of one set. The only setback with those is their 33 inch tall tire is actually only 32.5 inches tall! The next size up are 34.85 inches tall and i'd have to get a bl for those.
As for the a/t's i have now they're gonna get a good home. Giving them to my gf to replace the crappy road tires she has on now. After riding on them for as long as i have i feel more than perfectly safe(if that makes any sense) to have her riding around on them.

 

[LVRockCrawler]

okay... i'm not dissin' the A/T's - they were GREAT on rock and sand, aired down to 8 psi on stock rims (32x11.5) - never had a problem when the conditions were dry... just wanted to point that out- A/T's are great until they get wet... thats all.... my M/T's are better and they dont mind mud and snow (interesting for a florida boy thats only played in snow in a semi....)