What can my stock TJ handle?

[97TJSport]

I just bought my first jeep. it is stock suspension rolling on 31's. I am curious to know what can my jeep handle? Will it make it from Pleasent to Crown King?

Eventually i will be putting money into a lift and new tires but no time soon.

[Lifes A Jeep]

I just bought my first jeep. it is stock suspension rolling on 31's. I am curious to know what can my jeep handle? Will it make it from Pleasent to Crown King?

Eventually i will be putting money into a lift and new tires but no time soon.

Your good to go for the Backway to Crown King. Just don't go alone!

There is a book by Charles Wells that has detailed descriptions for a variety of trails in Az. You can pick it up on Amazon or most 4x4 shops in the Phoenix area. Start with the Moderate Runs in the book.

[AZLugz]

Let Schnipe drive and it can Roll-over and play dead!!!!!

[brian lujan]

you would be surpised what a stock jeep can do. with rock protection bumpers & sliders.

[jeep108]

Montana Mountain is pretty cool.

Ken U
84 cj7
08 liberty

[pennstater]

I would say you can do the back way to crown king easily. If you never wheeled before, you will be the limiting factor due to limited experience. You would enjoy the backway to crown king..

When you get more skilled and still stock, you should be able to handle Lower Raw Deal, Desoto Mine, Smiley Rock, Sunflower....notice the trail ratings for these.

There is no substitute for experience that will take seat time.

Never go alone and have fun.

It is amazing what these jeeps can do stock, but even more amazing when modified.

[azorr]

What side of town are you on? I run a stock YJ, have done Box Canyon, Bulldog Canyon, and Butcher Jones, all good east runs. x2 on the wells book, thats where I get my info so far. Plus, post up a run, I have always been able to get someone to come along.

[brian lujan]

I just bought my first jeep. it is stock suspension rolling on 31's. I am curious to know what can my jeep handle? Will it make it from Pleasent to Crown King?

Eventually i will be putting money into a lift and new tires but no time soon.

if your on the east side i'll give you my 2" BB lift kit.

[mingoglia]

I just bought my first jeep. it is stock suspension rolling on 31's. I am curious to know what can my jeep handle? Will it make it from Pleasent to Crown King?

Eventually i will be putting money into a lift and new tires but no time soon.

Please, please PLEASE, if you decide to do Crown King, and EVEN if you don't go alone make sure to get a spare set of dana 35 axle shafts for the back. This is one of the most common things to break and there's very few things on a Jeep that can literally make your Jeep non-moveable (ie you can't even tow it out). This is especially important on the CK trail because although it's not the most difficult trail it's one of the most difficult trails to get spare parts/help to.

Mike

[Offroad Rubicon]

Welcome to the club by the way! I was thinking about making a run to Crown King this weekend... let me know if you plan to go. I need some work done tommorow but I will probably post tomm. night.

[97TJSport]

if your on the east side i'll give you my 2" BB lift kit.

I am out in Queen Creek. If you want to give the 2"BB lift away, "That would be great". It would give me alittle extra clearance until i can get the lift i want.

When i am done with them i will pass them on to some other newbie.

Let me know

[grateful]

Please, please PLEASE, if you decide to do Crown King, and EVEN if you don't go alone make sure to get a spare set of dana 35 axle shafts for the back. This is one of the most common things to break and there's very few things on a Jeep that can literally make your Jeep non-moveable (ie you can't even tow it out). This is especially important on the CK trail because although it's not the most difficult trail it's one of the most difficult trails to get spare parts/help to.

Mike

I'm pretty new at this too...running a stock LJ. And I am not mechanically inclined at all...if I have problems with a vehicle, I haul it to a shop. So what is a dana 35 axle shaft that I would know what to do with it if mine broke? Is this something that is stock on all jeeps? easy to replace on a trail? I'm sorry I'm so ignorant...I'm just figuring out tires and now I need to know about axle shafts? Sorry.... does everyone carry spare axle shafts with them when they go out? :confused:

[TanTJJim]

TJ's came with either a Dana 35 or Dana 44 rear axle. The Dana 35 is notoriously weak but the real problem is that there are only small C-clips that hold the axles in. If the axle shaft breaks, there is nothing to hold the axle in and it comes out along with your tire :eek: Then you can't move it at all because you now only have 3 wheels.

The Dana 44 axle is quite a bit stronger so for the most part you don't have to worry about them breaking and even if they do they're set up so that the wheel won't come out and at least you can get it back to the trailhead and possibly tow it from there.

The way you can tell if you have a Dana 35 rear axle is by looking at the differential cover. If it's an oval it's the Dana 35, if it has to flat sides and dips down in the middle you have the stronger Dana 44.

[Andrew F]

I'm pretty new at this too...running a stock LJ. And I am not mechanically inclined at all...if I have problems with a vehicle, I haul it to a shop. So what is a dana 35 axle shaft that I would know what to do with it if mine broke? Is this something that is stock on all jeeps? easy to replace on a trail? I'm sorry I'm so ignorant...I'm just figuring out tires and now I need to know about axle shafts? Sorry.... does everyone carry spare axle shafts with them when they go out? :confused:

You don't have a Dana 35, you have a Dana 44. All LJs came with the D44 in the rear. D44 is stronger than the 35. Shouldn't need spare axles shafts for the D44 with stock tires, they are pretty beefy as it is, but something you should look into doing later on if you start getting into more techinical stuff.

[brian lujan]

TJ's 01 and up sport,sahara & rubicon have the D44

[brian lujan]

When i am done with them i will pass them on to some other newbie.

Let me know[/QUOTE]

yah, i'll freecycle it to ya. im off most fridays & saturday.

[SHNIPE]

lol lugz! id treat it gently just like mine!

If you wheel with Brian... pay close attention. Guy can wheel a stocker pretty freakin awesomely!!!

[grateful]

TJ's came with either a Dana 35 or Dana 44 rear axle. The Dana 35 is notoriously weak but the real problem is that there are only small C-clips that hold the axles in. If the axle shaft breaks, there is nothing to hold the axle in and it comes out along with your tire :eek: Then you can't move it at all because you now only have 3 wheels.

The Dana 44 axle is quite a bit stronger so for the most part you don't have to worry about them breaking and even if they do they're set up so that the wheel won't come out and at least you can get it back to the trailhead and possibly tow it from there.

The way you can tell if you have a Dana 35 rear axle is by looking at the differential cover. If it's an oval it's the Dana 35, if it has to flat sides and dips down in the middle you have the stronger Dana 44.

THANK YOU Very Very Much! I will check it out tomorrow! I was thinking of getting a new rear bumper with my tax rebate...if I don't have the stronger axle, then I'll add it in. Thanks!! Thank Goodness you guys are willing to share your expertise! :)

[grateful]

You don't have a Dana 35, you have a Dana 44. All LJs came with the D44 in the rear. D44 is stronger than the 35. Shouldn't need spare axles shafts for the D44 with stock tires, they are pretty beefy as it is, but something you should look into doing later on if you start getting into more techinical stuff.

THANK YOU! I remember Nena telling me something about this, but I can't remember what one she said I had! It is nice to not to have to worry about this axle! Again, I am very thankful that you guys are so patient and take the time to share what you know....THANKS!
smiles, karen

[97TJSport]

Thanks to everyone's advice and opinions.

I took Cow Creek Road from Pleasent to Crown King on Saturday and had a blast. I went with a friend who showed me how to look for lines and keep the underside clear from rocks. Due to my inexperience I got stuck once but was easily towed out. Good thing I bought a tow strap on Friday.

I started out with a cracked exhuast manifold and after this trip now have a rattling catalytic converter. I will be replacing the complete exhaust system this weekend.

See you out on the trail shortly!

[DREDnot]

Right On!
Nothin' to it but to do it!
Pics?

[Offroad Rubicon]

NIce... I went about 1/2 way up on Saturday as well... did you take any pics? I will attempt to attach I few I shot.

[97TJSport]

Here are some pics of my Crown King Trip. The green one is mine the red one is a friends

UHHHMM any body wnat to give me quick directions on posting photos?

[Duality]

you can try anything, just make sure someone is there to bail you out if you get stuck.

I wouldn't worry too much about breaking axles on a stock rig, maybe if you lift with big tires... but people try to scare you around here they aren't as fragile as people make them out to be.

[aussie_ian]

we have taken out stock tj with us on trips and watched them drive around built toyotas that are stuck.. all we can do is stand there a laugh.... If you dont try it you will never know.! walk the tough bits 1st and pick your line. good luck

[schneiderdn]

you can try anything, just make sure someone is there to bail you out if you get stuck.

I wouldn't worry too much about breaking axles on a stock rig, maybe if you lift with big tires... but people try to scare you around here they aren't as fragile as people make them out to be.

Agreed. I think a good general rule of thumb is Dana 30/35 (no more than 33" tires); Dana 44s (no more than 35" tires). And of course, take it easy on the pedal when your in the rocks. Lockers will also kill your axles if you don't know how to drive with them, so do your homework before upgrading.