Ideal Wheelbase?

[MrShoeBoy]

What wheelbase would you run with a back halfed tubed out MJ with a 4 link? Do I keep the 113 stock wb or shorten it up to say 106 or so?

 

I just picked up a '91 MJ short bed to replace my current XJ. The drivetrain from the XJ will be going into the MJ. 4.6L stroker, AX-15, Stak 3 speed monster box, HP Dana 44 front narrowed to waggy width, and a Ford 8.8 in the rear. Current tires are 35s with 36s or 37s in the future. The rig wheels mostly east coast meaning slick wet muddy rocks and rock ledges needing wheel speed but I would like to eventually head out west with it.

 

Thanks,

 

AARON

[DirtyComanche]

It's a tossup.

 

 

On any given trail you can see a SWB rig smoking the tires trying to climb something, while a similarily equipped LWB rig walks up it. Then you see the LWB rig high-centred and the SWB rig just pops over the obstacle.

 

 

'Ideal' will vary from driver to driver and rig to rig.

 

 

I figure as long as you aren't too extreme either way, things will work out. Personally I think I'm about 5" too long right now. But maybe not! But I've got a short-bed (sorta) that has about the same WB as a long bed. I haven't got many options to cut it down though. Maybe I should just step up the tire size (and the axles) again.

[feerocknok]

I'd set the rear tires to barely clear the rear of the cab, and the front tires forward enough for a 90* or better approach, whatever that comes out to.

 

After experimenting, I'm into short wheelbases myself. I like to take advantage of the tight turning radius, and keeping a low center of gravity helps eliminate the worry of rolling.

 

My Toy went 110, to 118, to 106, and I'm shortening it to 99 because I want to.

[JOMJ87]

I have seen some rigs from all kinds of wheelbases and my Favorite was a buggy that was about at 100"s. It was about perfect for tight turns and the steep climbs. If i changed mine i might go to 102 or so. but i would do as stated before and pushed the front out till the tires hit right after the bumper when you go up against a straight up wall. But Dirty is right it depends on location and wheeling style plus what you feel comfortable in. Like i would never wheel a Sami up a steep hill cause i feel like if i hit a rock it would roll on its top.

 

Cole

[rockhardzj]

Design it so the wheelbase can stretch with hydrailics. It would be the most capable rig out there. SWB mode to avoid the high centering, and then the hill comes, and push that rear axle out like a foot to LWB mode, and climb with ease.

 

Good idea, but would be very expensive to do, and probably wouldnt let you be street legal ever again.

 

Yea, that took all of a few seconds to think of...

[DirtyComanche]

Design it so the wheelbase can stretch with hydrailics. It would be the most capable rig out there. SWB mode to avoid the high centering, and then the hill comes, and push that rear axle out like a foot to LWB mode, and climb with ease.

 

Good idea, but would be very expensive to do, and probably wouldnt let you be street legal ever again.

 

Yea, that took all of a few seconds to think of...

 

 

There was (maybe still is) a buggy that had that sort of setup. It worked but was majorly heavy. It was also an engineering nightmare to make it hold together.

[rockhardzj]

The concept is fairly simple, the engineering, I can imagine would $#!& the bed, near the pillows too.

 

I'd like to see this buggy, maybe I can figure out a way to fix it's engineering nightmares. the driveshaft would need one hell of a long of a slip spline...

[feerocknok]

What wheelbase would you run with a back halfed tubed out MJ with a 4 link? Do I keep the 113 stock wb or shorten it up to say 106 or so?

Are you planning on leaving the front axle in its current location?

[MrShoeBoy]

I plan on kicking the front axle out an inch or two. I still need to have room for the track bar and drag link. The D44 under my XJ is moved foward from the stock position about 1.5" with the coil buckets centered over the axle compared to over the front like the D30. It cleared with a fair amount of room, but I think I can get some more out of it with the new suspension.

 

As for an adjustable wheelbase...not so much :D I don't want a fat heavy pig, plus it will still see highway speeds.

 

Thanks guys,

 

AARON

[DirtyComanche]

My front axle is about 4" forewards. The tires don't clear the inner fenders.

 

 

I fixed that...

 

Image Not Found

[pingpong]

I am an east coast wheeler... My rig is at 112" but I am lenghtening it out a lil.. probrably going to be back around 120" when done, BUt I am going to be on 42's with full belly skid, with that fancy plasctic on it :eek:

[DirtyComanche]

with that fancy plasctic on it :eek:

 

 

I keep meaning to pick up some of that stuff.

[feerocknok]

with that fancy plasctic on it :eek:

 

 

I keep meaning to pick up some of that stuff.

Put parts on? I thought the point of the game was to have the least amount of parts on. I'm ready to pull my hood.

[Pete M]

with that fancy plasctic on it :eek:

 

 

I keep meaning to pick up some of that stuff.

Put parts on? I thought the point of the game was to have the least amount of parts on.

 

If it is, then I lost the game a looong time ago. :D

[87manche]

The concept is fairly simple, the engineering, I can imagine would $#!+ the bed, near the pillows too.

 

I'd like to see this buggy, maybe I can figure out a way to fix it's engineering nightmares. the driveshaft would need one hell of a long of a slip spline...

 

two words

 

Hydraulic Drivetrain

 

go full hydro and you don't need to worry about driveshafts, just hoses.

 

rockwells with a gigantic hydraulic motor attached to the pinion seems like a good idea.

 

Of course, you'd need to source the pump from a piece of Ag equipment or something.

[DirtyComanche]

Put parts on? I thought the point of the game was to have the least amount of parts on. I'm ready to pull my hood.

 

 

This stuff appears to be worth it. Weight wise it isn't very heavy, but it's mad slippery and quite tough. You put it on the bottom of skid plates and it allows you to slide over things you'd never think possible.

 

I want it because my skids mount with bolts thah have the heads sticking down. The heads are rock fodder.

[pingpong]

I don't know the technical name for it, but it is oil impregnated plastic. Tough as hell and like pointed out slides over everything, with a whushing sound.

[feerocknok]

Is it like UHMW at all?

[DirtyComanche]

Is it like UHMW at all?

 

 

Something like that... Plastics have all these horrible acrynoms instead of names.

[pingpong]

Is it like UHMW at all?

 

 

Something like that... Plastics have all these horrible acrynoms instead of names.

 

 

I think that is it.... stuff is mega pricey too.. something like 250 for a 4'x8' sheet

[MrShoeBoy]

If your paying $250 for a sheet of UHMW, then you are paying too much. I used to buy it for work for around $100 to $150 for a 1/4" sheet. I guess the price varied due to the bulk orders we do as well as the fact that it was a company doing the buying. What thickness do you plan on running? I wouldnt recommend the 1/4, stick with at least 3/8 otherwise it won't last.

 

AARON

[pingpong]

I was looking at 1/2.... that way I could recess my mounting holes deep enough and still have plenty of thickness to hold it. I planned on using fender washers with bolts.

[MrShoeBoy]

That would work out very nice. A friend of mine has 3/8 on his skid and after 2 years its very torn up and just about done. With 1/2 you should be just fine, but be sure to use lots of bolts to hold it on otherwise it will rip or distort when you land an unsecured section on a rock.

 

I think I am going to shoot for a 106" wheel base. I rode with a friend this past weekend who has a 103" wb and he totally got denied on the waterfall at Callalantee where my other friend walked up it in his buggy with a 105" wb and this other random guy hardly tried and made it up with a 113"wb.

 

AARON

[JOMJ87]

Whats this place you wheel at??? I'm originally from aorund Asheville and now I'm stationed at Shaw AFB near columbia SC. All i have ever heard of is Gulches in laurens SC, URE??don't know speeling but its up your way. and Tellico. if its closer then these do you have pics and is it Legal?? Also hows the wheeling?? Sorry to highjack but if you want PM the info or do a write up on it in the wheeling section if you don't care. Thanks

 

Cole

[MrShoeBoy]

http://www.highcountryatv.com/

 

Its located in Mountain City, TN. Take 321 into Boone, then jump onto 421 into Mtn City, then you make a right at the gas station and fast food joint, then follow the signs from there.

 

Check out www.nc4x4.com under upcoming or past events for pictures and people heading out there riding. You can also find maps and direcitons too.

 

AARON