you're going to need at least one locker (preferably rear) or it'll be extremely frustrating. I'm all for getting less built rigs through trails, but there comes a point where it's not even fun anymore when you're underbuilt for the trail. Let's try to get you through constrictor sometime and see how it does.
I'm always up for a challenge that is just outside my Jeep's apparent ability--that's why I've added all the armor.
As for constrictor, I have run this Wrangler up to the infamous left turn; I had to stop at that point because there was another Jeep (better built than me) who was struggling to make the turn. I ended up just turning around and heading back out the way I came in before he got through the turn.
I would try to stuff at least 32s under there and 33s if possible. I ran it back in 98 and had 32s, but lockers front and rear. The True Old Sluice will do the most damage from what I recall.
I greatly appreciate your advice, Bart. Nevertheless, the next set of tires I buy for this Jeep will be 35s. (My current setup of budget boost + 31s is just to hold me over until I can step up to my desired 35s.) Knowing that I'll need to regear for the 35s--plus everything else that I'll need--I seriously doubt I'll be on 35s by next summer. So it's either 31s or nothing for me.
BTW: I went back and re-read
that Jp article where they took a near-stock YJ over the Rubicon. The only significant mod to that Wrangler was a 2" body lift. The leaf springs and shackles were all OEM, both diffs were open and it wore 31" tires on the stock wheels. They also removed the track bars and sway bar, and some rocker guards and a winch were added... and that's it. What was their overall verdict after running the entire trail?
"Surprisingly, it was the clearance that was more of an issue than the lack of traction. We hit just about everything on the underside of our Jeep."
My Jeep currently won't flex as much as that YJ, so that's why I thought a locker might be a handy addition. (Besides, my long-term plan is to have them f&r anyway.) It is successes like theirs that give me hope for my Jeep making it over the whole trail.
