Teach britney #1....Which rig?

[britney]

That's right I am in Technical Talk.

It's time for me to learn all this, way too far over my head, 4X4 stuff. I have tried the whole search thing and all it does is confuse me so, I am going to start posting "Teach britney" thread's asking various 4X4 questions. Jeremy is great at answering my questions, but this will give me a much braoder perspective.

Here are my only rules:

1.I don't necessarily want to know why everything else sucks, just what makes your choice the best.

2. Don't get too Technical yet. I am starting with the basics, When I'm ready for more I'll ask. Think "housewife".

3. If someone is posting incorrect info. please tell me (or delete it moderators) I don't need to get any more confused.



Have fun, be nice, and slowly but surely make me an expert.

 

[britney]

Teach britney #1

What do you consider the best vehicle for rockcrawling, and why?

(jeep, cruiser, suki, blazer, ?truck, etc.)

 

[Hickey]

Not a good question. there isn't a "best" in the true sense. different vehicles are better at different aspects of rockcrawling, though there will be many who say "a Suzuki samurai is best because of its shortt wheelbase" but others who say "a toyota truck is the best because of its long wheelbase". the question you are asking will only bring out brand loyalty in people.

 

[Brett]

Ought oh.....this question should bring people out of the woodwork...


Here's my take on this. Personally, I am a Jeep/Toyota guy. I've had a couple Cherokee's now plus a Tacoma and a Land Cruiser. The Toyota's were built a LOT better than any Jeep that I have seen (even new ones.) Stronger, faster, just better parts from the beginning. My Tacoma TRD was nice because even with IFS it worked great off road, especially with the electric locker.

On the other side are the Cherokee's that I have and have had. Easy to modify, lots of parts out there for them. Problem is that Chrysler builds them so cheaply and uses the some junk to start with. You have to modify a Jeep a lot to make it keep up with a Toyota that is stock in the strength department.

So, for me, and this is just for now, I am going to say that I like Cherokee's the best (Till I get another Tacoma )

 

[Greg]

Originally posted by Jeremy
Not a good question. there isn't a "best" in the true sense. different vehicles are better at different aspects of rockcrawling, though there will be many who say "a Suzuki samurai is best because of its shortt wheelbase" but others who say "a toyota truck is the best because of its long wheelbase". the question you are asking will only bring out brand loyalty in people.

Exactally.


Personally, one of things I like about the Toyota (Brand Loyality, right here!) as Jeremy said, is the wheelbase. Among other things are.... Nearly bullet-proof factory axles (Just add SuperBirfs), inexpensive options for deep gearing, EFI is easily available, and ton's of aftermarket support.

With those above reasons, I think one can build a very capable Rockcrawling Rig on a tight budget.

That's my opinion right there. Let's hear what everyone else has to say.....

 

[britney]

Originally posted by Jeremy
Not a good question. there isn't a "best" in the true sense. different vehicles are better at different aspects of rockcrawling, ..............the question you are asking will only bring out brand loyalty in people.

When I asked this question I knew most of the answers would have to do with "brand loyalty", but that is part of what I want to understand, Why the loyalty? I also know that most rigs have so many modifications, and other brand parts, that it couldn't really be classified as a jeep (etc.) anymore, but that wouldn't keep you from calling it one.

 

[bobdog]

Theres just somthing about a Jeep CJ YJ or TJ running topless with no doors that gives a feeling that toys can't. As to stronger I don't know. Has toyota ever offered a tranny stonger than a T18? Have they ever offered a T/C stonger than a Dana 300 or a 20? Are toyota steering boxes as strong as a saginaw box. Ect ect ect. Are the axles really any stronger than a dana 44, Why?(the ring gear is not bigger does it have extra pinion support like a 9"?) These are not retorical questions. I don't know the answers and am really asking because I always assumed that the toy stuff was lighter duty. Jeep came out with some good stuff they just never put it all on the same Jeep. Are toys really faster than a jeep? I would think that the 4.0 would outrun a 22r or a V6, not to mention the Jeep V8s(it was posible to order a Jeep CJ with a 360 and a T18 but there were very very few that ever did). Would toys be as reliable if they ran the more powerfull engines that a lot of jeeps do? 4cyl jeeps seem to hold up pretty good. As for me the only part of my Jeep drivtrain left is the T/C so I guess for me the Jeep stuff wasn't really all that great, but I never considered replacing it with toyota gear. Thanks for starting the war Britney.

 

[terrymac]

Originally posted by britney
Teach britney #1

What do you consider the best vehicle for rockcrawling, and why?

(jeep, cruiser, suki, blazer, ?truck, etc.)

OK, I'll bite. Samurai. Cheap, light easy to build. Install low, low gearing, lockers, SPOA, tires and you have an extremely capable rig. They have issues, short wheelbase, no power and you can't buy new ones in the US anymore but I wouldn't trade mine for anything (well, maybe a buggy with D60's, Atlas, LT1, 39" Krawlers, but I digress).

 

[Brett]

Originally posted by bobdog
Thanks for starting the war Britney.

heheheheh



Oh, and compared the my 4.0 in my Cherokee, the 3.4 in my Tacoma "feels" faster. Dunno if it really is though <shrug>

 

[britney]

Thanks bobdog, that was quite a technical answer.

This is what I saw........

Originally posted by bobdog
Theres just somthing about a Jeep CJ YJ or TJ running topless with no doors that gives a feeling that toys can't. As to stronger I don't know. Has toyota ever offered a tranny stonger than a T18? Have they ever offered ........blah, blah, blah, blah, blah,................. so I guess for me the Jeep stuff wasn't really all that great, but I never considered replacing it with toyota gear. Thanks for starting the war Britney.

You weren't thinking "housewife" when you posted. Lucky for you Jeremy was here to explain all those #'s and parts. Now after reading it about 5 times I kindof understand.

Please keep this simple. I will get to my parts questions later, but for now it is which vehicle and why?

P.S.
This is not a war!!!! It is meant to teach me so don't try to start one you naughty boy!!

 

[Hickey]

Keep it simple guys, she only has a miniscule understanding of automotive tech. try not to abreviate also, I don't want to get a call at 1:00am tonight when I'm driving through Mt. home, Idaho...



ring..ring...

britney: What does D/L mean?

Jeremy: Driveline

brit: okay, g'night

Jer:night.

ring... ring...

Jer: yes?

brit: what do they do?

see what I mean?

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by britney

What do you consider the best vehicle for rockcrawling, and why?

In my opinon, "Right Out of the Box".

Jeep TJ

Why?

Built right, Light, Cheep, TONS of after market parts.




And I drive a Toylet

 

[britney]

Originally posted by terrymac


.....SPOA....

What is that? I understood the rest.

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by britney
What do you consider the best vehicle for rockcrawling, and why?

Not "Right out of the Box".

A Homemade Tub Buggy, and there are WAY to many options to list them all.

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by britney


What is that? I understood the rest.

This means the Springs are mounted on top of the axles not under. Most rigs come from the factory with the springs under the axle. By placing them on top, you get better FLEX!!

 

[britney]

Originally posted by Shawn


This means the Springs are mounted on top of the axles not under. Most rigs come from the factory with the springs under the axle. By placing them on top, you get better FLEX!!

Right
Thanks Shawn. I know what a spring over is, I just didn't realize SPOA was the abbr. for it. This thread is already giving me good info. and questions for later.

Keep it coming!!!

 

[spiderman]

Like everyone else said, there is no best. If I have to make a suggestion, start with what you are familiar with. If you're not familiar with anything, then start with anything you can get your hands on. As you progress, you will get a feel for what you like and what you don't like, and then you can make a better decision based on that.

 

[mbryson]

My personal opinion........which rig is the question, correct?

Something leaf sprung on both ends (CJ, YJ, or Landcruiser, 'yota pickup, etc.) will be very simple to modify and you can move from there anywhere you want (coils, coilovers, spring over axles, new axles, etc. etc.) or need. It will morph into whatever you want it to as cheaply and easily as possible.

Pick something with lots of aftermarket support and have a good time.


All that said, I've got a little loyalty to the XJ marque (Cherokee) after building one. It has it's limits, but within those a Cherokee with 33" tires, modest axles (D30 for the front and D44 or 8.8 for the rear) will run most 'trails' at least on the Moab scale and you can drive it to work everyday with the A/C on. Fairly cheap to build and still have OK road manners. If you want to run upper Helldorado and Upper Proving Grounds (and other similar things) get something else.

 

[britney]

Wow Marc, perfect description especially the part about A/C

 

[lowe1974]

I'll chime in on this one. The Jepp CJ8 Scrambler has got to be the best rig out there, and not many people would disagree. Sure you might not be able to find one since only some 26,000 were ever made but the combine everything I ever wanted in a rig. To start with I too have had my share of vehicle. Just listing the 4x4 and nothing else, I have had 2 1985 toy trucks, and 87 toy truck, 87 4runner and now my scramler. I really liked my my toyotas but the really lacked power. They were really reliable and seem so last for ever, but if you but even a slightly bigger tire than stock on one I felt the power really go down. I loved the room that the 4runner had in it, and if you could have one with as much power as my scambler but with the reliablity of a toyota I would have kept that one. I still today if some ask what kind of 4x4 to get I say a toyota because it will give you the least amopunt of head ackes. But now my scrambler is a jeep and not much is left that is jeep but here is what you get. Every available aftermarket part made over the last 25 years or so for a cj will fit it. You get 104" wheel base meaning nice comfortable ride, road manners, off road ability. It easily fits a V8 engine for all the power you would need and no worries about what can and can't fit. There is lots of room. And speaking of room you can fit 4 people and all their gear for a weeks worth of camping and be very comfortable. One last thing is the cool factor. Everybody deep down in side really wants and Scrambler they just can't find one. If someone can say something bad about one I'd be interested. I know the stock axle are not the strongest but that is fix easily