Offroad Head-Snap/Body Roll

[mtbjeep]

So as I start doing more and more advanced trails I've really noticed an almost brutal side to side "whipping" motion going through rock gardens and the like. I don't know what I don't know, and this might be perfectly normal, but if it is I have no idea how anyone brings dogs with them offroad, they'd be shot clean out the window! I have been trying to research ways to minimize the motion, 100% understanding that the major percentage of the movement will always be there no matter what I do. There isn't too much information available out there that I could readily find, but I have been able to break the info down into 3 camps:

Rock Jock Antirock swaybar to better control the motion offroad while still maintaining a fairly drivable on-road feel;

Adjustable or firmer shocks to slow the side to side movement;

A 5-point harness as the head follows the body. If the body is well planted, so should the head in theory.

Anyway I'm hoping someone can share their experience with head-snap, what they have done about it and if there is any merit to pursing any of the above.

For reference I have a 2018 JLU Sahara hardtop, 2-1/2" MC lift, MC Rock Sport shocks and a roof rack with a very modest amount of weight up high.

Thanks

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[JT1]

Do you air down and disconnect your front swaybar now?

 

[yokramer]

Slow down?

 

[mtbjeep]

Yes, 15lbs & disconnected. This is going pretty slow. It almost feels like it would be better if I hammered it as the suspension would be reacting much faster, but that seems a little expensive.

 

[Shibadog]

I am NOT a rock crawler, though I’ve done a ton of off-road stuff for decades (mountain trails, old logging trails, etc. etc.). Based on what I’ve experienced you are always going to have a very “jerky” ride in rough terrain. Going slow (crawling” helps, but the issues still there . The faster you go, the rougher the terrain, the worse it gets. At any kind of speed on rough terrain a Jeep’ll bounce the fillings out of your teeth. Better shocks helps, but….

 

[Gorilla57]

If you are bouncing around, then you need a few “driver” mods above all else. As yokramer already said, slow down, especially on the bigger stuff. And then you need to learn how to 2-foot drive. That loads up the suspension and brakes, allowing you to go up and down over the rocks at a controlled pace. Try to change these habits first before you spend money on stuff that you’ll realize you don’t need.

 

[FreedomFur]

Yes, 15lbs & disconnected. This is going pretty slow. It almost feels like it would be better if I hammered it as the suspension would be reacting much faster, but that seems a little expensive.

Not low enough...I'd try 12-13psi. It will make a big difference. Even 11psi should be fine.

 

[mtbjeep]

you need to learn how to 2-foot drive. That loads up the suspension and brakes, allowing you to go up and down over the rocks at a controlled pace. Try to change these habits first before you spend money on stuff that you’ll realize you don’t need.

I should have mentioned I have the 6 speed MT. Seems tricky to 2-foot drive without being able to feather the clutch or am I missing something?

 

[John VonJeep]

Does your Jeep have Off-Road+? That softens the throttle response in 4Lo (but sharpens in in 4Hi).

 

[mtbjeep]

Does your Jeep have Off-Road+? That softens the throttle response in 4Lo (but sharpens in in 4Hi).

No it does not. Is that an auto trans thing? It sounds like it would be super helpful in the manual as 1st and 2nd are real twitchy in 4lo especially when your foot is bouncing all over the place. I spend most of my time going as slow as I can in 3rd as the taller gears really help smooth things out.

 

[nsfw_andy]

I should have mentioned I have the 6 speed MT. Seems tricky to 2-foot drive without being able to feather the clutch or am I missing something?

You can't go as slow as the automatic guys without stalling out

You're getting tossed around since you have to keep a higher speed while dancing around with all 3 pedals im betting.

 

[verapx]

I have found with my limited seat time on trails with my JL that at speeds over 5mph keeping the sway bar connected lessens the sway. I guess it is a shock issue though. Unless I am on a trail that needs the ability to flex the sway bar stays connected. I don't have this issue with my trail scrambler though. Maybe the rockjock swaybar would help.

 

[JT1]

No it does not. Is that an auto trans thing? It sounds like it would be super helpful in the manual as 1st and 2nd are real twitchy in 4lo especially when your foot is bouncing all over the place. I spend most of my time going as slow as I can in 3rd as the taller gears really help smooth things out.

I believe you answered your own question. 3.45s, a 2.72:1 case and 5.13 first gear is already not much of a crawl ratio. Wheeling obstacles in 3rd gear means you are going too fast.

Rocksports are also pretty soft and they don't control big body motions that well.

 

[JEEP4U]

You can't go as slow as the automatic guys without stalling out

You're getting tossed around since you have to keep a higher speed while dancing around with all 3 pedals im betting.

Not so fast !.......... The crawl ratio in my manual is 110.4 : 1

 

[JT1]

Not so fast !.......... The crawl ratio in my manual is 110.4 : 1

Not in 3rd gear, lol.

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