What to upgrade next for mild off roading?

[Cips]

Hello all,

I searched around but did not really find an answer to what I am asking. Is there a 'roadmap' of suggested upgrades for beefing up our Jeeps?

I wheel maybe 8-10 times per year, the hardest trails being rocky blue rated ones at my nearby off road parks. Vehicle is a 2.0T Auto trans 2021 Willys Unlimited.

I have skid plates, 3.5" lift with quick disconnect sway bar links, 35" tires, (stock Willy's) rock sliders.

I have read ball joints are needed, but what would be next? Should I look at upgraded tie rods/drag link? Regear for the axles (stock M186/M210 axles don't know how 'good' they are?

Sponsored

 

[CopperMtnGuy]

If it's doing what you want it to do, I'd leave it be! I'd rather spend my money taking it new places off road than just building it up to build it. If you really want to do something, a winch could be something to consider, as well as on board air or some type of portable air compressor, GMRS radio etc.

 

[JLJKLJ]

If you really want to do something, a winch could be something to consider

This is the first thing I add to a new Jeep. If it turns out you don't have enough other upgrades for what you're doing the winch will usually still get you through.

 

[kah.mun.rah]

Best thing you can do for comfort and traction when off-roading is airing down. With that, my advice for a future upgrade is onboard air with a quality compressor.

People are quick to replace their stock tie rods and drag links but truth be told, the stock ones on the JL would have been considered heavy duty aftermarket quality back in the JK days.

 

[bllprk]

I love the tailgate table. It’s really nice for making sandwiches when you’re on the trail.

 

[Stuckinthesand]

Looks like you are in Bucks County, PA which tells me you hit the same parks I do from NJ which is AOAA and Raush. I've done 99% of the blue rated trails and 1 blue/black rated on my setup. 2.5" lift, quick disconnects, stock skids, 35"s on stock axles M186/M220, winch and aftermarket sliders. I have found that it is fine for what I am comfortable doing at either park. I saw a Rubicon on 37"s and not sure how much of a lift on Mammoth and he made it through the 1st section. All about the driver and knowing what line to take.

 

[JINO]

I also think a good air compressor and rapid tire deflator is important.

I have a Viair 440p, and modified it to be a dual hose. Waaaaaaay better than how it came.

I go from 12 psi to 30 psi (usually 28) in about 6 minutes, 38x13.5x17 tires. It just clamps on, super easy.

 

[Sidewalk]

I bought a Rubicon because it came with everything I wanted from the factory. I will limit my wheeling to trails it can handle without mods (which honestly is a lot).

So my only "mods" are recovery equipment, compressor, deflators, radio, etc. So nothing to the vehicle itself.

 

[SadRobot]

Hello all,

I searched around but did not really find an answer to what I am asking. Is there a 'roadmap' of suggested upgrades for beefing up our Jeeps?

I wheel maybe 8-10 times per year, the hardest trails being rocky blue rated ones at my nearby off road parks. Vehicle is a 2.0T Auto trans 2021 Willys Unlimited.

I have skid plates, 3.5" lift with quick disconnect sway bar links, 35" tires, (stock Willy's) rock sliders.

I have read ball joints are needed, but what would be next? Should I look at upgraded tie rods/drag link? Regear for the axles (stock M186/M210 axles don't know how 'good' they are?

I think if what you have is working no need to upgrade anything else until it isn't. I upgraded my ball joints, knuckles, tie rod and draglink and it's just been a slippery slope of problems ever since. I'm sure that's not the experience of everyone but I've found the more parts I upgrade the more parts I need to buy to make the upgrades work.

Also just a shout out for Bucks County. Go Birds.

 

[Flip]

I love the tailgate table. It’s really nice for making sandwiches when you’re on the trail.

 

[zouch]

i like to focus on preventing damage, first.

have you already raised the Steering Stabilizer up out of harms way?
next, if you look underneath the thing you might see that the rear lower shock mounts are lower than the rims of the wheels; they deserve their own skids (if you don't have them already).

in the stock configuration, both points are both rock magnets.

Hello all,

I searched around but did not really find an answer to what I am asking. Is there a 'roadmap' of suggested upgrades for beefing up our Jeeps?

I wheel maybe 8-10 times per year, the hardest trails being rocky blue rated ones at my nearby off road parks. Vehicle is a 2.0T Auto trans 2021 Willys Unlimited.

I have skid plates, 3.5" lift with quick disconnect sway bar links, 35" tires, (stock Willy's) rock sliders.

I have read ball joints are needed, but what would be next? Should I look at upgraded tie rods/drag link? Regear for the axles (stock M186/M210 axles don't know how 'good' they are?

 

[Cips]

Thanks for all the guidance.

I do have a portable air compressor for the tires, but it's a pretty simple, one at a time tire inflator with no deflating capabilities. I also carry a handheld GMRS radio too.

i like to focus on preventing damage, first.

have you already raised the Steering Stabilizer up out of harms way?
next, if you look underneath the thing you might see that the rear lower shock mounts are lower than the rims of the wheels; they deserve their own skids (if you don't have them already).

in the stock configuration, both points are both rock magnets.

I have NOT raised that or upgraded that in any way. I was figuring if I went with new steering, that would be included too, but as @kah.mun.rah stated and @SadRobot suggested it may not be needed. I do have shock mount skids and the rear diff skid along with oil pan/trans skid.

It looks like I'll be shopping a deflation kit and maybe a better air system and a bumper/winch along with steering stabilizer and relocation brackets.

Thanks again all!

 

[Twisted10]

wench. 1 up front and 1 in the passenger seat to make sammiches and trail nookie

 

[SadRobot]

It looks like I'll be shopping a deflation kit and maybe a better air system and a bumper/winch along with steering stabilizer and relocation brackets.

Thanks again all!

My onboard air compressor and 4 way inflation system is one of my favorite mods. If you do a search on the forums you can find a bunch of threads on that topic and opinions/suggestions on what system people like the best.

 

[Mocopo]

I'm going to contradict people and say on board air with 4 way hose is way to expensive of a mod if you're only wheeling less than one a month, especially since you already have a compressor that works just fine. For the same price you can get more skids, a winch, or other things that were mentioned and actually ADD capability, not just slightly upgrade one you already have. And yes, I say slightly... my wife has a dual compressor and 4 way air hose for her rig. I do not for mine. I get to see the difference every time we wheel.

My recommendation, steering stabilizer relocation, then skids, as many as you can buy for as much as you want to protect. I'd start with engine/transmission skid, followed by either new diff covers or skids. Those shock mounts would be good too. Mine aren't protected and they don't look too good lol.

Sponsored