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Stock Wheeling

7K views 52 replies 27 participants last post by  jddausch 
#1 ·
How many of you guys and gals have wheeled your vehicle in its stock condition?

What model do you have (JKS, JKUS, JKR, JKUR, etc)?

What kind of wheeling did you do (light trail, difficult trails, rocks, etc)?

What kind of problems did you encounter?

What is the one modification you wish you had while on the trail?
 
#6 ·
I do not wheel a stock Wrangler but I do take a lot of new Wrangler owners on trail rides. My suggestions are usually this;
1. Get yourself a First Aid kit
2. Get yourself some recovery gear
a. Tow strap
b. Gloves
c. Shackles
d. Winch if you can afford it
You can also just buy a kit from ARB or AEV or whomever you like and trust.
3. Familiarize yourself with your vehicle and how the offroading system works
4. Meet offroaders willing to take you on some trail runs that seem harder than you think your vehicle can do.
5. Get a CB radio or some walkie talkies

Then I usually go into a thing about you will know when you need to upgrade because you will be stuck without the ability to move forward. At that point, upgrade whatever is making your forward progress impossible. Have fun and learn how your Jeep works and it will take you to some amazing places.
 
#10 ·
'12 JK Sport, so babby wheels/tires. I took a fun trip with some locals through the snow. The tires did much better than expected...I only got stuck enough to need winching out once. A better-shoed Comanche was left behind because he couldn't get through it at all. It does fine on basic dirt trails. I'm not big into rocks, but I seriously doubt I'd have much luck with these tires, especially since they're getting a bit worn down.

Edit: I've got a first aid kid, fire extinguisher, and a tow strap.
 
#11 ·
^^^^^Excellent advise. I ignored everyone who said "you have to do x and x to wheel your Jeep. I have a stock TJ on 31's and wheel it every other weekend. I go places that surprise me. I'm learning my Jeep and how to pick lines and control her in tough situations. When I do build her I will do it much differently than I would have before I just went out and learned what she is capable of as is.
 
#12 ·
Depends on what you mean by "wheel". Everyone probably has a different definition. I don't do much wheeling, but on light trails, my stock Sahara is great. It was even decent in the one thing I said I'd never do again (from my prior vehicle)....mud.

BTW, I will NEVER do mud again....again.
 
#13 ·
Depends on what you mean by "wheel". Everyone probably has a different definition. I don't do much wheeling, but on light trails, my stock Sahara is great. It was even decent in the one thing I said I'd never do again (from my prior vehicle)....mud. BTW, I will NEVER do mud again....again.
Never say never! ;)

Agreed that wheeling means something different to everyone... Figured they could share however they saw fit. :)

I like hearing the stories about being on the trails and the type of terrain and the difficulties encountered, etc.
 
#14 ·
I do mostly national forest roads and trails around home in southern West Virginia. Here are some pics from day before yesterday. Mostly just rutted out two tracks with some creek crossings and mud holes. I avoided the deeper stuff where there were already bypass trails. I figured if the bypass is already there it probably means someone has gotten stuck and since I haven't found a wheeling buddy yet I'm flying solo. Not really where you wanna get stuck. BTW, I'm running a stock(other than cosmetics) '14 JKU Sahara with the Rubicon wheels and tires. Never even used 4L.
 
#15 ·
That looks like a ton of fun! Thanks for sharing.

I was originally planning to do a lift and bigger tires but I don't think I'll really need that for what I want to do. Stock seems to go through a lot.
 
#16 ·
people wheeled for a long time in stock jeeps/scouts/blazers and broncos.. and somehow managed to get it done. I think for most the lifted/big tires is simply a style statement, they see the rock crawlers, mud boggers and 'monster trucks' and say ooh that looks cool.

If you need more ground clearance then maybe you need bigger tires (or maybe you need portal axles). If not it seems like a waste of money to me.
 
#18 ·
people wheeled for a long time in stock jeeps/scouts/blazers and broncos.. and somehow managed to get it done. I think for most the lifted/big tires is simply a style statement, they see the rock crawlers, mud boggers and 'monster trucks' and say ooh that looks cool.

If you need more ground clearance then maybe you need bigger tires (or maybe you need portal axles). If not it seems like a waste of money to me.
I saw a video recently from the late 60's. I was a group running the Rubicon in stock early 50's Jeeps, most with 4 or 5 people in them bouncing all over the place. Great stuff.
 
#19 ·
Unless it's a Rubi the only major issue with a stock Jeep is the factory tires. Unless the trail is highly technical the weakest link will be the skill of the driver.

Driving it stock and avoiding damage is one of the best ways to build off road driving skills.
 
#21 ·
Unless it's a Rubi the only major issue with a stock Jeep is the factory tires. Unless the trail is highly technical the weakest link will be the skill of the driver. Driving it stock and avoiding damage is one of the best ways to build off road driving skills.
Amen. I'm learning to really drive my Jeep. It's way more fun than just driving over everything.
 
#27 ·
I wheeled stock for awhile. Did perfectly fine except for one time. Had a height issue. Since then I have had a lift and 35's put on, plus a regear.
 
#29 ·
Well, back in 1993, I went on the Rubicon with a Jeep that was close to stock, the only modifications were, I put tube bumpers from and rear, I also put tube side rails on, I installed Rancho shocks, and that was about it. I can't tell you how much fun we had, it was amazing, and it's amazing what a stock Jeep is capable of. Now, I will say, that I am pretty conservative, and I only got stuck once (because I didn't have lockers) but I stayed towards the middle or rear of the pack, and by the time I got to anything difficult, the guides had it pretty wired.

Now, I have a stock 2014 Rubicon, and I plan on running it for a while in it's stock configuration, mainly because I have no money to pour into it, yet. But I am looking forward to making several modifications to it, but I am pretty confident that it will take me anywhere I want to go, and then some.
 
#31 ·
#35 ·
I have a 13 JKU Moab, which I currently wheel stock. Recently, I put a Warn winch on the front bumper, and now I want better springs, so I will probably get a small lift and tires to get it back to stock and slightly better.

Most of my travels are on unmaintained roads, which occasionally end up in Kansas pastures and water crossings. I'm yet to be stuck, though I have struggled in some mud and snow. Here's a few pics of what where I've wheeled locally:
 
#38 ·
I have a 13 JKU Moab, which I currently wheel stock. Recently, I put a Warn winch on the front bumper, and now I want better springs, so I will probably get a small lift and tires to get it back to stock and slightly better. Most of my travels are on unmaintained roads, which occasionally end up in Kansas pastures and water crossings. I'm yet to be stuck, though I have struggled in some mud and snow. Here's a few pics of what where I've wheeled locally:
Love the pics! Makes me anxious to hit the trails!
 
#41 ·
I have taken my 2014 JKURX through mud and rocks. Its an amazing vehicle. It has truly surpassed my expectations for a what a stock Jeep can do. Yeah I know its a Rubi and has all the bells and whistles, but any Jeep will out perform any stock 4 wheel drive. I've only added a which and some lights. Nothing else needed.
 
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