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Upgrades for off roading

2K views 13 replies 13 participants last post by  Hivedr 
#1 ·
New jeep Sahara owner. Have a stock 2014 and was wondering what should be upgraded to take off road. I was most worried about the skid plates what might needed to be added or improved. Not thinking off anything more than moderate off roading mostly trails and very little rock climing. Thanks for any advice. Never been off road before.
 
#3 ·
Your first upgrade should be to go to a jeep jamboree. Http://jeepjamboreeusa.com Have people who know what they are doing show you how to drive correctly. You already bought a jeep that is very capable. Your first upgrade should be your driving skills.
 
#4 ·
You might also want to pick up a tow strap, some d-rings, gloves, shovel and maybe an axe. I'm sure others will give you some suggestions for recovery gear you should carry with you.
 
#5 ·
The last 2 posts are perfect. You will want to learn to drive different obstacles and build yourself a recovery kit. There's not much that a stock Jeep can't do.

I know you wanted to hear about the Jeep, so I will be the first to add what a Sahara needs to be a better off road vehicle is better tires.
 
#7 ·
Drive it!! The biggest piece of Armor I'd recommend on a Sahara is rocker guards... The plastic side steps will not take kindly to anything more than small sticks, My buddy took a stump to his passenger side fender/ rocker panel one of his first trips out and the big dent bugs him every day
 
#9 ·
+1 on the learn and drive approach. I invested in some EVO PROTEK skid plates for my auto because the exposed oil pan and trans pan made me nervous but they aren't required equipment unless you go on a lot of rocks. I have a 2013 Sahara 4dr and I have been able to wheel on the stock Bridgestone with lifted rigs with aggressive tires. They aren't great in mud but they'll get you through almost anywhere you are willing to go. Wait a while and get your money's worth out of the Duelers they perform a lot better than they look.
 
#10 ·
You're good to go as is. Tires would be a good idea along with some items for recovery, basic survival and a few tools. You don't need skid plates for moderate off road and little to no rock crawling. Go out, have fun and learn how capable a stock Jeep is. Wheeled for years in my 98 TJ with nothing more than a 2 inch budget boost and BFG AT tires. No lockers, skids, disconnects and I loved it. Now I've got a Rubicon with a lift and going to get bigger tires, winch, etc. but I probably don't NEED any of it.

A knowledgeable, experienced and level-headed driver is the most important piece of gear you need.
 
#11 ·
Yep. Learn your limitations as a driver before you start addressing the limitations of your equipment.

If you got the mod bug and had to get some stuff, I'd prioritize like this:

1: protection (skids, rockers, etc.)
2: recovery (winch, tow strap, etc)
3: tools (wrench set and such.)
4: trail spares (tie rods and such.)
5: CB
6: gas and water
7: emergency gear




Just my opinion.
 
#12 ·
I am in the same boat as you. I have had my JKUS for about a month now. I was thinking I needed to do a bunch of upgrades before I took it off road. A friend of mine, who is very experienced, convinced my that I was good to go as is for most situations. We went out to Silver Lake ORV park and road the dunes. Once I figured out how to drive properly I had no problem going anywhere. It took me a few tried to make it up Test Hill but I made it. A lot of other vehicles, including Jeeps, were struggling to make it up that day. So go out and have fun.
 
#13 ·
Before I would even buy new tires I would drive it stock for a year. Buy a small portable air compressor so you can air down your tires a bit on the trail. That can make a bigger difference than a different tire. A good driver can accomplish a lot with a stock Jeep. In some ways it's more fun because the penalty for a mistake is a dent. Once you start modifying your rig the penalty for a mistake can be more dire. Most of the roll overs I've seen have been heavily modified rigs. One even had "flipper" painted on the side. I'm not going to lie, it's way fun to drive a Jeep with 35" tires over crazy stuff. Been there done that. However, over all I had more fun tooling around with a stock Jeep and it only had 30" tires. If you do eventually modify the jeep for off road you make better (and more expensive) choices after you have some experience. If you end up going to a Jeep Jamboree all you will need are tow hooks and a hand held CB radio. People like me will bring the kitchen sink and are more than happy to help a newbie out.
 
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