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I-70 hills in a TJ

2K views 11 replies 7 participants last post by  AggressiveTuna 
#1 ·
Hey guys, how many of you use your TJs to get up to summit country for skiing/hiking or other activities?

I have an 02 4.0l sport with 31x10.5 tires and 3.73 D44 and I struggled up those hills. I am relatively new to Jeeps and so far have been nothing but impressed but here 5th gear became useless, and 4th gutless. Staying at 50 mph was a chore and felt like I was pushing it to hard.

I was considering 33x12.5 with the popular 4.25" combo but I am a diehard skier and can't imagine making that commute any worse. As far as added weight, I have a Garvin sports rack, but thats it. No winch, armor, or lift.

I know these are geared for crawling not sprinting, but am I stuck with this? Can anyone confirm this is just the rig in general and not mine specifically? Finally, if I make this drive every weekend will I be putting too much extra strain on the engine? I don't break 3k rpm, but it just feels wrong operating it at its limit for so long.

Thanks for the advice guys!
 
#2 ·
Hey guys, how many of you use your TJs to get up to summit country for skiing/hiking or other activities?

I have an 02 4.0l sport with 31x10.5 tires and 3.73 D44 and I struggled up those hills. I am relatively new to Jeeps and so far have been nothing but impressed but here 5th gear became useless, and 4th gutless. Staying at 50 mph was a chore and felt like I was pushing it to hard.

I was considering 33x12.5 with the popular 4.25" combo but I am a diehard skier and can't imagine making that commute any worse. As far as added weight, I have a Garvin sports rack, but thats it. No winch, armor, or lift.

I know these are geared for crawling not sprinting, but am I stuck with this? Can anyone confirm this is just the rig in general and not mine specifically? Finally, if I make this drive every weekend will I be putting too much extra strain on the engine? I don't break 3k rpm, but it just feels wrong operating it at its limit for so long.

Thanks for the advice guys!
Well welcome to the hell we call not enough power. That is typical of your 4L. I ran 31's for quite a while and yes they do struggle. If you plan on lifting and going to 33 or 35's you will want to regear. 4.56 or 4.88 will help. Now for the bad. The wider tires will make the slick roads even worse. The wider tires do not make more traction on slick roads. If you was to go down to a 225 or 235 tire you might get some of your power back
 
#3 ·
Alright well I feel better its not just me then. I don't think I'm going to go any bigger for tires because of the traction issue and definitely having to regear. Do people regear from a 3.73 on 31s just for hills? I don't want to go down in tire size, as I think this is a really nice setup and look and will do fine on mud/trails come summer, but would realllly appreciate not being passed by semis.
 
#4 ·
I'm on 35s with 4.88 gears and I-70 through the mountains sucks, particularly around Georgetown, Vail Pass, etc. But I've got a 2.5L and 3-speed auto, so results vary. I drive my TJ strictly for wheeling and getting to/from trails. I'm a skier as well, but just drive one of my other vehicles for this exact reason. Consider getting a little commuter car. Or check out Meetup.com for ski groups that do ride-shares from Woolly Mammoth, etc. I'm a member of the following groups:
  • Epic & RMSP - Car Pooling Brigade
  • Colorado Ski and Snowboard
  • Boulder Ski Club
  • Ski & Snowboard-All Passes-(25-45)
This allows you to get up to the resorts, and you can just give the driver $10 for gas and call it good.
 
#6 ·
Did this today for the hundredth time. Downshift and floor it. I'm running 33's/4.10/4.0/5speed and can hold onto 55mph fairly easily at the top of the Eisenhower by bouncing between 3rd and 4th. Don't be afraid of 4k rpm when you need it.
 
#7 ·
I have the 4.0 with 33's geared at 3.73 right now. It is hell going through the mountains lol. Im waiting to regear til I can get a new rear axle. The hardest part for me is problably getting C470 on I70 with now momentum going up that hill there. Also through up to Eisenhower tunnel. I have a 5spd also and 5th gear is useless haha.
 
#8 ·
I'm still running the stock 4.10 gears with my 4.0 L and 35 inch tires. I can usually hold about 60 mph heading up to the tunnel, but at the steep parts I let her run up to just above 4K rpm in second gear on my 4 speed automatic. I don't see anything wrong with letting the RPMs get to 4K for several miles.
Someday I may regear, but for now, I just relax and go a little slower than the high speed traffic heading up the mountain.
 
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