Slimfast in the gas tank
Fighting a weight problem....
Ok guys, I have a question for those of you with some seriously porky Jeeps. The JKU comes in at over 4000lbs. Add bumpers, a tire carrier, gerry cans, skid plates, a roof rack, a winch, lighting, and you are looking at 5000lbs. How are you combating weight? Is a gear change worth it to regain some "power?" Do you just live with it? Any thoughts would be appreciated.
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I'm running 37's (along with bumpers, roof rack and heavier axles) and 5.13 gearing. I can maintain right around 15 on the highway if I stay at 65.
It's the nature of the beast. Four wheeling tends to require equipment and that equipment is made out of steel. Winches, skid plates, bumpers, trail racks, etc. all pack on the pounds. Larger tires and wheels don't help with the weight problem.
Jeeps themselves have gained weight over time. Airbags, air conditioning, 2 extra doors, mandated engine controls and safety equipment, etc. The sheet metal has thinned out, but it doesn't help enough.
A bare-bones JK with as much gutted from it as reasonable; along with carefully selected parts and accessories would be the way to go. Either that or go the sand rail route?
Jeeps themselves have gained weight over time. Airbags, air conditioning, 2 extra doors, mandated engine controls and safety equipment, etc. The sheet metal has thinned out, but it doesn't help enough.
A bare-bones JK with as much gutted from it as reasonable; along with carefully selected parts and accessories would be the way to go. Either that or go the sand rail route?
Will adding 4.10s to my 3.21 equipped 2012 JKU Sahara help regain some gogo you think? I only want to regear if it would help.
I don't know if it will help, but if you're going to regear, you may as well go higher... just in case you convince yourself you need bigger tires! Only do it once! 
Buy a bobbed Deuce an a half and tow the Jeep......
Just an idea..... "BH"
Just an idea..... "BH"
5000 lbs!!! I wish. Mine comes in right under 6k when I have all my spare parts and fluids in it. I get 14/15mpg on the highway. Let me tell you all that extra weight is something I have to keep in mind when decided what line I want to try .
I don't think I'd want anything higher than 4.10s in a 2012. If I lived in Colorado and got 37" tires, maybe, but living in NJ where my Jeep spends 99% of it's life on Tarmac, I think anything more would be almost a motorbike.I don't know if it will help, but if you're going to regear, you may as well go higher... just in case you convince yourself you need bigger tires! Only do it once!
Crossing my fingers that these asshats come out with the turbo diesel but sadly it may not comecough Hemi cough
The hemi is just too much damn money. I would do the AEV swap (25K right?) if they gave me 15K for my current brand new 3.6+tranny. They can charge the 3.8L folks 8k for a 3.6 swap 
I'm on the lookout for anyone with a Challenger SRT8 who wants better fuel economy :thumb:Crossing my fingers that these asshats come out with the turbo diesel but sadly it may not come
Let's see.....maybe don't add a bunch of useless weight?
Bumpers--stay small, light and tight. I don't understand some of the massive hunks of steel on the market these days. With aluminum and minimalist steel bumpers available, look at those options.
Tire carrier--there are some slick tub-mounted versions available that don't weigh much. And contrary to what so many people seem to think, you don't always need a spare. I don't carry one on the road or the trail. I'd rather carry my small patch kit and my AAA card (last resort) than a 100 lb spare.
Gerry cans--WHY? Is the stock tank not large enough for you?
Skid plates--aluminum. No, it won't crush like a Coke can like so many people seem to think. Steel is almost never necessary.
Roof rack--WHY? Do you not have enough cargo space in that huge JKU?
Winch--a lightweight unit and synthetic line go a long way, especially if they're mounted on a lightweight bumper.
Lighting--another thing that gets way out of hand too often. You don't 4 pairs of lights. Good headlights and maybe a good set of fogs provide plenty of light for about any situation.
Weight is only a problem if you make it one. As heavy as your JKU's are from the factory, I'd build it smart and stay conscience about it. The excuse that "Jeeps are slow", "weight doesn't matter", etc. are BS. Weight always matters--less of it is easier on the drivetrain and makes the driver's inputs respond quicker.
Bumpers--stay small, light and tight. I don't understand some of the massive hunks of steel on the market these days. With aluminum and minimalist steel bumpers available, look at those options.
Tire carrier--there are some slick tub-mounted versions available that don't weigh much. And contrary to what so many people seem to think, you don't always need a spare. I don't carry one on the road or the trail. I'd rather carry my small patch kit and my AAA card (last resort) than a 100 lb spare.
Gerry cans--WHY? Is the stock tank not large enough for you?
Skid plates--aluminum. No, it won't crush like a Coke can like so many people seem to think. Steel is almost never necessary.
Roof rack--WHY? Do you not have enough cargo space in that huge JKU?
Winch--a lightweight unit and synthetic line go a long way, especially if they're mounted on a lightweight bumper.
Lighting--another thing that gets way out of hand too often. You don't 4 pairs of lights. Good headlights and maybe a good set of fogs provide plenty of light for about any situation.
Weight is only a problem if you make it one. As heavy as your JKU's are from the factory, I'd build it smart and stay conscience about it. The excuse that "Jeeps are slow", "weight doesn't matter", etc. are BS. Weight always matters--less of it is easier on the drivetrain and makes the driver's inputs respond quicker.
Ripp is coming out with their 3.6 supercharger in the coming months I believe. And I would certainly think a regear to 4.10s would give you some "get up and go" back.
I've also seen some cool DIY options that make some of those aftermarket accessories more "plug-and-play" so you can remove them easily when not in use.
For example, is there any reason you need to lug a winch all over everywhere you drive? I assume not. So maybe take a look at how you have it configured and consider whether maybe a change in some of the hardware that makes it readily removeable is in order. Same with skid plates, gerry cans, roof rack, etc.
There's no reason to cart expedition gear around just to get to Target.
I've also seen some cool DIY options that make some of those aftermarket accessories more "plug-and-play" so you can remove them easily when not in use.
For example, is there any reason you need to lug a winch all over everywhere you drive? I assume not. So maybe take a look at how you have it configured and consider whether maybe a change in some of the hardware that makes it readily removeable is in order. Same with skid plates, gerry cans, roof rack, etc.
There's no reason to cart expedition gear around just to get to Target.
HahaImped said:Let's see.....maybe don't add a bunch of useless weight?
Bumpers--stay small, light and tight. I don't understand some of the massive hunks of steel on the market these days. With aluminum and minimalist steel bumpers available, look at those options.
Tire carrier--there are some slick tub-mounted versions available that don't weigh much. And contrary to what so many people seem to think, you don't always need a spare. I don't carry one on the road or the trail. I'd rather carry my small patch kit and my AAA card (last resort) than a 100 lb spare.
Gerry cans--WHY? Is the stock tank not large enough for you?
Skid plates--aluminum. No, it won't crush like a Coke can like so many people seem to think. Steel is almost never necessary.
Roof rack--WHY? Do you not have enough cargo space in that huge JKU?
Winch--a lightweight unit and synthetic line go a long way, especially if they're mounted on a lightweight bumper.
Lighting--another thing that gets way out of hand too often. You don't 4 pairs of lights. Good headlights and maybe a good set of fogs provide plenty of light for about any situation.
Weight is only a problem if you make it one. As heavy as your JKU's are from the factory, I'd build it smart and stay conscience about it. The excuse that "Jeeps are slow", "weight doesn't matter", etc. are BS. Weight always matters--less of it is easier on the drivetrain and makes the driver's inputs respond quicker.
Full width bumper :whistling:
Mine weighs in at 5600lbs. The gear change was the best mod I ever did!
I'll tackle your comments one by one...Let's see.....maybe don't add a bunch of useless weight?
Bumpers--stay small, light and tight. I don't understand some of the massive hunks of steel on the market these days. With aluminum and minimalist steel bumpers available, look at those options.
Tire carrier--there are some slick tub-mounted versions available that don't weigh much. And contrary to what so many people seem to think, you don't always need a spare. I don't carry one on the road or the trail. I'd rather carry my small patch kit and my AAA card (last resort) than a 100 lb spare.
Gerry cans--WHY? Is the stock tank not large enough for you?
Skid plates--aluminum. No, it won't crush like a Coke can like so many people seem to think. Steel is almost never necessary.
Roof rack--WHY? Do you not have enough cargo space in that huge JKU?
Winch--a lightweight unit and synthetic line go a long way, especially if they're mounted on a lightweight bumper.
Lighting--another thing that gets way out of hand too often. You don't 4 pairs of lights. Good headlights and maybe a good set of fogs provide plenty of light for about any situation.
Weight is only a problem if you make it one. As heavy as your JKU's are from the factory, I'd build it smart and stay conscience about it. The excuse that "Jeeps are slow", "weight doesn't matter", etc. are BS. Weight always matters--less of it is easier on the drivetrain and makes the driver's inputs respond quicker.
Bumpers....the difference between a stubby and a full width is minimal. A poison spyder stubby brawler is 65lbs. My rampage full width is 82. 95% of the weight is in the center anyway. Furthermore, some want full protection, as well as accessory mounting options.
Tire Carriers...most weigh in at about 35lbs. A spare is a must if you actually use your jeep for jeeping. AAA won't come out offroad.
Winch, agreed on the line, but it is still heavy...75lbs with a synthetic line...pretty heavy.
Roof rack...I may reconsider and get a hitch basket, but no, there isnt enough room. If I am going on a trek with the wife, the JKU is packed to the brim. If I want to go with 2 more friends, there isn't enough room for my gear.
Lighting...I'm running rigid lights, so weight is a non issue. Most lighting isn't a weight issue.
Skidplates....agreed, aluminum is what I want, sadly, most Jeep companies make things out of steel because it's cheaper and easier to work with. There is no one that makes a full width expedition rear bumper for example out of aluminum.
Feel free to school me on this. I don't know how to properly use my jeep.Tire Carriers...most weigh in at about 35lbs. A spare is a must if you actually use your jeep for jeeping. AAA won't come out offroad.
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