Socal lift & tire question

[JeepGal]

The year I took those pictures, I was stock on 31s with no lockers. But honestly, I wouldn't run it anyway. I don't want the carnage. I've driven Chris' Jeep through parts of many trails in JV, and we certainly don't need two Jeeps that look like his!

My point was that you always seem to "brag" about all the "hard" trails you do...yet the only time I've seen you on a hard trail was the one time you ran Sledgehammer with the rookies. I'm aware of your first run on Sledge (again a rookie run), but from what I've seen and heard of that run, you couldn't call it successfully tackling it. In fact, I think it tackled you.

Honestly, I'm fairly certain a large percentage of the trails you run are fairly mild...and aside from Johnson Valley, that describes most of Southern California. Running Sledgehammer once does not give you bragging rights to have run the Hammers.

Just because you don't find Calico fun anymore doesn't make it a boring trail. The wide majority of our members will never run lower Doran (the Gatekeeper), or any of the hard trails at Johnson Valley. Most of our members find Doran and Odessa challenging.

I don't intend on building my Jeep past where it is now, (4 1/2" lift on 33's with ARBs and 4: 88's). The original post on this thread wanted to know if 33's and a bit of lift would suffice. The answer is YES! I've run everything in Southern California BUT the trails at JV and the entrance to Doran. I've ran Rubicon four times, the first three times (and everything but the most difficult trails in Moab) unlocked with 33's, 3:73's and 3 1/2" of lift.

What DEADMEAT should think about is does he want the body damage and carnage that is guaranteed to come with running the trails at JV and the Entrance to Doran. It's certainly not an if, its a when. If he's okay with destroying his Jeep to enjoy the trails at Johnson Valley, then he needs to rethink his entire buildup, not just the lift and tires. If he's intrigued by Johnson Valley and its massive rocks, he should ride along a few times to see if it's truly something he's interested in pursuing.

Point is, 33's and a small amount of lift is perfect for the average Jeep. When you can get lockers and gearing, you'll even be more happy. Get the best armor you can afford. Start with rocker guards, a steering box skid, oil pan skid and diff skids. I'm not that familiar with CJ's and YJ's, but from what Ive heard, I'm sure the list is different, I'm sure Rick and Erik can jump in here and advise...

The best advise I could give Deadmeat is to get to know your Jeep well before building it up. Decide what kind of trails you like to run before the buildup begins, and build accordingly.

Enjoy!

Tam

[steelman]

Sure but what's Doran if you have to take the bypass past the Gatekeeper?

I'd say it's still a fun loop/trail to run. :thumbs_up

[Kodiak Spirit]

Did someone just compare pumpkin eater to Sledge Hammer?

Really?

Pumkin eater is a run in stoddard wells, and I did that thing open on 32"s in my YJ no problem... Sledge would demand a bit more respect I believe.

I don't know the parties involved, but if somebody wants to run Pumpkin Eater... it is a fun run... we could get a run put together for October... that would be cool!

[Jerry Bransford]

Yes I just compared Pumpkin Eater to Sledgehammer and on the Pumpkin Eater route we took, no Jeep on 32" tires would make it without likely just trashing their Jeep. In fact, only one out of the bunch that happened to be on 37" tires made it up even the first waterfall without being winched. There are a lot of trails in the area of Pumpkin Eater and many of them criss-cross Pumpkin Eater so perhaps some of the notches and waterfalls we took aren't in someone else's version of "Pumpkin Eater". The route we last took through there that we call Pumpkin Eater was barely doable on 35" tires with f/r lockers and even with that, my TJ sustained some pretty fair amounts of body damage. I'm sure that there are different routes through what is known as Pumpkin Eater.

[Kodiak Spirit]

Well that sounds like a run to me! Organize that puppy, and we can do it in October.

I must say the Pumpkin Eater run I did was right out of the book, and it crossed Achey-Breaky and was in the same area as a couple of other trails on those same canyons...

They have taken a beating over the years, and HDR runs those every year so they keep changing.

[Materdaddy]

I'm not so sure I'd agree with 33" tires being something I want to take through Johnson Valley or trails like Doran in Calico. Possible yes but 35" is the usual minimum for those trails. And the way they're getting dug out, even 35" is getting near marginal, at least in my experience.

I did Doran (minus gatekeeper) on 29" BFG ATs (downhill). There were only 2 sections I remember needing to stack rocks (which were promptly unstacked). Can't wait to go do it on my 33s!

[Elusive]

Yes I just compared Pumpkin Eater to Sledgehammer and on the Pumpkin Eater route we took, no Jeep on 32" tires would make it without likely just trashing their Jeep. In fact, only one out of the bunch that happened to be on 37" tires made it up even the first waterfall without being winched. There are a lot of trails in the area of Pumpkin Eater and many of them criss-cross Pumpkin Eater so perhaps some of the notches and waterfalls we took aren't in someone else's version of "Pumpkin Eater". The route we last took through there that we call Pumpkin Eater was barely doable on 35" tires with f/r lockers and even with that, my TJ sustained some pretty fair amounts of body damage. I'm sure that there are different routes through what is known as Pumpkin Eater.

I had to hammer my junk pretty hard on pumpkin eater last year. it was certianly as hard as sledge, but not nearly as long. the V notch at the top and the first waterfall are both world class obsticals. I broke one of the 2 chromoly rear 44 shafts on the doran waterfall last year too.
the "harder" trails at JV are impassable for anything thats not a full buggy.
put 35's and lockers on it and it will go anywhere a full bodied rig will go.

[paul_arc]

Point is, 33's and a small amount of lift is perfect for the average Jeep. When you can get lockers and gearing, you'll even be more happy. Get the best armor you can afford. Start with rocker guards, a steering box skid, oil pan skid and diff skids. I'm not that familiar with CJ's and YJ's, but from what Ive heard, I'm sure the list is different, I'm sure Rick and Erik can jump in here and advise...

x2.. 33's, lockers, gearing, and armor will get you through a lot of trails, even a few trals at JV like aftershock, and clawhammer. once you go up to 35's you also have to think about the axles, and gearing is a must.

[paul_arc]

Yes I just compared Pumpkin Eater to Sledgehammer and on the Pumpkin Eater route we took, no Jeep on 32" tires would make it without likely just trashing their Jeep. In fact, only one out of the bunch that happened to be on 37" tires made it up even the first waterfall without being winched. There are a lot of trails in the area of Pumpkin Eater and many of them criss-cross Pumpkin Eater so perhaps some of the notches and waterfalls we took aren't in someone else's version of "Pumpkin Eater". The route we last took through there that we call Pumpkin Eater was barely doable on 35" tires with f/r lockers and even with that, my TJ sustained some pretty fair amounts of body damage. I'm sure that there are different routes through what is known as Pumpkin Eater.

I have never been to pumpkin eater but by how you describe it, it sounds like a blast. if we got a run together i would definatly be up for it.

[sarah]

Pumpkin Eater:
[sized]http://myjeeprocks.com/jeeps/pumpkin_02_07/CRW_6392.jpg[/sized]
view more

Vs. Sledge:
[sized]http://myjeeprocks.com/jeeps/jv_sledge_07/CRW_6468.jpg[/sized]
view more and more

And another for Jerry
[sized]http://myjeeprocks.com/jeeps/jv_sledge_07/CRW_6480.jpg[/sized]

[Kodiak Spirit]

wow I never realized how much Pumpkin Eater looks just like Sledge Hammer...

nice pics! thanx

[maddmike]

Actually...the price difference between 33's and 35's was about $9 per tire for my BFG MT's.

HOWEVER, I was turning my 32" AT's pretty easily, and now I'm on 35's, it sucks...cuz I can't yet afford to regear!

sounds to me like something one should think of before buying the 35's...even if they're only $9 more

:dunno:

[maddmike]

Sure but what's Doran if you have to take the bypass past the Gatekeeper?

the enjoyment of not watching parts explode from my heep, possibly costing me several thousands of dollars, while watching parts from other people's rigs explode, costing them several thousands of dollars in repairs or preventing them from wheeling anywhere for months until they can save up to repair something they couldn't afford to break in the first place.

sorry, just had to say what everyone else was thinking.

[RAT]

the enjoyment of not watching parts explode from my heep, possibly costing me several thousands of dollars, while watching parts from other people's rigs explode, costing them several thousands of dollars in repairs or preventing them from wheeling anywhere for months until they can save up to repair something they couldn't afford to break in the first place.

sorry, just had to say what everyone else was thinking.

You'll never get over that boulder with that kind of thinking... :bonk:

Hey Jerry, post up a run to Pumpkin Eater. Like Sarah said, her and Rick, and me too!

Kurt

[Materdaddy]

From Sarah's pics, I'll be all over the pumpkin eater run! Sounds like fun! However, I'm still a scared little boy when people start talking about JV!