Chris's Sport S Max Tow - Boring Daily 'Build'

[ChrisNLA]

For Moab all you need to really change is the tires and 35's will do it. Max Tow gave you Rubicon axles and a rear LSD. Disconnect the sway bar and you can do a fair amount of trails.

Oh for sure. Ive been to Moab twice with my 2 door on 33s. Did like 6 or 7 of the badge trails both times. FnT, Hells Revenge, Elephant Hill, Metal Masher, Steel Bender, Top of the World, Elephant Hill, Poison Spider...

For sure - I ordered the Max Tow specifically for those reasons, among others.

But what fun is going as is? A little more lift never hurts.

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[ALT2870]

Have you done the real exit from Hell's Revenge? I'm convinced that's where it got it's name. Absolutely brutal and slow going.

 

[ChrisNLA]

Have you done the real exit from Hell's Revenge? I'm convinced that's where it got it's name. Absolutely brutal and slow going.

The long exit that goes from tip over challenge out to the main road outside of Sand Flats? Yea that's way worse than the rest of the trail. We had a Jeep in our group that did all of Hells Revenge no problem then broke a rear driveshaft on that goofy ass exit

 

[ALT2870]

I can't imagine going the other way. It took us longer on that section then the rest of trail, crazy stuff. Heading down there myself end of October once it dies off. Have fun!

 

[ChrisNLA]

For Moab all you need to really change is the tires and 35's will do it. Max Tow gave you Rubicon axles and a rear LSD. Disconnect the sway bar and you can do a fair amount of trails.

Following up on this, as you had me curious.

So the ditch in front of my house is deep enough that I can fully flex my truck when crossing it (maybe even get one tire off the ground). So when checking Saturday afternoon, at full flex, I have just enough room to fit a 35" in the back without yanking the fender off, but absolutely no room for a larger tire up front.

Now - I can add a bump stop extension to keep from breaking the fender off with a 35", but I would lose up travel in a truck that already only has stock flex.

A 2.5" spacer lift is going to leave me with the same amount of travel, just with more clearance - or just enough to fit a 35".

So, if I decide to move up to 35s, I'll move up a smidge in lift. If I don't, my 1.5" level is looking perfect for now.

 

[ChrisNLA]

So, the only real offroad trip the Gladiator has been on was at Merus on the blue trails (pretty modest wheeling), which it did fine with - but even then I managed to drag the steering stabilizer and ding up the rear frame side control arm mounts.

For my modest wheeling plans I think the following would suffice to let the rear arms mounts slide more freely, and protect/move the low hanging fruit on the front axle.

https://claytonoffroad.com/products/jeep-gladiator-rear-lower-control-arm-bracket-skid-plate-2020-jt

https://claytonoffroad.com/products/jeep-steering-stabilizer-relocation-bracket-kit-2018-jl-jt

https://claytonoffroad.com/products/jeep-wrangler-front-axle-disconnect-skid-2018-jl-jt

Either AEV or Teraflex diff covers. Again, the front diff cover especially is pretty easy to stuff into something.

https://www.aev-conversions.com/product/jl-differential-covers/

https://teraflex.com/dana-44-advantek-m210-front-hd-differential-cover-kit.html

I really like the Quadratec setup, along with ASFIR. I also like that I can buy them in sections if I would like. With my previous Jeep I bought just the engine / trans skid first (Rockhard 4x4) and when I started going tougher trails I bought the rest.

https://www.quadratec.com/p/quadrat...-wrangler-gladiator-jt-3.6l-engine-12500.0203

https://www.asfir.com/products/jeep-gladiator-jt-skid-plate-kit-3-pcs

And finally, as mentioned - since I am tire shopping anyway - I may move up to a 35" (BFG KO2 or KO3) and go up slightly in lift with the Teraflex 2.5" Performance spacer lift.

https://teraflex.com/jt-2-5-performance-spacer-lift-kit-no-shocks.html

 

[metalry101]

I have a very similar build to what you're talking about. I have the Rusty's frame side rear LCA sliders, Dana diff covers, an Evo CAD/steering stabilizer skid, and the full Rubicon Express skid plate setup from the oil pan all the way to the gas tank.

I have Clayton 1.5" springs up front and JKS 1.5" springs in the rear with a 3/4" spacer. I have 2" bumpstop extensions front and rear, JKS disconnects and I don't rub anywhere at full stuff and full lock. I am running longer shocks so I get more droop as well. I'm on 35x10.5s instead of the wide 35s and I'm super happy with them. I did it because I tow a fair amount and I figured the reduced drag would be helpful, and also because they tuck in the factory flares nicely.

I've been really happy with how well my setup works for what I use it for, though I am very jealous of my friend with 40's. I don't have another 15 grand to match his tires though, so I'm sticking with what I have.

 

[ChrisNLA]

I have a very similar build to what you're talking about. I have the Rusty's frame side rear LCA sliders, Dana diff covers, an Evo CAD/steering stabilizer skid, and the full Rubicon Express skid plate setup from the oil pan all the way to the gas tank.

I have Clayton 1.5" springs up front and JKS 1.5" springs in the rear with a 3/4" spacer. I have 2" bumpstop extensions front and rear, JKS disconnects and I don't rub anywhere at full stuff and full lock. I am running longer shocks so I get more droop as well. I'm on 35x10.5s instead of the wide 35s and I'm super happy with them. I did it because I tow a fair amount and I figured the reduced drag would be helpful, and also because they tuck in the factory flares nicely.

I've been really happy with how well my setup works for what I use it for, though I am very jealous of my friend with 40's. I don't have another 15 grand to match his tires though, so I'm sticking with what I have.

Nice! That is kind of where I am at. I'd love a cool lifted truck but I need to be mindful of what I spend on it. We have a lot of other more important irons in the fire right now.

I looked for skinny 35s but they either only come in E load now, or in a tire that is too expensive or too heavy for my wants. So if I go 35's probably gonna be the 315 fatties lol.

I ordered the Dana covers a couple days ago in primer gray. Didn't realize that was a thing but saves me some money as I wanted black anyway so I can grab a can of paint no problem. Caught the front one new on Amazon at a discount ($110) and I got the rear one as a 'mint - open box' deal from Amazon Warehouse for $68. Hoping the rear one is useable because if so that would be a great deal for some diff covers.

I think Utah is my next trip in the spring, so I have a bit of time yet to nail it all down.

 

[metalry101]

Nice! That is kind of where I am at. I'd love a cool lifted truck but I need to be mindful of what I spend on it. We have a lot of other more important irons in the fire right now.

Totally understand. Most of my mods have been little by little rather than all at once for the same reason.

I looked for skinny 35s but they either only come in E load now, or in a tire that is too expensive or too heavy for my wants. So if I go 35's probably gonna be the 315 fatties lol.

Have you found more than two narrow 35's? The Kendas that I have are load range D. The only other one I know of is the Mickey Thompson Baja Boss AT, but they're a load range E.

I ordered the Dana covers a couple days ago in primer gray. Didn't realize that was a thing but saves me some money as I wanted black anyway so I can grab a can of paint no problem. Caught the front one new on Amazon at a discount ($110) and I got the rear one as a 'mint - open box' deal from Amazon Warehouse for $68. Hoping the rear one is useable because if so that would be a great deal for some diff covers.

Nice! I think I got mine off Amazon too. I wanted to buy them from Northridge or Quadratec or somewhere like that, but no way am I going to pay twice as much for the same SKU.

I think Utah is my next trip in the spring, so I have a bit of time yet to nail it all down.

Awesome, Utah is amazing.

 

[ChrisNLA]

Totally understand. Most of my mods have been little by little rather than all at once for the same reason.


Have you found more than two narrow 35's? The Kendas that I have are load range D. The only other one I know of is the Mickey Thompson Baja Boss AT, but they're a load range E.


Nice! I think I got mine off Amazon too. I wanted to buy them from Northridge or Quadratec or somewhere like that, but no way am I going to pay twice as much for the same SKU.


Awesome, Utah is amazing.

That's about all I have seen for skinny 35s.

I am waiting for the second diff cover (the one that was from Amazon Warehouse marked as 'used-mint condition'). It's hung up at a carrier facility nearby.

The other one (the new one) looks good as expected though

 

[ChrisNLA]

My diff covers came in. Got the primed Dana covers. The top one was from Amazon Warehouse as a 'used-mint conditon' return that I rolled the dice on for $67. Everything was there! A little dirty and worn from being shipped several times. The other one (bottom) was brand new on sale at Amazon ($110). So $180 in on two solid diff covers that I plan to paint black. I can deal with that.

 

[Jteakus]

That's a nice build you have going there.

 

[ChrisNLA]

Old Falkens had gotten pretty noisey. Replaced them with BFG KO3s. Same size (285/70R17).

Initial observations - very quiet seeing as they are new, ride is a touch softer as they are lighter and not quite as heavy duty construction as the AT3W's.

 

[ChrisNLA]

I grabbed this MORE folding step from another forum member.

I have a couple short women in my life and so far, they approve! I may still get an entirely different solution to accommodate the kids getting in the back seat, but this works great for now.

I didnt love the red in thought, but in practice I like that it makes the step easy to find in low light and push down.

 

[NC_Overland]

You’ve been busy! Nice work!

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