I would also upgrade the axle shafts and sleeve them.

 

sleeves i think would be more needed then shafts. you can bend em just by mild use over time ... but shafts are more of a stupid moment with the skinny pedal break.

plus it's easy to install shafts when they break and you want to upgrade ... a little harder to install sleeves after she's bent.

 

Just to give you an idea of what you can run.......I spent the weekend up at RC for JKFest with my JK. I'm still running the little 225/75R16 Wrangler/ST street tires, no lift, and no serious armor.

The only thing that was done to it at the time were the Rock Rails and the Evap skid plate. I ran a bunch of greens and a handful of blues without too much trouble. The only tough spots for me were a few of the small rock gardens we got into. I suffered from not having enough ground clearance. I got through everything just fine, but a few of my skids took a beating and so did the lower lip on my front differential cover. I have since added a set of Riddler covers, and I'm Gung Ho about going back up. I also will be heading up for the Balck Friday run.

I was going to wait to start taking my Jeep off the pavement (bought it brand new in Feb). I wanted to get a lift, tires, bumpers.....yada yada yada. Then I just bit the bullet and decided to go. I knew I wasn't going to get myself into too much trouble. My only goal was to come home without any body damage. I used the bypasses when I wasn't sure if I was up for whatever obstacle was sitting in front of me. And most of the time, once I watched a few guys hit it.......I realized that the obstacles weren't that bad as long as you took the correct line. Its definitely has a lot to do with experience, but you will never get it if you don't go. If you decide to go up, you WILL have a good time. If we all waited to have the "perfect" rig to take offroad, then the trails would be an empty place.

 

Yeah but if you're paying someone to install the sleeves why not do the shafts at the same time and save yourself the install cost later? Not to mention you'll have piece of mind. Seen 2 JK's break axle shafts (Dana 30's) at Rausch in the last 6 months..... both we're experienced drivers....

 

For another thought.......if you are going to all the trouble of reinforcing everything +regearing +adding a locker........why not just hold out for someone selling a low mileage front 44 out of a Rubi? I have seen them go cheap enough. Buy a used 44, then you already have a locker, install the gears before it ever gets on the Jeep, reinforce what you want, then do the install at the same time you regear the rear 44.

At least that is my plan.

 

I heard about the shafts but not the sleeves. how difficult of a job is it to replace them? and do I have to install them when I do the gears?

I won't beable to make the Black Friday run b/c I will have both my kids.

 

Payin someone ... bring me a case of beer and I'll do em for ya! Gussets, sleeves, shafts, anything

Bring em

 

Thats what I'm doing

I'm off work, but my fiance has to work and we have her Daughter that weekend. I asked her if she is interested in coming along, and after seeing the pictures From JKFest she is definitely excited. I already have the Parental release/consent form sitting here and filled out.

 

I don't mean to pry ... but you need a release form? Sorry, don't have kids and am just curious ...

 

6DoF - Once I get the funds I might have to take a trip out to pittsburgh.

And about the kids my son is 3 and he is all for offroading his loves dads jeep. but my 1 year old daughter now thats another story. I wanna wait till she is two before I take her on the trails. She gets alittle moody if she doesnt stay on her schedule.