When building my JKU I made a few decisions that I'm not quite sure were the best only because of weight. For example my PoisonSpyder steel tubular fenders and corner guards. I could have bought aluminum but purchased steel anyways with the thought that the only negative side would be a lose in gas milage. Now I have to wonder how much weight I have added with all the upgrades I have made. considering I have front and rear mid width bumpers, winch, 5 Beadlock on 37in Toyo tires, tubular fenders front and rear with corner guards, long arm lift, maybe 100 pounds of tools while wheeling not to mention maybe 1 or 2 people other then myself.

I hear people talk about saving weight on their jeeps but when is too much too much? I watch the project JK videos and those JKU's have everything possible done to them so they have to be heavy and they go everywhere! Are people just worried about gas mileage or does it really effect a jeep while wheeling a lot? I understand it's less weight to pull up or off a rock but I see people do it all the time including myself.

Can anyone give me an experience they had where their jeeps weight was why they struggled with an obstacle? or maybe broke parts because of the weight alone?

 

I don't see how people get excited over weight. Mpg sucks out of the gate, it's a jeep load it up!

 

My humble opinion is to agree with your concerns over weight.

I've done modest mods precisely because of the same concern. I did a 2" spacer lift followed by 33 inch tires. I've been looking at winch bumpers, and I'm now leaning heavily toward an aluminum front bumper, and a winch with synthetic rope.

The two issues that are driving my plan are the lack of power in the engine and getting stuck and unstuck. My old four cylinder YJ weighed next to nothing and just didn't take much in the way of traction to get it moving. It was also light enough that it wasn't tough to get unstuck. I believe that the more the vehicle weighs, the more grip/traction it requires to move or keep moving.

I also believe that the more it weighs, the more strain there is on the drivetrain. Maybe I haven't had as much experience as some around here, but I don't believe I ever saw a stock Jeep break a major drivetrain part. All the broken axles and drive train components I've seen busted were in heavily modified rigs. (Granted, many of them had something to do with very powerful engines. I don't remember very often seeing broken built Jeeps that were running completely stock engines, with the exception of a few appearing to involve steep driveshaft angles or huge tires on the Dana 30 or 35.)

 

Weight is a very real concern.. With a curb weight of 3500 lb... it's already over maximum.. Add 35 inch tires, and it CAN BE as much as 400 more lb... Front and rear bumper.. another 100+ each usually.. Winch.. maybe another 50.. roof rack.. maybe 100-300.. suspension and lift componants add weight.. I carry maybe 60-75lb of assorted recovery gear + a hilift..

Then there's the 'optional' stuff like armour and rock bars... Diff covers alone can add 50 - 75lb.

Little things like lights, and organizers built inside add weight too.. and all of that is before packing up for a overnight trip.

It obviously affects fuel economy... but it also affects off-road ability.

My next rig will be extremely minimalistic.. J8 style bumpers, and little or no lift. I can feel the extra weight in acceleration and handling. I know it matters. when I see a willies skim over the top of mud that I sink into up to my axle.

 

My KJ is extremely heavy. I can't saw exactly how heavy but I do know one guy whose KJ is at around 5900# and he does some amazing things with his. My jk is super light in comparison and this weekend will be my first wheel trip. Well wheel an bird blasting.

 

you're right about the Diff covers.. I just checked, and ARB covers are around 12 lb each.... so that's onlt 24 lb...

But the ARB front bumper I have now comes up as 140lb (that might be shipping weight)... The rear with a tire carrier is probably a lot too..

 

12 lbs is actually not that bad for a diff cover

 

I tried to keep the weight down as much as possible and I don't really wheel in the winter with the Hardtop on and the MBRP rack. That thing weighs a ton...! I can't wait to get it off for the Spring each year because I actually gain about 1-2mpg immediately. I run a stubs in the front and am planning on removing the rear and just going with a tire carrier no bumper to save weight and gain departure. I also have plastic flares instead of steel since they weight nothing. I fully support placing aluminum anywhere you can since it's fairly strong and weighs next to nothing. But underneath get Steel! it holds up to the rocks way better than anything else. I'm also planning on running a synth line instead of steel once again just to save a little weight. Aluminum wheels and one of the lightest tires available in a 37 all make for a fairly balanced rig. It still has some get up and go when I need it but the weight thing is always on my mind when researching new mods.