Best set up for the desert

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UAE Jeep

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Hey guys,

whats the best set up for my jeep in the desert?

Here's what i got:

Fully stock 2003 Jeep limited 3.7lt v6 automatic

considering of doing this jeep up or maybe getting an older wrangler
 

LibertyFever

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I've never wheeled in the desert before but I'd have to imagine that you'd want a super reliable vehicle not one that may leave you stranded miles from help. Depending on the season you would also want something that that can handle high daytime temperatures.

Just like any other offroading never go alone. You need a backup plan, an escape route.
 

wheeee32

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Well from his locale I'd say maybe upgrading the cooling for the transmission. Hood vents wouldn't hurt either. Other than making sure of all the parts of keeping your Jeep running cool, the usual off-road upgrades are in order i.e. lift, tires, skids.
 

Dave

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At least 20 gallons of water. (four 5 gallon jugs would work), some misc tools and all fluids for a complete change for everything, a spare air filter, a good air pump for pumping up tires after you air down, tire repair kit, GPS, old fashioned compass and topo maps, recovery equipment including those corrugated steel strips for getting out of sand, shovel, and don't be alone (another jeep with you that also has all the stuff mentioned). Let people know where you are going and when you will be back.

I am sure there's a lot of stuff I can't think of at the moment. I am sure you know more than I do living in the desert.

Dave
 

waywardtravel

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If you mean dessert is the sense of jumping sand dunes or Baja 1000 king of stuff you would probably be better off with a TJ or alike. Also low speeds, small tires, and low horsepower are not your friend in the sand.
If you mean staying on a trail more or less and getting from point a to b with a little playing around the liberty should be fine with the normal mod's on this forum. Good point above coolers never hurt. Locker would be great. and bring a small boat anchor when alone for winching.
P.S. All that beach with no ocean, Unles it's a geographic thing WHY?
 

phxtoad

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I live in the desert. I like my AC on high. I like a cool beverage in my cup holder, and some Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers playing on the stereo. :)

You must be registered for see images attach


Buttercup, Imperial Sand Dunes '04

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Rocky Point, Mexico '07 Not stuck, but certainly not going forward anymore. I was trying to pull a broken sand rail out of a bowl.

Remember: KJ's are heavy. That's good in the sand sometimes, and sometimes it's not.

I say the best thing to do is to PREPARE. See http://www.expeditionportal.com/

TL
 

boebr1

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If you are talking about running sand dunes....
I suggest wider rather than taller tires, also with an all season type tread, not a mud tire, you don't want to shovel those tires down into the sand, very hard to get out
Lift it up, put some wide low to medium profile tires on it, say like 275/50's if you can... probably only available in street tread, but the Kj is kind of heavy so you need a big foot print on the sand. I'd also suggest an on-board air system so you can lower and RAISE your tire air pressures, lower pressures on the sand, like upper single digits if they are stiff, or in the teens if they are soft tires, this will help the tread grab the sand, and also cup it under the tire rather than displace it and dig down.

You could consider making a sheet metal belly pan, front to rear, like one big skid plate, just to keep the sand from catching hold of parts underneath and slowing you down.

Also might consider running a high performance muffler so you can drop your torque a little, low rpm torque will probably get you dug in.
Definitely get a front end skid plate, or make one out of sheet metal, to keep sand from getting into engine bay.

Make sure you have reliable hooks front and rear, or aftermarket metal bumpers with recovery points on them (the weight might be an issue, as you don't want to get a whole lot heavier driving in sand.

I'd also recomend for a vehicle that operates in high temperature areas... remote oil filter with an oil cooler (this will add a couple quarts to the system, and help it keep cool), an auxillary ATF cooler, used with the stock one, not instead of it (again, increased capacity and better cooling), and pick up an auxillary oil cooler and plumb it into the return (low pressure) line for your power steering (added cap, and cooling), overheated steering fluid can be a real pain in the butt! it will cavitate and foam up more easily, reducing it's ability to move through the system.

If you get metal bumpers: A high lift jack is a very tricky thing to use in the sand, you will want to get the hilift foot base, or carry a 1" thick plywood foot by foot square with you (might need to reinforce it with a couple 2x4s on the bottom).
If you keep the plastic bumpers: make your self some sort of a cup to weld onto a bottle jack that can lift on your tow hooks, and again, use a plywood and 2x4 base to keep it from sinking. you could also use a floor jack for this, but that takes up a lot more space inside the jeep, and needs a larger base to hold it.

Recovery strap... don't get a tow chain or a tow rope, only get a high weight limit, 30-50 foot snatch strap. this strap stretches to give a rebound effect that creates a stronger pull than just a rope alone, and also with the stretch effect it is less likely to get the rovery vehicle dug into the sand
 
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UAE Jeep

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Firstly thanks for all your guys input.....

I have some of the recovery kit -
Snatch ropes 11000kg's
HD shackles
some small rubber mats to put under the tires when stuck in sand
shovel
Hand a small tool box with some tools i might need
Need to get the air pump and tire repair kits

The skid plates was a good idea i thought about it but thought what damage could a bunch of sand do...... then again rather protect the jeep and save some cash instead of repairing it.

waywardtravel

i am thinking of getting th tj but waiting to see what happens with my girlfriend - if she gets another job then she will be using the liberty. So i'll keep fairly stock just change the tires. Then i would look at an older tj and lift it and so on make it my toy ha ha


phxtoad

Sick jeep bro - what mod's have you done, i'm liking the tires!

boebr1

thanks for all the info. was really thinking about upgrading the air filter and exhaust system to give me more power.
I'm not understanding the whole cooling thing you were explaining ( sorry not very mechanically minded - i know a few things )
 

phxtoad

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Thanks Damon. Currently: 2 1/2" Frankenlift Premium, nearly bald 245/75 BFG AT's on black steelies, Powertrax No-Slip in the rear, M8000 winch on a Detours backbone, some Hella 500's, Boulder Bars, skids and a boatload of recovery/survival gear. Those tires in the Buttercup shot were 265/75 Goodyear MTR's. Same tire but 245/75's in the second shot.
 

boebr1

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When you play in high temperatures, and your vehicle is moving slow, lots of steering input, and shifting, maybe a lot of idling... you are going to start overheating your fluids and either causing low performance to those systems, or failure of those systems. you pretty much can't keep them too cool in these situations, so all the help you can give them, is what you should give them. i think it is fourwheeler, or maybe offroad magazine, they have articles about p/s and auxillary oil coolers, as well as desert driving
 

boebr1

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Speaking of deserts... another 6 inches of snow here this morning... supposed to get more! argh!!! i wanna go somewhere that it's hot! these single digit temps are really starting to annoy me
 

UAE Jeep

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hey tod thanks for the details bro i was thinking of the same lift and 265/75/16R tires with wheel spacers but i'd have to import the lift kit which will costs me lotsa $ other lift they have here in the UAE for liberty is rough country 3" rear shocks and springs front spacers ( which im told not to go for ) Skyjacker 2,5" spring and shocks and ironman 2,5" lift with shocks and springs..........

Boebr1

thanks i will check out those mags and keep update to date! ha ha i'd trade you some sunshine for rain or cold weather.... It's rained here once out of the year and was only raining for 1hr, lowest temp in dubai is abt 18 degrees in the night it slightly cooler and the desert.
 

jnaut

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Hey guys,

whats the best set up for my jeep in the desert?

Here's what i got:

Fully stock 2003 Jeep limited 3.7lt v6 automatic

considering of doing this jeep up or maybe getting an older wrangler

A very good aircleaner. I'd stay far and away from the K&N stuff as you guys have that really fine talc dust over there.
 

diyman

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My 0.02...

If planning to do that more than one day I'd add

- More than ONE air filter ( You might have to change it once a day...)
- 11m/CB ( Aussie style... SSB, High power antenna and some..'juice')
- Tools

When back in town, seriously consider having oil changed.
Hint, put cheap 10W/30 dino and change it when You get back home...

BTW, do You know how to change a C/V? An U/joint ?

Have fun and...beware the rattlers!!! :D
 

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