05 2wd need help getting traction

[brusk]

My girlfriend has an 05 Liberty Sport 3.7 with 100K miles that really only gets used anymore to either haul crap in the back or tow my single axle older Ranger Bass boat. We bought a house that has a sloped, curvy, loose gravel driveway. Today was the first time of taking the boat up the drive way and found it pretty difficult to get up it, I tried creeping, flooring it up it and the only way I could get up it was a pretty decent start before hitting the gravel and still spinning more than I wanted. I'm hoping a Truetrac or other LSD would help but my girlfriend is afraid 2wd just isn't going to get the job done. Currently the Jeep is riding on pretty new Firestone Destination LE2's that have been pretty amazing compared to her previous tires. Any hopes or is a 4x4 or pavement in my future?

 

[Porkchop]

Had a 2wheel drive I put 50lbs of sand on each side in the rear helped a lot as they are ass light. Also if on ice open a bag and wala instant traction.

 

[brusk]

It's never had any issues in the winter, this gravel and the incline just seem to get the best of it. The boat was hooked up so I would think that should have added plenty of weight. The boat weighs 1800 ish with what 10% being on the tongue. Maybe an LSD and more weight.

 

[Porkchop]

That should have been good weight an LSD should help but like she said no compensating for the lack of 4wheel drive.

 

[dude1116]

A/Ts or M/Ts? :shrug:

 

[renegade 04]

For the cost of a LSD or a locker you could just install a front differential and all the stuff needed to make it 4WD.

 

[CzarKJ]

For the cost of a LSD or a locker you could just install a front differential and all the stuff needed to make it 4WD.

That costs more than you would think.. Front diff/transfercase/driveshaft/shifter... etc etc. While a lsd 500ish or a locker 6-800.

 

[LibertyTC]

Destination LE2 are more of an all season radial. You need more of an aggressive AT tire.
I have pulled my 3500lb boat up in rwd on steep gravel with no issues I run 245 wide Silent Armor tires.
I also have a Rear Trac-Lok rear end though too.

 

[brusk]

That costs more than you would think.. Front diff/transfercase/driveshaft/shifter... etc etc. While a lsd 500ish or a locker 6-800.

Agreed, most platforms it's cheaper to trade in your vehicle for a 4x4 rather than playing money for unknown parts. Transmission, xfer case, axles, suspension, drive shafts, hubs, electronics etc.

Trans is an auto.

Friend of mine suggested that maybe they just had too much gravel on the driveway to consider thinning it out.

 

[renegade 04]

That costs more than you would think.. Front diff/transfercase/driveshaft/shifter... etc etc. While a lsd 500ish or a locker 6-800.

With the cost to take apart and rebuild the rear differential you are more in the 1200 dollar range and up. I think you could go to a junk yard and get all the 4WD components for way less than that.

 

[tommudd]

The issue is gravel which rolls under your tires as they are trying to go up the drive way , add in the boat, plus two wheel drive and you'll have issues no matter what you do. A locker would help of course but do you want to go to that expense just to get up the driveway. If you had limestone on it, then you could get traction to make it up.
Had a buddy that had the same issues, steep drive, gravel , two wheel drive . In a Cherokee for example it was easy to throw a transfer case / front diff etc under one and convert it, KJs are a little harder to do and get everything to work together

 

[brusk]

With the cost to take apart and rebuild the rear differential you are more in the 1200 dollar range and up. I think you could go to a junk yard and get all the 4WD components for way less than that.

I would think more like $550. I do all my own labor. Cost me in the neighborhood of 550-600 for my Ram for the truetrac, bearings and fluid. Not sure if the smaller axle uses the same side bearing tool. I'll probably go that route as every 2wd should really have an LSD anyway and look at the driveway layout and material used to see if something better can be done there.