JKWrang
New member
This past weekend I kissed my wife and my son, grabbed my keys and got in my Jeep with my buddy NoRoad (here from the forum) and we set a course for Echo Valley campground. I was excited and nervous at the same time to say the least. I can't say I've ever wheeled in a personal vehicle before and to risk something you owe big on and care about like that is nervewracking... still a Jeep is not meant to be a pavement pounder and the JKU is a powerful machine begging to get on the trail so I obliged her.
So away we went on our 6 hour journey crossing NY, CT and PA, pounding energy drinks and talking shop for the majority of the ride. We talked lifts and tires and such but we were sitting in a stock Jeep, ready to meet up with team low and slow.
She's a 2014 JKU sport with no options. Just 3.21 gears, 31" tires and D30 front. We camped, we ate, we drank and we passed out. Then we woke up to a bitter frost, gripped the icy tools and disconnected the sway bars ready to air down and start the trails.
I'm writing this for those of you new to the Jeep community with new JKs who are reading about lifts and trails and are kind of intimidated by the whole thing. We hit the trails and the guys from the Billet Silver Bypass Committee lead a good run and we had a blast. I was so surprised by how well the stock Jeep performed! Great approach angles in my JKU, a few bangs and scrapes here and there but all in all my gas tank skid did its job and I was in great shape along the way.
We hit rock trails, dirt roads, mud pits, steep climbs, treacherous descents and boulders and I made it through it all with no breaks and with plenty of good times! We definitely pushed my JKU to her limits and she kept up with Rubicons the whole night.
I'd say get out there and test your rig... thays your first mod. Get a buddy. Get some Jeeps and get out there. CB radios in hand, you just might have a blast! I'm now a lot more aware of how I want to ride this baby and can get a better feel for the lift I need for the kind of wheeling I want to do. Looking forward to blues and even blacks and hell, right now this Jeep has me feeling like I can conquer the world.
So now she's dirty, she's banged up underneath but she's purring like a kitten. We drove home that same night and no problems whatsoever were experienced during the return trip. Trust your Jeep, trust the skids and trust your lines. I did and I'm glad.
Sent via secret squirrel underground network.
So away we went on our 6 hour journey crossing NY, CT and PA, pounding energy drinks and talking shop for the majority of the ride. We talked lifts and tires and such but we were sitting in a stock Jeep, ready to meet up with team low and slow.
She's a 2014 JKU sport with no options. Just 3.21 gears, 31" tires and D30 front. We camped, we ate, we drank and we passed out. Then we woke up to a bitter frost, gripped the icy tools and disconnected the sway bars ready to air down and start the trails.
I'm writing this for those of you new to the Jeep community with new JKs who are reading about lifts and trails and are kind of intimidated by the whole thing. We hit the trails and the guys from the Billet Silver Bypass Committee lead a good run and we had a blast. I was so surprised by how well the stock Jeep performed! Great approach angles in my JKU, a few bangs and scrapes here and there but all in all my gas tank skid did its job and I was in great shape along the way.
We hit rock trails, dirt roads, mud pits, steep climbs, treacherous descents and boulders and I made it through it all with no breaks and with plenty of good times! We definitely pushed my JKU to her limits and she kept up with Rubicons the whole night.
I'd say get out there and test your rig... thays your first mod. Get a buddy. Get some Jeeps and get out there. CB radios in hand, you just might have a blast! I'm now a lot more aware of how I want to ride this baby and can get a better feel for the lift I need for the kind of wheeling I want to do. Looking forward to blues and even blacks and hell, right now this Jeep has me feeling like I can conquer the world.
So now she's dirty, she's banged up underneath but she's purring like a kitten. We drove home that same night and no problems whatsoever were experienced during the return trip. Trust your Jeep, trust the skids and trust your lines. I did and I'm glad.
Sent via secret squirrel underground network.
I'm hoping to be on the same trails next time but if nothing else the camp fire debauchery was something for the history books!
