Does anyone actually wheel their 'hoes?

[arveetek]

I've been wheeling Jeeps in the past, and currently wheel my '97 Jeep TJ with a mild lift and 31" mud tires.

I've been thinking of selling the Jeep and using the money to mod my Tahoe to make it more capable off-road, but I'm a bit hesitant, as I'm not sure how well the 'hoe would handle off-roading. It's a LOT heavier than my Jeep, and while it is built stouter, the IFS and small rear axle have me worried. Also, most of the trails in my neck of the woods are through woods that are better suited for a smaller vehicle. I can see a greater risk of body damage if I use the 'hoe.

However, I'm tired of trailering my gutless 4-cylinder Jeep everywhere I go, and I love my 'hoe much more than my Jeep.

Any other serious wheelers out there?

Thanks,

Casey

---------- Post added at 09:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:57 PM ----------

Here's a couple of pics from this past weekend to show what kind of trails I generally go on around here:





Casey

 

[AquinoSteven]

I wheel mine as much as i can but there arent many places around here that i can go. I love my tahoe too but im looking for a TJ or YJ to build up. I have a feeling i could build up a jeep for way less then the tahoe and the jeep will still be better.

Heres my tahoe wish list
Hummer 14bolt (has electric locker)
Cognito UCAs (coming within the month)
Bils. 1500
Some sort of front locker
4l80e
Cognito tie rods
Cognito sway bar endlinks
Warn Hidden which.

All that is probably way more then what it cost to build up a jeep.

But it still gets the job done
Need way longer shocks



No i wasent stuck


I have more on my phone somewhere

 

[clean454]

yup and i break something everytime!






i kno i kno pics are old

 

[AquinoSteven]

This thing is a beast

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYSSMOoQk64&feature=related

 

[clean454]

i wanna straight axle so bad!

 

[99Yuk]

I've been wheeling Jeeps in the past, and currently wheel my '97 Jeep TJ with a mild lift and 31" mud tires.

I've been thinking of selling the Jeep and using the money to mod my Tahoe to make it more capable off-road, but I'm a bit hesitant, as I'm not sure how well the 'hoe would handle off-roading. It's a LOT heavier than my Jeep, and while it is built stouter, the IFS and small rear axle have me worried. Also, most of the trails in my neck of the woods are through woods that are better suited for a smaller vehicle. I can see a greater risk of body damage if I use the 'hoe.

However, I'm tired of trailering my gutless 4-cylinder Jeep everywhere I go, and I love my 'hoe much more than my Jeep.

Any other serious wheelers out there?

Thanks,
Casey

I think your answer is in the pics of the replies. The Tahoe's and Yukon's are being wheeled on paths, not trails. (sorry guys).

As aggressive/cool as clean95's rig is, he wouldn't be able to use the trail in this pic.
Our bodies are too wide, and the truck is too heavy, and to the point he breaks things every time he goes out. Jeeps don't have those problems.

I also went from a Jeep to a Yukon. I know exactly what you mean. Some times in my Jeep I swear I was on quad trails with my mirrors scraping trees on both sides. And boy, I drive by some of my old trails and wish I still had my Jeep.

It's my opinion from experience that the Jeep is far more capable. It's smaller, lighter, and will break less parts, get stuck less, and has more flex than my Yukon. A few years back, when I was Jeeping, I had found a pic of an H2 stuck on a trail, with a broken front end part, with Jeeps pulling it out. I had used that as an example of how Jeeps where 'better' for wheeling than the big clumsy obs style rigs on the trails. HAHA, now I own one.

All I know is that there is no possible way that I could bring my Yukon where I would have brought my Jeep. Now when I see a mud hole, I wheel around it, previously, I would have wheeled into it. After you get your Tahoe stuck up to it's axles and need to call in for help a few times you get wiser about where you can go. With the Jeep and a 6foot lift-all, and some planks I could get out of almost anywhere by myself.

Possibly the Yukon's biggest detriment is it's weight. Even in my Jeep I looked at those Suzuki Samurize guys with envy. They just seemed to float over every hole we could find.

Every year, Chelmsford has the 'Chemy mud bogs'. It's Jeeps that win. I cried when I accidently drove mine into a 10x10x10 fox hole on a military base and broke it's frame. BTW, I have a Dana 44 rear axle for sale!!!

That being said, I do enjoy my Yukon's power, ride comfort, and size, and the fact that it's a family hauler. There are trade-offs. Actually you've already got what I would want. An OBS as a Daily driver, and the nicely modded Jeep for wheeling. Some guys dream to have what you got. I wouldn't change a thing.

EDIT: In case your wondering how I go wheeling now, last summer my Dad bought me a 2010 Polaris Ranger 700. It's a side by side, a little bit smaller than a Jeep. It's frakin awesome! I use my Yukon to tow it around, so I don't have the spontanious, 'Hey theres a new trail, let's check it out!' that I had with the Jeep. I'll find some pics of it and post them up.

 

[bowtiefreak]

that jeep is a better all around wheeler. tow with the tahoe and wheel the jeep.

 

[arveetek]

Thanks for all the quick replies!

Ya'll pretty much summed up what I was thinking. I guess I'm just too impatient, in that I want to mod both vehicles, but can't really afford to right now. I just need to learn to be content!!!

Casey

 

[Popeye]

What 99YUK said x2.

I have the same setup as yours. I use the tahoe as the means to get to the trail head in comfort and then play with the Jeep on the trail. It is the best of both worlds. If power is your issue, get 6 horses (or a small block) under the hood and then you will be rockin.

 

[Tahoe06]

I plan on having both... I want to put about a 2" lift to fit some nice 33" tires on the Tahoe, then use the rest of the money I would spend on a 6" lift on an older jeep. Out here where I'm at I can find a Jeep for about $2k and it'll practically be ready for wheeling from the start. Minimal investment, maximum fun