This is probably going to top the stupid question list but I'll give it a shot anyways and please play nice. I've been tossing aroung the idea of buying a fairly serious off road rig. Been study'n Jeep CJ's with spring over lifts, lockers, full cages, winch etc.

At the same time I go in the garage and my super clean, original owner, Durango sits there and I start thinking what would happen if I did some of the jeep stuff on it?

My question is this, what would I have to do to lock my front / rear wheels when really pushing it?

Dumb idea?

Thank you,

2000 Durango XLT Plus (4.7)
Torsion Shackle Lift
32x11.5 BFG A/T KOs
Superchips programmed
Jet Thermostat
Roar Intake
Magnaflow with 3" cat back
145k Never one drop on the drive and runs like a raped ape.

 

My honest opinion is to stay away from lockers in a IFS system. Although they do make kits for our d's some rough housing could easily lead to carnage. If it was me i would think about an awd transfer case or maybe even better a SAS. Since your a big thinker in rigs i would recomend a sas.

 

Thanks for your input D408. Sadly I don't know what an SAS is?

Also, I really like the front end set up on yours, is there room for a winch?

Thanks again,

 

lol its okay. Sometime i get caught up in words as well. SAS (Solid Axle Swap) has always been around here for awhile but in your situation and knowledge i would recomend it. Thanks for the compliment on the steel, and yes, there is plenty of room. My bumper was not made specific for a winch on my request, being if i do get a winch it will removable for either the front or rear. That way i dont need two and the reciever hides nicely behind the licenseplate. But it is strong enough and large enough to perm mount if i ever chose. Kennesaw mountain acc. made it for me, they have plenty of options for our d's, but just expect a pricey bill for build/shipping and waiting period, but then again i stand by their products that are custom made to order againt any other.

Edit* ( not to put down or encourage flaming but i've had another steel bumper (manufactured) thats largely used (armor) and i used it to push a vehicle off a trail. I dont know if it was quality or just to be pretty, but it folded easily causing other damage. To top it off it was more than the Kennesaw.)

 

Thanks for the info. The SAS option does sound like the way to go but the problem is my D is in really nice shape and runs fantastic. The more I think about it I'm really hesitant to go that far with it as ultimatly I'd like somthing that if it ever was upside down, I'd just crack a cold one and put it back on the rubber. If that happened with my D, I think I'd have a fit.

My mechanical skills are okay, welding skills are non-exsistant and have about a $7k budget for this toy. SAS on the D, winch, lift, lockers and an exoskeleton would be really slick but I think my $ would be far too few and I'd loose a totally reliable rig....

Might stay with the old CJ (that someone else has put the $ into) and just proudly tow it to the trails with the D.

Thanks again.

 

Yeah, in that instance i'd say $7k would be a great cj/yj used jeep then even if more. seems people sell their jeeps alot cheaper when modded. I see too many with the right price tags, but just not in my budget P

 

IMO I'd go with the cj for a strictly off road rig. I've got a durango and a 80 cj5; I think the D is too nice to take off road and beat on. The cj was cheap, easy to build, and tons of fun) I mean you could throw an aussie locker in the rear,a small lift, a set of swampers and you'd have a heck of a rig that will go most places you want it to. The technology is old and there is a huge amount of support for them. just my .02

 

in the CJ, buy a locker up front and use a lincoln locker in the rear if its trail only... You can buy and build a sweet CJ/YJ or Cherokee with that budget... Only problem with a cherokee is its a unibody so cheap lift (body lift) isn't an option...

 

Thanks for the tip Deerang. I'm really not that interested in building one honestly, the dollars add up too quick. I'd never do a Cherokee unless I got it way cheap, fully built. The CJ owners seem pretty proud of thier rigs and they appear to hold their value better, and you can go topless. Have considered the old 4 runners.... Just got to find the right buy close by.

From my reasearch so far it really appears that if I bought a stock YJ with 150k in decent condition I'd spend ~ $3500. Add a lift, winch, lockers............. I'd have $10k in it in no time. Or buy one already done (yes and it's probably been beat) and stay within my budget. Isn't half the fun of this stuff figuring out what's broke before you hit the trail?

Thanks for all your input, Looks like the D escaped molestation.

 

I've been looking for a first gen 4runner for overf a year... turns out as soon as i cross the border into US 4Runners are everywhere! up here, nothing... its terrible

for a trail only rig, just weld up the rear end, and put a selectable up front...