Maxxis Trepador;.....25.000km later

After used the Trepador for approximately 25.000km in 22 months, here the review:

Uses: 75% road (asphalt, concrete) and 25% off road (gravel, muddy)

Confortable for daily use in the first 6 months, after that the tire start produce noisy sound, after 16-18 months the tire start cupping, and resulted a excessive vibration and shaking especially in low speed.

Trepador shows a good performance in the off road condition, especially at muddy road.

Current main issue: tire cupping and high noise in asphalt and concrete road.

What next: I'll keep this tires (including the wheel) for a while, maybe another year, for off roading purpose only . For daily use I'll usel a new wheel with 16" or 17" ring and installed a H/T tires (high way type) with the same diameter with my old Maxxis Trepador.

MAXXIS Trepador for my ZJ Jeep

After upgrading my Grand Cherokee ZJ Jeep suspension (I haven't wrote it yet.......next post), including lifting my ZJ suspension 3", the next thing to do is replacing my old Dunlop Grantrek A/T with something M/T. I'm almost out of budget, so I can't effort BF Goodrich M/T KM2, too expensive. My options are: Bridgestone Dueler M/T, GT Radial Savero, Kumho (I'm not sure about quality), Federal Couragia and Maxxis Bighorn or Buckshot Mudder. Most all the time I'll use this car for on-road driving (80%), and once a month go for camping or adventure off-road  in the mountain. Due to my limited budget and space, I can't prepared 2 set of tires.


I'm familiar with bridgestone dueler M/T, the quality is good, and I'm also satisfied with its performance in dirt road.In tarmac and concrete road, ....hmmm noisy, and the model looks so old.. Federal Couragia is a new model available in Jakarta, however only few shops sell this tires, the tread pattern really impressed me, even though I don't know yet how its performance in dirty road or muddy road.

After visiting one tire shop who sell bridgestone and GT Radial, next destination is Maxxis tire shop. Actually I'm looking for Maxxis Bighorn or Buckshot Mudder. Bighorn tread pattern looks aggresive, and the buckshot looks very similar with Bridgestone M/T. Then my eyes stuck with Maxxis Trepador Radial, the tread patter really impressed me. Here the picture:

well, ....how do you think?
The price slightly higher than Bighorn, ......according to the seller, this Trepador is more silent in asphalt road than bighorn or buckshot mudder.
This Trepador also have better grip in muddy road compare to Bighorn.

Here the factory description about Trepador:

• Unique tread element arrangement ensures a uniform tread contact area for sure-footed handling.
• Multi-stage staggered shoulder pattern provides improved control even on the most difficult off-road and rocky terrain.
• Nylon belt-reinforced tire construction improves puncture resistance and prolongs tread life. 

So....., I choose Maxxis Trapador for my ZJ Jeep, the size is 31" x 10.5 R15. It cost Rp 1.450.000,- for each (approx. US$ 157)

 




































How the Trepador performance for daily use?..... I'll post the my experience with  Maxxis Trepador next month.

Lifting the Grand Cherokee to fit 31” tire.

To fit 31” tire in ZJ Jeep required body lift around 1.5” to 2”. There are plenty of suspension lift kits available in the market. Before lifting the jeep, please check the front drive shaft type, if your ZJ equipped with U-joint drive shaft, it is save to lift the body up to 2”, but if the ZJ equipped with CV-joint front drive shaft, please do not lift the body more than 1.5”. To gain 1.5” to 2” body lift, we can use:


Budget Boost / Polyurethane Suspension Lift.This is the cheapest way to gain 1.5 to 2” lift, just add polyurethane spacer on the top of the coil spring. Usually the spacers sold together with bump stop extension. For this method will cost around 60 dollar up to 150 dollar.

Change the suspension system with taller coil spring.There are many suspension products are available on the market, one of them is Old Man Emu brand (picture above) manufactured byARB. The Old Man Emu suspensions are not typically noted as a lift kit. They are usually regarded as suspensions systems. However, depending on vehicle weight and application, a lift of 1-1/2" to 2-1/2" can be gained. Many lift kits require a sacrifice of ride quality for off-road performance, but Old Man Emu is able to combine both to give outstanding ride quality with excellent spring articulation. Old Man Emu recommends using 31" tires for best performance. This suspension system will cost around 500 to 700 US dollar.

Combination of the above system.
This is what I did with my ZJ. After installed the OME spring and shock, the 31” tire still rubbing the fender. I suspect that the installation of the new OME spring and shock have not reach 1.5” lift as their claimed. So, I added ¾” polyurethane coil spacer (cost me 59 USD, bought from 4WD store) and the tire just fit, not rub the fender anymore. However, the tire still rubbing the front lower arm in the maximum turn position. To avoid this, we can add a wheel spacer or reduce the maximum wheel turn through an adjustable bold.
The pictures below showing the ZJ jeep with 29" stock tire and with Dunlop Grantrek A/T 31" new tires.

So what we got after installing 31” tire?
- Higher ground clearance
- Better look
- Plenty options of tire type (HT, AT, MT, super swamper, etc.)

Notes:
- Don’t forget to re-align the will after installing the lift-kit
- After one year using the OME system in normal road driving condition, I feel the shock absorber going weak, this is much shorter life than I expected. In near future I have aplan to change the OME shock with Pro Comp which is much cheaper with almost the same quality. 
- Further observation, actually the shock wasn't weak, but the bushing start to worn due to change of suspension geometry. This problem made the the jeep sway and some noise start.

Thinking of Japanese 4WD

After using 1996 YJ Wrangler and 2002 ZJ Grand Cherokee (both with the same 4.0 ltr I-6 gasoline engines) for more than 4 years in Indonesia, I’m started to think for buying a Japanese Diesel 4x4. FYI, due to government regulation for big engine and 4x4 car, Jeep price in Indonesia is almost the same as a luxurious Mercedes C or E class.

I‘m happy with the Jeep products, the exterior style are so beautiful, especially the YJ Wrangler is so sexy with its canvas top. It is easy to buy a modification parts especially for the Wrangler. Bumper, winch, additional light, roof rack etc, just name it, all available in many shop like 4wd.com, ARB or quadratec. They will send you a bundle of thick catalogues for free, and after that just watch your wallet, it will drained easily. And my wife regularly contact my mobile phone because I spent to much time in workshop for modification both jeeps.

Interior. Don’t ask, its really WW II style for the Wrangler, the steering wheel looks like a 1957 caldillac. Power window? No way, I still can’t believe that this 1996 wrangler have no power window. Sitting on rear sit? It is a nightmare, even my 7 years old daughter complaining, no head rest, bumpy, noisy and feel like trapped in a cage. Baggage capacity? Very limited, but who cares? It’s a Wrangler, you even don’t need a wearing a cloth while drive it. The ZJ Grand Caddy its much better, this is a real full size SUV, very comfortable cushion, good quality steering wheel, and of course a power window. A rear baggage is small, ¼ of capacity is used for spare tire.

Engine. The 4.0 ltr in-line 6 engine really a bullet proof, both cars using the same engine. No complain about it, its old but strong. 190 hp and around 300 nm torque its enough to haul its body. However, the electrical system is not as strong as the engine, torn wire, melted wire cover, excessive battery consumption, but its normal for 11 and 7 years old vehicles. Fuel consumption is not the part of discussion, it’s a Jeep anyway, it would not more than 20 mpg, 16-18 mpg is normal for daily use. With a good maintenance I never have an overheat experienced. The spare parts its quite expensive but tolerable.

Suspension and Driving Experience. A solid axle, strong transfer case made the Jeep suspension very reliable and strong. However its not comfortable, bumpy and lack of steering precision at Wrangler and excessive body roll at Grand Cherokee. Death wobble is a nightmare. But again, it is a Jeep anyway.

Why thinking Japanese 4WD? By time both jeeps started have a minor problem, not big but start make me worry especially for long journey. The workshop is limited in Indonesia, the fuel quality is poor. It is better to use a diesel engine than a gasoline one. And Japanese car workshop are plenty, the old diesel engine (not the high tech common rail diesel) is not too reluctance with poor fuel quality as long as we maintain the quality of fuel filter. What kind of car? Toyota 70 wagon series is the best workhorse, alternately I can choose Toyota 80 series, Mitsubishi Pajero or several Japanese double cab from Nissan, Isuzu or Mitsubishi.

Jeep would not give up. I will take my Grand ZJ for long trip next week, its almost cover 3000 km. Hopefully my grand caddy will performed normally. All of the Japanese can’t compare to this Jeep, I would not let my ZJ surrender.

UPDATE ...12 january 2008,

I completed my 2600km journey yesterday, it did within 5 days. The Grand ZJ have a problem at the biggining of the trip. Firts, it lost its power in high rpm, I suspect cause of poor fuel quality. So I refuelling the tank with higher octane gasoline (RON 92), in Indonesia this kind of fuel is 50% more expensive than the regular premium (RON 88). However the the RON 92 fuel is cleaner, lead free. The good quality RON 88 only available around Jakarta. The lost power problem never came after I changed the fuel. Second, transmission problem after 4-5 hrs driving, it happen when the transmission become very hot. So, I took a short rest after 3-4 hrs driving for cooling down the transmission oil. I have plan to change the original transmission oil cooler with a bigger one, to keep the transmission oil in normal working temprature. The rest is no problem, The Grand Cherokee ZJ still comfort and capable for long distance trip.

Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ 2002

Car Review : Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ 2002

I bough this second hand ZJ Jeep at late 2005 with 16.000km in odo reading. This is the first generation Grand Cherokee, the latest product was 2002 for export market, in US itself the latest product was 1998, than starting from 1999 the model changed to WJ type. This Grand Cherokee basically have a distinctive different with the predecessor Cherokee (XJ) Jeep. The body is bigger and longer than XJ. This ZJ already used coil spring in all wheel instead of leaf spring in XJ rear axle. The front facia is still have strong jeep image with 7 holes grill, however the rear body become more rounded edge compare to the XJ.

This is a`brief specification of my Grand Cherokee ZJ:

engine 4000 cc, petrol

power 197 hp

torque approx. 300 Nm

type laredo with plastic side panel and bumper

automatic transmission

full time 4WD with Quadra Trac type transfer case.

Several reasons for choosing this Jeep:

1. I'm looking for mid size SUV
2. Should have 4WD option for light off road and dirty road
3. Though and simple engine (the jeep 4.0 i engine has proved it)
4. Comfortable and big enough for loading a camping gear
5. Automatic Transmission
6. ABS and airbag

This Grand Cherokee equipped with very comfortable leather seat, OEM tape and radio (Mopar product), generally is ready for long distance rolling with my small family. Immediately after bought this Jeep, I'd recognized some problems like: noisy sound from front final gear and damage front drive shaft boot. I'd replaced the front ring and pinion and also installed a new drive shaft boot. The ring and pinion its quite expensive, its cost me around Rp 7M (approx US$ 800) for parts and labour. I'd also changed the stabilizer link and break pads.

Three weeks later I brought this ZJ to light off road track, I also bring my family with me. The location is around Tangkuban Prahu in West Java. In totally dark condition (we drove in midnight), the stock tire (29" size) lost its grip, the Jeep running zig-zag in muddy road, and oftenly stuck in deeper mud or stuck by big rock. Fortunately there is another full modified 4WD vehicles (suzuki jimny SJ40) accompanied and helped us. In very narrow road, my jeep rolling to the driver side, and the suzuki helped us again. Lot of scratches in the body paint, however after several washes, the scratch were disappeared.

First upgrade was the sound system, I'd changed the head unit with Alpine product, replaced the OEM infinity power amp with higher power (rockford), added a CD changer and sub woofer, also change all OEM speakers (infinity) with better quality speakers (Quad product).

Then the suspension, the original shock feel to soft, the body roll while cornering was obvious. Changed the shock complete with the coil spring with Old Man Emu (OME) product, this new shock and coil spring have longer lenght than the original, the jeep will taller 1-1/4", I also add 3/4" coil spacer, so the jeep high increase 2" totally. This high body is meaningless if not followed by changed the stock tire for better ground clearance. I choose 31"x10.5 R15 Dunlop Grantrek All Terrain, this is the biggest tire can fit with current suspension condition, can't fit bigger, otherwise the tire will scratch the fender. With those modification, the ZJ jeep looks better and nicer. The changed of original suspension with added longer coil & shock plus budget boost spacer caused a significantly changed in wheel alignment. My Jeep has several times "death wobble" experienced, its scary, after hit a small bump or hole the whole steering wheel and body shaking violently in normal driving speed (70-120 km/h). Wheel alignment is needed to cure the death wobble, we should explain clearly to the alignment operator what actually happen with the Jeep. I installed one additional steering shock for better handling.

A pair of Warn driving light installed in front and one additional light in the back. New towing bar made in thailand was installed. I changed the damage muffler with local product (made in Brewok), the muffler manufacture claimed that his muffler is better than the famous Borla product.

The additional ground clearance has proved its effectiveness during big flood in Jakarta. The ZJ Jeep can crossed 1 m high flooding water easily with out any problem. High ground clearance also help in dirty and off road track, my rig can passed the road obstacles. The OME shock and spring reduced car body roll significantly.

The are some notes for my ZJ Grand:

1. Bullet proof engine, bit old but easy to maintain.
2. Strong solid axle, good suspension.
3. Poor AC condition, small evaporator (made by Sanden) and difficult location, not easy to maintain. I've change my evaporator due to leaking in some places. Small compressor (Denso), broken after 4 year, installed a new one. Noisy blower in cabin, don't know how to reduce it.
4. The electric fan was easy to broken.
5. Useful Plastic body panel during off road, reduce paint scratch in body, easy to clean up.
6. Good dashboard information gauge, including the important battery charge meter and oil pressure gauge.
7. Spare tire located inside the cabin, reduce the luggage area volume.
   

Currently I use this ZJ Jeep as daily car, no complain and no problem for the engine. The OME shock start to weaken after one year. I've plan to continue upgrading the jeep in near future, as follow:

1. Install nerf bar and side step, local made.
2. Change the rear plastic bumper with custom made bumper with tire hanger.
3. Change the front bumper with ARB style bumper plus winch.

Useful link:

• Jeep Forum for technical and up-grade info
• Jeep Parts & Accessories from 4WD Hardware
  
• Jeep Club Indonesia