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.

Add 3cm tire spacer to my Grand Cherokee ZJ

Last year I added 3 cm spacer to my grand ZJ, the main function of this spacer is to prevent the front tire (installed with 31" tire) rubbing the lower control arm when turning. The other function..... made the ZJ looking better...he...he, depend on your taste.....

The installation is simple, less than 30 minutes for all tires. Why only 3 cm? Because 3 cm is thick enough, strong enough, not easy to brake. With 3 cm spacer will not affected the wheel axes, minimized pendulum effect (compare to thicker spacer) and no need balancing before installation.

So, my front tire not rubbing lower control arm after I installed the 3 cm spacer, however..... a new problem rise, the front  tire rubbing the lower part of plastic bumper when turning......he....he, just cut it a little bit.

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.

What you did for your zj jeep?

As a Grand Cherokee Jeep (ZJ) owner with adventure gen in my blood, I can't let the jeep with the standard appearance, I really want to customized my jeep as long as my pocket can afford it.

Stock Grand Cherokee:

- Tire: coming with 235/70 R15 HT (highway terrain) tires, its good for asphalt road, very poor in dirty road, and absolutely useless in muddy road.

- Light: poor quality headlight, useless fog lamp.

- Differential Lock: none, the stock GC coming with limited slip differential, its not enough for real off road condition.

- Sound system: standard mopar head unit, no cd changer, small infinity power amp, no sub.

- suspension: excessive body roll

Modification stage 1:

- reduced the body roll: change the stock shock absorber with harder and stiffer one. You can find a various Jeep Lift Kits & Suspension from 4WD Hardware likes Procomp or OME products, also change the coil spring with a stiffer one.

- With a taller new spring and shock, 31" All Terrain can fix easily. Small clearance (about 2 fingers) between the fender and tire. Add 3/4" PU coil spacer to gain additional 2" high totally.

- Change the headlamp and the headlamp wire with a better product

- Install a pair of additional fog lamp or driving light, PIAA or Hella products are recommended

- Change the standard Mopar head unit with after market product (mine is Alpine), change the Infinity power amp with a higher output rate, add cd changer and subwoofer.

With this modification, the jeep ready for light adventure journey, rolling in dirty road or go camping near the beach.

For muddy road or slightly steep hills climbing? not ready yet, modification stage 2 needed:

- change the 3/4" coil spacer with 2" budget boost like TeraFlex product.

- install disconnect stabilizer link go get a better suspension travel.

- Change the AT tire with MT (mud terrain) type tire with the same diameter (31"), you can put bigger diameter, however you need to trim your fender (I wouldn't do that).

- adjust the track bar, otherwise you will get "death wobble" experience, and also go to the workshop for alignment.

- Install a new front bumper with ARB style bumper, add a medium strenght winch, like Warn M8000 , Warn xd9000 or Tabor products for cheaper price.

- Install a differential lock.

- And if you likes travelling for a long time, you can install a roof rack for additional baggage place.

Now the jeep ready for medium light off road, going camping in the mountain or fishing in the river mouth with your family.

Hard core off road??

No, not with this car, I prefer TJ or YJ wrangler or FJ Toyota.

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