New Member

[KAA]

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to take a sec and introduce myself and my Jeep. My name is Kip, I’m 26 and currently live in the suburbs of DC but am getting ready to move to Liberia Africa in October. I have a 2003 Wrangler with a 4" lift, 35" tires, fully Rhino lined interior, 2 KC 130W super white HiLites, Best Top Trailmax II front and rear seats. I am still prepping my Jeep to take to Africa so any advice on what else to equip it with is greatly appreciated. I look forward to meeting everyone.
-Kip

http://bl142w.blu142.mail.live.com/att/GetAttachment.aspx?tnail=2&messageId=6be2707a-3e59-11df-9d69-00215ad73a24&Aux=44|0|8CCA07DEFC74F10||

[TheYeti1775]

Welcome aboard.

[toy_tundra]

Welcome! What are you going to Africa for? Work or just the adventure? Depending on what you are going to do with it there, a winch, snorkel, rack for spare gas cans, shovel, spare axles and u-joints (I know you can get Toyota parts over there, no clue about Jeep parts though), more lights, fire extinguishers and a good GPS. That's just a short list. Check out http://www.overlandjournal.com/ for ideas on equipment for long trips through the bush if that's what you're planning. You gotta send some pics once you get over there...that sounds cool!

[KAA]

I am going for work and will be there for 2 years. The place I am going is Monrovia, Liberia and they have about 400 miles of paved road in the entire country...they get 200+ inches of rain a year so the country is a mud pit for most of the year. I just installed 2 KC 130 W super white lights on my windshield, and am looking at winches next. I plan on bringing tons of spare parts as my job pays for all my initial shipping costs. I have a brand new set of 5 spare American Racing rims that i plan on putting a set of new tires on just to use as a back up. Any sugestions on winches and bumpers? I was thinking about getting a stinger. I just don't want to get suck ANYWHERE while I am there lol...not the best place when it comes to safety.

[Pacifier]

Lockers, recovery gear, MT's are a must. Solid bumpers and a cage wouldn't hurt.

Welcome to BW4WD!

[toy_tundra]

Hmmm...200 inches of rain? A snorkel is a must then, for the water crossings you are bound to do. Definitely mudders, too. As far as bumpers, something that will make a sturdy platform for the winch and that does not hang down low. If there's that much mud, you don't want to be snowplowing it with your front bumper. Smittybilt, Warn and a bunch of others make good winch bumpers.

good cheap and simple: http://www.quadratec.com/products/12022_402_07.htm

good, even cheaper and simple: http://www.quadratec.com/products/12057_1011_07.htm

sexy fake stinger action (I have this one): http://www.smittybilt.com/product/index/8.htm


For the winch, thats up to your budget. Some of the guys have the Harbor Freight (aka Mile Marker) $300 ones, and they work fine. For you, reliability is the main issue. Wet solenoids tend to be a problem, especially when elbow deep in goo. I got a Mile Marker V10, which uses new MOSFET digital controls and eliminates the solenoid altogether. Its overkill for me, but I'm not going to be in the middle of BFE for 2 years. Its got a nice controller and pulls fast too. 10K pound limit, which gives a little extra breathing room, but its pricey. Got mine for a steal at $700.

If there aren't a lot of trees, something else to consider would be a come-along for the winch. If there's nothing to hook the winch to, what's the point? The come-along would work in the middle of nowhere. D-rings and a snatch block are good too.

Assuming you already have a Hi-Lift jack, something else to consider (again due to the amount of mud, since the Hi-Lift will sink in) is something like the Titan X-Jack. ARB also has their own version. Its an air jack that you hook up to the exhaust. A large, sturdy pillow inflates and lifts the vehicle. It can help lift you out of mud so you can keep going, or to change a tire. They make them with at least 8000 pound weight limits.

Sorry for the long-winded response. Hope that helps.

Oh, and bring bug spray, a rifle, and a good knife :tinysmile_fatgrin_t

[Frankpapa]

Hey, let's have a club M&G in Liberia, LOL. We can practice recovery using your jeep. Welcome to B4WD.

[spoiledtechie]

You should just buy a jeep over there and send me your current one!! Ill pay top dollar! $1.00! hah

[KAA]

toy tundra - Thanks for the quick replies and the good advice. Got the bug spray...bringing my Sig P229 and M4 lol...definitely gonna buy a bigger knife though haha. As for the jeep, i'm planning on getting all the items you listed before I go (just trying to budget accordingly) so I am buying them all up one by one as $$$ will allow. I am a bit concerned that my lift won't cut it while I am there. It has been on my jeep for about 1.5 years (was on it when I bought it) so I am not sure exactly what lift kit it is. I know it is a skyjacker kit and I think it's a 4" lift, but I have 35" tires on it and they don't rub at all, even when I turn the wheel hard, so it may be 6"? not sure. The kit has quick disconnect front sway bar links, a transfer case lowering kit, dropped pitman arm, straight control arms and a Rock Ready steering box skid plate. I have read mixed reviews of Skyjacker lift kits so without knowing which one I have it's hard to know if it will be good enough for Africa.... Also, the entire kit is solid red, which is not the only color used in any of the skyjacker kits I have found online, so I have not been able to identify which kit it is. Any ideas on how to ID it?

Wjcando - everyone is welcome to come safari in Liberia...the country definitely needs more Jeeps...think mine will be the only one there!

[ThinkMud]

so wow, you get to take your rig over there!? that is awesome!

[toy_tundra]

Skyjacker and Rancho are the only two I can think of that use red a lot. I know JKS sometimes does, but not nearly as much.

As far as lift height, most of the rigs I see in the overland journals running around Africa are Yotas with only mild lifts, and maybe 33's. The locals are all running around with 31" mild tread tires from the looks of it, and they manage to get by OK, so I think you would be fine with 4" and 35" mudders. Obviously, if you look hard enough you can find something to get hung up on, but for just getting around you will probably be better off than anyone else there. I'd be more worried about someone stealing your Jeep. This is where the 229 and M4 come in handy. Have a buddy ship them to you in pieces :tinysmile_twink_t2:

[KAA]

haha I hope I won't have any trouble that requires the use of my 229 or m4, but you never know. I did some research over the weekend and am pretty sure which lift I have...however, I also know that I have a p.o.s. d35 in the rear so running 35" tires is asking for trouble...i think a d44 just made the top of my wish list. I think the d30 i have in the front should be fine with a few mods, but I know that as soon as I put a locker in the d35 its going to explode. let me know if you know of anyone selling a rear d44!

[michanecash]

haha I hope I won't have any trouble that requires the use of my 229 or m4, but you never know. I did some research over the weekend and am pretty sure which lift I have...however, I also know that I have a p.o.s. d35 in the rear so running 35" tires is asking for trouble...i think a d44 just made the top of my wish list. I think the d30 i have in the front should be fine with a few mods, but I know that as soon as I put a locker in the d35 its going to explode. let me know if you know of anyone selling a rear d44!

m4's rock.


Liberias still pretty fucked, hope your getting paid good. Youll have a good time with that Jeep at least.