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Optimal Wheelbase? Does this exist? I want your comment

M

Mr. Pickle

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So I was talkiing with some wheeling buddies tonight and the alcohol got us into the whole wheelbase debate. Most of the CJ/YJ/TJ (less than 100" wheelbase) guys said that the shorter wheel base is better for the turning radius and manuverability. Then some of my buddies with single cab long beds (like a CUCV) said that the longer wheel base (130" ish) is better due to the climbing ability and stability. Then the guys with the Cherokees agreed with my other Blazer buddy that (around 105") is the best overall. So what does everyone here think? I am going to bet that the Blazer/Jimmy wheelbase is the favorite but be honest, have you ever wished for a longer or shorter wheelbase? If so, when and why?

Thanks, just looking for different points of view from others with more wheeling experience.
 
Tire size and ride height (lift) have a lot to do with the "optimal" wheelbase. As does the terrain that you're wheeling on.
 
X2...

That being said my project will have a 136" WB this time. Lot's of climbs here, shelf's etc etc. Longer makes those a ton easier.

Blazer wb is decent, yet when in Moab I saw double whammy frustrate FWP. The ledges are perfectly spaced to thwart a K5. I've heard it can be done, but it's not an easy climb. After not making it after three tries (and a couple of new dents) Another CK5er drove right up Double Whammy with a 131.5" wheelbase. Made it look so easy it was ridiculous.

Rene
 
now my views may be skewed to the more difficult terrain

this is my opinion if you are running 35s or 37s the jeep wheelbase can work very well i.e. under a 100" bigger tires will let you go to a longer wheel base 100-110 works well with a 38-42 longer than a 110 and you need at least 40s but i think they work better with 42s or 44s.

For mild wheeling I prefer the 105 to 115 with almost any decent sized tire (35 or bigger)
 
Cool, thanks gang. We were debating mostly hardcore rock trails like the Hammers. Will the longer wheelbase affect perforace in the tight rocky areas or do the larger tires associated with the longer wheel base negate that fact?
 
the longer wb helps in alot of smaller mudholes on trails, b/c, the front tires will be out of the mud by the time the rear tires enter
 
I personally love the wheel base of my 79 short bed at 117 inches its like driving a quad through these NJ trails.
 
I don't think there is any optimal wheelbase. There are some situations which I think longer would have helped and some shorter would help.
 
I stretched my wheelbase 7". I did it to improve approach/departure angles more than anything else. I no longer have a problem with slamming the rear bumper so much.

It seems like in general the longer wheelbases do better in Moab because of the high frequency of ledges.
 
My WB is 124" and I think it's great for the type of wheeling I do. My turning radius sucks but that's because I'm Lincoln locked front & rear :doah:
 
Ive owned 3 FJ40ies of varoius years,a 65,78 and then 98 TJ all of which IMO stunk but specifically the 78 which had a Dana 20 case/T18 4 spd trans/373`s,with 33`s and the 258 which should have been a decent combo but were the worst 4wd`s Ive ever owned. I did also build a Samuari which was way smaller and limited in rocks etc but a kick in the arse cause of its size so I wont rag on it.
Ive run the same trails in the 4 cherokees and several toyota 4wd trucks, even a full size short bed 74 with no PS or PB on Coyote/red lake and partial Dusy trails in the Sierras. The only thing bad about longer usually means wider and squeezing thru trees becomes a challenge. I honestly can say a Cherokee or something its size is just about right,but its all a matter of opinion and needs.
 
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