Why is it important to keep weight down on a TJ?

In the end, it is what ever makes your unicorns happy... we humans are weird with our perception.

TJ in my view is hovering on the edge between "WEE!" and a turtle. Because of how boxy and sluggish it is, any tiny extra "wrooom" feels like it is about to take off to the moon, and the opposite in the other direction.

Extra weight poops on the "wroom", that is just physics ... but there is a longer and heavier LJ, and you don't hear them whine much... so wtf?

Add weight, TJ is overweight.
Remove weight, TJ is ... TJ ?

Replace half the jeep with aluminum and drive with the wind - wow, aluminum does wonders!
Drive against the wind - ehhh.. ummm.. all of the sudden paying price of gold for the aluminum starting to feel like a dumb idea.

Not too long ago, someone on here was replacing every single metal bracket with aluminum, just to avoid regearing. Good luck telling him that dumping $$$ just to shave off 20 punds of weights does not equal regearing.

Some people on here don't daily their Jeeps, they obviously feel the weight of Jeep the most when they switch.

Each part adds up, but where is the breaking point between extra mile of zoom and another pull off to the gas station?
Last time i checked, we are all roughly in the same loaded semi-truck mpg range.

One thing is obvious to me, if one is set on loosing weight, they should go all in, because half ass approach will yield half ass questionable results.

MutantNinjaTJ said:

I prefer a little more weight with my TJ, the suspension works better with some weight on it as compared to bouncing over the top of obstacles.

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My bet is either your tires are overinflated and/or your shocks are too stiff, and definitely not that your Jeep is too light .

26psi, rancho 5000X, I
said a little weight not a lot of weight.

Chris said:

Another good place to save weight would be synthetic winch line.

Don't forget tires too. Somehow my Nitto TrailGrapplers in 35X12.50R17 weigh in at 82 lbs. a piece according to the specs.

Compare that with the same size Goodyear MT/R which weighs in at 65 lbs. a tire last I checked.

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This is one reason "for me" that I was drawn to a small aluminum front bumper on my rig. The Warn 8274 I run is heavy, mine is not too bad with the synthetic line and aluminum fairlead. Riding the line of light but strong.

I am drawn to TRE safety thimble/fairlead. A few more ounces of weight loss "I think" over the steel hook. And added safety.

I do not have a TRE yet.

Edit, went the TRE site "It is also the lightest and most versatile recovery option to be used with synthetic winch line."

Take my money!

Chris said:

Oh yeah, if you added up the weight of the average steel bumper, a big Warn winch, and steel winch cable, you'd be looking at adding some serious weight to the front end of your TJ. With an aluminum bumper and synthetic winch line you could probably cut that weight in half.

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That was my hope. That thimble is on the list now too.

UKTJ said:

I have wondered why so many on here are so interested in the weight of parts on their TJs. From what I gather it seems that because of the terrain you often drive over (i.e. lots of rocks) you need to add a large amount of extra protection to your TJs in the form of skids, corner armour, etc. Those additions all add weight, so the incremental amount of weight in each part adds up. About right?

But what I have yet to really understand is why a heavier TJ is an issue. I could understand if you were maybe in a swamp and wanted to avoid sinking, but why is weight such an issue when tackling rocks? Is it as simple as the power to weight ratio?

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I took my spare tire and mount off to clean everything up and restore it. I decided to run my Jeep without a spare a bit just to see if I liked it. That was over a year ago and I will never put it back on. I also only run 1/2 doors with is another huge weight savings. I pull very huge steep hills with ease compared to when it had the extra weight. I prefer a lighter vehicle. It is also easier on the TJ as a whole. I feel honored and lucky to have the nicest TJ in the US.

UKTJ said:

Less of an option if wrestling boulders I guess.

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Some of the guys in Colorado have chopped down OEM bumpers and they wheel pretty hard.

Super helpful thread, especially for those of us with SEs. @Chris, can I start a resource on "How to Keep your TJ Light"? I could start it with what's in this thread, and then moderate/update it with new ideas that come up.

UKTJ said:

My plan is to stick to the stock bumper and add a winch plate, an additional 20lb, but I believe the stock bumper is pretty light. Less of an option if wrestling boulders I guess.

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You forgot the weight of the winch in your 20#

jjvw said:

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Son of a bitch, I wish you had posted this info years ago. I didn't know I could have shaved off over 600 lbs. just by purchasing a SE instead of my overweight Rubicon.