Commander4Lyfe's Garage

Thought it was about time I started a garage thread for myself and Big Blue. Hope you enjoy the pics... and I'll have many more to follow.


Before:
2234

After lift, tires and wheel spacers:
2235

Before:
2236

After lift, tires and wheel spacers:
2237

New Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac 265/70/17 (6 ply)

2239

2240

2241

Posing for the camera...
2249

Favorite bumper sticker...


2250

Your Commander looks awsome! How do you like the Goodyear Wrangler Dura Trac's? I have the new MT/R's with Kevlar and absolutely love them. Nice sticker!

Thanks... I like the Dura Tracs alot. They have anice aggressive look and also have a snow and ice rating. I think they are a perfect all-season tire if someone is looking for a new set.

Flexin' on some dirt... flexin' anywhere possible living in a city...lol.

Flexin' in a ditch... yet again, flexin' anywhere possible...lol.

Thanks... I like the Dura Tracs alot. They have anice aggressive look and also have a snow and ice rating. I think they are a perfect all-season tire if someone is looking for a new set.


Very nice Commander; subtle aggression!

I think my search is over. I travel to Tahoe often in the winter. I llove to get out on muddy trails however this is the family vehicle so I didn't want to go full blown MT tread. YThe aggressive tread looks to clear mud well and with all the sipes I am sure it will do well on wet roads, snow and ice. Finally an AT with an aggressive sidewall. I am a BFG fan but I think these will be the tire I choose for my Commander over the BFG AT!

I definately recommend them. They need to be run at a little higher PSI seeing as though they are a 6 ply. The recommended pressure for the Commander is 35 PSI (cold), but these Dura Trac tires have a max pressure of 50 PSI... which is higher then the average tire. If you run the 35PSI, it is a very soft ride and the tires look underinflated, resulting in the vehicle being sloppy. However, I am running 38 PSI and find it a very good ride. I do feel a little sloppiness still and am thinking about putting the tire pressure up to 40-42 PSI range. This will harden the sidewalls for better handling on pavement... if I go off road, I would put it back down to 35-38 PSI for the added tread footprint.

In the end, I will say it again... they are an amazing tire, that looks very good!

I'm going to get a picture of my new DVD receiver that I installed a few weeks ago.

Here is a picture of my Pioneer AVH-5000DVD. It is a DVD player, with lots of extras. I also have a USB input in my glove box, so I can just throw in a memory stick of music MP3's. I am also getting headrest monitors that can be fed from this main unit... might be a few months though.

I definately recommend them. They need to be run at a little higher PSI seeing as though they are a 6 ply. The recommended pressure for the Commander is 35 PSI (cold), but these Dura Trac tires have a max pressure of 50 PSI... which is higher then the average tire. If you run the 35PSI, it is a very soft ride and the tires look underinflated, resulting in the vehicle being sloppy. However, I am running 38 PSI and find it a very good ride. I do feel a little sloppiness still and am thinking about putting the tire pressure up to 40-42 PSI range. This will harden the sidewalls for better handling on pavement... if I go off road, I would put it back down to 35-38 PSI for the added tread footprint.

In the end, I will say it again... they are an amazing tire, that looks very good!

How did you find out what ply tires those are? I am running the same size as you but in the Goodyear Wrangler MT/R with Kevlar. Goodyear recommended me to run the stock psi (35 psi) to get even wear out of the tires. Once you get more miles on the tires let me know if they are wearing evenly. Id like to run my tires at a little higher pressure but dont want them to wear out faster. Thanks.

FYI

Today's load range/ply ratings do not count the actual number of body ply layers found inside the tire, but indicate an equivalent strength based on early bias ply tires. Most radial passenger tires have one or two body plies, and light truck tires, even those with heavy duty ratings (10-, 12- or 14-ply rated), actually have only two or three fabric body plies, or one steel ply.

Load Range, Ply Rating and Load Pressure for Light Truck Tires

Load Range /Ply Rating/ Load Pressure (psi)

B / 4 ply / 35 psi
C / 6 ply / 50 psi
D / 8 ply / 65 psi
E / 10 ply / 80 psi
F / 12 ply / 95 psi

•Load rating: 85V
In this case, 85 means the tire is rated for 1,135 pounds (see Table 2). Multiply this by the number of tires on the car, and you get a maximum safe loaded vehicle weight of 4,540 pounds (including people, luggage, a full tank of gas, and all the loose change under the seats).
The last V repeats the V speed rating, listed in Table 1.
Table 2: Load Rating Designations

Load Index/ Load Carrying Capacity in lbs (pounds). (Per Tire)

71/ 761 lbs 91/ 1356 lbs

72/ 783 92/ 1389

73/ 805 93/ 1433

74/ 827 94/ 1477

75/ 853 95/ 1521

76/ 882 96/ 1565

77/ 908 97/ 1609

78/ 937 98/ 1653

79/ 963 99/ 1709

80/ 992 100/ 1764

81/ 1019 101/ 1819

82/ 1047 102/ 1874

83/ 1074 103/ 1929

84/ 1102 104/ 1984

85/ 1135 105/ 2039

86/ 1168 106/ 2094

87/ 1201 107/ 2149

88/ 1235 108/ 2205

89/ 1279 109/ 2271

90/ 1323 110/ 2337


My tires are described as follows:

Goodyear DuraTrac
LT265/70R17
Load range: C
Service description: 112Q
Sidewall: OWL
Approved rim width: 7.0 - 8.5"
Measure rim width: 8.00"
Section width: 10.7"
Outside diameter: 31.7"
Max load: 2,470lbs @ 50 psi

These are my newly added "go fast" stickers. They make me look hick and stuff... yeehaw!!

Here is a shot of my family and I at a local car show on Canada Day (July 1st) here in Winnipeg, Manitoba. We paid our $10 to charity to enter, but really it just happened to be clean and we needed a parking spot... what better place then in the show itself...lol.:eyemouth::eyemouth::eyemouth:

Picture #1 is Big Blue striking a pose, and picture #2 is my wife stricking a pose after too much Canada Day cheer...lol. :)

I would like to find a way to replace the plastic wheel flares with a tougher... maybe metal wheel flare. Also, when money allows it, I would like to get metal front and rear bumpers.

I would like to find a way to replace the plastic wheel flares with a tougher... maybe metal wheel flare. Also, when money allows it, I would like to get metal front and rear bumpers.

You may have to get something custom fabbed, seems like there is not much aftermarket gear out there for our Commanders even from the Europeans. You can check ARB or TJM. In the meanwhile take a look at HeuyPilotVN: http://www.jeepcommander.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5770&page=5 he lined his flars and bumpers with Rhinoliner I believe for protection.

A few guys have GetLost's stuff as well. I might try to get someone here in Canada to fabricate me a set. If it costs a few hundred more, it's still cheaper then shipping, taxes and duty and whatever else the border people try to throw on top of the price.

A few guys have GetLost's stuff as well. I might try to get someone here in Canada to fabricate me a set. If it costs a few hundred more, it's still cheaper then shipping, taxes and duty and whatever else the border people try to throw on top of the price.

You might send a PM to GetLost and see if he will sell you a plan for the front bumper, it might save you some time if you like that design.

Good idea... Perhaps I'll do that.

I love it when my wife ends up loving my mods... after weeks of bitching and complaining...she is eating a giant piece of humble pie... because she loves my mods and loves the XK now even more.

Anyone have any belly armour or rock rails they're trying to get rid of? Or perhaps feel like donating to a worthy XK cause? :)

I really like the look of your Commander with the Duratrac tires. I saw your post today on the Forum in the "2" RoughCountry + 245/70r17.......After Pics " post. I'm glad you mentioned you had the 265/70/17 tires. I've been looking at those same tires for a while now and was wondering whether you had any rubbing in the front. I thick I'll go with the ATX Mojave wheels which have a 4.5" backspacing. That should be the same 1.5" spacer you were running. Any advise?

Many thanks,

Rene.

Only minor mods were necessary to fit these tires. I only had to drill new mounting holes for the wheel well liner, push it back farther from the tire and reinstall the retaining clips. I do not have the 1/4" spacer in the front, so you may not even need to trim or move anything. The back has plenty of room. I had the XK at "full-squat" on the rear and it was VERY close to rubbing, but even if it touched, it would not cause any damage.

Good luck, you'll love the tire and lift combo. This is how the XK should have come from factory!!!

Thanks again for anwsering my question twice. After I posted in the other thread I got into your garage and asked the question again in case you didn't saw the other post.
I'll definitly go for these tires and wheels.

Do you have a pic or more info on the retaining clips?

The retaining clips are just those little black plastic push-in clips that you find all over you vehicle. They use them to hold the wheel well liner snug inplace.

Here is my newest additoin to my garage. It's my new Keystone Outback 30QBHS (Limited Edition). We bought it the last week of July. It sleeps 9-10 people and is 30 feet long. It has all the amenities of home, which make camping a little more enjoyable when dealing with 3 kids and 2 dogs. We pull this dry, meaning the water tanks are empty. The dry weight with propane and batteries is 5940 lbs. We pack in about 600 lbs of food and essentials and go for anywhere from a weekend long to 2 week long trips at a time. This is our first travel trailer and love it.

The Commander has problem pulling it, and with the right aftermarket sway control add-ons, we find it a very easy tow with the XK.

VERY nice....the commander tows the 6500 lbs with no issues?

also how do you like those Dura Trac's?

As you will see in my many previous posts throughout the forums, they are a great tire. When towing a heavy trailer, you merely inflate to max tire PSI to aviod any sidewall slop that would contribute to trailer/tow vehicle sway. I normally run them at about 44 PSI anywho... these tires are great off road and throw some serious mud....everywhere. As for the COmmander towing, it does an amazing job. People just have to realize that they cannot drive like they normally would without a trailer. You have to adjust your driving to compensate for all the extra weight. This means doing 90-100 km/h on the hiway instead of the usual 110-115km/h.

I actually have the class IV hitch on my XK which is rated for 750/7500. If you actualy read about whata manufacturer bases their vehicle weight ratings on, it would blow you away! There is absolutely no industry standard for rating tow capacities for vehicles. Some rate them by testing how much they can pull from a stop position on at a 7% grade, others test theirs in such places as the Navada desert, where they see how a vehicle can pull through the desert without overheating. So if people really want to start talking about the towing capacities of the Commander, they have no idea to what it is "actually" rated at. For a manufacturer to put a rating on their vehicle as to what it can tow and still perform, it has to be well below actual teating perameters, so they can ensure there is no mechanical breakdown that leads to liability and such.

Of course this is just my opinion.

Has anyone else towed with thier 4.7 XK yet? Anything close to my weight and size?

thanx dude... big help its good to hear actual experience

No problem... just got back from another camping trip down to southern Manitoba and was a blast! had a great time and it seems the more I tow this trailer, the easier it gets. You learn the best way to balance load and how to adjust the weight distributing hitch to suit different weights, and how to set the friction sway control bars. All in all the XK continues to impress... not just me, but quite a few others along my travels.

I was wondering that if you get that type of tires the wrangler duratrack 265/70r17 without the 1.5 spidertrax spacer. do you think it will rub??? I am asking you this because I just ordered the RC kit and I want to get the same type of tires and according to the RC web site you can have that size of tires without any issue help me out please !!!

There is NO WAY they would fit without wheel spacers... 1 1/4" minimum. I have 1 1/2". The tire would hit the upper control arm bolt without spacers.

Hope this helps.

I do quite a bit of towing with my XK. I have a 1987 ALJO 24'. I don't have the sway control hitch, just hook it straight to the bumper. I notice that the XK has to work considerably harder, and running it at a constant 3k rpm puts me at about 60mph. It also drops my fuel mileage to about 9mpg. This trailer is HEAVY...not sure what weight, but would put it near 7K DRY. I am going to Lake Tawakoni in Feb, and am going to take it to local truck stop to put it on the scales there. Will let you know. We are also looking for a newer roughly same to slightly larger RV with a slide. I have my eye on a couple, but right now cant justify the extra payment when the trailer I have works just fine...its just old and ugly...lol

This trailer is HEAVY...not sure what weight, but would put it near 7K DRY.

You better be careful! The towing capacity for the Hemi is around 7300lbs. I'm not sure what it is for your 4.7L.

:orangehat:

You better be careful! The towing capacity for the Hemi is around 7300lbs. I'm not sure what it is for your 4.7L.

:orangehat:

6,500 lbs....

There is NO WAY I would consider towing anything over 2500 lbs without having a brake controller and a proper hitch. I would not tow anything that long and heavy without a brake controller, weight distributing hitch and proper sway control installed.

You are asking for trouble if you do.

Well this is my newest toy that I've added to my garage. It's a 1997 Ford F350 crew cab and long box, with a 4" lift. It is an old CN Rail truck. It came with 19.5" hy-rail rims and tires, but I soon swapped them out for 16.5" rims and put on some 33" BF Goodrich Mud-Terrain T/A's. I think it's going to be a great toy and hauler. :)