if you has the money?

would you beef up an M-class or X5?

[CodyZ71]

Uhh how do you beef these up?

i think there are german aftermarket companies you could contact

[The_Sandman_454]

<font face="Comic Sans MS">Neither... I'd procure a Unimog, G-Wagen, or other similar vehicle and use it as a starting point... [img]images/icons/crazy.gif[/img] These things are worthless... Do the M class or X5 even have a real frame or are they uni-body construction? If they're unibody you'll have to construct yourself a seperate space frame/cage to start off of basically... Then throw some solid axles under there, whatever suspension design you want will work (coil, leaf spring, etc)... Basically looking at so much money you could have bought a whole fleet of other vehicles for the same price, and have one specialized for every type of off roading instead of having one wacky one that's pretty much only good for show...</font>

if you had Bill's spending power would't you do it just for sh!ts and giggles?

[The_Sandman_454]

<font face="comic Sans MS">Not at all... I'd build a unimog or other worth while vehicle even if I had money to burn... [img]images/icons/laugh.gif[/img]</font>

[TheJuice]

So, I guess you'd have to put the jeep downsized cherokee in this worthless category as well. Your main attack here is on unibody. Better go post that one over on the Jeep forum. [img]images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img]

To stabilize your opinion here, I would add that there are numerous other factors that make these vehicles a less than desirable choice for true upgrades related to offroad performance. If you look at these vehicles and look at a unimog, or Defender 90, or many other buildable and capable rigs, you should begin to understand the difficulties with what you suggest. Most American fullsize truck platforms also make good buildable offroaders.

[The_Sandman_454]

<font face="comic Sans MS">When I think "BEEF UP" I think of things like adding a SFA and so forth... The Jeep unibody is already reinforced specifically for such suspension, this "thing" is not... You'd have to heavily reinforce it so it doesn't fall apart... A safety thing...

Basically just suggesting what *I* would do to *this* make/model in order to keep it safe, enjoyable and relatively maintenance free... [img]images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]</font>

Neither... I'd procure a Unimog, G-Wagen, or other similar vehicle and use it as a starting point... These things are worthless... Do the M class or X5 even have a real frame or are they uni-body construction? If they're unibody you'll have to construct yourself a seperate space frame/cage to start off of basically... Then throw some solid axles under there, whatever suspension design you want will work (coil, leaf spring, etc)... Basically looking at so much money you could have bought a whole fleet of other vehicles for the same price, and have one specialized for every type of off roading instead of having one wacky one that's pretty much only good for show...


the ML is a body on frame construction..

The ML actually does have a frame, it's not a unibody. I'm not defending it, just clearing things up. Every time these things come into the shop I wonder why the hell someone would buy one. The Grand Cherokee is so much better it's unbelievable.