98_XJ Sport

I already have a set of Cragar soft 8s and only want that for the Moab rims, I can get by without new rims, and that will save me a bunch of money

CheapCherokee

there is a crap ton of stuff in there that is way over price and won't make much of a difference considering what it does. i bolded everything i would call either unnecessary, over priced, or there exists a better alternative for a cheaper price. for instance, skip the JKS track bar and go with a complete RE1660 unit with brace and bracket from serious off road. you will pay less for that complete system than you will the JKS track bar, and the RE unit is a much better unit.

also, do you really need almost 100 bucks in floor mats? also like previously said the mean green stuff is really over priced and won't help much for what you're doing. the Optima battery, while nice, is not really needed either. the fender flares are super over priced pieces of plastic, there are cheaper and better flares out there (or just run no flares or remount stock flares).
i see no mention of axles or lockers in there, do you plan to wheel this thing at all?

98_XJ Sport

its mainly a DD. i dont need lockers for what i do

99 Purple XJ

My rig is sitting at 5.5 on 35s long arms a bunch of other upgrades ive done but they dont even add up to 2500 and my truck still impresses me with what it can do what you really need to do is forget this list shop around get prices check craiglist ebay for used stuff in working condition or even people that need quick money and just wait alot of things will come up on sale or cheap my 35s with 90 percent tread all 4 150 bucks i got them four just have to look

CheapCherokee

oh, if thats the case then you don't need this for what you do:

A-Pillar Light Mounts $40.00
KC Hilites Day Lighter 100W Pair Black $118.99
Smittybilt MOD Front Bumper $399.99
Smittybilt MOD Bull Bar $99.99
KC Hilites Fog Lamp 100W $116.99
Smittybilt XRC-8 Winch $299.99
Smittybilt D-Rings $51.96
Smittybilt XRC Rear Bumper $399.99
Smittybilt Beaver Step $49.99
Smittybilt Reciever Tow Hook $14.99
Bushwacker Flat Style Fender Flares $459.99
Daystar Front SwayBar Bushing 25mm $24.99
Old Man Emu 3"Lift w/Ubolts, bushings and Steering Stabilizer $1,219.70
Old Man Emu 10mm Front Spacer $21.98
Rubicon Express Adjusable Lower Control Arms Super Ride $219.99
JKS Adjustable Track Bar $216.99
Mamba Offroad Type MR-1 Machined 16x8 $699.95
Cooper STT 265/75/16 $1,325.00
Tomken Gas Tank Skid $184.99
K&N Fuel Injection Performance Kit $247.99
Magnaflow 49 State Legal Catalytic Converter $131.99
Magnaflow Performance Cat-Back Exhaust System $499.99
Mean Grean Alternator $399.99
Mean Green Starter $299.99
Optima Yellow-Top $199.99
PlastiColor Jeep Logo Front Mats $42.99
Rear Slush Mats $44.99





seriously? i didn't know you needed a winch for DD. the speed bumps must be taller where you live.

Bustedback

Tell the old man that a Jeep is not an investment, it's for fun and transportation, not to line your nest egg.

marcall

If you wheel your Jeep at all there's nothing like having solid axle up front. I see you asked the question whether to upgrade or get a newer Jeep. keep in mind that they went to IFS in 2005 with the WKso if you're looking "newer" in Cherokee/GC then you're only talking 6 years newer unless you want to go with an IFS which will require more maintenance as well as not being as good off road (I'm in AZ too and while some will say IFS is better on faster stuff off road I still prefer solid axle).

Why not just upgrade here and there as money becomes available and you might find that you don't really need or even want all the stuff you listed. Any vehicle will not net much in resale at all after 10 years or so. Go to kelly Blue Book and look at a Jeep XJ in your year and select every option and then select Excellent condition (Which is maybe 5 percent of XJ's out there) etc. You will see they are not "worth much" and the same goes for any car , suv, or truck except Toyota which seems to hold a rather unrealistic overly priced resale value only because of reputation.



*edit*...Ok I just did a Kelly Blue Book for a 1998 4 dr Cherokee sport (in excellent condition)with extra options like power windows, door lock, premium sound, oversized off road tires etc. The Blue Book is 3,342 dollars for a southern Arizona one as a private party resale.. as I said not much so I wouldn't worry yourself about resale value.

98_XJ Sport

I live in a place where we get 3-4 feet of snow for months on end in the winter. A winch to help someone, or myself out isn't a bad idea. And its MAINLY a DD, not ONLY a DD. I do light wheeling almost every weekend and some trails once every few months. I don't drive it like a soccer moms car and don't intend it to appear as one. Just because I'm not running moab every weekend doesn't mean I don't want a nice lifted XJ to do some trails, take hunting, camping fishining ect ect and to be a nice DD. There's such a thing as a compromise

MatteBlack

This first group I would take my time on. Alot of this is specific style stuff that you can probably wait for deals on or find better, cheaper, cooler versions of with some research. Alot of it seems beyond your needs for how you will use it, so your are paying more for the rugged look and name. By all means buy what you want, I pick for the perceived toughness too but, alot of the time you can cross two or three other things off your list by compromising and be able to better afford that specific item you really love want on your XJ to totally make the look.

I'd try to bundle the Smittybilt stuff into a big deal if you are gonna get it all but, I sort of wonder how much you really need their brand on the smaller detail pieces. That said, if you actually get the bumpers, bullbar and winch in one package, shop it around to a few vendors, you might get a good enough deal to get those smaller pieces thrown in.

I'd also agree with others on sticking with some 15" rims. I am thinking of dropping 200bucks on some weld-in custom-cut rock rings for my stockers that will like have the same level of visual impact and I am alot less likely to see on another rig.

• Smittybilt MOD Front Bumper $399.99
• Smittybilt MOD Bull Bar $99.99
• Smittybilt XRC-8 Winch $299.99
• Smittybilt D-Rings $51.96
• Smittybilt XRC Rear Bumper $399.99
• Smittybilt Beaver Step $49.99
• Smittybilt Reciever Tow Hook $14.99
• A-Pillar Light Mounts $40.00
• KC Hilites Day Lighter 100W Pair Black $118.99
• KC Hilites Fog Lamp 100W $116.99
• Bushwacker Flat Style Fender Flares $459.99
• Mamba Offroad Type MR-1 Machined 16x8 $699.95
• Cooper STT 265/75/16 $1,325.00
• PlastiColor Jeep Logo Front Mats $42.99
• Rear Slush Mats $44.99

These are all parts you should not skimp on but, reading the forums, doing your homework and shopping around are the way to go. There are alot of very good , very affordable options that are as functional and reliable or more.

I'd wait until you either need to replace your battery or you see a really good deal comes up on the Optima. No reason to spend a mint on agreat battery if yours is still doing fine.

• Daystar Front SwayBar Bushing 25mm $24.99
• Old Man Emu 3"Lift w/Ubolts, bushings and Steering Stabilizer $1,219.70
• Old Man Emu 10mm Front Spacer $21.98
• Rubicon Express Adjusable Lower Control Arms Super Ride $219.99
• JKS Adjustable Track Bar $216.99
• Optima Yellow-Top $199.99
• Tomken Gas Tank Skid $184.99

I'd wait on all this until you do your rebuild or those parts go. Again, lots of research and get stuff that you know will work together effectively. Very often a junkyard swap might be a very good upgrade. It does not sound like you really need the power or potentially lowered MPG so, no reason to wring extra power out of engine you feel is headed toward a rebuild.

Personally, I am leaning toward a cold air cowl snorkel and injector and alternator swaps out of other Mopars.

• K&N Fuel Injection Performance Kit $247.99
• Magnaflow 49 State Legal Catalytic Converter $131.99
• Magnaflow Performance Cat-Back Exhaust System $499.99
• Mean Grean Alternator $399.99
• Mean Green Starter $299.99

Ultimately, do what you want. Jeeps are alot about freedom (and making the occasional dumb decision) but, try to think it out and plan when you can. Those on the fly, "I want it bad" decisions are the ones that always haunt you. I like your taste, should be a nice rig.

98_XJ Sport

^ thank you for your constructive comments and not just rediculous spam. I have modified my list, and dumped about 3K off the "important" stuff. I also separated things that others can get me for christmas or birthday gifts like the step, reciever tow hook ect ect. Changed the bumpers to a similar/more rugged style JCR bumpers which also save me money. A large part of the savings came from me choosing to keep my current rims (15) and getting 31x10.5x15 instead of the 16" wheels and tires. I do plan to talk to Dirk on Monday and try and save some money on the lift, but OME is expensive in general. Thank you to all who provided suggestions as they helped me quite a bit in saving money and looking for different options. I agree, a lot of the stuff was un-necessary, but I feel if you're gonna build a Jeep quality products should be very important and "if you're gonna do it, do it once and do it right" is a firm belief of mine.

98_XJ Sport

A-Pillar Light Mounts $40.00
KC Hilites Day Lighter 100W Pair Black $118.99
Serious Offroad Winch Bumper $450.00
KC Hilites Fog Lamp 100W $116.99
Smittybilt XRC-8 Winch $299.99
Smittybilt D-Rings $51.96
JCR Standard Rear Bumper+ Reciever $423.00
Daystar Front SwayBar Bushing 25mm $24.99
Old Man Emu 3"Lift w/Ubolts, bushings and Steering Stabilizer
Old Man Emu 10mm Front Spacer $21.98
Rubicon Express Adjusable Lower Control Arms Super Ride $219.99
Rubicon Express Adjustable Track Bar $164.99
Cooper STT 31x10.50x15 $950.00
Tomken Gas Tank Skid $184.99
K&N Fuel Injection Performance Kit $247.99
Magnaflow Performance Cat-Back Exhaust System $499.99
$3,775.85
Heres my new list, trimmed of a lot of the BS, havent talked to DPG yet so unsure of lift price

94XjSport94

What the heck is in the K&N fuel package lol? You can get sway bar bushings at Autozone or wherever for a little cheaper plus no shipping. Look on here or in a junkyard for the gas tank skid, theyre pretty common on here. D rings can be had a Tractor supply for cheaper plus no shipping. With all those lights and what not think about running cheaper lights with 100w watt bulbs. That would save a lot plus if they break or whatever its cheap to replace again. Check out an APN header and the vendor mudfrog for exhaust stuff, that'll save some more.


Edit: The K&N package is just a CAI... There are a ton of threads about how those really dont do anything for your Jeep (just like Throttle body spacers...). I wouldnt spend the money on that, instead a cowl intake and an injector upgrade for close to or under a 100 bucks.