caronaxtr

Where do you live & what kind of wheelin do you plan on doing. Some stuff that the guys in Colorado, Utah, Arizona, etc need to wheel guys like me in in the North East don't necessarily need. Example tons of armor as we really don't have huge rocks to worry about.

Best way to build an XJ is build it for where & how you wheel.

Figure out what tire size you wana run & that'll determine most of your build - axles, gears, steering, lift height & how much to spend on the lift. Bumpers, LED light bars, sliders, check out a bunch of the builds & vendors on here & you'll get tons of ideas.

Just don't ask what lockers to buy & if you should put them in the front or rear... That'll get outa hand really quick. Lol

Welcome, it's the best XJ forum I've found.....

davisXJoel

I live in Gatlinburg Tennessee. So I've got a lot of wheeling options. I may start smaller and then gradually build on it as far as making lifts and tires bigger. I understand yall live around rocks and that's just something we don't exactly have but I'm sure I'll get this jeep on some eventually.

Battle

Uh, there are rocks in Windrock. And Royal Blue. And... everywhere else in East Tennessee. They're just covered in moss and forest.

davisXJoel

And moss and forest doesn't exactly make them softer so I probably should get some armor.

Battle

Unlimited budget, you should fab up an entire belly pan made out of carbotanium with quick release points so you can change your oil. Leave it at stock height and just bounce over things.

Don't do that - that's stupid.

Battle

Unlimited budget, you should fab up an entire belly pan made out of carbotanium with quick release points so you can change your oil. Leave it at stock height and just bounce over things.

Don't do that - that's stupid.

davisXJoel

"Leave it at stock height and just bounce over things" hahaha. Should I really get some really nice bottom coverage or what

helmut

If your jeep ends up on 32s for 15k you are getting some bad advice.

helmut

Also there is a huge difference beetwen 15k and unlimited. You could spend 100k on a jeep if you try hard enough.

McCaffrey

Unlimited budget = JK

davisXJoel

Already have my Jk how I like it. Also, I'm not sure why I said 15K for it, it's really however much is needed. I just need suggestions on modifications and specific parts.

McCaffrey

OK, now I'm way too jealous to try to help.

davisXJoel

Well we bought the JK outright it's a 2013 and then we bought this 2000 Jeep Cherokee Sport was pure luck that we happened upon.. our regular dealer just gave us the XJ because my grandpa was buying a new escalade. I'm too hype to start working on this thing. I'm lucky to have these vehicles

xjboy14

4.5" lift mixed reviews on Rough Country products just a heads up
with that height its pretty good for 32 or 33 tires. Personally i would go 33 instead of 32 just because price is almost the same and 33's are everywhere.

Here is an "example" skid http://www.jcroffroad.com/product/XJArmor/XJSD-TC.html

also gas tank skid (I mean why not) http://www.jcroffroad.com/product/XJArmor/XJSD-TNK.html

Also beef up the rockers, if they are rust free then get some sliders under them or just box tube them and make it custom.

bumpers and all that stuff is just personal choice, yea some things offer more coverage but its truly what you like.

move on to axles, with this tire range you arent gonna brake an axle just making a u-turn but if you the option upgrade but watch if this is gonna be on the road a lot and if you go full widths and cops and laws and flares and issues.

Can upgrade gears likely 4:10's wont hurt i run stock 3:55 with 33's

cowl intake, yellowtop battery moved wherever, add on board air, upgrade lights because stock is garbage, cut and fold, grand cherokee leather seats, roll cage w/ 5 point harness, upgrade rear brakes to disks, extended brake lines, slip yoke eliminator, long arms, upgrade engine (stroker), upgrade cooling system with new fans radiator new hoses new thermostat new waterpump, upgrade to 1 ton steering or a durango box, 99+ intake, neon injectors, new fuel lines, fuel pump, all new filters, plugs and wire tune up, upgrade to 2.5" exhaust with a banks header that exits at 2.5", 5 speed conversion, new headliner, bedline the entire floor and undercoat the underneath, new stereo and speakers, do the simplified transfer case linkage, selectable lockers because why not, frame the thing for all i care.

List made up of lots of time reading others builds and from what i have done.

gettin_dirty_with_ruby

4.5" x 2 make it a long arm and go with lift the best shock you canafford. Long arm and good shocks = a nice ride both on and off the trail.

SYE - Install one even if you don’t have drive line vibrations. This willprevent your driveshaft from slipping out while flexing.

Limit straps - you may or may not need them. Plan ahead and have theminstalled. It's a pain to reinstall your springs on the trail.

33 tires x 2 but the tire choice depends on your rig. Street, trail, mud,rock, etc.. For rocks go with the BFG Rock Krawler but they will wear quicklyif driving your rig as a DD

Skid x 2 No matter if rock or mud the skid plates will save you. Can't gowrong with JCR

Rockers x 2 again, money no object JCR. A local welder is fabbing some forme,

Body armor - I have both front and rear trails are tight and I am not a fanof beat up rigs. Personal preference. Several options from CF vendors. If goingwith body armor, buy them with built in fender flares. **** sells front andrear, very beefy and great product

Steering - upgrade to 1 ton. Several options from vendors on the forum

Rear light armor - I went through several real light holders beforeswitching to LED with light armor. Durable and look bad a$$

Bumpers and all that stuff is just personal choice x 2 Plenty of vendors onthe forum to help you with your decision. I met with a local fab shop and hadmine custom built. Same money, unique and exactly what I wanted. Powder coatedthem Sky Blue, after all, everyone has black or silver bumpers

Axles - for 33" tires stock axles are fine. Regear and if you are sure you’llnever go larger than 33, 4:10 is fine but 4:88 won't hurt either, truss, Chromalloyand while the axles are out, rebuild them with all new brakes, bushings, etc...

Lockers - ARB. Period. At least on the front, money no object, rear too

Add on board air. Even if you don’t go with air lockers. Buy one largeenough to run lockers AND air tools. Having this as an option while on thetrails is invaluable and an air chuck to air up your towels is convenient asheck

Heat management, with either cowl intake, vents or raise the rear of thehood. Personal choice. Upgrade the cooling, may not need to but while upgradingeverything else... Taurus fan conversion or an E fan

Sheet metal - Cut and fold in the rear

Fender Flares - see above for body armor

LED lights - replace your headlights with Olympus or Trucklite. Skip HID's.LED lights are bright but not obnoxious to oncoming traffic. Why would you wantto blind someone that is driving directly towards you? While you are at it,replace all of your bulbs, both interior and exterior with LED bulbs. Looksgreat at night....