Am I the first on here to break my tailgate off on a tree?

 

Never seen a tailgate ripped off, but on this forum I'm sure you're not the first..........



Cherokee- I think it was the first of modern day SUV's.

 

Probably not. You're just the first to admit it.

 

Cheap, lightweight, lower CG, better handling, stronger than many open C-channel frames of the time. As a dedicated off-roader a body-on-frame design (specifically a fully boxed one) may have been a better option (hence why the wrangler used a fully-boxed body-on-frame design), but as an all-around utility vehicle which the XJ was designed to be a unibody made a lot of sense.

 

 

I think all it needs is to be left closed when you are in a flexing situation. The standard latch will hold it fine. If your buddies can't leave it alone when they are told to, get some different buddies.

 

I didn't tell them not to =/ I did fail to verify that the door was closed before driving through some rough stuff, though.

 

Sucks about the tailgate man, hopefully you find the hatch you need in the junkyard.

While we're on the subject of frame stiffening, do rock sliders help stiffen the frame at all? I figure they would a little bit.

 

It was like it was sitting there waiting for me to find it. As I was searching through to JY to find the white '96 XJ I found quite a few others in green, teal, and red. Most still had the hatches, but they were all locked!

I get to the white one (all the way at the back, like a 1/4mi walk) wondering how TF I'm going to get it off without damaging it, and guess what? Unlocked. Hell yeah.

Still has the wiper motor, blade, glass, water tube, wiring, no speakers, and in pretty good condition. There's a minor ding above the license plate holder but that would probably end up there no matter what so I'm not too concerned about it.

If anyone needs the rear window glass I'll have an extra.

$75 + a $42 core charge which I'm going to get back when I strip the broken one down for the cover, speakers, etc.

Also picked up another luggage rack and a new passenger side mechanically adjusted mirror for $25 total.

Think I may go back over the weekend and grab the hood too so I can try my hand at adding hood scoops.

It's a white 2 door XJ, 2WD automatic from 96. with a D30 up front and a 8.25 in the back. Anyone know what gearing it would have?

 

Not sure if the 2wd throws anything off but all the 4wd automatics came with 3.55 gears. Manual trans were 3.07

Congrats on the find!

 

I want to find me a 8.25. I'll never run anything bigger than 31's so I should be fine with it. good find.

 

There are a couple sitting around in North Houston if you can make the trip and pull 'em yourself.

 

Do you know how much they are going for?

 

Nope, I'd guess $175 plus a core charge though.

 

seriously, wtf?