Intro - Big Brown

C

chicoserspecv

NAXJA Forum User
Location
East Bay, CA
Hey guys,

FYI no idea on the name lol I don't see a lot of the tan colored jeeps around so this seems suitable for now.

Been lurking around here for a bit, joined, and felt it was time to post up the rig.

It's a 1999 Cherokee 4.0L with a 3" lift - 31s - Kwhip power cables -all else stock.

Got it back in November 2010 with intentions of wheeling with others in Arizona, but new job forced move here to the Bay Area :/. So don't really know anyone up here who I can wheel with.

Basically, I want to get the rig to point where it's a reasonable DD around town, but definitely want to have it be "capable". I've heard of people getting around alright on some tough trails with 31's as long as they have other equipment.

Here's a list I'm kinda thinking of right now:
-I have the ABS Dana 35 (I believe...), so not sure if I should lock it or just upgrade, and lock that.
-33s
-Fender trimming
-Bumpers, sliders, and maybe other protection
-I think I have the 3.73 gears (I have the towing package...is that a for sure indication?) - so maybe upgraded gears.

Here's the thing...at the moment I would like to initially see what I can do with $1000-$1500 just to start out and see if I like to get into this more. As I live in the Bay Area I don't have anywhere to work on it (damn apartment living). I am def no mechanic and lack experience, but enjoy doing my own work and like to learn. So, for now I will have to take the fact I might have to invest in install labor costs in that estimate above lol.

Anyways...any suggestions you guys have would be great. I would love to get into this more, so I am always down to go out.

Thanks!


The rigs as it is now:

fe3nd1.jpg
 
If it was me I'd go 3.5 - 4.5 lift coils, adjustable lower arms, cheap rancho shocks or procomps, sliders, tcase skid, gas tank skid, hd offroad engineering shackle relocation brackets, 2in lift shackle, small bastard pack, chevy brakelines, and 33x10.5s. Fenders trimmed. I hate full time lockers in DD but I could put with a front auto locker. Id go with 4.88.s. Dont gear or lock the dana 35. In my opinion thats a good starter xj and you can do that in your price range.

Blondejon normally has some of that stuff, poomero is selling sliders, you can get a stock gas tank skid for cheap at the junkyard. RC lift shackles are around $60 on ebay. I think the chevy lines are under $10 each new at autozone, look and see if JCR is still having a big sale. Maybe the tcase skid is onsale.
 
Cool man! Thanks for the reply. I have a 3" lift on it now (might be3.5-4"? Unsure...), and has rancho shocks. Is this what you were referring to?

-The skids are good...working on getting sliders hopefully soon
-Would the 33s be ok to run on the stock gearing?
-As far as the D30: are you talking about just regearing the front? This might be a dumb question, but wouldn't you want to re-gear both, not just one?
-The bastard pack: are you talking about adding leafs? Or buying a replacement pack?
 
chicoserspecv said:
Cool man! Thanks for the reply. I have a 3" lift on it now (might be3.5-4"? Unsure...), and has rancho shocks. Is this what you were referring to?

-The skids are good...working on getting sliders hopefully soon
-Would the 33s be ok to run on the stock gearing?
-As far as the D30: are you talking about just regearing the front? This might be a dumb question, but wouldn't you want to re-gear both, not just one?
-The bastard pack: are you talking about adding leafs? Or buying a replacement pack?
Click to expand...

Ok if its a three inch lift Id add a 1-1.5inch spacer. You can run 33s on stock gearing, its not gonna be a fast jeep or one that gets good gas mileage.
and yea you regear both axles. Just swap the d35 for a xj d44 or 8.25.
bastard pack is adding leaves. But since your lifted, you might get away with shackle relocation brackets and your current leaves.
 
Dude that rig is clean. You are right and dont see many that color. In my opinion you should do the armor... i.e skids, sliders. Frame stifners would be another good mod. Then I would just wheel it. The 35 is not a super axle but if you dont mash on it, or try crazy lines you will be ok. Worse case is you break it and upgrade. If all you are trying to do (for now :eyes:) is see if you want to keep going with the build i think that would be the best bet. I have not met anyone except mabey one who hasnt been hooked by the fun from wheeling one of these.. including myself. Im sure you can tell by now most people in the sierra chapter are really cool ppl, and will almost always help. The bay guys are very active and have many trips even if they are simple day runs. Welcome to the sierra chapter! :wave: and I look forward to your build.
 
Nice Rig. I'm in the eastbay and on the same path as you. Just did the lift and tires on my rig. Have a couple of other maitenence areas that I am currently working towards but armor is next on my list.
 
you can get 8.8s with 4.10s LSD on car-part.com and at your local junkyard all day long for under 250 if you work at it.
id lock the 35 if where to run 31s or smaller.
once you have 33s youll want chromos, diff cover, discs, then youll wish you bought a better axle as a platofrom to wheel on....
d30 front 4.10s come along here and there. ive come accross 3 4.10 geared fronts and multiple 4.88 geared fronts in the last 12 monhts.
 
If it was me, I would get some rockers and just wheel it. Spend at least one weekend a month down at Hollister hills OHV Park with some other members from here, and just learn how to drive it as it is now.

You will be shocked where some diving skills and that rig can go and the learning experience will pay off in the long run.
 
Letterman said:
If it was me, I would get some rockers and just wheel it. Spend at least one weekend a month down at Hollister hills OHV Park with some other members from here, and just learn how to drive it as it is now.

You will be shocked where some diving skills and that rig can go and the learning experience will pay off in the long run.
Click to expand...
I learned how to wheel on a open/open rig at hollister. with no armor except a gas tank skid. Honestly if you want to learn hit me up, Im at hollister hills 3 times a month.
A 4.5inch lift, 31inch mud terrains, rockrails, will get you through most of HH. Id also add quarter panel guards, though. I missed that on my first post. Plus front and rear tow points.
 
swaybar disconnects should be on the top of the list, rocker protection should be second, tow points third.
don't forget to add curry steering.
also, fold over the pinch seam under the front fender well so you can stuff the tires.
sounds like we need to set up a hollister trip very soon!
 
knucklehead 61 said:
Swaybar disconnects should be on the top of the list, rocker protection should be second, and tow points third.
Click to expand...

I stand corrected, this really is better advice. Disconnects will help so much to keep that open wheel from floating off the ground, and even some cheep $40 tow points can save you lots of money!

But that is it, don't drop big cash, just go wheel it, drive it and have fun. You might find out you hate off-roading and save yourself some big cash. Or maybe you find out you just like fire roads and don't need to over build, save some money for some good fishing gear and camping supplys. Or you find out you love it, but the understanding of your rig that you get each time you go out is a great education.

And in the end most all the trails in the Sierra Chapter can be run on 33's with some good driving skills.

Extreme Rock Crawling looks cool and is a fun hobby but off-roading is a way of life.
 
Letterman said:
If it was me, I would get some rockers and just wheel it. Spend at least one weekend a month down at Hollister hills OHV Park with some other members from here, and just learn how to drive it as it is now.

You will be shocked where some diving skills and that rig can go and the learning experience will pay off in the long run.
Click to expand...

:thumbup:

As for sway bar disconnects. Some people like them. I personaly took my sawy bar off. IMO if you are not trying to race your XJ you should never have a problem. I live in the hills and never have a problem. But thats just me. If you need disconnects let me know I have a brand new set of JKS new in a box, If I went with a 6 in or higher lift I would have put the bar, and disconnects on.
 
NorCalChris said:
I learned how to wheel on a open/open rig at hollister. with no armor except a gas tank skid. Honestly if you want to learn hit me up, Im at hollister hills 3 times a month.
A 4.5inch lift, 31inch mud terrains, rockrails, will get you through most of HH. Id also add quarter panel guards, though. I missed that on my first post. Plus front and rear tow points.
Click to expand...


Cool man! Thanks for the advice!

Technically I guess I have a rear tow point...I'll have to look into front recovery point
 
frontman said:
:thumbup:

As for sway bar disconnects. Some people like them. I personaly took my sawy bar off. IMO if you are not trying to race your XJ you should never have a problem. I live in the hills and never have a problem. But thats just me. If you need disconnects let me know I have a brand new set of JKS new in a box, If I went with a 6 in or higher lift I would have put the bar, and disconnects on.
Click to expand...

I'd be interested in the disconnects...

I'll start looking into the protection, recovery points, and disconnects.

Thanks for the advice!
 
Disconnecting the sway bar is awesome.

That's why jeep went so far as to give the jk rubicon an electric disconnect.
 
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