JK Questions

you are 100% correct.

A XJ has no business on 35's if stock axles.
and a JK has no business on 39/40's on stock rubi axles.

For 35's XJ needs (yeah yeah I know you can do it with a dana 35 all stock) chromoly shafts, full case locker, and if abused maybe sleeved or trussed.

For 39/40's JKs MIN. Needs chromoly rear and rcv front axles, sleeved front housing and gussets on inner C's, and big brake kit. But should sell the rubi axles (they fetch about 2500-4000 pr) and invest in 11,000 in to real axles F/R.

But the point I was trying to make was that putting a 35" on a XJ is like putting a 40" on a JK. It fits and is common. Only the jk doesnt need more then maybe 4.5" of lift and complete axles to really do it right. A XJ needs Lots axle parts, Lots of trimming, and some form of cage, since it will be used for more extreme stuff after 35's im sure, and steering, brakes, etc. so its alot of work in either book.

But in a JK you can pick up the average woman and go out on a date, and then to her parents house for dinner with the family and then take them all out to the ball park for a game and home. In the typical XJ with 35's, you MIGHT BE EXTREMELY lucky and have a girl that will put up with the XJ, but highly doubt the rest of the night would go the same way. just sayin.... :-)
 
you are 100% correct.

A XJ has no business on 35's if stock axles.
and a JK has no business on 39/40's on stock rubi axles.

For 35's XJ needs (yeah yeah I know you can do it with a dana 35 all stock) chromoly shafts, full case locker, and if abused maybe sleeved or trussed.

For 39/40's JKs MIN. Needs chromoly rear and rcv front axles, sleeved front housing and gussets on inner C's, and big brake kit. But should sell the rubi axles (they fetch about 2500-4000 pr) and invest in 11,000 in to real axles F/R.

But the point I was trying to make was that putting a 35" on a XJ is like putting a 40" on a JK. It fits and is common. Only the jk doesnt need more then maybe 4.5" of lift and complete axles to really do it right. A XJ needs Lots axle parts, Lots of trimming, and some form of cage, since it will be used for more extreme stuff after 35's im sure, and steering, brakes, etc. so its alot of work in either book.

But in a JK you can pick up the average woman and go out on a date, and then to her parents house for dinner with the family and then take them all out to the ball park for a game and home. In the typical XJ with 35's, you MIGHT BE EXTREMELY lucky and have a girl that will put up with the XJ, but highly doubt the rest of the night would go the same way. just sayin.... :-)
if i need to pick up chicks i just drive the van. :D

you don't find comparing a poison spider jk on 40's to a basic xj on 35's the least bit silly?
 
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if i need to pick up chicks i just drive the van. :D

you don't find comparing a poison spider jk on 40's to a basic xj on 35's the least bit silly?

Well I just knew where to go get those vid. Theres MANY on 37's. and they wheel very well.

And theres no basic 35" XJ. unless its a lost soul just trying to be cool. to fit a 35 you need trimming, lots of lift, new steering, axle work, gears, SYE, etc...

I just know from wheeling with many different groups, not just XJ's and mostly with others besides XJ's that a XJ really isnt all that great at crawling. It has is pro's though. but with rear leafs, that is a slight disadvantage. The high belly helps though.
 
I'm actually going through this stage now.

I sold my 99' XJ that was on 35s (front TJ D44 w/locker and rear 8.25 w/4.88s) in the hopes of buying a used JK (I'm on a college budget) to daily drive as driving the XJ wasn't that great.

I found a used 6 speed 2008 2 door with everything manual and A/C for close to my budget. I see people saying go for the 3.6 but the 3.8 isn't that bad. It's a hell of a lot faster than my XJ was built, so it's an improvement anyway. Besides, it is a Jeep.

I thought about another XJ but like the OP said the newest one is 12 years old. I'm definitely going to take the plunge on a used JK, just waiting for some things to line up.

Let me know how it goes.
 
First, anything can be built to go anywhere... if you have the money...
Second, anyone can off road anything as hard as they want....if they have the money...


And last... I have a JKU it's 10' sport with auto, 3.5 lift, 35'' KM2s on 15's, 5.13s with TrueTracs, front c gussets, SC programmer, DHM bumpers and a few other things... All I can say is I love it! It will out wheel me, and I can still drive it everyday. I even MOABed it last Aug. Drove it 570 miles, Wheeled to my hearts content (and wifes nervers) Drove it 570 miles home and have never had a better vacation! And mind you this was with two kids, fully loaded and no doors! I paid 23k for mine, i have maybe 5k in upgrades and I would not trade it for anything. Oh and it tows my 19" ski boat... not as good as it wheels but good enough to get me there...I had a 90 XJ with a 4.6 stroker and stock running gear. My JK now is just a little quicker, but the XJ gets off the line faster. Before the XJ I had an 07 Dodge 4x4 Hemi, and yes it had POWER but it wheeled like shit!lol

JK when I got it
bW1jMS9EQ0lNLzEwMExHRENGL0ltYWdlMDkwODIwMTAxNTE3MjcuanBn.jpg

Moab, Arches National Park
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Baby Lions Back
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Fins and Things
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Moad trip, Lagoon stop
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Moab loaded
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The Boat
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I have no doubt in my mind a JK can wheel good, and so do XJ's. They each have pros and cons and honestly IMHO its really hard to compare wheelers, even with an RTI ramp, and obstacles, and blah blah blah. Clearly each vehicle has very distinct advantages and disadvantages but from what I've experienced is, at least to me, its all angles and how you choose a line. I wheeled for years open/open and got every where my buddies 06' Rubi went and hes on 38's. I never said it wasn't a struggle but I made it, never really got winched either.

For me a JK is just appealing because its newer, more road worthy for long trips, better for passengers and that kind of thing. If there is one distinct advantage I like about XJ's is they are a great size SUV for how frigg'n compact they are. Holy crap, I've got 6.5 inchs of lift, roof rack, 33's and I fit in any parking garage. There is a ton of clearance under the vehicle but the overall height is really acceptable.

The other thing thats making me want a JK is I own 3 cars. Its annoying, I have to constantly move them, register them, maintain them, wash them, drive them and so on. One car I'll never part with, my 1966 GT Mustang, the other is a 2004 GT, I never really drive the 04 anymore but I keep it because its paid off and its super reliable and clean. Any time I have to go to dinner, a wedding or drive far I take the 04, the Jeep is fine but old so I don't really want to rely on it too much SOOOOOO...if I sell the Jeep, sell my 04 and get a JK that would be my wheeler/clean car thats new and reliable. Its really appealing to think I could be down to just my 66 and a JK. Less head ache, less problems with storage or parking and so on.
 
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