Newbie Questions...

[xjguy98]

hey guys, I've had my XJ for about a year and a half now and I'm thinking I'm gonna bite the bullet and get a loan and throw it all at the Jeep. It's my daily driver so I don't wanna go too crazy with it but I want to make it stand out and handle well on the trail. Anybody have any suggestions on lift kits, tires, protection, etc??

 

[*xj-man*]

my suggestion is start small and work your way up, if you go with 35's and a 8inch lift your first time out wheeling your going to get yourself screwed. get to know your vehical and what its capable of doing... my suggestion is 4.5 inch rubiconexpress lift kit with 32 inch tires which ever you prefor(bfg goodyear swamper etc. etc.) and gear it up to 4.10's and put a simple locker in the rear...
get skid plates and anyother protection... this is nothing to extreme but you will deffinatly be notcied

..something else i suggest is to do some Research before you buy anything...

 

[GroversXJ]

This could be just me, but I wouldn't take out a loan to buy accesories for a vehicle, but I may be the exception to the rule today. You' be surprised where you can go with a stock rig with just a little skid protection and some good tires, but maybe you just want the look?
Boy, I now sound like my dad don't I, Soapbox done.

 

[Big Red]

This could be just me, but I wouldn't take out a loan to buy accesories for a vehicle, but I may be the exception to the rule today. You' be surprised where you can go with a stock rig with just a little skid protection and some good tires, but maybe you just want the look?
Boy, I now sound like my dad don't I, Soapbox done.

Agreed, you don't need to take out a loan. Maybe do a 3" lift with 31's and learn your rig. You can get a 3" lift cheap and it doesn't involve getting a SYE, aftermarket control arms, track bar, gear change, or other adjustments that are needed if you go higher. It is also very streetable and will make a difference offroad.

 

[xjguy98]

Thanks for the replies guys,

I've been doing research on lifts, tires etc since before I even bought the thing. I've sorta narrowed things down to a 3.5" RE lift with 31" MT's. Every now and then I think I should scrap that plan and go for a 5.5" and 33's but it makes sense to start small and work my way up.....being a daily driver, the last thing I wanna have happen is to be out on the first run after building it up and snap and axleshaft or something and be screwed for a bit until it gets fixed.

 

[*xj-man*]

good idea

 

[langer1]

My rule is if it's my daily driver, it don't belong on off road runs.

I your going to take out a loan, by one just for wheelin.

 

[andreas970]

My rule is if it's my daily driver, it don't belong on off road runs.

I your going to take out a loan, by one just for wheelin.

Amen to that.
I would NOT want to wheel my DD.

Too much to lose if you break. You don't want that kind of crap holding you back when you're out on a trail.

Get a cheapie XJ for under a grand.... paint it primer grey, and slap on some lockers, a small lift, and good tires.

Then you still have a comfy DD... and a good trail rig you don't have to be fretting about.

 

[XJWheelie]

I've got to agree with the others about taking out a loan. What I would do is put skid plates under it first...THEN a budget lift and some tires. You'd be surprised how easy it is to find 30s or 31s that someone has taken off their Jeep when they upgraded. I did it this way for my first year before doing anything really interesting to it and took it a lot of places that surprised all on the ride, me included. a stock XJ will do more than some people give it credit for, but I would FIRST put some protection under it...it won't go far if you rip a hole in the gas tank or t-case.

Hope that helps a little,
Robert

 

[jeepinandy]

Amen to that.
I would NOT want to wheel my DD.

Too much to lose if you break. You don't want that kind of crap holding you back when you're out on a trail.

Get a cheapie XJ for under a grand.... paint it primer grey, and slap on some lockers, a small lift, and good tires.

Then you still have a comfy DD... and a good trail rig you don't have to be fretting about.

sorry but i have to disagree... I wheel my DD alot havent broke anything and all is well.. I guess it depends on your driving style..

 

[langer1]

sorry but i have to disagree... I wheel my DD alot havent broke anything and all is well.. I guess it depends on your driving style..

It’s still a stupid and irresponsible thing to do. Some people just never learn.:laugh3:

 

[BrettM]

It’s still a stupid and irresponsible thing to do. Some people just never learn.:laugh3:

not if you build your junk right

 

[steveareno]

The question is legitimate and the owner has to first decide what kind of 4x4 he will do and what he utlimately wants. It is easiest and cheapest to build it once and not have to replace what you already replace. If you are going rock crawling or Rubicon running, then don't mix the idea of a DD. (You probably really don't want and XJ, but that would start a fire.) If you are an occasional trail runner, hunter, logging road and beach runner, then you can go mild and mix with DD.
I have decided to build by XJ with greater potential than I intend, so that when I am out hunting that I can avoid getting stuck. It will be a DD, with 3-4" lift, 31" tires, lots of armor and bumpers, power mods for air intake and exhaust. The ride is not harsh, because of my choice of OME springs and shocks, but this is not a cheap setup. I am in the midst of putting on a front bumper and winch.
So, first decide what you want and what you can afford and then search the web, JP magizine, this website and others, ask questions, talk to dealers who carry mulitiple products and then invest your money. Understand that this is a toy and you will never get your money back out. My wife thinks I'm crazy, but I told her it is middle age crisis and better than a blond. She agreed.

 

[XJ_ranger]

jesus people

fawken wheel what you bring... dont give me no "It's my DD" Sheite...

my DD is on jackstands and has been for...... most all of summer...

wheel your junk and build it to perform to your needs...
if you need something not to break, build it strong enough so it wont...

hence the 33's and d44 ford 9" on my rig... nuff said.

 

[xjguy98]

thanks for the opinions guys. I kinda have a basic idea of what I'm gonna do, starting small makes more sense. And if (when) stuff goes south, I always have the old lady's Civic to beat around in

 

[ArcticXJ]

It’s still a stupid and irresponsible thing to do. Some people just never learn.:laugh3:

Well, thats officially the lamest statement I've read all day. Congratulations. Apparently you just referred to probably 75% of as stupid and irresponsible. :looser:

 

[XJWheelie]

DAMN! I hate it when I have to find out from someone else that I'm stupid and irresponsible!!!

:hang:
Robert