Starter Mods

[Likemud]

So, I've had my 97 jeep for over a year now and i have some funds saved for my jeep. I'd like to hear what people have found helps them the most up here in Nor Cal. i'm only 18 so i don't have a ton of $$ so i need to spend smart. The jeep came with Front and rear Skid plates and a Limited slip in the back. Thanks for the imput.:flipoff:
(Sorry if this post looks weird, tryied to make it look normal.)

 

[#S194]

Depends...what's your plan for your Jeep? What types of trails do you plan to run? Like most people, I have done stuff to my ride then tore it apart and started over again. But then again, that's part of the whole Jeep experience. :doh:

 

[Likemud]

My plans for the jeep right now is something that I can drive everyday but still be trail worthy. I don't mind not hitting the hardest lines but I want to be able to do a lot trails.

 

[Bryan C.]

My own personal take on it comes from my own experience. Start by taking your stock rig to its limits. Not thrashing it, but take it out and have fun. Upgrade the parts as you wear them out or break them. Once you hit the limits of the rig I would throw on a 3" lift and some 31" tires, some rock rails, and get some more seat time. Once you go to 4.5"+ of lift then you need to start doing other things(read as expensive) to keep it easy to drive. Yeah, throwing on a 6" lift and some 35's sounds like the cool thing to do you but need some time behind the wheel to understand how to drive a rig like that. Starting out small and working your way up is the best thing to do. Just go have fun and save your money.

 

[CAJJ93XJ]

I was 19 when I started putting together my build. I went from stock straight to gears, lockers, rear axle swap, chromo axles, 4.5" lift, SYE, frame stiffeners, 35" tires, the works. because I knew what obstacles I wanted to wheel on and still drive to the trail and back. I'm very glad I went straight to the top with my upgrades. it was never lacking and I never had to worry about upgrading

well that setup ended up not being quite enough for me in the end. but it did incredibly well and I'm sure it would last if I had more self control and didn't try the hard stuff. but the whole time, I changed very little in the setup

research, figure out what you like, then start picking parts. I built the whole jeep using parts bought on craigslist and naxja. mostly parts from blondejon actually I think I funded most of his build

 

[blondejoncherokee]

Start wheeling your stocker for now. Bryan C is 100% right. You will be amazed how far it will get just removing the rear sway bar and making homemade discos for the front with the rear LS.

next a budget 2-3" lift. Get a set of stock leaves. take the main, cut the eyes off, and throw it in your rear packs. throw a couple more. If you do not achieve desired height throw a lift shackle on . for the front buy some cheap used coils or coil spacers. 31s and a rear LS will get you far. then maybe slap a lunchbox locker up front.

then build some rock sliders and grab a ZJ tie rod, maybe a HD trackbar. Have fun with it. buy cheap parts or used parts. find some used control arms for cheap and slap em on.

front lunchbox, rear LS, stock gears, 31s, and a 2-3" BB , sliders, skids, ZJ steering will do a ton for you. Go to the junkyard or somewhere and grab a spare DS front and rear, then grab some spare U joints. Do a really good tuneup on your rig. wheel it like crazy and have fun.

 

[Skipper51]

I like what Jon said. I have been on 31's for over a year now and it has gotten me everywhere I wanted to go never gotten stuck once or could not go over what I needed to.
It's the driver not the rig.

 

[XJensen]

My own personal take on it comes from my own experience. Start by taking your stock rig to its limits. Not thrashing it, but take it out and have fun. Upgrade the parts as you wear them out or break them. Once you hit the limits of the rig I would throw on a 3" lift and some 31" tires, some rock rails, and get some more seat time. Once you go to 4.5"+ of lift then you need to start doing other things(read as expensive) to keep it easy to drive. Yeah, throwing on a 6" lift and some 35's sounds like the cool thing to do you but need some time behind the wheel to understand how to drive a rig like that. Starting out small and working your way up is the best thing to do. Just go have fun and save your money.

X2

I just got back from a trip where most guys had 20K+ in their rigs, just in after market parts. I have to admit I was getting jealous. Until we hit the trail and I watched them struggle as much or more than i did on the harder obstacles. They were all on 35"+ most on 39-42".

They could not believe I was able to go where I did on 33". Wheeling a smaller rig will teach you more about your rig. Most of the guys with the high dollar rides just hit the gas a little more and struggled instead of looking for a good line.

I felt much better about my jeep at the end of the day...

 

[Johnnie Walker]

First mod FRAME stiffeners!

Your heep with thank you and will last much longer.
HDOR or ruffstuff.

 

[Skipper51]

First mod FRAME stiffeners!

Your heep with thank you and will last much longer.
HDOR or ruffstuff.

That's not a bad idea. I add rails to mine first that attach to the frame and now I have to take them off to put the HD frame stiffeners on. Putting the frame stiffeners on first will save your rig and time in the long run.

 

[smokinu]

That's not a bad idea. I add rails to mine first that attach to the frame and now I have to take them off to put the HD frame stiffeners on. Putting the frame stiffeners on first will save your rig and time in the long run.

thats one of the first things i plan on doing stiffen the frame and plate/brace the steering box.

 

[Boatwrench]

18, not a lot of $$$ and need to spend smart.

You just made your first investmentment in modifications and it didn't cost you a dime by starting down the correct trail by asking for advice. North on 101 just outside of Ukiah is Cow Mountain and a little further north and east is Lake Pillsbury. There are plenty of trails there that can be fun and challenging for a stock vehicle. Bryan, Jon and others are correct. Learn your vehicle and your own limitations by getting some seat time. XJensen mentions custom built rigs that were having difficulties and Rightseatsis and I have experienced this also.

That said here is my advice. You spent good money on your baseline rig so you'll want to keep it and protect it.

Keep it:
1. Wheel with a friend, don't go out alone until you are well prepared.
2. Recovery points. Get some tow hooks with brackets, snatch strap, D ring shackles. You can use a rear trailer hitch as a recovery point IF it is secured by nutstrips.
3. Look up the minimum requirements needed for a trail run, recoveryu points, fire extinguisher, battery hold downs. They are not burdensome or tough to meet but will allow you to keep your Jeep.

Protect it:
1. You have a front skid & rear skid. Next get rock rails or rock sliders to protect your investment and rocker panels.
2. Next get a transfer case skid. With your previously purchased and installed recovery point the friend you are wheeling with can drag your Jeep over obstacles.

Since you have a limited budget, these purchase may take a season or two to complete and by then you'll have seat time to start thinking about the other modifications that were suggested by the posters on this forum.

Plan on attending a group trail ride somewhere. Sierrafest is coming up and if you really save money and eat Top Ramein the 30th Annivesary event in October would give you a wealth of experience in a short time.

Have fun.

 

[Likemud]

I'd like to thank everyone for the help and advise. Last night bought a cb for a few reasons. Required for trail runs, and wanted one since my dad had on his old pickup. Recovery is next, not sure how go about that so I'll do some research. The next thing I think I want to buy is sliders, Probly Jcr's or AJ's but suggestions would be nice. Then some stiffeners. I would love to go to Sierra Fest but my jeep won't be able to comply with the requirements so . Hoping I will be able to go to moab but not getting my hopes up.

 

[Johnnie Walker]

I'd like to thank everyone for the help and advise. Last night bought a cb for a few reasons. Required for trail runs, and wanted one since my dad had on his old pickup. Recovery is next, not sure how go about that so I'll do some research. The next thing I think I want to buy is sliders, Probly Jcr's or AJ's but suggestions would be nice. Then some stiffeners. I would love to go to Sierra Fest but my jeep won't be able to comply with the requirements so . Hoping I will be able to go to moab but not getting my hopes up.

You can still go, ride with someone else. Take notes and pay attention. You will learn quite a bit from most of these guys.

 

[Phil]

Little late but rock rails, recovery points, gasoline.

Does your Jeep have a 2" receiver hitch in the back? You can use that as a recovery point.