kayakbrian
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Oregon
If I'm posting this in the wrong forum please let me know. Need some advice on a build I'm planning. Yes, I did use the search function, every day for the last week. I think I have a solid plan but looking for a sanity check from those who have actually done this:
I've got a 99XJ 2 door with 130K on it, a new engine, new radiator, and all the normal maintenance kept up on. * It's on 29" tires with a garbage Rusty 2" lift from the previous owner that rides like the wheels are bolted to the frame. *Gearing is stock, auto trans. *D35 rear axle. *
I've had it for a couple years now and the girlfriend and I use it for solo overlanding, *driving 1000-2000 miles on the freeway, then loading it to the max GWVR with gear and water for 7 days at a time in very remote places. *We don't wheel on purpose, just to get to get past obstacles. *It's surprisingly capable as it is, but I feel like a little more room under the pumpkin and a locker would make a big difference in both capability and safety for us. *The biggest issue is always sand, we've had some pretty sketch moments driving fast in 4 low where if I had lost momentum I'd probably still be there!
Up until now I just didn't see the benefit in dumping serious money into it, but we were 2 days away from wheels up on a major trip when the front diff exploded on the freeway (huge BANG, then couldn't move in any gear with traffic screaming around me) and it made me realize that we've been rolling the dice harder than I thought, and I no longer trust the rear D35 either, so I'm def gonna have both diffs rebuilt, but considering the cost of that and that labor is basically free for locking and adding stronger axle shafts at that point, I'll probably do that as well to get us more reliability and capability. * Of course at that point it seems dumb to go back to stock ratios and put all that work under a suspension that I hate. *So it seems like now is the time to regear, lift, and put on some bigger tires, all of which adds up to some pretty serious $$$.
I'm limited to 31's because in my case I have to put the spare in the back *(rear carriers steal too much payload and my roof rack normally has small boats on top). *I'm also VERY concerned about getting the gear ratio right for best MPG on the highway. *We drive 65 here, 55 in Mexico! * My locker choice really depends on what is going to work best on sand and ice. *Sand is more important than ice.
So here is the current plan:
4:10 regear
Stronger front axle shafts
stronger rear axle shafts or a 8.25 swap
3" OME lift, shocks and springs with an extra spring in the rear for the weight
new cheap 15" wheels and 3.5 backspacing
31" BFG KOG2's
Rear locker??? *Was gonna go with an OX but I'm open to a lunchbox if it's not gonna be sketchy on snow or ice? *Anyone with real experience with both?
LSD front? *waste of money, overkill?
Stronger Adjustable lower front control arms? *overkill or a good idea? *(already have a track bar)
Anything else I'm not thinking of here? *Anything I'm thinking wrong about? Hoping for feedback from people who have actually done something similar, not just repeating what other people say. *I appreciate the help. *It's a big investment and I don't want to screw it up.
I've got a 99XJ 2 door with 130K on it, a new engine, new radiator, and all the normal maintenance kept up on. * It's on 29" tires with a garbage Rusty 2" lift from the previous owner that rides like the wheels are bolted to the frame. *Gearing is stock, auto trans. *D35 rear axle. *
I've had it for a couple years now and the girlfriend and I use it for solo overlanding, *driving 1000-2000 miles on the freeway, then loading it to the max GWVR with gear and water for 7 days at a time in very remote places. *We don't wheel on purpose, just to get to get past obstacles. *It's surprisingly capable as it is, but I feel like a little more room under the pumpkin and a locker would make a big difference in both capability and safety for us. *The biggest issue is always sand, we've had some pretty sketch moments driving fast in 4 low where if I had lost momentum I'd probably still be there!
Up until now I just didn't see the benefit in dumping serious money into it, but we were 2 days away from wheels up on a major trip when the front diff exploded on the freeway (huge BANG, then couldn't move in any gear with traffic screaming around me) and it made me realize that we've been rolling the dice harder than I thought, and I no longer trust the rear D35 either, so I'm def gonna have both diffs rebuilt, but considering the cost of that and that labor is basically free for locking and adding stronger axle shafts at that point, I'll probably do that as well to get us more reliability and capability. * Of course at that point it seems dumb to go back to stock ratios and put all that work under a suspension that I hate. *So it seems like now is the time to regear, lift, and put on some bigger tires, all of which adds up to some pretty serious $$$.
I'm limited to 31's because in my case I have to put the spare in the back *(rear carriers steal too much payload and my roof rack normally has small boats on top). *I'm also VERY concerned about getting the gear ratio right for best MPG on the highway. *We drive 65 here, 55 in Mexico! * My locker choice really depends on what is going to work best on sand and ice. *Sand is more important than ice.
So here is the current plan:
4:10 regear
Stronger front axle shafts
stronger rear axle shafts or a 8.25 swap
3" OME lift, shocks and springs with an extra spring in the rear for the weight
new cheap 15" wheels and 3.5 backspacing
31" BFG KOG2's
Rear locker??? *Was gonna go with an OX but I'm open to a lunchbox if it's not gonna be sketchy on snow or ice? *Anyone with real experience with both?
LSD front? *waste of money, overkill?
Stronger Adjustable lower front control arms? *overkill or a good idea? *(already have a track bar)
Anything else I'm not thinking of here? *Anything I'm thinking wrong about? Hoping for feedback from people who have actually done something similar, not just repeating what other people say. *I appreciate the help. *It's a big investment and I don't want to screw it up.