Well, Im getting back just under $2400 back.. some of which, will go to buy a new laptop as this one is dieing. :( But, I would like to take some of it and spend it on my baby. I was looking into a 6 inch long arm lift kit (would be heaven) but that seems way to pricy, even if I spent all 2400 on it. I want my jeep to be more capable on the trails, but want some advice from you guys who've been doing this much longer then I on what to start with. Right now, i'm on 31s, (wanting to upgrade) with a 4.5 lift, stock drivetrain, open/open, no roll cage, engine as 164xxx on it but still running strong. I want this to still be a DD if need be, but would love to be able to follow you guys around TM for the most part.

As of right now, I"m thinking roll cage (interior or exo?) and maybe just go up to 33's?

thoughts? ideas? advice?

If the market was better I thought about selling the xj, and taking that money a long with my 2400 and buying a jeep (with a frame) that's already set up decent.. but don't think this one would sell

sell it and buy a TJ :)g)

lol okay, IF was to try and sell my jeep, how much do you think It would sell for?

Raelly? no one? lol

hah give them a chance to wake up :)

honestly Id get some bigger tires, lift, then throw in a locker in the rear.

If you are keeping the cherokee...
You have oversized tires and you have some clearance.
What are your offroad desires? Forest roads? Occasional rocks gardens like Sunflower? Or aspriations of Table Mesa (the real one, Russ)? Basically the Well's book version of Circle, Square, Diamond.
You could also look at other board members' adventures/pics and see which ones make you say, "I want to do that!"
If the decision is between long arms and lockers - Lockers hands down.

Whether you should trade (up) to a TJ, that's a whole other can of worms. If you think eventually you'll want that, then adding to the chero now is futile in the long run. Nothing wrong with enjoying it while it lasts though also especially if that's what funds allow.

someday terminator, anaconda, and all the other grand trails someday:)) i find enough trouble as it is but when little red grows up even more.....:rockon:

Avis wrote:lol okay, IF was to try and sell my jeep, how much do you think It would sell for?

No clue.

As for building it. What do you want to do. If you wheel it hard enough you will need a full cage as the body will start to rip apart.

I want a rock crawler, but I want it to be street-able as well, I went with Jim Florence (hackle) one time in his YJ and I've been hooked ever since then, it's a rush and I love it. But I don't want it so I can't jump in on the weekends and drive to sedona, or flagstaff or saguaro lake or even camping. Right now, I'm thinking of finding a good set of 33's and then depending on what I have left over get a basic roll cage started.

Avis wrote:I want a rock crawler, but I want it to be street-able as well, I went with Jim Florence (hackle) one time in his YJ and I've been hooked ever since then, it's a rush and I love it. But I don't want it so I can't jump in on the weekends and drive to sedona, or flagstaff or saguaro lake or even camping. Right now, I'm thinking of finding a good set of 33's and then depending on what I have left over get a basic roll cage started.

unless you end up like showboat you will never have a hardcore rockcrawler with an XJ :neutral:

I think alan and scoob have done a good job at making a jeep into a base crawler that can still be driven on the street. Mind you, once you go all out it will never be a weekend driver. An XJ was never ment to be on the trails you are talking about doing. that is not a slam its just the truth.
I would spend some time looking at alans rig He can still drive it to Moab and it holds up (for the most part ;) ) on the trail.

fatbob309 wrote:I would spend some time looking at alans rig He can still drive it to Moab and it holds up (for the most part ;) ) on the trail.

X2!!

hmm.. I shall look at his more closely then. I understand the down falls of an XJ, but they are cheap, which is why I ended up with one. Showboats XJ is freakin sweet, but mine won't be like that any time soon. Alan's xj is very well built, just from what i've seen, from what I've seen, if you plate the "frame" and put a roll cage in an xj it's pretty stout and can take a beating. Honestly I really want just a basic interior roll cage just for safety.. something I could add onto later if I wanted

Avis wrote:hmm.. I shall look at his more closely then. I understand the down falls of an XJ, but they are cheap, which is why I ended up with one. Showboats XJ is freakin sweet, but mine won't be like that any time soon. Alan's xj is very well built, just from what i've seen, from what I've seen, if you plate the "frame" and put a roll cage in an xj it's pretty stout and can take a beating. Honestly I really want just a basic interior roll cage just for safety.. something I could add onto later if I wanted

TT Dave O. He has done a bunch of xj cages. YOu have the truck to drive so having the xj down for a little shouldn't kill you.

Or tt Lostoffroad Sick work!

Alright, will do. And yeah, if the jeep is down for a week or two or whatever, it's not a big deal as I can drive my truck. That's what I do anyways.. lol jeep is my weekend driver usually.

brotobeast wrote:someday terminator, anaconda, and all the other grand trails someday:)) i find enough trouble as it is but when little red grows up even more.....:rockon:

We've taken an XJ on 33's that was locked through terminator with no problems, so if you get/are locked, you should be fine. especially since you've got your new sliders.

fatbob309 wrote:TT Dave O. He has done a bunch of xj cages. YOu have the truck to drive so having the xj down for a little shouldn't kill you.

Or tt Lostoffroad Sick work!

X2. Dave O. has built some awesome XJ cages. He goes by AZXJ on the NAXJA forum.

http://naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=998633
http://naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1014290

Are you geared? I'd do:

1. gearing
2. lockers
3. tires
4. rollcage

Aussie lockers are inexpensive, so you could probably get geared and locked and still have some money left over to buy used tires.

I think plating and caging are important, but probably not needed with your current setup.

I have stock gears in it right now, whatever that is. D30 in front and a 8.8 in the back. Not sure I want to spend money on gears for those axles...

Avis wrote:I have stock gears in it right now, whatever that is. D30 in front and a 8.8 in the back. Not sure I want to spend money on gears for those axles...

if you do a locker might as well do gears too. Biggest cost involved in those is the labor and would stink to have to pay 2x for it