help with where to take the build fom here

[dfarm]

So, I got a few pennies saved up in the jeep fund, and I'm trying to figure out where to go from where it sits now.

Where it sits now: '00 xj, 4.0, auto, d30/8.25 3.55's, h&t sye, ~5" of lift, 31's that I'm planning on replacing with some duratracs later this year, stock everything except for these mods. It primarily used by my wife to haul the kids around, but we take it to play in orv parks from time to time, we're planning on a 4 or 5 day overland trip this summer, and it sees a bit of time on logging and forrest service roads taking us to play in the woods.

I am about ready to pull the trigger on a lunchbox locker for the front, but I'm beginning to rethink the priorities, which is where you folks come in.

I have been juggling whether to lock the front or rear for a while, and there are some pretty great deals right now for lockers for the front, so I was thinking that it'd be worth the gamble to find out for myself, but then I started thinking about the rest of the vehicle. No recovery points on the front(factory bumpers f/r), I don't trust the bumpers and un plated frame to take much of a hit, I want some more storage(in the form of a roof rack and or a basket\tire carrier that plugs into the receiver for now, until I trust my welding enough to make a swingout) the lighting sucks (I want to upgrade the headlight harness and get some rigid led lights) and I'm beginning to think that as often as we go out alone, that a winch would be a pretty comforting thing to have, even though it doesn't make the vehicle more capable.

So, given my situation and say a $400 budget, what would you do at this time?

 

[Chris85xlt]

with a tight budget i would skip the locker unless you like doing hardcore stuff. Sometimes the locker will take you in too deep and with no winch or good recovery points you'll be SOL.

If you do get a locker i would put it in the rear. Your front doesn't have manual hubs and it might not be able to handle the extra strain.

What I would do is add a nice bumper with a winch. nothing worse then hitting an animal to ruin a good trip or getting suck all alone with the family.

 

[Chi-Town]

Chris is right about the lockers. If you need one to get where you're going, there's a good chance you'll need help out.

As for lighting I have the JW Speaker headlights and for someone like me with poor night vision they are a huge step up over the stock halogens for a little more budget friendly version check out Truck-lites. I also have a 21.5" double stack LED light bar from here for a little more just in case.

As for bumpers / recovery points check out Detoursthey have some really nice alternatives without all the weight or cost of a big monster bumper.

 

[dfarm]

Bumpers will end up being built by me as I don't have to coin to buy the cool stuff, but I have a welder. Lol.

I hear you about doing the winch before lockers because I'll probably get stuck in a spot that's that much worse with a locker.

 

[d67u57]

locker in the back first,maybe the winch after that.

oh and a snorkel for looks

 

[Explore]

a fridge.. my family now requires it for a trip.. best investment so far!

my .02

 

[dfarm]

I was thinking I'd lock the front because, from what Ive read, it should be unnoticed in 2wd where it spends most of it's life.

 

[onetraveller]

This thread is worthless without pictures.....:safari-rig:

I suggest you consider recovery points and recovery and safety gear as your top priorities.

Nothing like burying your Jeep, then ripping the spring shackles off when your buddy tries to pull it out because that was all you had to hook the strap to.

Start with the basics, then build up.

For $30 pick up Bill Burke's Getting Un-Stuck video, it'll give you lots of information on vehicle recovery with or without a winch.

Mike

 

[Bigjerm]

Yep recovery points should be the top priorty. For a DD rig I would lock the front. A locker and 31s should be fine and the front locker is non existent in 2wd. But I would get a winch over the locker for now. You can recover yourself when alone.

sent from my dumb phone

 

[Idahoan]

Personally I wouldn't bother with a front locker. I use the rear all the time and the front on rare occasion. You can barely steer when all wheels are turning at the same ratio.

I think 5" of lift is a little much for 31s.

I agree the earlier reply... Stick with the basics. It's fine to take years to get a rig to where you want it.

 

[reece146]

If it were me...

~5" is enough lift for 33" tires... work towards that and re-gear. I run a touch less lift, 32" Duras and heavy bump stops because I didn't want to do any/much trimming.

Worry about a winch when you get around to making a bumper.

You can add a lunch box locker any time. While it's nice to have a locker a well built Jeep with a flexy suspension can go really far without one. Don't bother with the locker until that day when you say to yourself, "Gee, I really wish I had a locker for that last obstacle". Then you'll know it is time. Rear first. I have front and rear ARBs and never use them for the type of wheeling I do (overlanding style, exploring).

2¢

 

[dfarm]

It is a 4.5" lift kit that ended up sitting just at 5" above stock. I don't think that it's too much lift.

I don't want to run 33's because I am concerned about the front axle, and I don't want my fuel mileage getting worse (I get 16mpg now)

I do plan on building a bastard pack for the rear to fix the "grocery squat" from my factory leaf springs with aal.

 

[Chi-Town]

The bastard packs I have ridden in usually ride like crap. For ride quality I went with a CS035RA OME leaf spring (soft initial rate w/ a helper leaf) and a set of RE Boomerang shackles. It rides as comfy as stock and doesn't squat when loaded up.

 

[dfarm]

The aal basically makes a bastard pack, so I don't think it would be much worse. Throwing in an overload leaf is a pretty good idea though.

Im pretty sure I'm going to do the front bumper for now, and maybe a winch. I found a good deal on a rugged ridge winch ($250 shipped), and I'm thinking about giving it a try. I've read that they are the same winch as a smittybuilt, just a different brand name. I'd love to have a high end warn, but I don't plan on using it regularly, and dropping the better part of a grand on something to sit most of the time doesn't make much sense to me.