Preparing for long trips.

[prerunner06]

After purchasing my xj I wanted to build something different then the usual rock beater that is common here in az. I started with a 96 jeep xj 4.0 auto. It has a rc 3.5 lift 33" tires sway bar discos and lock rite in the rear. Preparing this 260k jeep to do long trips in northern az has been a feat. After my wife and I took a trip up to williams az I soon realized the jeep was not ready for such a trip..over heating the transmission puking trans fluid out gave my wife quite the scare. (Later to find out the transmission was over filled in the first place)

My main question is how do you know your ready for a long back country trip? Any mods you can recommend for? we will mostly be going to williams az because we are looking to purchase some land in that area but I want this jeep to be able to drive where ever.

I have done all the common things fluids/tune up etc I have spare fluids and toe straps etc for the issues that may come up any other suggestions?

 

[Comanche Scott]

Seek out someone who knows the XJ platform

If you have a local 4x4 shop with a seasoned tech, it may be worth taking it in and paying a couple of hours of labor for a good thorough inspection.
Someone who really knows XJs will know right where to look (like the area around the steering box mount).
Even better if his insurance will allow you to hang with him while he inspects, and explains what he's looking at, so you can monitor going forward.
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To me, there is nothing better than the eyes of experience looking over something.
I have enough certifications and educational paper, that I really never need buy toilet paper again. When I get something new that I am not familiar with, I seek out the wisdom of someone who knows that piece inside-out and backwards.
Always fun to learn from the masters. As I get older those masters are getting younger and sharper all the time!
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Good luck, and happy trails to you both! :beer:

 

[prerunner06]

First thing I did to it he had at for a hour and we went though the whole jeep..after replacing all bushings welding the rear leaf spring mounts back to the frame and all my fluids changed....he was surprised by how good of shape it was in.

I am trying to get it over built over time I have been replacing parts that break with there stronger counter parts etc. Just curious if any of you more experienced members have any input of modifications that can better our exploring.

 

[Comanche Scott]

Ah, OK, gotcha... I think.
I don't have an XJ, so all I can share is generic stuff.
Hope it is helpful! :beer:
(if not feel free to skip this post )
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One of the things I like is "POWER!" to quote Jeremy Clarkson. So a 7 pin trailer plug at the back with an adapter to tap off the B+ and B- is great. I can run a laptop, telescope, margarita blender, Lighted dance floor, etc..
So that brings up the next thing. A second battery on a smart isolator. The new AGMs have the ability to discharge deeper and charge faster than standard flooded cell batteries, so a larger Alternator can be helpful as well as the upsizing the charging cable from the alternator to the batteries.
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The next thing I like is clean drinking water, in a voluminous container. Don't mind running out of food, but the thought of purifying bodily fluids to re-drink makes me nauseous.
So I figured a way to carry a 6 gallon container of water, and am planning to add a 14 gallon fresh water tank inside the Jeep, in the rear passenger floor area.
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I started carrying an InReach SE. I went with the flexible plan that allows me to pay for just the month(s) service that I use it in. Oh man does that work awesome! I also set up a Flicker account off the smart phone. With Verizon, there is so much coverage, that a lot of the pictures I'd take would post up within minutes.
I can text back and forth with family and friends, and they can track the trip on a password protected website. My brother was following along with my progress up Top of the World trail in Moab Utah, and it was pretty close to real time. He had the satellite map turned on, and could see Google Earth's view of the Rose Garden obstacles.
If I understand correctly Spot now has something very similar.
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Speaking of Smart Phone, I'm using Back Country Navigator on a Samsung Note4, with a suction cup mount on the windshield. BCN and the Note4 is fantastic. I can download the maps ahead of time, and plot the trip, or download a trip already plotted (like the Mojave Road). I've been a map and compass guy all my life, and refuse to leave home without them, but the GPS is very fast for vehicle travel, and makes a great backup.
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I also installed a Cobra 75WXST CB which is good for about 6 miles with a 4' antenna, and carry a dual band ham hand-talkie.
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All this has a very small footprint inside the vehicle, is at arms reach, and is big enough to use without having to squint.
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Well, hope this is helpful, and hope you find the exact property you're looking for! :beer:

 

[Cascade Wanderer]

XJ's are terrific, but... They're 20 years old now and have already covered many, many miles.

Reliability is number one. It's GOT to start, run, stop, handle safely. Electronics must be good to go. Once you've got that whooped into shape, and you're confident in the rig, it's as good as it ever was, just more seasoned. I think there are advantages to these simpler, older, rigs, if they're in good condition.

My son has a 1998 Cherokee that he's taking on a 600 mile backroad journey later this month. He's got a lot of the bells & whistles on his rig, but mostly I've been impressed with how he's methodically gone through everything, from bumper to bumper, looking for worn & weak parts, then addressing those issues.

You've had some great advice, I don't have much to add. Make the Jeep as reliable as possible, and have a backup plan.

Regards, CW

 

[unkamonkey]

I've driven my '61 3B to Moab and back many times. pretty basic prep. Change motor oil, check all of the gear boxes. Have some spare fluids, Some tools and some spare parts. On the last trip, a friend used both of my spare U joints. Of course things like a spare fan belt and jumper cables. Duct tape and some bailing wire, Ratchet straps and a hydraulic jack. No wonder the back of my Jeep looks like my garage. How do I get all of the camping stuff in there now? Some friends travel with nothing, 'Um, got a screw driver?" Neighbor kid gives me some crap. "You could rebuild a motor with what's in that tool box". I carry a 4" Crescent wrench with me, a leftover of the motorcycle days. I get grief for it and every trip somebody borrows it. Have a good wander

 

[twiisted71]

Jeep 4.0s and XJ autos are one of the most reliable combinations available for an auto tranny. vehicle. So--fresh battery, alternator, starter, battery cables, check harness for any wear or abrasion points, tranny cooler, synthetic fluids in axles/TC/engine, have radiator checked (not just flushed), good spare tire, change all rubber hoses (esp vacuum tubing) and belts, couple cans fix-a-flat, and a roll of emergency tape. I know this sounds like a lot but your rig has covered a quarter million miles. Do you know what maintenance its had? This is just some of the stuff I factor in when considering a high mileage purchase that I don't personally know the history of.

 

[prerunner06]

The vehicle was purchased from a friend who is a land Rover tech...with that being said I am sad to say cheap auto zone parts are constantly breaking on me. The fluid portion of the rig he did always change the fluid after a wheeling trip with synthetic fluids. I do need to get the cooling system checked out and get a trans cooler installed ASAP. I have 2 qts of oil and 2 qts of trans fluid. Brand new battery as of last week. I want to switch out my cables soon because when the trans over heated it puked fluid over the starter. Plus just nice to see new cables for a fully functional charging system. What would be the best way to start replacing vaccum lines?

Jeep 4.0s and XJ autos are one of the most reliable combinations available for an auto tranny. vehicle. So--fresh battery, alternator, starter, battery cables, check harness for any wear or abrasion points, tranny cooler, synthetic fluids in axles/TC/engine, have radiator checked (not just flushed), good spare tire, change all rubber hoses (esp vacuum tubing) and belts, couple cans fix-a-flat, and a roll of emergency tape. I know this sounds like a lot but your rig has covered a quarter million miles. Do you know what maintenance its had? This is just some of the stuff I factor in when considering a high mileage purchase that I don't personally know the history of.

 

[twiisted71]

What would be the best way to start replacing vaccum lines?

Figure out what sizes you have, guesstimate how many feet of each you need (then multiply by 1.5), try to find if all the little Tee and multiple port manifolds are available new (if not hit JYs and pull as many of each as you can), they tend to get brittle. Start replacing. I don't know if anyone offers a kit or OEM replacements. I've always just bought bulk hose. One thing-the new cars have small diameter hard plastic lines for lots of things. They usually have a short section of rubber hose that slips over the ends to allow them to connect to fittings. You will need to find the proper size hose to do the same. Those hard plastic lines are great because they allow longer runs without kinking or collapsing and their diameter makes them much easier to route than standard rubber hose. Problem is I've NEVER seen any 10 yrs old that aren't so brittle and stiff that they snap when removing them.

Rockauto is your friend when doing large scale preventative maintenance. You can buy any level of quality for any given part at a deep discount if you can wait a couple days for it to come in. Plus you don't have to run around and deal with the kids parts houses now employ, who think a pine air freshener in a mod or maintenance item!

 

[91AzXJ]

The biggest issue I see is that most of your driving will be in higher elevations and hot. The 4.0L does not like to be overheated and is not the most powerful engine when it comes to high elevations. I find mine down shifting a lot when I climb the hills into Flagstaff or Payson and I constantly keep an eye on the temp gauge. I would suggest installing aftermarket gauges for the engine and trans temps along with a good trans cooler. Everyone has had great advice as far as extra hoses, liquids and belts as those don't take up tons of space.

Make sure you change the oil every 3k as this is cheap insurance. Knuckle Busters in Mesa are XJ specialists and have tons of new and used parts on hand. Good luck with your travels.

 

[Coby65]

Hood vents will also help with XJ.

 

[prerunner06]

The biggest issue I see is that most of your driving will be in higher elevations and hot. The 4.0L does not like to be overheated and is not the most powerful engine when it comes to high elevations. I find mine down shifting a lot when I climb the hills into Flagstaff or Payson and I constantly keep an eye on the temp gauge. I would suggest installing aftermarket gauges for the engine and trans temps along with a good trans cooler. Everyone has had great advice as far as extra hoses, liquids and belts as those don't take up tons of space.

Make sure you change the oil every 3k as this is cheap insurance. Knuckle Busters in Mesa are XJ specialists and have tons of new and used parts on hand. Good luck with your travels.

Yeah I learned to down shift into 3rd climbing the hills. But stock gearing and 33s prob killed me plus I was probably doing 85-90 when I think back to it because my speedo is off and I was hauling up the last hill into flag....I would go to knuckle busters but I am in Glendale and that's a hual for me...I have been dealing with Jason over at absolute off road and he is amazing.

 

[prerunner06]

Hood vents will also help with XJ.

I thought hood vents are only good for over heating on the Trail there is so much air moving around at highway speeds I don't see it being an issue

 

[Coby65]

Yes hood vents are effective on trail or in traffic slow moving but I have heard a few guys tell me it helps with hwy temps also. Mainly it helps evacuate engine compartment temps better.
Driving through the Central Valley of California and it is 110 deg my 99 XJ would run above 230 deg when I was running 75-80 mph.

 

[wADVr]

The AW4 does not like to be overfilled and just as bad make sure it is true Dextron fluid and not AT4 or whatever. Dextron does not expand as much as AT4 when hot so less likely to push out the vent or seals. (I can attest to this being an issue unfortunately- I blew tranny fluid on seemed like every pass on I5 to California due to a shop servicing the tranny with the wrong fluid) a tranny cooler is a must have with your stock gearing and 33s, avoid it shifting back and forth on hills by anticipating then and just dropping in into 3rd and leAving it there to the summit. Each shift produces slippage and increases heat. Also the torque converter will lock and stay locked if down shifted manually, this will help keep the tranny cooler.

The biggest price of advise I can say though is know the rig, know how it sounds, know at what speeds it produces vibrations, etc.. Seems a lot of people are oblivious to the basics. understand its limitations and expect the result when those limitations are pushed.