Yay...made some decisions..my XJ is gettin some love...

[BIGdaddy]

Decided upon some area's to improve my rig, as well as our overall kit, for our planned overland trips to Big bear, Big sur, the lost coast, Moab, and the sierra's near Bishop and independence. We'll be travelling solo, or possibly with my dad/stepmom in their fj80 and/or my inlaws, in their FJcruiser.

Our first trip will have us staying up in big bear in May, at Serrano campground, so that we can do day trips to scout the area for yellow post campsites that we like.

Got a pile o' parts in my garage, a few on their way, and an REI trip to make...

Here's my area's of focus
-Refresh Steering/suspension
-Rear axle upgrade
-music/navigation intigration
-Self-recovery/repair
-gear storage
-Camping equipment
-Water supply



1. Steering/suspension "superstock" build

A. stock steering shaft replacement(Done)
B. Front 1.5-2" teraflex coil spacer to match rear (garage...to be installed)
C. Front teraflex quick disconnects (garage...to be installed)
D. Rear Custom 1.5-2" XJ/XJ leaf pack. (garage...to be completed and installed)
E. Rear sway bar delete. (to be completed)
F. 30x9.5 treadwright tires (ordering may 2010)
(brake lines will be examined and tested. I'll have a YJ line for the rear ready in case I need it. the front can be bent downward about an 1"..no worries)
(I've settled upon 30x9.5 treadwrights, but I'll rock my 235's for right now)

2. Rear axle upgrade

A. 8.25 rear axle 3.55 gearing (garage...to be installed with lift)
B. New ubolts for wider axle (Still need to source)
C. stock rear 8.25 dshaft (Still need to source)

3. Music/Navigation

A. Aux cable connection from stereo to Ipod (Done)
B. Kenwood stereo reprogrammed to accept Ipod (Done)
C. Power cable connection from power source to Ipod(Done)
D. Ipod touch GPS receiver/power connection..(still deciding..haha)

4. Self-recovery

A. Smittybilt XRC-8 2nd gen Electric winch (ordered...to be installed)
B. Okoffroad PSP sand ladders (garage...need to figure out a mount)
C. Onboard 12v compressor (Done)
D. Stock swingaway w/ fullsize spare (Still need to source)
E. offroad Tire seal/plug kit (added to kit. Done)

4. Gear storage

A. Thule Aero lockable aero-box (on its way)
B. Trasharoo (need to order, once I find my swingaway)

5. Camping Equipment

A. REI 2.5 pad for wife and I
B. REI double wide 30 degree bag
C. REI kids mummy back for my two oldest
D. Peapod zippable pad/mini-tent for baby Sydney
(gonna go on wednesday w/ our 20% coupon after Disneyland.....)

6. Water supply

This is only part that I haven't decided upon...I have a 5gallon jerry can, which will work, but I'm trying keep everything but the awning and camping gear in an aero box, off the roof.

I'm thinking of going with this setup...

http://www.equipt1.com/h/component/...egory_id,159/option,com_virtuemart/Itemid,31/

 

[BIGdaddy]

BTW, this is the stance I'm going for.

I REALLY like the narrow width of a 9.5 tire on the cherokee. Keeps it nice and tucked...

I wish someone made a 31x9.5 AT tire.

With such small tires, I might just leave the d35 in place, since it hasn't given me a peep of
trouble, but it all depends on how things work. It'd be super easy to put tires on the axle, springs
on the spring pads, and roll that sucker under there...haha!

I'm all about not fixing whats not broken.

 

[njjeepthing]

BTW, this is the stance I'm going for.

Nice stance, what's the stats on the lift and tire combo on that?

 

[Root Moose]

Do it!

Forward movement is good.

 

[cyclic]

Take a look at some 245/75R16's, the should measure out to 30.5 tall, 9.6 wide, and work great on a 7 to 8 inch rim.

 

[Black Dog]

For your swing away tire carrier, have you looked into the Detours Backbone system? Its pretty affordable (less than $400) and uses the stock bumper skin rather than added a new heavy weight bumper.

 

[ExpoMike]

Take a look at some 245/75R16's, the should measure out to 30.5 tall, 9.6 wide, and work great on a 7 to 8 inch rim.

Yep, was going to say the same thing. Basically as close to a 31x9.5 out there but you have to go with 16" wheels. I was lucky as my '00 Classic came with 16"x7" wheels stock. :wings:

 

[BIGdaddy]

Yep, was going to say the same thing. Basically as close to a 31x9.5 out there but you have to go with 16" wheels. I was lucky as my '00 Classic came with 16"x7" wheels stock. :wings:

Yeah, I have two sets of 15" rims, so I could probably work out a swap for 16's, without much trouble...

 

[BIGdaddy]

For your swing away tire carrier, have you looked into the Detours Backbone system? Its pretty affordable (less than $400) and uses the stock bumper skin rather than added a new heavy weight bumper.

yup, I REALLY like that one!:wings:

but I'm thinking I might want to go to an aftermarket steel bumper, which wouldn't work with the detours.

Just not decided yet. A stock tire carrier would let me use whatever I want. (the style that mounts to the body...)

 

[Root Moose]

A stock tire carrier would let me use whatever I want. (the style that mounts to the body...)

Don't go any larger than a ~31" tire though... They are not rated for anything heavier and you will start having issues.

IIRC you have to put the brace behind the passenger side rear quarter to use these carriers effectively.... which means drilling holes there. Rust is less of an issue where you are but if it were me I might be inclined to make the tire carrier you want in the future the priority now or defer and keep the tire in the back or throw it on the roof in the meantime.

$0.02

 

[SWbySWesty]

E. Rear sway bar delete. (to be completed) That'll be easy enough to do!

B. New ubolts for wider axle (Still need to source)
C. stock rear 8.25 dshaft (Still need to source) I wish I had now held on to my stock stuff...I had my stock shafts, and other oem equipment for a few weeks before they went in the trash. Check the NAXJA KARMA thread for free stuff


4. Self-recoveryYou can never be too safe!!

D. Stock swingaway w/ fullsize spare (Still need to source)
this might help: http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/pts/1677680045.html

hatch and tire carrier for $80


6. Water supply

I got my 5 gallon water cans for $15/can at LC Industries website. You gotta get three to fulfill minimum price order of $50, but hell, just give one away to a friend on his bday...that's what I did!

 

[Backwoods Rambler]

Funny, you want to remove your rear swaybar and I'm planning to add one to mine (with disco's).

I like the look of the one you posted...one of those that makes you look twice because at first it looks stock, then you notice it's the tallest "stock" one you've ever seen.

Have fun...:ylsmoke:

 

[Backwoods Rambler]

I got my 5 gallon water cans for $15/can at LC Industries website.

Link?

 

[SWbySWesty]

Let us know if you feel a noticeable difference running with the rear swaybar on your lifted Jeep. I run without it, but if it noticeably helps on-road manners, I might do the disco thing as well.

 

[Backwoods Rambler]

Let us know if you feel a noticeable difference running with the rear swaybar on your lifted Jeep. I run without it, but if it noticeably helps on-road manners, I might do the disco thing as well.

Will do.

My hope is that it will reduce sway (duh...:elkgrin, otherwise I will not keep it. I will be getting new front sway bar bushings at the same time, so hopefully it's a big enough diff that I don't confuse one improvement for the other.