98 4.0 cherokee AW4

I am doing several drain and fills to get my fluid where is should be. Once it is nice and red, i will do one last drain and fill (For now), and i plan on changing the filter at that time.

I have heard that it is a PITA to get the pan off bc of the dipstick tube being connected on stuck. I saw several threads about getting a cutter and basically cutting the tube in half and then using a rubber hose and clamps to reconnect it.
-This is what i plan on doing

My question is, what the technical part of it. What size hose to i need, any certain type? How tight should the clamps be? and is this even an effective method? I am not trying to mess anything up

Any other details of the filter changing process would be greatly appreciated

 

I was wondering the same size of hose

 

General consensus here seems to be not to replace it because it's nothing but a mesh screen that doesn't get changed as would other types of filters.

 

Mine just popped of after some cussing and hanging from it.
The screen should be changed, plus the magnets should be cleaned.
After 23 years, in my case, it was about time..
Plus the pan is slightly deeper in the front so the gunk don't pour out with the fluid.

 

Yes it's kinda a pain.. (a few bleeps here) but can be done and wouldn't recommend cutting anything and have an extra set of hands if need be to line everything back up. Took about an hour and that included cleaning 'everything'.. there was a huge amount of metal silt on the magnets and in the mesh filter especially after 250k mi and was very glad I changed it. Just my .02