I am supposed to be picking up my 2001 XJ 4.0L Auto 4WD with new Toyo Open Country A/T's and a 3 inch rough country. It is that weird silver color and looks really nice with the windows tinted all around, some polished aluminum wheels (jeep wheels I think) and smoked signals.

I am wondering what I could do next, the Jeep will be a DD and it won't get hammered on, just DD and some play.

-I was thinking I'd run the Toyos for a bit and see how they work out. I was told they arent a VERY good off road tires but they also are far from crap.

-Snorkel... thought of it, hey what if I did need to get through some deeper water or serious puddles? How much do they cost, how much of a process is an install and are they really worth it?

-Roof rack with lights? Lights that actually WORK!... not show lights that will rust out and crap. And a good roof rack for extra crap I might bungie up top.

Any other suggestions? Please don't get into the crazy rock crawling nut case off roading jabber because I don't understand it. This is going to simply be a good looking daily driver jeep that gets into some **** some times and that I expect to out wheel some douche bags in their H2's or get me out of a mess.

Function and fashion, I am not looking to do crazy **** I just want a good blend of everything.

Thanks

snorkels are pretty expensive $200-400. as for lights if you have the $ go with KC's or Hella's. for a good roof rack check out quadratec.

i'd go with some sliders with the loop. they look good, can be used as a step rail, and if you ever do go off road you have some armor to keep your dd looking great.

I knew that about the snorkel but how much to actually get it put in?

Do they have light and rack packages? How much would it cost to have that crap put on as well.

I aint got a clue on install price.

go on quadratec, it can give you some serious ideas on what u might want to do. and it has a price for the snorkel on there.

Unless you plan on fording water up over the hood a snorkel is not required.
Unless you plan on wheeling extremely difficult trails at night, lights are not required.
Unless you plan on self sustained camping for over a week with 2 or more people a rack is not required.

It seems this build is more for looks than function...
As such I feel no need to advise top notch performing items.
Folks that actually wheel can spot builds that have all the parts that are never used, so going top shelf will not impress them, folks that don't know any better will be impressed with pretty much any slap on part... so, save your money and shop for stuff that looks the part, rather than paying through the nose for stuff that performs yet will not be tested.

And how do you know it won't be tested. You're very black and white on this one.

How do you know if the water is going to be that deep? You don't... what if there is a flood? What if there is some crazy terrible weather? A what if and I've got a Jeep I'd like to get me through that may never ever happen scenario.

Roof rack? Have you ever tried to fit much in an XJ? Yeah, how about three large loads of laundry and a few bags in the back seat and thats if youre not taking anyone...

Roof lights? Ok maybe you have a case..

Sliders? Good idea considering all it takes is a bad incline to CRUNCH rockers at an angle

if your worried about flooding you might wanna rip out your interior and herculine it

and as far as those "may never ever happen scenarios" id stock up that roof rack with food rations and lots of water

because you typed this...
A stock XJ disconnected with good 30" tires and a knowledgable driver will do all that.

You get out of your Jeep and poke and prode the water crossing.
See'n how it's a daily driver that "won't get hammered on" I doubt you will subject it to water deep enough to make the rig float or fill the inside up over the seats with water... aka snorkle situations. If it's a flood which includes fast currents... we all know to steer clear.

Ummm... Given my wife and I have camped wayyyy in the middle of nowhere, self sustained, with our 2 dogs, for 7 days straight (pack all your water/food/ice/cooking gear) in the high desert packing for temps between 30*F and 75*F(lots of clothes/bedding) and inculding enough tarps to cover our outdoor kitchen(3 folding tables, 2 chairs), rest area(cot) and tent(4 man) to survive the mid afternoon rains... yes, I would say I've packed the XJ thanks.

Agree'd.

Snorkel would be a waste. If water is over the hood the engine is prob toast since it isn't water proof, besides if you are driving thru water that deep the current would overtake you the snorkel wouldn't do you any good there either. Get you some shinny rims, wilderness rack and lights and crawl the mall. Throw on a decent exhaust too cause you don't want to sound like a wuss.

I don't get adding a snorkel, the stock intake sits higher than the distributor so what happens when the water covers it.

To make a snorkel work, you have to waterproof your dizzy, fuse panel, computer, ecm center under the hood, altenator, headlights/marker lights and then add extended vents from all gearbox's(diffs/tranny/x-case)... that's at least a start...
As mentioned above, you may as well strip the interior and add weep holes to keep the rig from floating, and allow it to drain...

The engine dies and by then you have water in the ps pump and the oil and prob the trans as well unless you seal it all up and run breathers for all of it.

hahaha i cant wait till i dont sound like a wuss