If you can fabricate armor yourself, do it, if not, shop around, theres a million designs offered by many companies. I think most guys just mail order their stuff. If you know of a custom metal fab shop see how much it would cost for them to make it for you. I myself work at a custom fab shop and right now I'm in the process of making a rear bumper using 4x6 1/4 wall tube, which will also be an air tank. My sliders will be 3x3 1/4 wall and I haven't nailed down the front yet, but Its going to involve two peices of 3/4" x6 bar going back on the "frame rails". I've also got a warn 8274 to go on. I'm gonna connect the bumpers to the sliders with 2" sch 120 grade B pipe(2 3/8 outside w/ 3/8" wall) going over the tire openings. They're tube fenders, but they willn't attach to the fender, any force applied will go directly to the unibody, not the fender, no matter the angle or side. I'll also be able to use my tube fenders as a lift/recovery point. I never liked the tube fenders that bolted onto the body panels, doesn't seem strong enough to me. Check out the fabrication section to get some ideas

 

Yeah for sure I'll check it out. I think I'll be making my own bumpers and roof rack, but I think I'll order some rear panel amour since mine has a huge dent on the passenger side. As far as my winch I want it to be on a hitch like system so I can move it from front to back easily. As far as a fenders think I'm just gonna run bushwhacker cut outs because I love the look and the tire coverage.

 

I have a cai on my jeep, its not worthless

 

another thing im wondering if which skids plates/under armor is actually worth buying?

 

i snagged a ZJ gas tank skid at the junkyard. took a little bit of modifying the factory holes, but nothing hard to do at all. Helps ease the mind a bit if you were to accidently slide and hit a rock or branch/fallen tree. It came out looking nice and only cost me $25. Been looking to get a front skid plate also

 

I've run a few shock setups. Very minor differences. Now I've been on my Fox shocks for 5 weeks. These kick @$$! You can get mono tube gas shock for like $140 ea. Bilstein 5100's from what I've heard are good. That might be best dollar per dollar IMO.

 

lol when i wrote that i meant what company my phone decided to but shock for some reason. ive heard lots of mixed feeling towards the fox shocks, most ppl ive talked to say they ride way to stiff, but those guys where all using them on desert rigs. So far on most my rigs i run the skyjacker 8000s and havent had a problem with them

 

The Fox do ride a tad rough. But that's why I got them. I like a slightly rougher ride. They are adjustable too. There's a valve to adjust them. And if you call Fox and tell them what your interested in. They'll set them up along those lines. Then you can mess with em as u see fit.

 

hmm ill have to look into them, ive always used fox stuff on other stuff so i see no reason i wouldnt like em on my 4x4. So other then tank skid and steering box brace, what else should i get for under armor

 

On the fox site they only list shocks for JK and TJ jeeps? Another look on google shows they have them for XJs also. I may need to look into these as my shocks are more than likely all bad and one of them is a $16 gabriel as a temporary fix haha. Ill pprobably be posting a thread later tonight or tomorrow asking about shocks. Was looking at DT8000's (doetsch tech pre runners) and i cant decide on a certain shock.

Sasq40, some people have rock sliders. I would love to get some for myself but they are out of price range right now.

theres all kinds of armor you can get for your XJ. check out JCR (stuff is a bit high priced, but it will show you different types of products they have and can check out competition etc.)
http://www.jcroffroad.com/index.html
and no, im not bashing jcr at all. there products are VERY nice. I have a rear bumper from them and love it. just prices are higher than most

 

Yeah I'm thinking about the bumpers they have. They seem decent price for what they are. But I'm still unsure about under armor cuz there seems to be alot of different plates and I'm not sure which are nessarcy/ worth the coin

 

Those Fox shocks are slick. Which ones did you get?

 

^ For the front shocks. I went with these along with a set of JKS bar pin eliminators.
http://www.foxracingshox.com/offroad...MOTE_RESERVOIR

For the rear. I went with these along with JKS bar pin Eliminators.
http://www.foxracingshox.com/offroad...il/20_EMULSION

But now I have a new idea for the rear setup. Which over all is a far better ride. Do any of you guys have an issue with the rear being a bit too bouncy? What I mean by that is. I feel like my rear end moves side to side more then the front. If that doesn't make sense. Take a Hot Wheels car. Place it on the counter. By keeping the front relatively straight. Lift the rear end slightly moving it side to side. That's what I feel like my jeep does.
There is an answer for it. And here it is.
http://store.jksmfg.com/merchant2/me...ory_Code=Shock

Since a lot of us fella's aren't made of money. But use our jeeps or XJ's as multipurpose monsters. I'm trying to find a perfect combo to suite these kind of needs. I'm not too interested in conquering massive boulders and rocks. But to instead, something that can handle well on the street to get you to the place your going to wheel. And once there to that trail. Being able to get through it. Just my ideal setup.

 

I have a theory about the steering box brace. Which might be a bust once I put it into play. But if you've ever read about how some guys think that the brace will tug at the frame and cause issues on the passenger side frame rail. I can see the logic in that. I'm not arguing that. Though I don't believe it entirely. It all depends on how you wheel. Your technique on a particular obstacle etc. Then sure, I can see the brace being an issue. Well, my theory is if you run frame stiffiners along with the brace. Then chances are slimmer. At least I would assume.
I'm not 100% sure. But if the frame is symmetrical. Then maybe these plates would help on the passenger side where that brace connects too.
Plates I'm speaking of are these:
http://rustysoffroad.com/mm5/merchan...egory_Code=ste

Now for skids and under belly first. I'd say Gas skid is the 1st in priority. Then I'd go with T&T customs under belly skid. I've seen this thing. Absolutely killer. I reference Rusty's alot b/c I like their products, their website is easy to navigate through, and their customer service is out standing. If those are important to you. But don't count on my opinion as gods word. There are alot of cool and quality products out there. So which ever route you go. I'm sure you'll be fine. Personally, I want the best my money can buy. And if it takes me 2 extra months to get it. Then that's what I'll do.
http://tntcustoms.com/bellypanxj.aspx
With just those 2 things. I think you are pretty well covered. However you could go the extra mile and get 2 other pieces.
1) http://rustysoffroad.com/mm5/merchan...y_Code=xj_skid

2) http://rustysoffroad.com/mm5/merchan...gory_Code=ARMS

Then there is body armor and recovery. My first choice is to go with rock sliders. Then front bumper, then rear bumper. I haven't settled on which products I'm personally going with. But so far I'm leaning towards C-Rok front and rear bumpers and Rusty's Rock Sliders. Nor have I picked out a winch yet. I'd love to get Warn. But not sure if it's all cracked out to be what the marketing has behind it. Where as Mile Marker and Smitty have 9K winches for far less. But I haven't read into them yet. I'm so far from even being able to consider one. Which is why I haven't read into them yet.

 

How well does that ZJ skid stand up compared to after market gas skids out there? Sorry for my laziness. I could probably look it up. But is that factory skid just as thick or durable as the after market stuff? Gas skids are wicked expensive. Though, being towed out of a trail and having to replace a wrecked gas tank is far more expensive.