RRXJeeper71

very cool!

Van_Homan

Nice set up on your XJ. It's good to see it being put to use.

osinrider04

Thanks!

so I decided to address a few more problems with the jeep. I know I posted a for sale ad but I do still use my jeep for adventures so I will continue to fix things as I come across them. One thing bothering me for a while has been the steering wheel play. Yes I have replaced every rod end, every link, ball joints, etc and tightened everything numerous times. I have an upgrade Durango box as well. Still have that super fun unresponsiveness in the wheel when driving down the highway.

That being said I finally decided to buy a steering box brace. I went with Ironman4x4fab because their customer service has superb. Pretty sure those guys are tired of my endless Facebook messages and phone calls, but they answered all of my questions. I needed to ensure it would fit with my current setup given how much has been modified. So I pulled the trigger on that setup which should be here this weekend. Will post pictures once it arrives with a full write up on the results. I will have before and after videos as well to show the difference. Stay tuned!

BeardyHat

Love your build. Did the sound proofing make a significant difference on the inside?

osinrider04

Honestly it's hard to tell the difference it made. The only reason I say that is because I also installed carpet at the same time with extra mils of sound dampener on the backside. I do know that the two together makes a big difference especially on heat near the tranny tunnel. From what I've read the biggest improvement comes from doing the roof which is an area I have not fully done. I have some rust repair I need to address up there so I'll be pulling the headliner again and will finish the roof. There's also something to be said about the fact that my entire jeep isn't sound proofed technically. Two of my door skins don't have it done and neither is the rear hatch. There's also a kit you can buy for under the hood too. Not positive on how much I trust the under hood option but I bet once the rest of my jeep is buttoned up there would be a bit more difference.

BeardyHat

I'm really curious! I'm currently looking at an XJ to do something similar, but it's going to probably be on the highway more than the trails, so quiet cruising is pretty important. I've been trying to suss out if an XJ would be appropriate with adequate insulation.

Thanks for your reply!

osinrider04

If you want something quiet then I wouldn't buy a jeep. I have all terrain tires and a decent amount of work done to make it quiet...they still aren't quiet beasts. But you have to weigh the pros and cons of what you want to do with your build. I would still drive mine across the country if I had the option, but it won't be as quiet as something newer and with less capabilities. I built this with the xj platform because I wanted more ability to hit trails when I was bored. For instance, I could drive to Colorado in my jeep and do black bear pass if I wanted. Oh, and sleep in it the whole time, before I drive back home. Most vehicles you can't do both of that in. You simply can't fix the aerodynamic issues with a boxy 17 year old car lol

osinrider04

Here's current setup on the jeep for those interested

BeardyHat

Yeah, I kind of assumed it wouldn't be super quiet!

I'm primarily looking at XJ's and ZJ's, because I want a cheap camping/road trip style vehicle. The XJ's and ZJ's are nice because they can be had relatively cheap (though XJ's in Co seem to be more commonly higher priced) and I'm hoping to build it to the specs I want.

Right now, I'm leaning more heavily toward the ZJ, since I intend to do more on road driving and the occasional easy/moderate trail. Plus it seems to be more comfortable for long trips, which is a big concern!

osinrider04

Decided it was time to upgrade my alternator. I went with this one. It's from a 2003 durango 160 amp.



Shiny









It requires minor shaving of the brackets





More shaving





During install

osinrider04

Has anyone ever tried these shocks? https://www.quadratec.com/products/1...saAmVLEALw_wcB


I never knew OME made shocks for 3-5" of lift. I'm not concerned about the quality of the shocks, but more polling the audience on whether these would be a good candidate for my build based on its usage and long arm application. Thoughts?

jackace

Being from Colorado that is one of the life goals I have for my XJ.

osinrider04

Where would you be coming from? I would love to take a road trip out there and do the trail. Need to upgrade my brakes and do a cage before I did black bear tho lol.

osinrider04

Day 1 @ Vermont Overland Rally. Hooking up to the Road Shower 3 with the front relocated air system.


Works amazing with up to 30psi. Feels just like a house hose!


Entrance to one of the many incredible class IV roads that Vermont has

husky_wolf

One of my favorite builds! We have the same bumper too! What kind of gears are you running with all that weight you're carrying around?