First part done, Got to hot this afternoon, so will pick up this evening to finish up tonight/tomorrow. Took way longer than it should have, because I wanted to retain my factory gas tank skid plate. Had to do some modification to it.

 

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I really, really like that rear bumper. It looks like you did not have to cut up the lower rear quarters. It mimics the factory style bumper, so it looks like it was an option from the factory.

I look forward to seeing your progress with the truck.

 

Yeah, there were a couple of options, I picked this one, but most seemed to not need to cut anything up. The front on the other hand, not sure what I want to do, most require cutting of the front fender on 85-96 models, which I don't really want to do, I guess 97 and up have a different front fender style, so they patterned to that.

 

Ok, for those of you who have hooked up an after market bumper, how have you re wired your lights/location for your license plate, and also for your trailer wire harness?




Getting my parts ready for my next job, bumper is basically finished... for now till I figure out what to do with the trailer lights and license plate. so next is front axle upgrade:

 

 

Waiting for parts sucks amazon sent me two wheel bearing units, one is perfect the other is too big, despite being in the correctly labeled box, so having to exchange it, but it is holding up like 3 other projects...

 

Did you contact customer service or just go through an exchange on the app/website? I had a ballpoint that broke upon installation and they overnighted me a new one, Amazon's been really good to us, idk where people get all the negative stuff from unless they're constantly buying from sketchy 3rd parties.

Are you going to get frame tie ins before getting bigger tires? The spare carriers put a lot of leverage on the uniframe, at least yours is less rusty than mine
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Also where'd you get the "upgraded" outers? still 27 spline or you go larger? I'm actually debating switching to the ZJ lifetime warranty CV axles, they're just so cheap and I run in AWD most of the time with my NP242.

 

For the replacement I just went through the normal return method, I am not really mad at amazon, just frustrated at the delay this part has caused, and Will order more parts from them (ordered a gasket kit for my ranger that has a leaking head gasket last night even), but in this case I'm returning the incorrect ones and ordered from rock auto who was able to get it to me in one day (ordered yesterday, here today) even amazon couldn't get me a replacement that fast. (would have been friday at the soonest, since they were going to ship one from another warehouse).

I was not planning on getting frame tie ins, never heard of them before. do you have to cut bigger holes into the jeep where you normally slide in the bars that you screw into? I am going bigger tires, but only 31", which isn't that much bigger or heavier than stock tires, and my jeep has basically 0 rust. There are a couple of places with some surface rust on one of the fenders and doors where it hit something, and nobody fixed it, but 0 rust underneath.

 

Didn't mean to direct that comment specifically at you, was just a general thing lol, whoops. Definitely pays to shop around online especially for getting things faster. It's crazy what COVID is doing to e-commerce, our company about tripled our already oversold order intake volume, yikes.

yeah you remove the sheet metal to open up the inside of the framerail:
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Especially if you plan to use a receiver built into the bumper or recoveries it's a good proactive measure: https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f67/re...racked-206762/

 

The aftermarket bumper is what would concern me, not necessarily the bigger tires. Bumpers, frame tie-ins, and frame stiffeners are on my list, not because I do any offroading, but because if I were ever to be in an accident I want my Jeep to survive.

 

Thanks, it will be something I will consider down the road possibly. The bumper came with some serious hardware to install it and hold it up, but I'll keep an eye on it.

That is a consideration for sure. I am considering frame stiffeners, since I plan on off roading and strengthening the chassis is always a good thing. I've seen some XJ's get so twisted they cannot open their doors anymore. For now, it's mostly light camping stuff, so not super important, but for sure something to consider down the road.

 

I was hoping to be much further along in my build (still waiting for lift kit to ship), so these won't go on for a while, but my tires showed up today!

 

Seats
A/C
Trailer Wiring harness
Exhaust hanger
Lift kit install
Rear diff Fluid/seal
Oil pan gasket/rear main seal
Transmission pan gasket/filter
Mount Tires
Vacuum and shampoo the carpets
Oil Filter O-rings
Front Skid Plate
Steering stablizer
Driver's side fender dent removal/replace
rear window repair (driver's side obstruction/passenger side is slow)
Front Trackbar
Bump Stops install
rear brakes
Bleed brakes
starter motor shims? new motor?