In 2004, My dad got his first Wrangler, and in 2005 we went on our first trip to Big Bend National Park in his Wrangler. From that point on I had the bug, and all I could think about was my first vehicle being a Jeep! That was at the age of 10 years old, 5 years later I had my first Jeep, and it wasn't a Wrangler like I dreamed it was my mom's old Jeep Cherokee. Despite this I had a plan to make it just as awesome as my dad's Wrangler! This is "The Beast's" build story! Hope you Enjoy. I'll be uploading pictures from the earliest day I had it to even before it was mine and I was doing repairs on for my mom.

 

Okay here's the earliest picture I have of my 2001 Jeep Cherokee this was taken on 12-11-10 When I first put my dad's old rack on it. 31" Tires on American Racing Wheels that were all on it when I bought it from my parents.

 

This was my Model for this build and I'm not sure where the XJ is from but my dad knew it would help me form a more defined dream/goal for my jeep.

 

Pictures of when we took the rear 8.25 out because of a loud vibration noise.



I found the problem after a really long day, One of the bearings was completed destroyed from a lack of diff. fluid. I replaced it and refilled my differential with Royal Purple all with the help of my Dad.

 

During the lifting stage, I purchased the lift through craigslist over a year and a half period, after going into 4wheel parts and telling them I wanted to fit 33" tires under my Cherokee for under 1,500 dollars. I was told it was impossible, But after a lot of searching, literally searching craigslist everyday I pieced together my Rubicon Express 6.5" lift with 2" Shackles, 4.5" Leafs, 6.5" Coils, and Rubicon Express Control arm drop brackets.

After a long afternoon and into the Night we were almost done.

The completed lift with the new 33" tires on my old American Racing wheels.
With a fresh coat of paint on my Black trim pieces.

 

The first time I took my jeep for a little offroading test drive with my friend, about a month after we both got our licenses.


An updated shot of my Cherokee towing my father and I's Big Bend custom built camper trailer.

After my Sophomore year in Highschool my brother purchased my dad's wrangler from him. Thus leaving my dad with out a Jeep, almost immediately my dad was able to find a 1992 Cherokee and purchase it already lifted and it had two things that I wanted, black steel wheels, and a lighter roof rack. After his purchase I swapped wheels with him, Yes I paid for all 10 tires to be remounted and balanced haha I really wanted those wheels. I traded racks with him.

A Picture of my families Jeeps after a bit of mud, My fathers on the left, Mine in the middle, and my brother's on the far right.

 

A picture of me flexing trying to figure out how much of extension I would need on my bump stops.

Another offroading trip with my friends at our favorite and closest spot to offroad/mud/crawl. Paying for your own gas is killer! The new IPF 986 on top that I received for Christmas.

After saving my friend on Super Bowl Sunday, He tried to go solo because he had a winch, well when your in the middle of the field and there is not anything to winch onto it is no help. So this is what I did all super bowl Sunday.

A picture of my friend's jeep he was down to the axles.. I didn't get stuck getting him out XJ>Wrangler