This thread is pretty much a journal for my build. Lets see if I can rember to update it. Lol
Wasn't real sure of a name for it, but sense most of my driving will be on roads and only a little offroad for hunting and camping, so urban crawler it is.
Got it on 3/22/13. Paid $1,250, down from $1,500. When I got it, it had 225,000 miles on it. Ran great. Had 31" tires on a stock lift. It rubbed on every bump. I put in a Rusty's off road 300 AAL 3" lift kit the week after. Got it off the tires and pissed off the wife cause she now has to jump into it. I think it needs to come up a bit more. I still gotta stand UP when I get out. Lol.
The rear has setteled and is about 1.5" below the front, hopefully that is all it will settle for a while. but I got some shackles, just haven't put them on yet.
Have done an oil change, valve gasket and goin to salvage this weekend to get a few things like full size tires for spares and just some odds&ends.
My plans:
Skid plates from front to back
Smitty XRC front and rear bumpers
Smitty 4000lb winch
Fender flares
Smitty air compressor
Smitty 54" high lift jack
Smitty MOLLE seat covers
Roof rack
Drop hitch ball adaptors from Curt
Hesco throttle body spacer
Maybe paint and bedliner the rocker panels.
With all this, I'll have about $3,900 in it.

 

Here it is from the day after I got it, then puttin the lift on (hot rod rake) the the day before easter, and then playin at work.

 

Thinkin bout goin with an expedition rig/military style. I'm kinda a survivalist and gun nut, so it will be pretty loaded down with gear/guns. Lol
Also thinkin bout goin with a trailer too. I gave up my truck for this, so need to b able to haul stuff.

 

Cool! I'll be watching this.

 

Why only a 4000lb winch??

 

The jeep don't weigh much. And it is the cheapest rout I have found for a winch. I'm really new to the off road world, had a little hands on stuff on friends rigs in high school. Been into cars my whole life tho. Should I get a bigger winch? What benefits would that bring me?

 

Don't watch too hard. It's gunna b a sloooowwwwww build. Lol It's my daily driver. So can't let it get outta comission.

 

You need at least a 8000 lb winch.

 

Looks like a great foundation, especially for that price. Keep us posted.

 

nice jeep, its an up country right?

winches are good but you dont need big ones, my jeeps been hung up at about 35-40dg and a 2000 atv winch got me out,,,, in january i went snow wheeling solo and got hung up on snow and ice (open diffs but soo hung up all 4 wheels were turning) and got myself out (after 4ish hours) with only a 3000 rachet strap.... what im saying is there is no doubt that a good winch is the way to go but with some cases all you need is a little push even from a passenger, if you dont think you will need a big winch you probably wont

 

I think it's just a Cherokee Sport. I thought up country was a lift? Like I said, just came into this Jeep world.

 

Upcountry is a package from the factory of 1" of lift, full skids, tow hooks, and maybe something else...

Nice build

 

Oh. Then no, not an up country. No skids and no factory lift.

 

ok, just thought it looked alittle high with the 31s and saw the tow hooks to

 

For winches on XJ's most go with an 8k one at the least. There is a weight rule of thumb floating around somewhere...