How deep are you planning to get into this? If I could start over the very first thing I would do is frame stiffeners.

Recovery points are good. A trailer hitch or bumper in the back and a bumper or tow points up front are what you want. Whatever you get though make sure it ties into the frame better than the factory mounts.

 

Fred/NOAZZ: I do have a hi-lift and It has been with me through 4 different rigs! I won't go anywhere without it. I also have tow straps, ****** blocks and a shovel. The guy who owned it prior to me did most of what you said: distributor cap, rotor, spark plugs, wires, new hoses, water pump and thermostat. Yesterday, we went on a trip and the idiot light for the temp lit up. Called the guy and he said he replaced the tstat rated at 165. So..... I have to replace that with one rated at 195 and put in some gauges because I can't stand those idiot lights. Now I'm realizing that the electric fan isn't kicking on, so right now I'm going to put that one on a switch. Not sure if he did the radiator so I might do it myself!

 

if i had 500 id get a light bar and a higlift jack or a new stinger bumper and body stifeners.

 

Gas