aircrewallan

Alright, to start i have a 99 xj with the RE 3.5'' SR with 33'' Swampers on 15x8 rockcrawlers. Basically Im looking for trail-ablility...sure id like to spend the cash on badass bumpers or some lockers but that kinda stuff will have to come later. Im looking for essential things that can make my rig last on the trails/or preventive things, cuz the longer it stays driving the more money i can spend on the big stuff! This is my "maybe list" right now -

Diff Covers
TC Skid
Rock Sliders
H&T SYE/XJ front Driveshaft
Flares <<to cover the 3'' of tires sticking out lol
1.5'' spacer/shackle setup <<to get alittle more height cuz im still rubbing even with trimmin'

Granted im scared that if i go into getting the extra 1.5'' Ill run into having to get alot more i.e. adjustable trackbar, new tierod, maybe new shocks but not sure. And does anyone know the benefit of having a new pinion drop arm?? < might be wrong word usage...but hey any input of the parts i have listed or any others i havent thought of would be great thanks! Lets just say im working with 500 bones! Thanks yall

rweaver138

seems like you got a good list goin here. im pretty sure your talking the "pitman arm drop." well im at 5.5" and i dont have one, there not really a necessity. and with the extra 1.5" of lift i would advise an adj. trackbar and probably new shocks.

rweaver138

and 500 bones isnt gonna cover this list, unless you buy all this stuff used.

XJ Stryker

Not tech worthy.

Moved to Cherokee CHat

muddeprived

Don't mess with drop pitman arms unless you drop the trackbar as well. You'll mess up the angles and get some nasty steering issues. Some trackbars like Rough Country's come with a drop brackets that requires a drop pitman arm to keep the draglink and trackbar angles the same.

Did you bumpstop your rig yet? Going higher won't prevent rubbing cuz you are just raising the rig, not preventing the tires from articulating upwards. Bumpstops solve that problem.

First thing I would do is the sye and driveshaft mod to get your t-case skid back up and gain some clearance. Then I would do the sliders (AJ's for $300 shipped). T-case skid and front skids would come after that.

Don't forget lockers. If you want TRAIL-ABILITY, you can't beat lockers.

whowey

I'm really surprised with an RE lift you aren't noticing some steering issues without an adjustable track bar or a drop bracket. Your axle should be shifted over quite a bit. I know mine was.

xjbones

frame stiffners and rock sliders....cant go wrong there. it will make it so you can still open the doors later on!!

4.3L XJ

Are you wheeling in mud a lot? Then, believe it or not you should go for the flares. You can make wheeling hard for you after two minutes in the mud because you can't see. Keep the tire covered with flares and some rock sliders that stick out below the doors and have fun for hours and stay relatively clean.

aircrewallan

awesome input guys, thanks and yes i might have put this in the wrong section but regardless i got the answers i needed...oh and no 500 bucks wasnt supposed to cover the whole list. i was just kinda asking what areas to start spending the money, you what i mean but thanks so far guys and if you have any others let me know!

djlarroc

I would do sliders, and recovery hooks for sure. Easily done with $500.

cubanchris81

Tow hooks would be a good idea without lockers, steering box reiforcement is a big one heard of a few guys breakin factory 3bolt box www.tntcustoms.com has a good conversion kit to 4bolt YJ box setup(saginaw). If your goin with bigger tires later you may want to look into upgradin brakes maybe even 2 piston calipers.No matter what you do your gonna need to be able to stop & steer to get anywhere trail/street.