first post, sorry if in the wrong section, I just looked for where the activity was... please move if needed

I need something like a SXS to work out of on my 100+ acre farm. I have a 2001 XJ, 100% stock with high miles (288K), I think I can get the XJ where I want it for 5-7K, a new SXS would be 15+ for what I want.
Just wanted opinions and comments from some XJ people.

My plan would be 33" tires (probably 10.5 wide), mild lift (maybe Rustys 3"?), lunchbox lockers in the Dana 30s, stock 4.0 engine.
If I go the XJ route, I will do it right, start a build thread and document the process.
One last thing, what are your thoughts of cutting the back roof off and making it a pickup? I know its a unibody and I would do some cage work to keep it together, I would have a solid plan for this option.
oh, there are a few miles of trails to play on too!

 

There may be others that will chime in on your questions here too...
1. the drive-train in the XJs with the I6 if taken care of are pretty bulletproof.
2. If you want to go 33's... some may back me up here... don't know if you'd want to wheel it on a D30 & D35. You might want to upgrade to a D44 or at least a Chylr 8.25. I have a D35 with a LSD out back of mine, but I only do mild/moderate trails...not super serious stuff. And on top of that, you may want to seriously consider re-gearing when you go that big on the tire size. Yes, stock gearing can handle it to a point...but if you get on it...turning that much more mass, you're liable to break something that will leave you stranded right where you are.
3. If you lift over a certain height.... keep in mind you may have to change other things as well like longer brake lines, etc so you have room to articulate without them getting stretched out and breaking on you. That would be a bad day.
That said...what you're thinking of doing is very doable...just have to approach it the right way to limit the things that can more easily break on you.

 

Yes agree on everything. There is a little more to the story. Jeep will be used on the farm, most gravel roads and grass/dirt trails and run to town every once in a while. Will probably be lucky to get 500 miles a year on it. No mud and no rock crawling at all... really using it like a SxS on the farm.
33s would be 33x10.50s. So I may try my luck with the D30 front... jury is still out on that. I may drop to 32 or 31s, it is enough tire for my needs and could keep my drivetrain mod costs down, I just like the way a XJ looks on 33s with 15" wheels, I think they are supposed to look like that! I have a set of 5 Canyon wheels I plan to use, more about mods will be posted in the modified section when I get to the lift, lockers, gears etc...

thanks for the info, this forum is huge and I have a lot of research to do!

 

From what I'm gathering here, it sounds like you need a bed, especially if you're considering slicing up the Jeep. That's a lot of work and fabrication, but I won't stop you if you feel up to the challenge. However, the last thing you want it is to have a project that you no longer have the desire to finish but have too much time invested in to give up on taking up space on your property. I've been there one too many times lol.

Anywho, while I understand your position, you may consider trading or selling the Jeep as it's hard to substitute the convince of a truck bed. I have worked as a farm hand in the past and I think tossing brush and rocks into the back of a Jeep with the hatch and roof in the way just wouldn't cut it for me, as much as I love XJs. Maybe consider something like a Ford Ranger? Not too familiar with those though so I can't give you much information when it comes to mods.

 

Very good point on the bed. I do have a nice F350 7.3 , trailers, tractors and a couple old Kawasaki Mules (the real old ones with basically no suspension) that we beat the crap out of, and they beat us back!

I would mostly use it for trail maintenance and running friends around, camp fires, hauling gear and camping etc. I can use it as a hunt vehicle too. I think I will get it running and see how much I use it and go from there...
I think the plan is to; get it running, baby the head gasket issue for a while (it does run just fouls a plug every so often, and uses a little antifreeze), drop in a rear lunchbox locker, trim the fenders a bit (or budget lift - front springs/spacers and shackles/add-a-leaf) and put the canyon wheel set on it. They have AT tires on them now and I think are 29" tall. Should be able to do that for under five hundred. Rustys budget boost kit is $110, I think that would give plenty of room for 29s. Assuie or Spartan locker is like $200-250 I think.

If that goes well I'll fix the A/C haha!
I have also considered one of those import mini cab over trucks...
Thank you! There are some very level headed people on this forum, both replies here are on point, thanks, I do appreciate the input.

 

If you've got a 2001, you've already got the 8.25 rear, unless it's a 2.5L. You still have the 0331 head to contend with, but unless you overheat it, there's a chance it won't crack. I'm pretty sure 30X9.5s fit without a lift because I have 235/75R15s on mine and they are 29" tall.

Take a look at Matt's Off Road Recovery on Youtube and see what he uses and has done to it. It's a 2001 XJ with 1 ton axles, a self built long arm suspension, rear coils, lockers on both ends and 35" tires. He said he hasn't done anything to the engine or transmission and runs out of Hurricane, Utah. He does some incredible recoveries with that thing and it goes anywhere. He even uses the A/C!

 

for what you wanna do with your xj, i'd say you've got the right idea and the know how to get it there. i'd say just go with your plan. i've wheeled xj's and tj's with stock axles on 33's for years. no lockers tho, but LSD. lockers do tend to break axle shafts on stock axles with 33's, in the rough stuff. but no rocks or mud, you'd probably be just fine. doesn't hurt to try it for what you've got.

and your plan of a 3 inch lift sounds like it will work for your application. just gonna have to trim those fenders a bit.

use what you've got, mod it to where it works and giv'r. i wouldn't even regear. once you're in 4 low, and not in the rocks, your gearing will work for ya. i've never regeared any of my jeeps, even with 36's. that one is a bit of a dog on the road, but still pulls offroad good enough.

nothing beats an old xj on the farm.

 

[QUOTE=nothing beats an old xj on the farm.[/QUOTE]

thats what I'm thinking too!

 

that's part of why we're all here....
another educated way to look at your tire size if that's what will fit your needs.... if you look at the market, 31s are very popular across many vehicles...therefore, more competition for that size in the market, still a bigger tire, but you can find them at a better price and availability than say 32s or something else....but to each their own...whatever blows your hair back...

 

heck yah... man I'd love to that that custom setup underneath my 99

 

Hey hey! Mules! I used to work for an old farmer and me and my buddy would rally his beater Mule around. Never told him though, but I don't think he would have cared otherwise!

I encourage you to just get a solid set of used offroad tires and see what the Jeep can do now before you start modding it. Always a good idea to become familiar with the limits of a vehicle before modding.

 

Thanks guys, I ordered a new NSS (brown truck delivered today) and will get it running this weekend. I understand the NSS can be cleaned, but this vehicle is 30 years old and has almost 300K on it so figured I'll take a $50 chance.
To date I have about $200 in it. A friend of mine gave the Cherokee to me. I had to put a steering column in it, she used it as a mail truck and I guess pulled on the steering wheel from the passengers seat all day every day. I put a fan belt on it, now this switch and an oil change.
I'll see if the canyon wheels and tires that I have will fit on it with no lift. I think they are Bridgestone or Yokohama 29" AT type tires (I'll verify)
The one thing I know that does not work is the front axle vacuum crap setup, maybe called a CAV? So basically a 2wd jeep with no locker right now, no way it will make it up some of the hills I have. So, I think I will jack up the front axle on the passenger side, remove the CAV cover and use a hose clamp to keep the collar locked, remover the fork and see what happens. I understand it will be in 4wd all the time then.
Then hit the trails and see what happens. I have a good bit of off roading experience, on ATVs, Jeeps and 4x4 trucks over about 30 years so I am pretty confident that my trails will be near what the Cherokee can handle stock.
If it runs okay and is fun, since my investment is so low, I have no problem throwing a little money at it. A lift, SYE if needed, bigger tires and rear locker sound like the first things to do to improve off road capability. Oh yeah, maybe some sway bar disconnects, may just unhook those and leave off for now (I think I have a set from a TJ, they may fit)
Also need to work on the looks! like bigtime! , I can paint, so if it goes this far that is totally doable, probably military flat sand, going to remove the plastic fender trim, some kind of front bumper, I have a nice warn winch to put on it. And I like how the rear end looks when the rear quarters are cut and folded under. Changing the front bumper and cutting the rear make the Cherokee appear to sit higher than it really is, and greatly improves approach angles and I need that for sure! I have a few small creeks to cross on my trails.
I'll get pictures as I go and start another post as a "build thread". I really appreciate y'alls input and would really like some pointers on making it look the part!

 

I didn't think there was a vacuum activated front axle on a 2001. ?? I have a 2000, almost identicle running gear, and no vacuum. Maybe thatis a late 80's axle?

 

Oh crap, its a 91 not 2001, what was I thinking? missed it by a decade!

 

Today was a good day, pulled the XJ out from behind the barn. Installed new NSS. Hooked up new battery. She turned over about 4 times and fired right up. The gas had to be 18 months old or more.
Took the pressure washer to it hard. I hit the door jams and fender wells pretty good too.
I guess the factory plastic inner fender wells get brittle because I had about 100 pieces of plastic shoot out from them.
Installed the set of canyon wheels and tires I had and hit the trails...

Two things I learned very quick: 1 - AT tires are not an option; 2 - locker is absolutely required.

So for now, the next step is researching what lift and tires to get. I was thinking 31s or 2s may be enough tire, but I am leaning towards 33s again now (probably 10.5 width to keep the weight down).
And to get a lunchbox locker. I did identify the rear end, it is a Chrysler 8.25. This is a good thing right?