Joe, whereabouts is your son overseas? What a superb thing to do for his returning from overseas.

 

He's in the National Guard. He got activated for a year and sent to Kosovo. He still has a few more weeks in train-up back east before the unit goes in-country. I'll miss him, but I'm glad he's going there instead of Afganistan.

 

You guys have given me some great advice. I'm also comparing drop brackets and adjustible lower, front control arms vs. long arms vs. a good set of adjustible short arms with no drop brackets.

Input?

 

spent 6 years in the army as a tank mechanic, i kinda still have that tank mentality when i build stuff lol.

id go 97+ auto or manual were both good options. rustys has some good stuff, i ordered some stuff from them and shipping was fine. my neighbors XJ is a rolling rustys poster ad lol. his is a little more than you are wanting for your son though lol.

roll cage
lift
tires
TJ fender flares and trim the fenders
swing out rear carrier
winch(s)
lockers, gears

(neighbors)

 

I was in Kosovo in 99, I can't believe we still got people there. I use short arms with no drop brackets and still get plenty of flex.

 

Long arms are great but for 4.5" of lift i would just stick with some good adj. short arms upper and lower, then take the money you saved from the long arms and invest it in other parts of the jeep.

 

im on a rough country 4.5" lift that netted me about 6" over stock and is still siting at about 5" of lift. i run 33" m/ts and clear em with some fender trimming and no extended bumpstops. just ditch the rear sway bar and run discos upfront and you can get plenty of flex! seen here on my rig with short arms and no sways



and thank you for your son and keeping our country safe!!

 

You guys have some great rigs. As a TJ guy, I can't believe how much flex you're getting from those XJ's. It looks like I'm going to stick with short arms. After seeing all the great photographs of XJ's I'm starting to get excited about the build. I've been looking around for a 1999 green XJ. I haven't had much luck yet, but I've got lots of time. I'm hoping to find the stock one grandma has been keeping in her garage since 1999

 

There are to many different lift companies to narow down to anyone as the best. I am currently running a frankenlift on my 91. I have Rusty's 4.5 coils with a 2 inch spacer in the front, adjustable upper ans lower control arms, Rusty's adjustable trac bar, Rough Country 4.5 leaf packs with 1.5 shackles. After the lift settled to it's current height, it still sits 7 inches over stock. It is sitting in 33s with no fender trimming and minimal rubbing when flexed.





When he gets home, tell him I said thank you for his service in defending our freedom.

 

I've been involved in helping out on a build for a deployed soldier. A great feeling when they come home and see the finished product. Wish you were closer.

 

I just bought a 00 XJ with 43k on it a few months ago. Great find, had a 4.5 RE lift and roof rack on it already. I paid a little over $8000 for it though. They are out there, just gotta keep an eye on craigslist.

I see your son is an Infantryman. Tell him thanks for his service from a fellow grunt.

 

hell yeah these babies can flex!!





but these dont have any swaybars

 

Those Cherokees are awsome! Thanks for the shout outs to my son guys. Oregon, he's 4th generation infantry. It looks like your airborne by your avitar. I served with 2/187 Airborne INF, 101st DIV. Grandpa was airborne at 101st also and great grandpa was a LTC in WWII. He's proud of his service and I'm proud of him too.

 

Joe, I was in the Balkans in 2001, but Bosnia rather than Kosovo. Like you said, it's got to be better than Afghanistan or Iraq - it'll be a great experience for him.

 

the world owes a lot to the poeple who fight for the right for us to have freedom.

respect my friend.


your son is gonna love his xj no matter what you do to it