Looking to build something for my wife to play in the desert while the boys ride our dirtbikes. Needs to be towed behind our motorhome and also be useful as a road trip grocery getter/site seeing for the family. I'm thinking a modest prerunner type vehicle. No desire to do crawling. More interested in being able to cruise down rutted/rocky/bumpy desert roads in relative comfort and speed. Budget is ~$5k (plus the XJ of course).

Been reading around here and NAXJA and this is what I've come up with:

JCR frame stiffeners (front,mid,rear)
JCR DIY front/rear bumpers
Rusty's 4.5" LA 4-link
Rusty's steering stabilizer
Rough Country SYE kit

Not sure about wheels and tires yet.

Any advice for me - good/bad? What would you change or do different?

Thanks!

 

Id sugest a wj with iron rock 4" long arms front and rear. Itl stomp all over the xj offroad for speed and romping around has a more modern comfortable.

Long arms 2600 2800 you can bolt on jeep take off wheels and rubber. Your wife will love it

 

Hey thanks for the response. I suppose I have not really considered a WJ - just more familiar with the XJ. Guess I have some more rabbit holes to explore. Any years to avoid or years to look for? Any help/info is much appreciated. Thanks!

 

Where are you going to wheel this? Getting groceries with a big lift and tires to match with the relatively narrow track on an XJ is possible. But a smaller 3"+/- lift will help your wife get the groceries in, get better gas milage, drive better on the street, and still offer a very capable rig on moderate trails.

Coyote Flats 4x4 Trail just west of Biship CA with OME springs & shocks, 3-1/4" lift with 245/75/r16 BFG KO2's

Death Valley NP with 2-1/4" lift and 235/75/r16 (30") tires

 

So a man can daily a 80k pickup maybe pull a trailer twice a year but we give a woman a hard time for driving a 10k lifted wj to the grocery store.

Shame on us.

Heres fun run me we went on.
The wj is stock other than 4" Rock link at about 10 minites the wj is doing about 40 on the shoulder of the rd.


https://youtu.be/A-OCU8sz988

 

Odd that someone would criticize a woman for driving a WJ. In fact, my neighbors have remarked how good my wife looks driving our lifted XJ down the street. As for the clown driving the expensive truck pulling a trailer - I met him driving to a trail-head. He was pulled over on the shoulder with truck and trailer. As I came up on him, he pulled out to perform a U-turn in front of us causing me to place the Jeep in a panic stop. Fortunately, the Waggner brake pads griped well and my KO2's put enough rubber down, biting the pavement forcefully, to bring me to a stop about two feet from the trailer.

 

If she has red hair your done for get her a eletric car asap lol. My x got attention driving my rigs then we built her a suburban. Then well shes my x now.

I say do what you want burn as much fuel as possible and be happy doing it.