What about this instead of getting a new axle? http://www.ironrockoffroad.com/Merch...egory_Code=XDT

 

Is this like a one ton steering? http://www.ironrockoffroad.com/Merch...egory_Code=XST

 

may i ask how old you are/how long you have been wheeling(i mean actual wheeling. not just tearing up feilds and such) look into seriousoffroad 1 ton steering. lunchbox is a style of locker(only replaces spider gears). unibody plating/frame stiffeners is basically covering the whole "frame" in steel. check out tnt or jcr. what rear axle do you have?

 

this is basically my point. I did the same. not cross country, but I wheeled the **** out of my jeep and the darn things just fall apart. so why not build it all out within the confines of stock axles? I wish I had done that from the start. my jeep is on it's way to the scrap yard here soon and if I had caged it and plated, armored right from the start it would still be pretty clean

I will agree that some of the items listed aren't completely necessary but they sure are nice to have
but 760's and full circle snap rings are always at the top of my list

 

The part that makes one ton steering one ton is the use of one ton tie rods. Some kits utilize stock tre but have larger tubing. That's better than stock but still not the best. If you want to up your steering on the cheap pick up a zj tie rod. It has a bit larger end but the thread still fits in the stock knuckle without having to drill it out and ream it like you would with a one ton set up.
Also if your making your budget 5 grand you can get a pretty decent setup out of that. Having your own tools already and mechanical skills helps out a long way because having a shop install all those parts will suck up a lot of your money. Plus working on your own rig can be fun sometimes and familiarizes you with what your jeeps setup actually is.

 

All the Acronyms we use https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f9/acronyms-3599/ And the best reading you can do http://www.openisbn.com/preview/9781932494143/

 

Go like you are with front and rear lockers. The only obstacles you won't be able to drive are the ones that only highly modified crawlers can. 4.5" lift with 33s is fine. We have driven to Moab and back over the past five years(60k miles total) with 31 or 33s, lockers, stock gears, no armour until this past year added for Rubicon Trail but were not needed, 3 1/2" lift, 8.25 rear-NO problems. Have a couple more trails to do and will have done them all except Pritchett Canyon(but have to bypass some climbs due to need of longer wheel base).

Met a couple of the "well built" crawlers on the Rubicon who where complaining about the
stock Wrangler behind me holding up the trail-told them that with their equipment there was no challenge and would be emparrassed to run the Rubicon.

 

I'm 16. Had my license for almost a year and have done a lot of off-roading for just having my license for a year. I have the stock axles on there now. I think its a dana 35 in the rear

 

Its a 2000. 8.25 rear end. No offense, but you need to learn a good bit more about your jeep before just diving into this 'hardcore crawler'. You could run 35s on 4.5, I do. I don't have s**t for up travel but down travel is excellent. Put a lockrite in the front, get rid of the tc drop get an sye put some rocker rails and that's about all you would NEED. more armor is neither here nor there, but things like frame stiffeners, 1 ton steering, cages...that sounds more buggy then Cherokee to me.

My 2¢

 

I have to disagree with you, frame stiffeners are something that should be done to any xj if you want them to last a long time. And a cage is to keep you safe in the event of a rollover. I have seen people roll on some pretty easy stuff. Also have you looked at the factory steering, I bent my factory tie rod crawling a 1 foot ledge. And I thought 2000's could still have the d35, but I could be wrong there

 

dented frame rails, bent tie rod and the worst possible steering design, cage that saves your life...
funny that all of the things you mentioned involve the safety of yourself, the lifespan of your jeep, and driveability on the road

 

True but that's where common sense comes to mind. The steering I can agree with but things like the stiffeners...I've wheeled my 90 and romped on it pretty good, the frame has had yet to give me issues. Like I said, my two cents on it.

 

D35 was offered every single year the xj was built. So year tells you nothing about what rear axle is in it

And if you plan to wheel in places other than mud, some sort of frame support is a good idea.

 

That's what I thought. OP do you know for sure which axle you have

 

yeah go try bumping it and dragging it over a few rocks. I had dents in my frame, then I put the HDO 10 gauge stiffeners on and dented those and my frame again. I've ripped my track bar mount off because it was welded directly to the frame instead of onto stiffeners.

common sense is protecting your uniframe. it's the one thing you cant replace
driving on some back roads, over a hill, and through a mud puddle does not count as "romping" on it