This is what I'm trying to explain to him too, as well as everyone I know personally. Why compromise on a poopy axle when at least an 8.25 can be out of for basically the cost of the axle, then upgrade.

And it esp doesn't make sense for OP to put any money into the 35 considering what he said his plans were: new gears and locker anyway within a year. He's made it this far in life without a locker/gears on a basically stock jeep, what's another <years wait to get the axles he really wants?

OP, I say ride out the winter with what you got, even through the bad weather. Look for a HP30 to build on the side how you want, I can find them local by me for $80 all day. Do some research as to what rear you want and build that on the side as well. Then when your done just bolt hem up. It will also be cheaper to regear, unless your hear guy is giving you an awesome deal already; gear places by me charge quite a bit less to do an axle on a bench as it doesn't take up the one or two lifts their shop has.

 

I understand. I'm doing research here. Asking questions and presenting alternate scenarios and listening to the answers is how I learn. Do you understand?

Again, I appreciate all the advice

 

Not trying to come off as having a 'tude, I apologize if that's how it's seems, kind of hard to read tone in a text/message. There are literally dozens of threads on this topic. They could give you WAY more information than you could gather from this one thread. Try googling "8.25 swap XJ" and "8.8 swap XJ", you'll get information overload, not just from CF. Both of these swaps have been written up since the early 00's plenty of times.

And I agree with the above poster, as long as you're going forward!

 

The OEM Cherokee setup with open front differential and limited slip in the rear differential was the best on snow and ice that I ever experienced. I'm on my fourth Cherokee now and spent a little over twenty years in Upstate New York.
Just my two cents; the cheapest way to re-gear for 30s or 31s, is to find an OEM front dana axle with 4:10 gears (great for that size tire). If your interested, I have a list of all the Cherokees and Comanches (and axle numbers) with the 4:10 gearing. For the rear axle, find the OEM Chrysler 8.25 with limited slip and have it re-geared with 4.10 gears (actually 4.11 gears, I don't think 4.10s are available for that application). You won't be sorry, the 8.25 is great for up to 35s. When it comes time to put a locker in, just put an auto locker, like an Aussie or Lock Right, in the front axle. You will be amazed what trouble you will be able to get yourself out of with the LS rear and auto locked front. Have fun.