Hi im new to the world of jeeps and will be purchasing a Cherokee very soon what are some good first modifications to make?

 

If I could do my jeep all over again and start from scratch, id get good tires first before a lift. If you have good tires you still get some clearance and you get good traction. So this would help you get on the trails faster, I think..

But before you do anything to your jeep, fix anything that is already wrong so when you do do mods it won't mess more up, I'm talking from experience.

 

Decide what you want to user your jeep for first (alongside tuning it up). Is it going to be a crawler, mudder, or just for looks, whatever. Then come up with a budget. Then blow that budget away cause it'll just be too much fun!

 

Well im going to be taking my cherokee offroading in the upstate new york area so idk about mudding but there are plenty of rocks!

 

As stated, fix all known issues first, then take care of the preventitive maintenance. First mods really depends on what year jeep you get. If you get an earlier jeep 84-90 say youll probally wanna convert it to an open cooling system, probally one of the first mods after all is well mechanicly would be a locker for the rear as jake said tires would be a good starting point the locker will only enhance this. You say plenty of rocks probally may want to look into a Chrysler 8.25 (from a 97+), if it has a Dana 35 rear. Good Luck and welcome to the Jeep World.

 

I would recommend wheeling it stock for at least your first trip. You'd be surprised what a stock xj can do! Then you will have a better idea of what you need to do to it to make it go where you want to go, be it more clearance, better traction, or more armor.

 

Thanks. What are some good names to buy from?
I know rough country and skyjacker.

 

Look into ironrockoffroad.com they have great products and amazing customer service

 

If it wer me I would NOT modify right off. I would do preventitive maintenance, Death Wobble Prevention. Ball Joints, Tie rod ends ECT. I would also start with armor and lockers, then I would decide what size tires I want to run and lift accordingly. Lockers and skid plates and sliders can allow a stock height XJ to go places, even MOST lifted rigs Can't go.

 

By the way SkyJacker suck on an XJ. their stuff is too heavy for such a light rig.