Swank's XJ Cherokee Overland build (slow)

Brett_Murphy wrote: Every time I see one of these in good shape, I want one. The aftermarket is just great for them, but the price premium around here just aggravates me.

I think it depends how nice of one you want. I see perfectly decent ones for less than $2k pretty often around here.

Nice ones like what mine was when i bought it will sell for substantially more, though, which is why i was ecstatic to pay $3k for mine.

BlueJ just sold a very nice 98 Limited (best year) for $1300. Awesome deal!

pres589 wrote: In reply to Swank Force One: Speaking from experience, summer at the Artic Circle is freaking cake. The question is how far north of there you want to go. You'll still want an air compressor, tire plug kit, gas cans etc etc stuff to worry about later.

Yeah i'm not worried about getting stuck or crawling or anything, i'd just like a capable vehicle in general.

Air compressor, tire plug kit, and at least one (maybe two) full size spares are in the cards.

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: Will follow this, lifting my XJ is still not out if the question, but its quite expensive when you get down to it.

http://www.rustysoffroad.com/jeep-suspension/jeep-suspension-lift-kits/xj-cherokee-84-01-jeep-suspension-lift-kits/rustys-xj-cherokee-3-add-a-leaf-kit.html

Rusty's stuff is pretty widely disliked on the Cherokee forums. Sure is cheap, though!

I took a little bit of a gamble with the Rancho stuff, to be honest. When i bought it all, the kit had just been released and there was no real reviews.

I have the shocks turned all the way up right now, and the ride is pretty choppy, but overall control is pretty confidence inspiring. I'm happy with it. I'm pretty sure someone more fluent in "truck" than i am could put together a homebrew kit better than what i've got for similar or less money, though.

This thread is pretty awesome for different options: http://www.cherokeeforum.com/f67/xj-lifts-companies-76868/

Swank Force One wrote: Rusty's stuff is pretty widely disliked on the Cherokee forums. Sure is cheap, though!

Really? I've built three XJ's now and can't fathom what's no to like. And I've wheeled mine hard too. Oh well, there's no pleasing some people huh!?

Good luck with the build!

Seems like these days the name "Rusty's" is seemed to be a bit ironic.

I don't know that i'd necessarily shy away from them, but there's many people out there that have broken their Rusty's track bar, for example. That sounded scary to me, and i was almost about to buy theirs. After reading all that, i went with the Rubicon Express.

Thanks for the luck! I feel like i'm getting bitten by the Jeep thing, i may have to track down another one later to go a bit more extreme on. There's some INCREDIBLE build threads out there that make me drool.

Jeep/Honda/Mazda. That's all I'll ever own from now on. I like Fords, but I'll let the rest of my family own them, I get enough exposure to the big blue oval products.

So i've been driving this the last two weeks to make sure that everything is good to go for SWMBO. It's driving GREAT, taking all the old slop out of the steering made a HUGE difference. Once i got the shocks dialed in (I would not suggest turning them to "9," it rides like a wooden wagon), the ride is very comfortable.

Only problem so far is that the rubber bushing material at the top of the front endlinks wasn't strong enough and is starting to split, probably indication that i could use some longer QRs or something. For now, i'm going to scavenge some poly bushings out of my spares and chuck 'em on there. Only seems to be a problem when the truck is up on the lift.

Also: After driving this for 2 weeks, i drove the MX6 into work today. The MX6 feels CRAZY now!

Do you mind saying how much the rancho shocks ran you and where you got them? My XJ is in dire need of new shocks.

Cotton wrote: Do you mind saying how much the rancho shocks ran you and where you got them? My XJ is in dire need of new shocks.

I got mine from Advance, actually. They had free shipping going on, and i hit them with discount codes on top.

Might be able to find them for cheaper elsewhere, i know sometimes Mudflaps.com blows them out for good prices, though i'm not real impressed with that company in general.

Front 3" lift shocks RS999239: http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_rs9000xl-series-shock-rancho_20740342-p

Front stock shocks RS999128: http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_rs9000xl-series-shock-rancho_20740327-p

Rear shocks, same for stock and 3" lift RS999129: http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_rs9000xl-series-shock-rancho_20740299-p

Stabilizer if you need it: http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_rs5000-stabilizer-rancho_15530233-p

Use promo code "A124" to get them down to $76 each, free shipping. You'll have to do 4 separate orders, one for each shock. ($52 for the stabilizer)

And Rancho is running a rebate right now, you get a visa card for the cost of one shock if you buy four: http://www.gorancho.com/promotions.php

Soo.... $280 for a set of 4 RS9000XL shocks, and their stabilizer when all is said and done. Honestly, i'd be cool paying $450-$500 for this setup. The shocks are seriously good so far. VERY pleased.

awesome, thanks!

ebonyandivory wrote:

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: Will follow this, lifting my XJ is still not out if the question, but its quite expensive when you get down to it.

http://www.rustysoffroad.com/jeep-suspension/jeep-suspension-lift-kits/xj-cherokee-84-01-jeep-suspension-lift-kits/rustys-xj-cherokee-3-add-a-leaf-kit.html

Okay, okay, let me rephrase that, once it gets down to tires it gets expensive.

Ehhh... my tires were $560 installed and out the door including disposal of the old ones.

And on a small lift like this, the 235/75-15s i was running before look just fine.

And there were/are cheaper options for tires in the size i got.

And 31" wheel/tire combos are DIRT cheap on Craigslist. It'd probably be cheaper to just buy one of those combos, sell when the tires are dead, and buy another combo. Tons of combos locally with 70% tread left with aftermarket wheels for $500 or less.